ITRDBDWTDE 12

~Chapter 12~

What Cecilia felt in that moment was deep resignation.

She didn’t want to die.

But she didn’t want to keep trying either.

She was already too tired.

Maybe… it would be easier to die now.

Cecilia slowly closed her eyes.

“Miss!”

Someone called her desperately.

It was the voice she had heard most often lately.

Milena…?

The only maid who had treated her kindly.

But Cecilia didn’t open her eyes.

More precisely, she didn’t have the strength to.

Still—

During the past few days with her… I laughed a lot.

At that moment, a faint trace of regret filled her thoughts.

A soft wind wrapped around her body.

It felt as if the wind gently embraced her—

and her feet lifted off the ground.

“Huh?”

Cecilia’s eyes flew open in shock.

She witnessed a miracle.

I’m… flying?!

The huge cargo carriage rushing toward her—

the horse, the driver—

all floated gently in the air before landing safely.

Thud.

Cecilia also landed softly on the ground.

W-What just happened?

Her shocked teal eyes turned to Milena.

And she realized something was wrong.

Milena was swaying, her face completely pale.

Her weak voice slipped out.

“Miss… are you alright—”

She couldn’t finish.

Her body collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.

“Milena? Milena!!”

Cecilia ran to her in panic.

Milena slowly blinked her heavy eyes.

Cecilia’s tearful face filled her blurry vision.

You really make people worry.

Milena smiled faintly.

The heroine who would ruin her in the original story.

But why did those tear-filled teal eyes hurt her heart so much?

Please stop crying.

She wanted to wipe those tears away.

Milena weakly reached out her hand.

Cecilia’s eyes widened.

“Milena!”

She quickly grabbed her hand.

Warmth flowed between their fingers.

Milena smiled a little more.

I’m really glad I found Cecilia.

With that gentle wave of relief—

Milena lost consciousness.

“Where on earth did she go…?”

The Duchess looked at her husband with worried eyes.

“Where could Cecilia have gone?”

Her beautiful face was filled with concern.

Cecilia had run out during dinner and still hadn’t returned.

The Baron of Trangsie had sent soldiers to help search, but there was still no news.

The Duke’s eyes darkened.

He was worried too.

But if he showed it, his fragile wife would collapse.

So he gently comforted her.

“Do not worry too much. We sent people to search. We will hear news soon.”

“Father is right.”

Elias forced a smile and comforted his mother.

It was a familiar scene.

A worried mother.

A father comforting her.

And himself—unable to do anything.

I’m tired.

What if his “real sister” had been here?

Maybe the family would laugh together.

He forced a cheerful voice.

“She couldn’t have gone far, so—”

At that moment—

A servant rushed into the room.

“We found the young lady!”

The Lucerte family jumped up in shock.

“Is she hurt?!” the Duchess asked with a trembling voice.

“She spent the whole day outside… that reckless child!” the Duke said angrily, worried.

“She doesn’t seem seriously hurt. However…”

The servant hesitated.

“What is it?” the Duke demanded.

“Well… the young lady was almost hit by a carriage.”

“What?!” the Duke exclaimed.

Elias shouted in confusion.

“You just said she was fine!”

“She is! A maid from the Trangsie family saved her. But…”

The servant lowered his voice.

“Witnesses say the maid created wind.”

“What?!”

The Lucerte family was shocked.

For generations, rare children with magical power had been born in their family.

They were called Blessed Children.

Even in an age where magic had faded, they could still create miracles.

“And wind…?”

Wind power was the ability of the Lucerte family’s founder.

That was why their symbol was the Blue Falcon.

A trembling voice interrupted.

“C-Could it be…”

It was the Duchess.

Her face turned pale.

“What did the girl look like? Her hair? Her eyes?”

“She is very beautiful. Blonde hair… green eyes…”

Silence fell.

Blonde hair. Green eyes.

Those were the features of their lost daughter.

“We must meet her immediately.”

The Duke stood up.

A small flame flickered deep in his chest.

Its name was—

Hope.