Chapter 50
“Then think of it as review. Class is starting, so focus.”
Austin handed out a book to each of them.
“This is a textbook I made myself, so always bring it to class. Now, open it.”
Austin’s lessons began.
He taught surprisingly well, as if he had real experience teaching others.
Elia’s gaze naturally drifted toward Zirc, who was assisting Austin.
They said Zirc had grown after eating the fruit of the World Tree. Perhaps that was why, when he awoke from his slumber, he had become a handsome young man.
Every time Zirc passed by, the maidservants would squeal.
For a moment, Zirc’s eyes met Elia’s. He gave her a small smile.
[That brat is smiling on purpose.]
‘Shut up.’
At Elia’s single word, Branch sulked.
Branch, surprisingly, was also easily offended.
On the way back after class, Elia glanced at Noah. He was quietly muttering to himself, as if deeply troubled.
She had a feeling she knew what it was.
“Is it because the math lesson earlier was hard?”
“What?”
“Want me to help?”
“No thanks.”
Just as Noah was about to turn away—
“Ugh.”
He clutched his chest and collapsed.
“Haah, haah—”
Cold sweat ran down Noah’s face as he suppressed his painful groans. The black lines etched into the back of his hand seemed to thicken.
Elia grabbed Noah’s hand and poured the World Tree’s power into him.
“You, what are you—”
“Just stay still.”
Elia was so focused that Noah couldn’t even pull his hand away.
Through their joined hands, Noah felt a warm energy flowing into his body. Slowly, the pain began to ease.
“The curse has deepened. If we leave it like this, it’ll be serious.”
“Worry about yourself. You’re sweating too.”
Using the World Tree’s power, Elia herself was drenched in sweat.
“You’ve only just recovered. Is it okay to use your power like this?”
“Are you… worrying about me right now?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Let’s go to your room.”
“What?”
“Quickly.”
Elia took Noah’s hand and led him toward his room.
“Sit here.”
She sat him down on the sofa and rolled up his sleeve. The traces of the curse were severe.
“I’m going to treat it now, so stay still.”
“Treat it?”
“Yes, right now.”
Elia looked toward Branch.
‘Branch, let’s heal him.’
[Are you sure you can handle it?]
‘I’ll be fine. I’m all better now.’
[Haah, what a life I live.]
Faced with Elia’s serious gaze, Noah couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
More than anything, a desire stirred within him—he wanted to live. He wanted to be free from this pain.
“You should take care of yourself. What if you collapse again?”
“Then Your Highness will have to look after me.”
“Why should I?”
“Because I used my strength to save you. You’d have to take responsibility.”
“If that’s the case, then don’t do it.”
“Really?”
When she asked, Noah’s eyes flickered with hesitation.
“You don’t mean it, so just stay still.”
Noah bristled and stood up.
“Sit down.”
With a sigh, Noah sat again.
“Don’t overdo it.”
“I won’t.”
Noah extended his arm to her.
Smiling gently, Elia grasped his arm and began purifying the curse.
“Even if it hurts, bear with it.”
“I’m used to enduring pain.”
Grinding his teeth, Noah endured.
Golden light streamed from Elia’s fingertips, wrapping around his body. It was warm, comforting energy.
“Urgh…”
The pain gradually receded. His body felt lighter, filled with renewed vitality.
Meanwhile, beads of sweat rolled down Elia’s forehead.
[Elly, this won’t be possible to finish in one go.]
It was a vicious grudge.
It resisted, refusing to be banished so easily.
“Kh…”
Noah groaned in pain.
[Let’s stop here for now. At this rate, you’ll get into serious trouble too.]
That seemed best.
This curse couldn’t be lifted in one attempt. It would take multiple sessions of purification.
Elia released Noah’s hand.
She felt dizzy, but not severely.
“Your Highness, how do you feel?”
“…I’m fine.”
“Good. The pain should be less now. But I couldn’t erase it completely. I’ll need to purify it several times.”
“I know. What about you? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. You seem like you’ll collapse any second.”
