Translator: Nox

25

Chapter 25

"Who is it!"

I struggled to escape from the grasp.

"Oh, why is there a baby here?"

The owner of the elegant yet coquettish voice was none other than…

"Terezia Ardos!"

"Oh my, you know my name? It seems the rumor that you can't read was false."

Surrounded by numerous elders, she stared at me intently and tilted her head.

"In any case, outside access is prohibited for proper treatment. I'm really sorry, but… let's meet next time."

I struggled, but I couldn't stay.

Thump.

My body was lifted by the knights and immediately transported to my detached residence.

* * *

After sending Coco away, Terezia summoned the elders of the Ardos family to the prayer room in the north detached residence.

"As you know, I will be treating Grand Duke Rivera here."

"Ah, Lady Terezia herself…"

"So, I hope everyone will watch."

Terezia took off the pure white veil she was wearing and smiled serenely.

Lucrezia, who had left for the temple a few days ago, had repeatedly urged Terezia.

"Terezia, you have Purification Power, don't you? You can imitate healing power to some extent with that Purification Power, and you've treated many people. So, this is your chance. Use your Special Ability to put Duke Libera in your debt."

"If I do that, can I become the Grand Duchess?"

"Yes. The Duke cherishes Grand Duke Rivera very much. He said he would readily give billions of gold if you could heal him."

"I want both very much."

Terezia smiled, hiding her greed.

If she became the Grand Duchess of Rivera, she would gain infinite honor that Chloe could never obtain.

Everyone's eyes in the prayer room were focused on her hand.

Grand Duke Rivera was sitting still in the center of the sanctuary.

His indifferent expression held no expectation.

"As you may have guessed, Grand Duke Rivera's illness is 'Ability Outburst'."

"Ability Outburst… Can it be cured, Lady Terezia? I have never heard of curing an outburst with Purification Power in my life."

Despite the agitated atmosphere, Terezia only smiled gently.

"Of course. Now that I've diagnosed the illness, I have to cure it."

As soon as she finished speaking, a cloudy white light emanated from Terezia's hand.

It was a somewhat turbid grayish-white, but it was definitely light.

'I quite like it.'

Was it thanks to emitting it in front of everyone for the first time in a while?

People stared at the light reverently.

"That's Purification Power, isn't it?"

"Oh my goodness, it's really Lady Terezia."

"They say that white light coming from the fingertips is evidence of a powerful divine blessing."

"Lady Terezia's light isn't pure white, but it's close to white anyway, right?"

An elder, who was watching the situation, quickly flattered her.

"You are truly amazing, Lady Terezia. In the face of great light, incomplete darkness will simply wither away, won't it?"

"Of course, the light in Lady Terezia's hand is the most beautiful. Because it is the power to purify evil forces."

While they praised Terezia and indirectly criticized Chloe, who used 'dark' magic, and strengthened their bonds.

Caligo simply lowered his eyelashes.

'I'm still in pain.'

Even though Terezia used her Special Ability, Caligo's condition was not good.

His hands were covered in scratches, and his shoulders were stained with bright red blood.

But saying he was in pain was a nuisance.

He simply muffled his groans between his lips and muttered.

"…Shoulder."

"Ah, blood… It's a natural healing phenomenon."

"…"

Terezia looked at him and said kindly.

"Grand Duke, today's treatment is over. You seem to be getting better."

At her words, the surrounding admiration continued.

"As expected of Lady Terezia! Today's treatment was also ecstatic."

"Really, Grand Duke Rivera seems to be pleased as well."

Terezia smiled gently and patted his back.

"Then, Grand Duke. I'll come again tomorrow to finish the rest of the treatment."

A smile was clearly lingering on her lips.

But it was a cold touch with no kindness at all.

With everyone's praise of 'Lady Terezia is amazing,' she left.

After the treatment was over, Caligo's whole body ached, but he bit his lip tightly. Still, he wanted to have hope.

'Maybe I'm mistaken.'

Everyone is saying that I will get better.

If I do well, I might be able to get better.

I'll be able to swing a sword normally.

I might not be a burden to my father or brother anymore.

He gasped from the long pain and closed his eyes.

In his fading vision.

Someone rushed over.

