Chapter 41
I reached out to help Lottie, but Winter stopped me, and I froze in place.
At the same time, we heard an awkward sound from Alfred and Lottie.
Lottie gently touched Alfred’s face and said,
“If you die, I’ll die with you… So wake up, you idiot!”
“You two are crazy. All of you are crazy…”
Rena trembled with anger and pointed at them.
‘Did I ask them to act like a movie? I just said to save him…’
I felt the same way as Rena.
If a person touches someone infected with evil, the infection always spreads. That’s the law of evil. But I couldn’t explain all that right now.
What should I do? If Lottie gets infected…
I was getting nervous and stamped my feet anxiously.
Winter whispered calmly,
“I think the evil around him isn’t very strong. If the woman’s body and heart are strong, she can fight it off.”
Hearing that, I finally nodded.
“Lottie… you have to keep your word…”
“Yes, Alfred…”
And like a miracle, Alfred’s face slowly began to look better.
“You two should just die…”
Rena looked even more annoyed, but at least we had passed the biggest danger for now.
***
“What do you mean the people of Elahi couldn’t evacuate?!”
I shouted in surprise.
Alfred, who was alive thanks to the princess’s kiss, sat in front of me.
Lottie was next to him, wiping his forehead with a wet cloth like she was glued to him.
Alfred explained slowly,
“The Duke said if the people of Elahi were already infected, then it’s better not to let them out. So he sent soldiers to block the entire area. That’s why there were no horses left.”
Unbelievable.
I realized that Bern Rohiya had left us a terrible mess just before running away to the capital.
“But Miss, I don’t think you need to worry too much.”
Alfred waved his hands when he saw my worried face.
“I went through it myself, and this disease doesn’t seem that serious. Just a little fever and resting for a few days… Like the flu.”
No. That’s not it.
“I feel better already, so it must not be a serious illness.”
That’s not why you recovered. You got better because Lottie kissed you.
I stared at Alfred, wishing he would stop talking.
“Wait, Miss. How did you even know that this disease was spreading in Elahi…?”
So slow. He really is her lover, huh?
But I already had a perfect excuse ready.
“The Grand Duke told me.”
Yup. When in doubt, blame the all-knowing Grand Duke.
Alfred, Lottie, and Rena all looked toward Winter.
If [Materia] predicted this plague, then [Igrio], another savior, must also know something, right?
Good enough for them to believe.
“But Miss… why…”
Lottie hesitated and pointed at me.
I didn’t have a good answer this time and just bit my lip.
“Why are you still in the Grand Duke’s arms?”
It’s not me clinging to him—he’s the one always picking me up! It’s because you guys keep spreading evil around!
…But saying that out loud would make things even more suspicious.
“I said I had a headache, and the kind Grand Duke let me rest in his arms.”
Ugh. That sounded so lame.
As I turned my head away from their very unconvinced stares, I quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, Elahi is the real problem!”
“Elahi is not the problem. The Duke already blocked it off, and nothing we say here can change that.”
Rena, who had been too stunned by the kiss earlier to speak, finally joined in.
“The real issue is not Elahi…”
Rena looked uneasy.
I pointed at myself with my index finger.
“You mean me, right?”
“….”
Instead of answering, Rena just let out a deep sigh.
Unlike Lottie, Rena knew how to be careful with her words. She frowned, trying to choose her words wisely.
“I just meant… Why are you still here, Miss? In this big empty mansion? And why were Lottie and I locked in our rooms?”
“You think it was Brother Boris?”
Rena stayed quiet. I could see sweat forming on her forehead.
Was this always her personality…?
Rena thought the girl in front of her felt so unfamiliar now.
She had worked in the Duke’s house since she was a child and had seen how Izana was treated.
As a child born out of wedlock, Izana had always been ignored and looked down on. Even Rena herself had treated her that way.
It started as an order, but over time, she also began to secretly belittle Izana in her heart.
She never bullied her outright and tried to be polite, but the truth was still there.
“So… Do you not think Boris is behind this?”
Rena’s heart beat louder.
She felt like her words had come out a little too sharp and glanced at me to check my reaction.
“No? It’s totally Boris. If it’s not, I’ll burn my hand with a seal and put a flower in my hair and dance.”
Izana’s blunt reply left Rena speechless.
“You really think it was Lord Boris…?”
“Who else would it be?”
Rena had a lot to say, but she couldn’t form the words.
“Miss, what do we do now?”
It was Lottie who helped break the awkward silence.
“For now…”
Even though I had confidently accused Boris, I was secretly wondering if maybe it was a servant who hated Lottie. Maybe they locked the doors and ran away.
I got a headache from overthinking and held my forehead.
We have to save the people of Elahi. The soldiers sent there will all die if they’re exposed too long to evil!
I sighed deeply.
“Lottie, Alfred, Rena. You all stay here and rest. I have to go somewhere.”
“Go where? What if something dangerous happens…”
“I’m going to the Northern Empire.”
That was Winter answering, not me.
“The Northern Empire…?”
Lottie squinted as if she’d misheard.
“Elahi. I’m going to Elahi.”
I quickly corrected Winter’s words, but the others didn’t seem any more relieved.
“There’s a plague there! Why do you keep insisting on going?!”
“Um, the Grand Duke said he would protect me. He really wants me to go with him. I don’t know why, but how can I say no when he insists?”
Yup. Time to use the Grand Duke excuse again.
“Then…”
Lottie looked at Alfred with loving eyes, then turned to me with determination.
“Then I’ll go with you…!”
I was honestly touched.
Lottie! Willing to go to a plague-ridden place for me! Even leaving Alfred behind!
“No, it’s fine. Just rest somewhere safe.”
“If you say so…”
“That was quick.”
Lottie laughed awkwardly and scratched her cheek.
“Then I’ll go.”
This time, it was Rena.
She glared at Lottie and Alfred, who were still clinging to each other.
“I’d rather die than watch them for one more second.”
So in the end, it was me, Rena, and Winter heading to Elahi.
“Miss, I would’ve gone too if I felt better. But I think the imperial doctor His Majesty sent for Lord Yubel already went to Elahi. If you find him when you arrive, he can tell you everything about the situation.”
What? That old man actually went there?
Hearing Alfred’s words, I let out a big sigh.
I had a bad feeling something very annoying was about to happen.
