CH 19

As Sebastian walked out, the maid, Gianna, followed him.

“Sebastian? Where are you going?”

“What’s the matter, Auntie?”

“You don’t look well.”

Sebastian hated Gianna. From what he had seen over the past few days, she was the closest to Lily.

He chuckled.

“That person is doing it on purpose.”

“Who the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Miss Lily. How can she hide the fact that she’s a sorceress until now? It’s because she didn’t want to work.”

“Didn’t you hear that it was a misunderstanding? She helped us with our work!”

“She only pretended to help us, but actually played with Master! It’s also obvious why that person suddenly told us her identity now. She wants to put us in debt for life!”

Sebastian thought he knew it all. He was even quite confident about it.

He’d only run into Lily’s shoulders a little, but she fell down.

The woman was wicked. And Sebastian was the only one who could see through her true nature.

Gianna scolded him harshly.

“Sebastian!”

“You’re all idiots!”

Sebastian pushed back, not afraid of Gianna’s momentum.

“Why is everyone’s view so narrow? I get it, actually, everyone hates and envies the pureblooded Imperials. Then some amazing noblewoman came along and was nice to you, and you all went blind!”

”Get out of my sight. Get away from me now, until my fist can’t reach you!”

“Oh, you’re so kind! You didn’t have to say that, I’m already leaving!”

Sebastian ran to the other side of the corridor and disappeared.

Meanwhile, people were busy worrying about Lily and complimenting her.

****

Lily was sleeping peacefully.

It was Blake’s room. He had moved her here himself. It was the best space in Winter Castle.

The portraits of the previous Dukes hanging on the walls had been roughly painted. The fireplace, made of red bricks, was very large.

It was also very hot inside……..

Lilly was still cold.

It wasn’t even human body temperature for the always hot Blake to feel.

‘How foolish of you to overdo it like this.’

He even pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down.

In fact, he thought it was him who was stupid.

Surely there was a way to prevent situations like this from happening in advance.

He should have doubled the patrols to prevent a surge of monsters.

“D*mn it.”

He could have taken more sorcerers.

The sorcerers were too high-minded to see the Duke when he came to the capital. Still, he should have shown an astronomical amount of money to bring them here.

“Lily Hedwick.”

The man called the name quietly and placed a hot towel on her forehead.

She didn’t even smell like peaches anymore.

Sometimes it was hard to breathe because he was scared when nursing Lily. His chest tightened.

Even if he didn’t hear a gunshot, he still felt like a war neurosis coming back to him.

‘What on earth do I want with her?’

It was a question he couldn’t find an answer to.

He just nursed her, speaking to himself.

“If the Lady knew about this, I’m sure she would tease me……wouldn’t Lily be waking up any minute now?”

He looked at the edges of her dry lips, but there was no sign of movement. He missed the low voice that gave him goosebumps inside.

“Why is it like this? Mother, I’ve been an adult long enough. I hate being overprotective,” she said “Because you liked to make fun of me by turning my words around.”

Blake often laughed at such jokes. He just bit his sharp teeth harder and didn’t show it.

How long has passed? He heard a heavy knock and a man’s voice outside.

“Captain, everyone is ready.”

It was a knight of the Order who called Blake captain.

It was time to clear the rest of the monsters in the mountain to take the patients down.

Blake gave the order to his employee, “Protect Lily well,” and then walked away. 

“Rest well, Lady. Please don’t do anything strange.”

***

Of course, the people nursed Lily well.

They frequently took boiling water to raise Lily’s body temperature forcibly.

“Here we go.”

One of the servants lifted a huge water bucket.

“Are you going to Lily?” (Sebastian)

Sebastian stood in front of her.

He had a bright face. He kept his dislike for Lily well hidden.

“Then let me go to Lady Lily!” (Sebastian)

Sebastian held out his hand willingly.

This boy snatched the water bucket from the maid who had no time to say anything.

‘’I’m sure you’re busy nursing the rest of the sick.” (Sebastian)

“Will you do that for me? Thank you very much. It seems like only yesterday that you were a child, but when did you grow up to be this big?” (The maid)

The people of Winter Castle were a kind of huge family.

They raised Sebastian together like a son.

Sebastian actually didn’t like being treated like a child.

‘Hmm, there are only a few months left before I become an adult.’

He had long since grown up himself. He had to be an adult to carry out missions with Blake.

He turned around, cursing the adults who raised him inwardly.

Of course he didn’t mean to nurse Lily for real.

Not even Sebastian had ever been in Blake’s room. That was how secret the Lord of the Winter Castle’s place was.

And in there was Lily……….

Sebastian thought. It would be nice if she died quickly now.

“I’m coming in, Lily.”

He stepped inside noisily.

There was no answer. Lily was perfectly asleep.

Sebastian looked around.

‘If low body temperature is a problem…………. How about turning off the fireplace and opening the windows?’

Then the icy cold outside the castle rushed in quickly.

Sebastian spilled a bucket of hot water into the fireplace. The fireplace, which had been flickering with flames, began to lose its light.

Eventually, he opened the window and quickly slipped out of the room with his hat still deep on his head.

***

Lily was alone for hours after that.

It was because Sebastian hovered in front of the door.

“I just checked her.”

He said, and let all the people who came by leave. Even those who doubted him said, “No way did that kid cross the line”. Sebastian thought to himself. He hoped the upper class woman would freeze to death.

In fact, his plan was working quite well. People die when their body temperature is kept below 28 degrees Celsius. Not to mention people who are weak like Lily. 

So… 

The thick gate of the Winter Castle opened, and the strike force returned. It was much earlier than expected. The cause of this was Blake.

The stains of blood proved just how fierce the battle had been. It was so violent that even the knights who accompanied him had blood on their faces. Even the black hair had long since frozen reddish. 

Blake swept his hair and spoke indifferently.

“Now, it’s somewhat finished. Those who have spare strength will transport the patients down the mountain. The knights will guard you all the way.”

“Thank you for your help! We’ll protect them. Let’s go. Don’t forget your weapon!”

Our bodies will be protected by us, so don’t be furious. Let’s all go. Don’t forget one weapon at a time! “

While they were preparing, an aide approached Blake.

“Should we prepare your bath?”

“I’ll stop by the room first. “

Blake’s first task was to go to Lily.

He forgot about the hindrance of the thick fur cloak and the leather belt with the sword.

He was going to brag to Lily how hard he had worked.

How the sword had cut through the monster’s heart and how the axe had cut through its head.

Once while Lily was asleep and once after she woke up, he would tell her.

“Lady.”

He walked into the room, hiding a smile.

Immediately, the cold air grazed the edge of his lips.

It shouldn’t be this cold.

Her flushed face stiffened instantly. The muscles and veins were clearly visible against the dark skin.

“What the hell is this ….Lily Hedwick?”

‘Is she playing a joke?’

Blake would rather think so.

Yes, that’s for sure.

It must be the mean woman who had woken up and pulled a prank like this.

‘Why didn’t you tease me with your mouth? I would be happy to accept it today no matter how many times you made a bad joke.’

“It’s not funny at all.”

The man moved his chin harder.

But the closer he got to her, the colder his blood became.

That was when he finally noticed Lily’s faint breathing.

The man realized that all of this was not a prank and that Lily was really dying.