Chapter 3. Promise (2)
“You know, with everything going on and you not feeling well… You must have been really shocked, right?”
“N-No! I’m totally fine. Everyone was just worried about me, that’s all. I understand.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Oh, right. What… what happened to those knights?”
“You mean the knights who were trying to move the child to the external clinic, but had to back off because you insisted they leave?”
“…Yeah.”
As Elluciana mumbled, Trisha asked.
“Why do you look so sheepish? What is it? Are you worried about them?”
“Well… j-just a little? Haha… Do you think they got punished?”
“Of course they did!”
Elluciana flinched at Trisha’s firm answer, her eyes going wide like a startled rabbit.
“Really? But I’m the one who misunderstood and made things awkward…”
“They let you get hurt. Failing to protect you is a serious offense. Punishment is only natural.”
“B-But I was more at fault…”
Trisha, who had been frowning just a moment ago, suddenly smiled softly and met Elluciana’s eyes in the mirror.
“You’re really kind, my lady.”
“…Kind? No way. That was just me throwing my weight around.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“Hmm? Oh, nothing!”
Trisha giggled at Elluciana’s adorably cautious look.
She still resented the child who had hurt her lady, but her heart melted at how lovingly Elluciana thought about the wounded child.
And the way she peeked around nervously with that precious face…
If she said any more, she might hurt the young lady’s delicate heart.
Trisha gently brushed back Elluciana’s wavy hair and asked,
“But my lady, why are you so concerned about that child?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, yes, the child’s situation is pitiful, but you only met them briefly. It seems odd to be this invested.”
“That’s…”
Elluciana trailed off, a forlorn smile playing on her lips.
“I made a promise. That I’d protect them.”
From the very first moment they met—
“I just… wanted to protect them.”
“My lady… even though you lost your memory, your nature hasn’t changed.”
“What do you mean ‘hasn’t changed’?”
As Elluciana tilted her head, Trisha gently gathered her hair into a bun.
“You can’t walk past someone pitiful without helping. Just like the lady duchess.”
Elluciana blinked.
Trisha pinned her hair up with a red jeweled hairpin and gave her a bright smile.
In that moment, for some reason, Elluciana’s chest ached faintly.
‘She says I resemble Mother?’
Mother.
She had never seen her mother before, not even once. But as the word rolled around her tongue, a warm feeling spread through her chest.
As if soothing the wounds in her heart.
After helping Elluciana finish getting ready, Trisha asked gently,
“Are you really that worried about the child?”
“…Hmm?”
“I mean, do you want to see them?”
Do I want to see them? Yeah. I do.
Actually… that child reminds me of how I used to be.
Alone, tormented, desperate for help but never saved. Just like the me from my childhood.
‘Maybe that’s why I keep thinking about them.’
If that child can become happy, maybe the child version of me could finally feel saved too.
Elluciana slowly nodded.
“Yes. I want to see them.”
Trisha let out a soft sigh and placed her hands gently on Elluciana’s shoulders.
“Then, make me a promise.”
“…Promise?”
“Don’t tell the viscount.”
The one who dared lay a hand on his precious daughter — even the kindest man would struggle to forgive that.
Elluciana perked up.
“That’s all I have to promise?”
Trisha wagged her finger back and forth.
“Nope. I’m going with you, too.”
“…You’re coming?”
Trisha gave her a meaningful nod and straightened her posture, clapping the dust from her hands.
“Is that a problem?”
“No, come with me.”
As soon as Elluciana answered, Trisha — who had somehow already prepared — draped a light shawl over her shoulders.
“Hurry. We have to be back before the viscount returns.”
“…Okay.”
Before she could even gather her thoughts, Elluciana found herself scurrying after Trisha.
Creak—
As the door opened, a sharp herbal scent hit their noses. Elluciana paused before stepping into the room with Trisha.
“Should I light the lamp?”
“No.”
They said the child was unconscious, but maybe they were simply unable to move.
If they had finally managed to fall asleep, waking them with light might irritate them.
She had come here on her own accord. The least she could do was not disturb Astain’s rest.
“But we can’t see anything like this.”
Trisha was right. The heavy blackout curtains made the room pitch black.
Elluciana cautiously stepped toward where she guessed the window might be.
“Let me just draw the curtains.”