Then, they fed something to his mouth.

"…You."

A voice that no one here, praising Terezia, could have heard.

But it was a voice that was more intense than anyone else to Caligo.

He didn't want to think about anything anymore.

At that moment when he gave up everything.

A dark shadow flowed from his fingertips.

The shadow, which had been wriggling for a moment, slipped out.

Without anyone knowing.

* * *

The Emperor of Mice struggled to bring the Video Orb.

"Thank you, eat this!"

"Wow, the best cheese! You turned the table over!"

After playing the Video Orb placed on the table.

I frowned.

"Mouse, what should I do? The Grand Duke seems like he's going to burst soon if this continues. Bad Terezia!"

His condition was the same as when I saw the future!

"That's too bad. Oh well, cheese is the best."

"But this Video Orb is crackling, and I can't see anything well… What should I do? What do you think?"

"I think I want to get more cheese, regardless."

The mouse, blinded by cheese, was not helpful.

If I looked closely at the Video Orb, I could find out why the Grand Duke was like that, and if I did well, there might be a clue to cure the Grand Duke, but for some reason, the screen was not visible.

I sighed as I carefully turned the Video Orb.

'I can only see Terezia doing strange things.'

I want to see it in more detail.

"How do I move this?"

I tried to operate it diligently with clumsy gestures.

Then the mouse pressed the Video Orb with its hand.

"This zooms in. Isn't it amazing?"

"Wow!"

I widened my eyes and watched the flowing video.

The situation was already coming to an end.

At that time, a woman's beautiful hand was seen.

And, she was feeding the Grand Duke a drink.

"What's that water? It's a delicious color."

"Mouse, I'll give you more cheese, so don't be obsessed with eating."

"Zoom in more. I want to drink that water!"

The mouse, who was diligently eating cheese on the table, revealed its greed.

Then, thump, it fell on its butt.

And.

Screech-!

With a loud noise, the voice became incredibly loud.

"Grand Duke, you really need a lot of attention. That's why His Grace the Duke considers you a nuisance. Poor thing. From now on, you must only trust me as you do now, and only be close to those I have selected. That's how you can get healthy."

The mouse and my eyes widened at the same time.

"Wow."

"What am I? Am I really a genius mouse? How did I catch this scene right away like this?"

"Mouse, that's not important!"

I just found out why the Grand Duke avoided me!

I knew who the owner of this voice was.

"Grand Duke, you shouldn't be outside. Come in quickly."

It was the Grand Duke's nanny.

I clearly remembered the nanny's voice I heard when I slipped out through the dog hole earlier.

"Mouse, you know too, right? If you make people's minds unstable, they'll burst."

"Yeah. It's common sense."

So, I had to stop Terezia and the nanny, both of them.

'If it's difficult to stop both of them, I have to stop the nanny first.'

So, I had to delay the burst for now.

I rushed out.

Towards the boy who would be sitting quietly in the desolate space where so many people had disappeared at the end of the Video Orb!

* * *

"Hello!"

"Why are you here again?"

The garden in front of the detached residence after receiving treatment.

The small boy who was left alone, Caligo Rivera, did not like the tiny girl who suddenly appeared.

Especially the girl's eyes were annoying.

'Kids with pure and clear eyes like you wouldn't know.'

He clenched his scarred hand tightly.

'The feeling of my body becoming a prison.'

It was when he was giving strength to his eyes that were about to sting and muttering softly.

He saw the small girl moving her feet busily in front of him.

'She's not leaving even if I keep saying harsh things?'

Caligo, who was rather taken aback by her spirited appearance, stammered in embarrassment.

"You, go away. Why do you keep coming to me?"

"Yes! I have something to see!"

The small girl moved busily around.

In the girl's fingertips, a small Parapo seed was visible.

"Don't dig up the flower bed and leave right now!"

He deliberately stomped his foot.

It was because he remembered the nanny's terrifying words.

"Grand Duke is like a time bomb. He might kill the person next to him. So, if anyone other than me gets close, you have to drive them away no matter what?"

He was going to get angry somehow to drive the child away.

But there was no reaction from the girl.

She just clenched the seed in her hand tightly.

Did she get hurt?

'…Was I too harsh?'