“Really!?”
“Yes. I don’t want Lulu to be in pain either.”
That was a huge step forward.
After all, for someone to willingly hand over their comfort item to someone else was, from a psychological standpoint…
Wait, no time for that now.
“Yes, please give her to me!”
I took the stuffed animal and quickly opened the emergency kit my dad had left behind. I pulled out the thinnest needle and thread.
Lily held her breath with a shaky gasp.
“Guardians, please wait over on the bed for a moment.”
I pointed to Lily’s bed like a real doctor (well, I am a real doctor), and she nodded quickly before nervously climbing onto the bed.
‘Ugh, this will take at least ten stitches.’
The tear was worse than I thought. I trimmed the tangled threads, pushed the stuffing back in, and began stitching.
‘If I use the buried suture method*, the stitches won’t show.’
(*Buried suture – a technique where the stitches are hidden inside, often used in eyelid surgery for a clean appearance and strong closure.)
I got to work seriously.
“All done!”
At my shout, Lily jumped off the bed and ran over.
“Wow, you can’t even see the stitches! You’re really good at sewing, Adelia!”
Lily looked so happy, bouncing around and moving the teddy bear’s arm up and down.
A small part of me felt unappreciated—this perfect stitching was not just “sewing”—but I smiled and watched her expression.
The once-sharp child was now slowly beginning to show a bright, childlike smile.
‘She really is getting better.’
Suddenly, I turned to check the date.
It had already been six days since I came here.
Lily had clearly improved, but she still never talked about that day. It was like a forbidden topic.
Every time it came up, she would quickly change the subject or pretend not to hear.
‘She’s just not ready yet.’
In therapy, real healing starts when the patient is ready to bring up their own wounds.
I understood that—but I was also anxious. I’d originally told the young duke this would take a week.
Usually, a week was enough. But maybe because of those awful masks and her surroundings, Lily’s trauma was deeper than expected.
Anyway, tomorrow, the young duke is coming to check on her progress himself.
By then, she needs to be ready to face the past.
‘There’s only one method left…’
I clenched my fist at the thought of my final treatment plan.
That’s when—
“I’m leaving your meal here. Please enjoy.”
A voice came from outside the door. I rushed over to the desk and grabbed a note I’d prepared.
I flung the door open.
The maid carrying the food flinched at my sudden appearance.
I walked up to her and gently took her hand, handing her the note I had carefully written.
“Please, make sure the young duke gets this.”
The maid in the crow mask gave a small nod.
I took the food and returned to Lily, who was still happily admiring her now-perfectly-fixed teddy bear.
I watched her quietly, then smiled and said,
“Time to eat, Lady Lily.”
As if nothing had happened.
***
Night of Day 6
“Can’t you tell my brother not to come?”
Lily was clutching her beloved stuffed bear, Lulu, tightly.
“Why? The young duke searched the entire kingdom to find doctors who could help you.”
He might’ve planned to kill those doctors, too, but I just smiled and didn’t say that part.
“But… my brother hates me…”
“Really? How about we ask him tomorrow if that’s true?”
Of course, I knew it wasn’t. But I wanted Lily to make the choice herself, so I didn’t deny it outright.
Lily looked around nervously, then shook her head.
“N-no! I won’t ask!”
She pulled her blanket over her head and hid underneath it.
I smiled softly and blew out the candle on the nightstand.
“Then goodnight, Lady Lily. If you need a lullaby, just let me know.”
I always said the same thing every night, and as usual, the blanket wiggled a little in response.
Yawn…
Spending all day with a ten-year-old really drained me. Lily’s energy was growing by the day, while my body—trained by a harsh adult world—felt more worn out.
I stretched with a big groan and was about to crawl into bed when something grabbed my wrist.
It was Lily’s small, soft hand—so familiar now.
“Lady Lily, is something wrong…?”
“…Adelia.”
“Yes?”
“Can you sleep with me tonight?”
***
Lily peeked her head out from the blanket and looked up at me with big, round eyes.
‘Sleep with her?’
She meant in the same bed—not just in the same room.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected her to open up this quickly, so I blinked in surprise.
‘Oh no, don’t just stare!’
If I hesitated too long, she might misunderstand.
I quickly took her little hand and held it warmly.
“Of course, Lady Lily. Just a second!”
I ran to the room next door, grabbed my pillow, and came back.
Then I laid down in the spot she had already made for me.
So this is what the noble’s bed feels like.
It was definitely soft, and the blanket made a lovely rustling sound. It even smelled a little like baby powder—Lily’s usual scent.
“…He’s coming tomorrow to punish you, isn’t he?”
Lily asked quietly, like she was afraid she’d done something wrong.
To ease her worry, I gently patted her head.
“No, not at all. Why would the young duke punish me?”
“But… I’m not better yet.”
“From what I can see, you’re doing really well. You don’t have to worry.”
“But still…”
Lily wasn’t wrong. While she had improved, she still occasionally showed aggression without realizing it.
Anyway, it didn’t feel right to end her treatment yet. She still needed more time.
‘I hope that note reached him properly.’
Lily had made great progress, but to fully treat her depression, we needed to face its root cause.
And I couldn’t do that alone.
That’s why I’d written a detailed note about her condition and asked the young duke for help.
I just hoped he was a reasonable man—and that he’d accept my request.
That’s when Lily suddenly turned to face me.
“Adelia. Then I’ll give you a present.”
“Huh? A present?”
“Yeah. I’m sure it’ll help you.”
She exhaled slowly and went quiet for a moment.
In the moonlight, her eyes looked determined—like she’d made up her mind.
‘What could it be?’
Since I’d been with her 24/7, I knew she hadn’t had time to prepare anything.
I was wondering what it could be when she spoke again.
“…I’ll tell you my story, Adelia.”
My eyes widened in surprise.
Then she continued.
“About six months ago, my mom suddenly opened her eyes wide… and collapsed. I was so scared my hands were shaking like this… But I don’t remember it all clearly. I woke up two days later.”
She trembled slightly as she held out her small hands, then calmly continued.
