Chapter 11
“Haah, this really won’t do. You keep it. I’ll just pretend I got better from taking the herbs.”
“But can’t you eat them anyway? They say they make you healthier.”
“That’s right. Please take them, young master.”
Faced with his younger sister’s pleading gaze and Tami’s urging, Leonel had no choice but to put the herbs Evelyn had given him into his mouth.
“Ugh. It’s bitter!”
“Chew and swallow it all. Miss Evelyn went through so much to find this herb for you.”
“Fine.”
Leonel began chewing the herbs vigorously. Just thinking of his parents’ and Tami’s tears made this much bearable.
So much had happened since he collapsed.
“There, I ate it all. When should I pretend to wake up?”
“But, my lady, how exactly did the young master wake up? And fully recovered, at that?”
Tami’s question broke the emotional mood. His eyes were full of suspicion as he looked at Evelyn.
“I can’t tell you that right now.”
Evelyn replied firmly. The fact that she had become a Hero was still a secret.
“But people will be dying to know immediately.”
“Tami, that’s none of your concern. I’d prefer if you kept quiet.”
Leonel cut off his attendant’s words. He didn’t care about Tami’s hurt expression.
“And we’ll just say the herb from the snowy mountains healed me completely.”
Though he felt bad, he hoped Tami would just leave now so he could talk more with his sister.
He was feeling restless from being stuck in bed since waking up. If not for that, he would’ve run north to see Evelyn immediately.
“Besides, who’s to say the herbs don’t take a few days to work?”
“Well, I suppose that’s true.”
Could they really say he woke up just like that?
“Thank you, Evelyn.”
Seeing the lingering worry in his sister’s teary eyes, Leonel gave a bitter smile.
He was the one who had been injured, yet everyone said Evelyn had suffered more.
“But please don’t do anything dangerous for my sake. Think of yourself first.”
He was sorry and grateful, but he had to say it. Evelyn wasn’t to blame for what happened to him.
“If I had gotten hurt, wouldn’t you have done the same?”
“Of course I would!”
Leonel tugged at Evelyn’s cheek.
“From now on, anything dangerous is absolutely forbidden, got it?”
“……”
Evelyn didn’t answer right away, and Leonel frowned.
“Did the Grand Duke threaten you or something?”
“No, it’s not that.”
She needed to tell him she had become the Hero.
But even to her, it sounded too ridiculous.
“I’ll explain everything soon.”
She hadn’t even told their parents yet. She had told the Grand Duke she’d explain it herself.
The thought of how shocked her family would be once the truth was revealed made her dizzy.
“Soon when?”
“When you can move around again?”
“Then let’s say I’ve woken up now. I don’t think it matters.”
“No matter how good the herbs are, isn’t that a bit much?”
“It’s fine. Go bring Mother, Father, and the Grand Duke here.”
Was this really Leonel’s personality?
Evelyn glanced at Tami for help.
“I’ll bring them right away.”
Traitor.
Evelyn sighed deeply and nodded.
They were going to have to hear it eventually anyway.
“Tami?! Why are you crying?! Are you okay? What happened?!”
“Haaahhh! The young master’s awake?!”
No sooner had Tami left than the commotion began outside. He must have already announced that Leonel had woken up.
“I thought it would be best to let everyone know you woke up because of Evelyn. Our parents agreed too.”
“I’m so happy to talk to you again, brother.”
“Me too. But it’s a shame I won’t get to see more of your childhood.”
She must have been so adorable.
Our Evelyn was so lovable—I wish I’d seen more of that. Well, she’s still lovable now, of course.
With Leonel endlessly doting on her, Evelyn’s cheeks turned red.
She was too old to be hearing things like that now.
“Brother, I’m not a child anymore.”
“I know. You’re twenty-three now. I’m twenty-seven!”
Leonel clutched his forehead in dismay.
He had suddenly gone from a teenager to his late twenties—understandable that he was shocked.
“I don’t have to study anymore!”
“Eh?”
Was that… a good thing?
“You’re the heir to the countship. What are you talking about?”
“Evelyn, this is a miracle. I’m only telling you this.”
He curled his lips into a sly smile.
“I know everything.”
“W-What do you mean?”
Evelyn’s heart pounded—had he already figured out she was the Hero?
