CH 23.2

I just wished that this time would pass quickly. 

I positioned myself on the stretcher in a stiff posture. 

I covered my face with both hands in embarrassment, and Lionel, who was walking along with us, took off his outerwear and covered my appearance. 

Lionel seemed to know that I was just ashamed, but it was cruel that there was no way to explain it to others. 

‘What?’

I noticed a conspicuous presence through the obscured field of view. He was never seen here, so I hurriedly reached out and lifted Lionel’s clothes a little. 

But there was no one there, it was just my delusion. 

‘My father couldn’t be here.’

I thought I had seen Count Bachne and Askale among the people, but it was clear that I was seeing things because of my mood. 

There was no reason for them to be here. Especially if it’s the Count. 

“Lindel, what’s the matter?” 

“No. Nothing.” 

“Lie down, it’s dangerous.”

Lionel laid down the coat with a soft touch. 

However, even though I knew the human heart can be very cunning, I wondered if it was just of me. 

I entered the carriage and looked once more among the people when Lionel’s clothes were out of my view. 

But there was no sign of the Count either. 

‘Yeah. You couldn’t have come here.’

This left a bitter taste in my mouth. Fortunately, it didn’t last long and was soon forgotten. 

“Lindel had a seizure?!” 

“No?!” 

The new knight waiting in front of the carriage brought me back to my senses. His unnecessarily loud voice rang out all over the palace today. 

The people near the carriage were more agitated when they heard the voice.

I glared at the priest, knowing it wouldn’t be of any use. 

“Tell me, knights. What exactly are the symptoms-” 

“I said no!” 

The Count. No, my father’s existence was erased from my mind.

* * * 

After returning from the temple of Rutte, Lionel became busier. 

With the national foundation festival just around the corner, he seemed to be busy because of the lost time due to me. 

Thanks to that, the time I spent alone was longer. 

‘As expected, it’s different.’

That day, the heat that enabled the use of aura came to me several times a day without any notice. 

What was surprising was that every time I felt the heat, I was noticeably recovering. 

There was no change in appearance, but in the moment of heat, I was able to gain the same strength as before. 

The loss of stamina and lethargy that troubled me disappeared as if washed away, and the flow of aura was free as before. 

I was happy with the current situation as I had to suffer a lot of inconveniences due to the aftereffects of the contract. 

Even if it was not painful, I was always exhausted because it was subtly uncomfortable.

Today, too, when I pressed the area near my heart with my hand, the heartbeat under my skin was transmitted to my palm. 

The heartbeat, which seemed to be a little fast, hid the heat filled in it. 

“I did it!”

As a test, I put an aura on the wooden stand I was holding, and this also worked without difficulty.

But the moment I was happy, the aura on the stand disappeared again.

‘About 3 seconds is the longest.’

I couldn’t help but stare at the stand whose aura had disappeared with a sad face.

Like the first time I felt the heat, I was able to use the aura, but it was only for a moment.

No matter how much I practiced, that did not change.

And if there’s one thing that hasn’t changed, it’s the reaction after using aura.

After using the aura, all my strength was immediately drained from my whole body, and blood trickled down my throat.

As I sat on the floor like a doll with a fallen string, blood flowed down my chin. 

I was in a state of being unable to do anything for a while. So all I had to do was sit on the floor and complain to myself. 

‘Does this not go away?’

I had been caught by the maids several times in this state, so this was inevitable. 

No matter how much I bragged about my good condition, no one believed me because my outer appearance was dying. 

My healthy beating heart rate or noticeably brightened complexion was hidden by vomiting and weak limbs.

Thus, I continued to deal with the aura secretly.

‘If I am caught, Lionel would stop what he is doing and come running right away.’

That part still bothered me because it seemed to bother busy people more, but I had no intention of quitting because of my body gradually becoming more comfortable as I dealt with my aura.

‘What else do I have to explain later?’

As I was idly rolling my eyes and choosing an excuse, I caught a bookcase lined up on the wall at the end of my gaze.

“Ah.”

I peered through the cracks in the bookshelf with anxious eyes.

It was hidden but visible. There was a bottle of glass containing red powder that I had previously received from Laroque.

‘Should I try it now?’

Actually, I’ve been thinking about eating Estel several times since I came back to the palace. 

However, I was worried about the side effects that Laroque mentioned, so I was delaying taking the medicine every time. 

Of course, it wasn’t usually a serious problem when my heart stopped. The current situation was equally problematic. But there was another thing on my mind. 

‘What is that smell?’

The problem was the smell of medicine. 

When I first arrived at the palace and opened the medicine bottle, I was shocked. It was because my nose was about to rot from the smell that came out as soon as I opened the lid. 

Considering how bad the smell was, I was afraid to challenge it prematurely, considering that I even vomited in vain. 

“What if I die on the spot after taking this?” 

The smell of Estel was terrible to the point of such doubt.

As I was contemplating the red powder, the tightly closed door suddenly opened. 

The one who entered was none other than Luna.

I was sitting facing the door, and our eyes met as she came in. 

She looked at me with growing pupils and pursed lips. 

“You came?”

I deliberately greeted her with a brighter voice, causing Luna to drop the clothes she was holding onto the floor.

Despite seeing her reaction, I shamelessly laughed it off. 

Even if I were to say that it’s fine, she wouldn’t believe me. 

I said it, but I was already in a state of “Oh well, I don’t know!”

My name mixed in her scream could no longer unsettle me.

I think I’m going crazy with the people around me, but I’m sure it’s just me.

“Madam Lindellllll!” 

Luna’s scream echoed loudly once again.