“Then, would you mind supporting me a little?”
“What?”
“My legs feel weak.”
Noah stared at her, sighed heavily, then stood up.
He turned his back to her.
“Get on. I’ll carry you to your room.”
“Really?”
“Of course really. Come on, before I change my mind.”
“Hehe, thank you.”
Elia climbed onto Noah’s back, and he carried her toward her room.
But there they ran into Alexis, who had come to meet her.
“Elly, what happened?”
When Noah couldn’t answer, Elia spoke instead.
“I felt dizzy, so His Highness carried me.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine after a bit of rest.”
“Your Highness, I’ll take Elly from here. You should head to the training ground first. You haven’t forgotten you were to learn riding and swordsmanship today, have you?”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Noah had once told Alexis he wanted to learn horseback riding and swordsmanship, so Alexis had agreed to teach him personally.
Elia also wanted to learn, but she was still too young, so it was postponed.
“Duke, I want to go to the training ground too.”
Cradled in Alexis’s arms, Elia pleaded. But Alexis shook his head.
“No, you need to rest.”
“Getting some fresh air is even better. Let’s go together, please?”
Elia coaxed him sweetly, and Alexis looked troubled.
“Just once, please?”
In the end, Alexis relented.
Instead, Elia had to promise she would only sit on a bench at the training ground.
Beside her sat Dimitri, Campbell, and other Iron Eagle knights.
“Lady, when will the garden be finished?” Dimitri asked.
Elia smiled mysteriously.
“It’ll take a while, Uncle. But you can look forward to it. I’ll make it a place for everyone.”
Her words meant she already had everything planned out in her head.
“That sounds exciting, doesn’t it, guys?” Dimitri said to the knights, who nodded in agreement.
Elia couldn’t wait to finish the garden and hold a party with the people she loved.
She truly longed for that day to come soon.
Elia gazed up at the sky.
They were carefree days.
Days filled with sunshine, laughter, and clear skies.
Time passed steadily like that.
Three years later.
Elia turned ten years old.
Now she sat before her dressing table.
“Your hair has really grown.”
Meril said as she brushed Elia’s long hair.
“You’ve grown taller too.”
“Pfft, that’s true, you’ve grown taller as well.”
Elia looked into the mirror.
Reflected there was no longer a little child, but a proper young girl.
“I’m ten years old now.”
She had just celebrated her birthday not long ago.
In truth, she hadn’t known her real birthday, but Alexis suggested they make the day he first came to the ducal estate her birthday, and so it was decided.
Thus, Elia’s birthday became a winter day, celebrated joyfully each year with everyone in the estate.
“Your outfit suits you so well. The Duke’s taste seems to be improving day by day.”
“Well, who do you think he has to thank for that?”
To improve Alexis’s artistic sense, Elia had accompanied him to the tailor’s every time.
Thanks to her efforts, Alexis had learned to dress decently, and he even reached the level where he could personally choose Elia’s clothes.
“Hurry and finish up, everyone’s waiting in the garden.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Meril placed a lily-shaped hairpin in Elia’s hair.
Every year on her birthday, Lasley would send a handmade hairpin or accessory as a gift.
Her skill with her hands was so impressive that even Lapis suggested she open her own workshop someday.
It didn’t sound like a bad idea.
“There, all ready. Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
Elia left her room and headed for the garden. It was the very garden she had ambitiously created three years ago.
A garden designed as a party space where everyone in the estate could gather and enjoy themselves.
“Elly!”
Alexis was the first to greet her.
“As expected of my daughter—you’re truly beautiful.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
He lifted her into his arms.
Though she had grown at ten years old, she still wasn’t heavy.
“You’ve grown a lot.”
Standing beside him, Noah commented.
Noah had also grown considerably over the three years.
Now thirteen, he had grown tall enough to reach Alexis’s chest.
Compared to him, Elia was still a head shorter, so she had to look up at him.
“Stop teasing me about my height.”
“You tease me about studying.”
“That’s different—I’m teaching you.”
“Not teasing?”
Elia and Noah were still bickering as always.