“It’d be easier to just turn on the lamp— Oh, fine. I’ll do it.”
“No, I’ve got it. I’m almost there.”
In a whisper, she gently grasped the curtain and pulled it back slightly.
Swish—
A small slit let golden sunlight trickle into the room like golden dust.
The light hit Elluciana’s face, and she squinted delicately.
“So bright…”
After blinking a few times, her eyes adjusted to the dim room.
There, lying on the bed, was a thin, sickly child.
‘Still… they look better than before.’
…Wait?
Elluciana furrowed her brow and tilted her head.
‘Why… aren’t there any wounds?’
Trisha, noticing her troubled expression, asked,
“My lady? What’s wrong?”
“It’s just… um…”
Elluciana closed her mouth again.
‘Did I see wrong? Or… is this normal here?’
This wasn’t the world she had lived in.
Here, humans lived alongside other species called “heteromorphs.”
And also—
‘There are priests who use divine power, and mages who use mana.’
So perhaps quick healing wasn’t unusual.
Some races, like trolls, had exceptional regeneration.
But still—
‘That child is human, isn’t he?’
“My lady?”
“Hmm?”
Trisha looked worried. Elluciana’s face was pale, like she’d seen something truly disturbing.
‘I thought she’d be okay since she personally took the child in…’
This was likely the first time this delicate young lady had ever been near a child from the slums.
Up close, it must’ve been quite the shock.
“Let’s head back, my lady.”
“Already?”
“We agreed it’d just be a short visit.”
Elluciana shook her head.
“No, I want to stay a little longer. I just do.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Yeah.”
Reluctantly, Trisha nodded.
Elluciana sat on the chair next to the bed.
She looked closely at Astain.
Maybe it was because the wounds had healed.
Or maybe the blood and grime had been washed away.
‘He’s a boy, but… he’s really pretty.’
His milky-white skin almost glowed in the dark room.
It felt silly thinking that about a malnourished child, but if he had even a little more flesh on his bones, his face would be among the most beautiful in the entire continent.
‘How did such a beautiful child end up in that state…?’
Elluciana gazed at Astain’s unconscious face.
He looked peaceful, like he was simply asleep.
But his protruding cheekbones, frail body, hunched back, and curled shoulders all revealed signs of prolonged abuse and violence.
“What are you staring at so intently?”
Trisha had come up behind her, her voice filled with disapproval.
Was she annoyed that Elluciana was giving this child too much attention?
Even here, it seemed, the lines between noble, commoner, and lowborn were drawn sharply.
But this wasn’t about status.
It was simply one person feeling pity for another.
Elluciana chuckled softly.
“He’s just… pretty.”
Trisha scoffed, then glanced at Astain.
Seeing his face properly for the first time, she blinked in surprise.
Even if he was thin, he wasn’t ugly at all.
His rare black hair only made his pale complexion more striking.
Trisha muttered under her breath.
“He’s not unbearable to look at, I suppose.”
“Hehe. Right? But…”
Elluciana’s smile faded as her brows drew together.
“His wounds are healed… so why hasn’t he woken up yet?”
Trisha gave a bitter smile.
“Even if the outside looks fine, the inside probably isn’t.”
“His insides… aren’t okay? Why?”
“Well, it’s the medicine… Ugh, I shouldn’t be saying this in front of you.”
“Don’t just brush it off—tell me, Trisha. What’s wrong with the medicine?”
Faced with Elluciana’s firm tone, Trisha sighed and gave in.
“I don’t know the details. Just… I’ve heard that while the drug usually helps with time, prolonged use can make even antidotes ineffective.”
“…What happens if the antidote doesn’t work?”
“Well, obviously, they become a living corpse—”
Trisha stopped mid-sentence, seeing Elluciana’s horrified expression, and shook her head quickly.
“My lady, no! That child isn’t like that. Look at his color — no way he’s a drug addict.”
“Really? Then… he’ll wake up soon, right?”
“O-Of course!”
Trisha answered hastily, but she didn’t seem very confident. Elluciana studied the child closely.
‘He does seem better than before. Then maybe… just a little longer?’
With a pensive look, Elluciana eventually sent Trisha away.
Then she sat quietly, mulling over everything Trisha had said.
“If the antidote doesn’t work…” she thought. Then perhaps… it’s lucky we caught it this early.
