Chapter 116 ….
Her body felt as heavy as wet cotton. Her head throbbed as if it would split, and her thighs ached painfully.
Lirieta struggled to open her eyes.
“Miss!”
“Liri!”
Her vision was filled with the teary-eyed face of her maid and the pale face of her mother.
“Mom…”
Rita tried to speak but coughed dryly. Hanna hurried off and returned with a glass of water on a tray. The Duchess took it and brought it to Rita’s lips.
A few sips of water soothed her parched throat. After regaining some composure, she finally spoke.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“You were unconscious for two days.”
Her mother’s voice trembled as she replied, stroking Rita’s cheek with a quivering hand.
“Really… do you know how worried I was? His Highness the Crown Prince carried you back, and your dress was completely soaked in blood… you said you encountered a monster in the forest.”
Just a few words were enough for Rita to guess how Gide handled the situation.
He probably only reported up to what Hanna had witnessed—the attack by the horned boar—and omitted the crawler-like creature that came afterward. It seems he made it appear as if the Crown Prince rescued her right there.
Her family knew she and the Crown Prince had a connection from the ash-strewn world, so they likely understood the reason he brought her back.
He must have also explained minor issues, her unique constitution, and the recovery method. Despite his effort, she didn’t seem to be in too bad a condition.
‘He doesn’t seem to have used healing magic or divine power,’ Rita thought.
As Rita recalled the moment she had returned, her mother drew a sharp, pale breath.
Although she had improved noticeably since Lirieta’s return, her naturally weak constitution combined with ten years of chronic illness still left her in fragile health.
“Bleeding so much… it must have hurt so much… just thinking about it…”
Rita looked at her mother’s face, which seemed like it could collapse at any moment. At the same time, memories of what she realized while talking to Gide came to mind.
In the past, she would have felt a bit frustrated by her mother’s worry, thinking it wasn’t such a serious matter.
But now, her heart ached purely. She fully understood that her injury had caused her mother pain.
“I’m sorry. I should have been more careful,” Lirieta said sincerely.
“It’s okay. The fact that you returned safely is what matters. If you rest well, there won’t be scars or aftereffects on your legs… oh, Liri, I was worried you might not walk properly, or that you might get a major scar. I… oh…”
The Duchess finally broke down in tears. Rita hugged and comforted her, thinking.
‘There might still be scars… but what did Gide say to reassure her? Did he mention Sarah? That there’s a healer who can handle my constitution…’
In the ash-strewn world, Sarah had completely healed the scar left on Rita’s left hand from Gide’s bite.
Of course, that had involved normal healing magic, which wouldn’t work on Lirieta’s current constitution, but somehow Rita felt confident that Sarah would find a way.
‘Anyway, Gide wouldn’t have said it without a way to handle it. There has to be a solution.’
For her, scars on her face or legs weren’t a problem, but she appreciated Gide’s consideration because scars would upset her mother.
‘I’ll thank him properly and ask about it next time.’
As she comforted her sobbing mother, she noticed Hanna quietly shedding tears beside her, holding the tray. Though she kept silent, her expression suggested she had a lot to say, wanting to apologize desperately out of guilt.
Rita met her eyes and gave her a faint smile to indicate it was okay. Hanna trembled, wiped her tears hastily, and said:
“Miss, I’ll inform the Duke, Duchess, and young master that you’ve awakened. They’ve all been anxiously waiting.”
With that, she hurried out of the room.
Soon after, heavy footsteps and a rush of large men entered.
“Liri! Thank God!”
“Rita…”
“Hey!”
The Duke ran in, shouting, hugging both the Duchess and Lirieta at once. Leonhardt sighed in relief upon seeing her awake, leaning against the wall unsteadily.
Meanwhile, Richard shouted with bloodshot eyes:
“How long have you been back, yet you faint twice and end up brought here? Even on the boat ride, I thought I’d lose it, but this time you were covered in blood! Is this some kind of monthly event? Should the whole family collapse from heart attacks to make you realize?”
“Calm down, Rih. Rita didn’t do this on purpose.”
Leonhardt, pale-faced, approached and held Richard’s shoulder. Richard shouted angrily:
“Brother, do I look like I can calm down? She tied a handkerchief for me to protect me, yet she returned battered herself!”
“I understand how you feel, but Rita is still a patient. Lower your voice. My ears are ringing.”
Richard let out a deep sigh, clutching his face.
Rita had to apologize repeatedly to her family, promising she would be more careful to prevent this from happening again.
When the Duchess finally intervened, it was as the Duke tried to make Lirieta promise not to go out alone anymore.
“That’s enough.”
The Duchess, Rosetta, lifted her blue eyes firmly and continued:
“How far are you going to fuss over Liri? Enough is enough.”
“Honey…?”
“Liri isn’t just a fragile child. She fought the river monster, smashed targets in the shooting competition, and is an astonishingly skilled marksman. She handles the troublesome Grand Duke well and even impressed Duke Dewireborg enough to receive his personal thanks. That’s our daughter.”
Rosetta lifted her chin, proud, and glared at her husband.
“How can we not trust such an extraordinary child just because she’s family? It’s fine to worry, but you can’t use worry as an excuse to restrict her. Are you going to confine Liri at home, letting her do nothing?”
“No, dear, I… I wasn’t thinking…”
“And yet you tried to make her promise that? She’s no longer a ten-year-old. She’s a grown, capable, and remarkable young lady. Asking that from her is nothing but restriction.”
“…You’re right. I was short-sighted.”
Rosetta surveyed her sighing husband, her eldest son’s bitter smile, and her second son, looking as if he’d been smacked on the back of his head, before returning her gaze to Lirieta.
“Liri, don’t be swayed too much. How much of a promise are you willing to make about not going out alone?”
“…I just don’t want to worry you.”
“That’s my good girl.”
She sat on the bed and hugged her daughter, who naturally embraced her back. Rosetta stroked her hair and whispered:
“But don’t give up your freedom just because we worry. You can go out alone whenever you want, when it’s necessary, or when you feel like it. You’re not weak or reckless—you’re a responsible adult.”
“…”
“Liri, I hope you do everything you want and live to your fullest potential.”
“Mom…”
“I couldn’t always be there as you grew up, but I can always be on your side. So do whatever you wish. I trust you.”
Lirieta hugged her a little tighter without realizing it. Rosetta smiled and patted her.
“But when things get tough, make sure to tell me and don’t overdo it. Remember that your family worries for you and always be careful. Can you promise that?”
“Of course. I promise and will remember.”
“Thank you, my daughter. I love you very much.”
Rosetta kissed her forehead. Lirieta smiled softly and returned the kiss on her mother’s cheek.
“I love you too, Mom.”
Her mother, smiling so broadly that wrinkles formed at the corners of her eyes, hugged her tightly once before letting go.
“Hungry? I’ll send for your meal. Eat and rest a bit.”
She got up from the bed, linking arms with her embarrassed husband.
“You go enjoy tea and a date with me. Leon, explain to Liri what she needs to be careful of while recovering.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Rih, go wash up and cool off. You’re covered in sweat and dirt.”
