HSDTVM| Chapter 7

Episode 7

For example, whenever Riheel coughed and staggered, Luel would rush over with his big eyes full of tears, looking like a little squirrel running to him.

Really, just like a squirrel.

And then, he would ask:

“Does it hurt? A lot? Where? Did you take your medicine? Oh, wait, you did. Should I help you lie down? No, should I carry you?”

And then, he would turn around and offer his small back to Riheel. Since Ilia was so tiny, carrying Riheel would mean they’d both fall forward, but Ilia acted like it was the most natural thing. Plus, Riheel felt a bit embarrassed to be carried by her.

If he refused, Ilia would immediately start crying, dropping tears.

“I’ll make you better. I’ll make sure you never die.”

Why does she cry so much?

Oh, and Ilia really likes Luel.

“Riheel, I promise. I’ll make Luel better.”

Ilia would repeat these words whenever she saw Luel struggling more than Riheel, his weak body suffering. Every time she saw Luel, she would get teary-eyed and say the same thing.

Hmm, and…

She could do some really cool things.

When Riheel or Luel couldn’t sleep at night, she would make butterflies or puppies with her fingers. That wasn’t all. She would cut paper and make things like boats or birds.

Also…

She really looked like a squirrel.

When eating, she was just like a squirrel. She would stuff her cheeks full with food, chewing away like a squirrel with acorns.

This is how Riheel observed Ilia.

She was hard to figure out, but she seemed like a good person.

Hmm, maybe a very nice squirrel. Or, no, a person.

Thanks to the investment in the Sprout Research Institute, they started sending medicine to the mansion, even though it was just a prototype. The medicine helped reduce pain.

As per the contract Norman made, the Duke’s family would receive two bottles of medicine every week.

But then, a problem occurred.

“Ugh! I don’t want the medicine! It tastes bitter!”

Luel shook his head and threw a fit. Luel, only seven years old, was a stubborn kid, especially since he had been sick for a long time.

Norman, the head maid, and the butler all tried, but they failed to get Luel to take the medicine.

Luel cried with a red face, panting.

His fever was high, and his neck was flushed a deep pink.

“Ugh. What should we do?” The head maid sighed.

“Ugh…ugh…ugh…”

Seeing Luel cough and cry made them feel sorry for him, but he refused to take the medicine. Just as the head maid was about to try talking to Luel again, Ilia raised her hand.

“I’ll try.”

Since she was little, Ilia had been the one to give her brother, Do-yoon, medicine. It was nothing to calm him down and get him to take it.

“Lady, are you sure? He really doesn’t like medicine. Are you okay with this?”

The head maid looked at Ilia with concern.

Actually, Ilia was still just a child. Passing the responsibility of giving Luel medicine to her seemed like too much. But Ilia nodded confidently.

“Yes! I can do it!”

Her round, violet eyes were filled with determination. The head maid hesitated but handed her the bottle of medicine.

Ilia’s small back looked so sturdy.

The head maid rubbed her eyes.

“Luel. It’s me.”

Ilia carefully sat next to Luel. Then, she gently placed her hand on Luel’s forehead.

‘He’s burning up.’

Luel seemed like he was in a feverish daze. Ilia’s heart tightened, and even though she had gotten used to it, seeing sick children always made her heart ache.

It was because she kept thinking about Do-yoon.

Plus, it hurt even more now because she had grown attached to both Luel and Riheel in such a short time.

Ilia whispered softly:

“Let me see your face, Luel.”

“Heeek! Ugh…”

Tears started to fall from his hot face, and Ilia gently wiped them away with the back of her hand.

At Ilia’s words, Luel carefully pulled his hand from his face. His eyes were swollen, and his breath was labored from the fever.

“Look at your pretty face, Luel! Stop crying!”

Ilia skillfully comforted Luel, wiping the tears from his face. Luel exhaled a long breath, his little face blinking as if calming down.

Ilia smiled softly.

“Do it again.”

“Huh?”

“Touch my face again.”

Luel, crawling on his knees, approached Ilia and pushed his red, swollen face toward her. Ilia carefully wiped his face again.

“Ah, it feels cool…”

“Feels cool?”

That’s strange.

‘Is my hand really cool? It feels warm to me.’

Ilia tilted her head, but it made sense. Luel was running a high fever, so that might be why it felt that way.

“Yeah, it feels better… Ugh. My head… it’s clearing up!”

Luel blinked and smiled. He even rubbed his face against Ilia’s hand like a little kitten. Ilia had grown used to Luel snuggling up to her like this and happily accepted his affection.

“Really? You don’t like being sick, huh?”

“Yeah! I like it when my head feels clear. I want to play outside, too.”

Luel said, looking a little gloomy.

“If you want to go outside, you have to take your medicine…”

“I don’t want to… The medicine is bitter! My throat hurts when I take it!”

Luel pointed at his throat with his little finger, pouting.

“But if you take the medicine, your head will feel better, and your throat won’t hurt anymore. If you take the medicine, you’ll get healthy, and then you can go outside with me and play!”

At Ilia’s words, Luel’s eyes twinkled.

“Outside…? With Ilia?”

“Of course!”

“Well, but…”

Luel frowned, his lips sticking out.

Norman, the head maid, and the butler all watched quietly. Until now, whenever Luel was given medicine, he’d cry and refuse to take it. But now, Ilia seemed to have worked some kind of magic on him. Luel was listening to her calmly.

Plus, he was even thinking about the medicine, which was a big change.

Ilia seemed almost like a saint.

Even Luel’s constant crying had stopped.

Ilia showed the medicine bottle she was holding.

“Hmm. When you get better, we can go on a picnic with Riheel, have some candy, and play games.”

“Games…?”

“Do you know how to play hide-and-seek?”

“I know!”

Luel nodded enthusiastically. He had been mostly staying inside the mansion because he was sick. Riheel, who was a bit better, sometimes went out, but that was all.

‘I hope the medicine gets developed soon…’

Ilia remembered the ingredients that went into the medicine but couldn’t quite recall everything.

‘I should look at the herbal medicine book.’

Since she had invested in the Sprout Research Institute, she also needed to talk about Norman and Lutana. After the children got better, she would invite Lizienne and start building relationships with her…

Ilia nodded firmly.

“Once you take the medicine, we can do all of that!”

“Really?”

“Of course! If you take your medicine, you’ll be healthier than me! Will you take it?”

“…Okay, fine.”

Luel reluctantly nodded. The stubborn Luel had finally agreed to take the medicine. Ilia sighed in relief. She received the empty bottle and turned to leave, heading toward the head maid, the butler, and Norman.

“Luel… took his medicine…? Huh? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Ilia asked, noticing the surprised looks on their faces.

“It’s nothing. Hehe…”

“Nothing, Lady. We’re just happy.”

‘Lady Ilia is a light! Salt of the earth! The very air we breathe…’

“She’s so admirable.”

‘Our Lady, she can do anything. Why has it taken her this long to come to us?’

The three of them nodded simultaneously, hiding their true feelings. Their wariness of Ilia had completely melted away. Whenever something difficult came up, Ilia was always there, solving it, and it felt like a halo was shining behind her.

It didn’t seem like nothing. Ilia tilted her head, then got off Luel’s bed. She gently laid him down, covered him with a blanket, and then whispered to herself.

“Phew. Luel is so good, right? He took his medicine so well.”

Then, she smiled brightly.

Ah, she really was like a saint. The halo wasn’t an illusion after all.