“May, just a moment…”
My sister couldn’t even finish her sentence before she rushed toward the door in a panic.
I quickly scrambled after her.
She dashed across the garden like she was flying and dispelled the barrier magic.
Zzeng!
The air rippled violently, and the surrounding wall and iron gate of the garden came into view.
Beyond it stood a man with a nervous expression.
As soon as he saw my sister, he called out urgently.
“The second young master has collapsed!”
In that instant, all color drained from my sister’s face.
The man quickly added,
“The Duke instructed me to bring Lady Sabina immediately.”
—
…This isn’t how I wanted my first visit to the ducal estate to happen.
‘Adrian oppa…’
Clutching my skirt tightly, I stared at my brother lying on the bed, worry clouding my eyes.
We were immediately led to Adrian oppa’s room.
My sister came in her official capacity as his healer, and I was allowed in as her sister.
Still…
‘Why did his condition suddenly get worse?’
He just looked like he was asleep.
But his complexion was so pale, the phrase “white as paper” couldn’t be more accurate.
I’d heard he had collapsed coughing up blood a week ago.
‘And since then, he hasn’t woken up.’
Meanwhile, Sabina unnie was sitting close beside him, carefully examining his condition.
She infused him with mana, checking every part of his body meticulously.
After some time passed…
“Hoo…”
She let out a short breath and lifted her head.
At the same moment, a blond man standing next to her asked worriedly,
“So, how is he?”
That was Edwin von Valencia, Adrian’s older brother by three years—currently the Duke of Valencia.
In my past life, I’d only seen him a few times from a distance. This was my first time meeting him in this life.
He resembled Adrian closely—clearly siblings—but unlike Adrian’s warm, springlike aura, Edwin had a more cold, analytical air.
While I was sneaking glances at the Duke, my sister cautiously answered,
“There’s a rejection reaction when I try to infuse mana.”
Her expression was grave.
Sensing this, the Duke also grew serious.
“Rejection reaction?”
“Yes. But until now, the second young master had no such issues…”
Her voice trailed off.
Suddenly, a stern-looking middle-aged man with a sharp expression cut in harshly,
“No issues? His condition has clearly deteriorated!”
“…That’s…”
“How can we continue entrusting the young master’s treatment to Lady Sabina like this?”
“……”
“As the Duke’s family physician, I believe this situation cannot be overlooked any longer.”
I frowned deeply.
So that man was the Valencia family’s official physician.
He looked younger than I remembered, which is why I hadn’t recognized him.
I recalled from my past life how he used to frequent the central temple and openly flaunted his connections to the clergy.
‘Didn’t he really hate my sister back then too?’
And by extension, he despised me, her familiar.
What did he call me again…?
‘A cursed cat,’ I think?
He even screamed “Burn her already!” when my sister was taken to the pyre.
I still remember the gleam in his eyes reflected by the flames.
While I was biting my lower lip in frustration, the physician made a suggestion to the Duke.
“Given how serious this is, why not send the second young master to the temple for treatment?”
“That’s not possible!”
My sister immediately objected, alarmed.
“He’s already receiving mana-based treatment. If we switch to divine healing now, it could trigger a rejection response in his body!”
“Then what—are we just supposed to sit and watch?”
The physician scoffed loudly for all to hear.
“Lady Sabina hasn’t even identified the cause of his condition, has she?”
“But—!”
Just as she was about to protest—
The Duke cut in.
“For now, Lady Sabina is the one who’s been treating Adrian, is she not?”
He glanced sideways at my sister.
“It’s not like his recovery had been poor until now.”
“…Your Grace.”
“So let’s continue entrusting her for the time being.”
The Duke drew the line there.
Sabina unnie looked completely stunned, turning to face him in disbelief.
‘Did he really say that…?’
I was shocked too.
The ducal physician, backed by the power of the temple, versus a mere independent mage—
And he was choosing my sister?
After all, it was Adrian oppa who insisted on receiving treatment from her in the first place.
I’d heard the Valencia family hadn’t been thrilled about that decision.
And yet now, the Duke was saying he trusted her?
“What…?”
Meanwhile, the physician’s face twisted in frustration.
“This is absurd! I—”
The Duke raised his hand to silence him.
Then, in a cold voice, he said:
“Adrian chose Sabina himself. He may act carefree, but he would never make a reckless decision regarding his own health.”
“That may be, but—”
“So what’s so strange about trusting her a bit longer?”
The Duke’s words were firm.
In the end, the physician shut his mouth tight.
Then the Duke turned to my sister and looked her straight in the eye.
“But as you can see, Adrian’s condition is critical.”
His green eyes—identical to Adrian’s—were calm and detached.
Neither kind nor hostile. Just…neutral.
Honestly, that in itself felt strange.
Back when we lived in the forest together, and even when Adrian persuaded us to leave, people always viewed my sister with suspicion.
Just because she lived alone, used magic, and avoided society…
They called her a witch, dangerous and cursed.
And now…
“I’d like you to stay at the ducal estate for a while. Is that alright?”
My sister was silent for a moment.
Her red eyes shimmered with conflicted emotion.
She’s always harbored mistrust toward people, so I thought she might decline.
But—
“Yes, Your Grace.”
She answered firmly.
The Duke gave a slight nod.
“Then we’ll step outside for now. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call someone.”
With that, he left the room, leading the physician with him.
The moment they were gone, my sister—who had kept a calm face all this time—finally crumbled.
“Adrian…”
She grasped his hand tightly.
Rested her forehead against it and whispered softly,
“Why…?”
He lay silent, deeply asleep.
Sabina unnie whispered again, in a trembling voice barely above a breath.
“Why is it… that kind people like you are always the first to suffer…?”
Her frail figure as she murmured those words made my chest ache.
Then—
Sniff.
I suddenly sniffed the air.
‘Hmm?’
There was a faint bitter scent lingering.
Something only a cat’s nose could barely pick up.
‘Medicine?’
I tilted my head slightly in confusion.
But my sister doesn’t use medicine—only mana for healing.
…Something felt off.
—