“All this knowledge I never learned is suddenly in my head.”
“What?”
“I just slept and woke up, and now I feel like a genius.”
“Uh… congrats.”
That probably wasn’t it, but Evelyn laughed anyway at her brother’s proud face.
“They’re coming!”
Sensing their parents approaching, Evelyn signaled her brother. Leonel quickly jumped into bed.
Evelyn spread the blanket to cover him. Other than their parents and Tami, no one else knew Leonel was already awake.
Even the servants were unaware, so he had to pretend to be just waking up after eating the herbs—but the plan hit a snag immediately.
“Le-Leonel! Sniff!”
Their father was a terrible actor. Horrified, Evelyn quickly buried her face in the bed.
“Brother!!”
Sob, sob.
The hallway outside was full of peeking eyes. Until the door finally closed, the room echoed with the sounds of crying.
At first, Leonel only pretended to cry—but as he thought about it, he really was grateful, and tears welled up.
“Evelyn, it’s okay. You can stop crying now.”
Earlier, there hadn’t been enough time to be emotional about her brother’s recovery.
Sniff. “Sorry. You got hurt because of me.”
“I made the mistake—how is that your fault?”
Leonel gently patted Evelyn’s head.
“It’s not a curse, so the young baron’s assessment was correct.”
A calm voice followed, helping to calm the tears.
“Grand Duke?”
Surprised, Evelyn turned to see the Grand Duke approaching the bed and giving her a small nod.
Then he addressed Leonel.
“Baron Beret, congratulations on your recovery.”
“Thank you. I heard you helped greatly from the north.”
Leonel bowed his head at the congratulations.
“It seems your mind wasn’t the only thing that recovered.”
Seeing Leonel’s physique under the blanket, Elliot observed him closely.
“The holy sword’s power is truly impressive.”
“Th-The power of the holy sword?!”
At the Count’s shocked reaction, Elliot let out a soft laugh.
“If not for the holy sword, there’s no way Baron Beret could have awakened in perfect condition.”
“S-So then, really…”
The Count’s eyes trembled at the Grand Duke’s lightly spoken words.
He’d suspected something ever since his son had awoken without even taking the herbs.
“Could it be… Evelyn drew the holy sword?”
“Yes. She was chosen by the sword and became the Hero.”
“That was just a legend, wasn’t it?”
The Count asked in a trembling voice. He didn’t want to believe it—whether about Heroes or dark gods.
His daughter, a Hero? He couldn’t believe it.
“Wasn’t the dark god destroyed? Why would Blin become a Hero?”
“It wasn’t destroyed—it was merely sealed. It will resurrect soon.”
“Good heavens…”
Just the thought was terrifying. For now, the Count had no funds to support a Hero.
Now he understood why they said the holy sword granted a wish.
It was a hidden truth behind the legend.
Normally, families would compete to support a Hero, but Evelyn had no way to announce her status or receive backing from another house.
Rumors had long spread about her being cursed—no one would believe her.
Except for one place: the North.
“So you came to support us, Your Grace.”
“To be exact, to support the Hero.”
The Count’s family fell silent at Elliot’s words.
Leonel shut his eyes tightly. Realizing how far his sister had gone for him left him speechless.
“Is the dark god really going to resurrect?”
“I was there when Lady Evelyn was chosen by the sword. Baron Beret awakened in exchange. Otherwise…”
There was no need to finish.
He would never have awakened otherwise.
“I mean, I did pull the sword out somehow, but it’s not like the dark god’s going to rise immediately. We’ll have time to prepare.”
Seeing her family’s despairing faces, Evelyn spoke up in what sounded almost like an excuse.
“And I hope Graham will walk that path with us.”
“What do you ask of us?”
“To help bring peace to the North.”
At the Grand Duke’s heavy words, the Count bit his lip. He couldn’t fully grasp the duke’s intentions, but he understood one thing.
Everyone knew this young duke was protecting the empire.
They simply pretended not to.
“We’ll do all we can to support the North.”
“I’m glad we’re of one mind. For now, I’ll proceed with recruiting Lady Beret, whose abilities impressed me greatly.”
“Thank you.”
With no way to protect his daughter himself, the Count could only nod to the duke’s offer.
