TPOVF 23

Chapter 23

Kiernan lifted Kyle up in one go, set him down over the fence, and grinned at him.

“After you finish your lessons with Teacher Yurenia, of course!”

“Okay! I will!”

Kyle grasped Yurenia’s hand firmly and answered confidently. Then he waved to Kiernan in farewell.

“See you tomorrow, Kiernan!”

“Review what you learned today in your head, alright?”

Kiernan winked and tapped his own head. Yurenia greeted him with a look and walked with Kyle toward the mansion.

Under the blazing sun, Yurenia opened her parasol to create shade for the child.

Kyle hummed a tune as he walked along with energy.

“You seem especially happy today, Kyle. Was swordsmanship that much fun?”

“Well, actually… you know.”

At Yurenia’s question, Kyle stopped walking. He looked around, then gestured for her to come closer.

When Yurenia bent down and offered her ear, he cupped his hands around his mouth and whispered.

“It’s Mom’s birthday soon.”

“Is that so? When is it?”

“The 12th! So I’m going to give her a present.”

“You’ve already decided on a present?”

“Hehe. Yeah.”

Kyle shrugged his shoulders slightly and smiled. Then he lowered his shy eyes.

‘What could it be?’

Yurenia tilted her head and looked at the child. A faint pink flush crept across Kyle’s cheeks, unable to hide his excitement.

“It’s… well…”

“What is the present, Kyle?”

Kyle twisted his body shyly. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally moved his lips.

“…A letter.”

“A letter?”

“Yeah, I can write now, you know. So I’m going to write a letter to Mom.”

‘So that’s why he was so excited today.’

A gentle smile spread across Yurenia’s face.

When she had first learned that Kyle couldn’t yet write, Yurenia had promised that someday she would help him write a letter to his mother.

Since that day, Kyle had practiced his writing diligently every day. As a result, he had not only mastered spelling but now had far better sentence composition than other children his age.

It was thanks to reading books every night until bedtime.

She had wondered why he was putting so much effort into learning to write.

It turned out he had been practicing with the sole desire to write a letter to his mother.

“Teacher, you’ll help me, right?”

“Of course!”

Yurenia nodded vigorously. Then she tilted her head and asked.

“But Kyle, you write so well now. Is there anything I can help with?”

“What if I make a mistake in my writing?”

“Even though you can read difficult newspaper articles with ease?”

“It’s my first letter to Mom. I’m so nervous…”

Kyle clasped his hands together and fidgeted. Yurenia looked at the child with warm eyes.

“I promised to help you, didn’t I? Let’s write a wonderful letter that will surprise your mother.”

“Thank you, Teacher!”

Only then did Kyle’s face brighten with a smile, his worries melting away. Yurenia straightened up and took the child’s hand again.

“…This isn’t enough.”

In a storehouse of a separate palace within the Imperial Palace.

Maeve muttered as she looked at the boxes stacked in the storehouse. Her face was haggard as she checked the herb inventory.

“Drying 1kg of Velamo yields only a handful.”

Velamo.

Velamo was an herb said to help purify mana, and the fresh herb could also be used for cooking. The herb, known for its unique aroma and flavor, was as prized as truffles and commanded a considerable price as a rare ingredient.

So much so that it was called the gold of the fields.

But the price didn’t matter to Maeve.

If it was for the child.

“At this rate, it’s going to be tight.”

Maeve’s insides burned with anxiety.

What she needed wasn’t fresh Velamo, but dried Velamo. Because it had to be burned as incense.

However, even if she bought a large quantity of fresh herbs, the amount would shrink considerably once dried.

Thanks to the Emperor’s grace, she had procured more dried Velamo, but even that wasn’t enough.

“We have more Velamo purchased from the Eastern Continent scheduled to arrive next week. I’ll calculate the quantity carefully so we don’t run out until then, and burn the incense accordingly.”

“…Alright.”

Maeve gave a faint smile at Nadia’s words.

In truth, Velamo didn’t have much effect on Lillian’s illness. It merely slightly suppressed the surging mana in the child’s small body.

Still, that was something.

They had poured all kinds of medicine and magic into her, but they still couldn’t control Lillian’s mana rampage.

So Maeve had to stay by the child’s side day and night, pouring out her own mana.

Otherwise, the immense mana—too great for that small frame to bear—would try to consume the child.

“Lily? What’s she doing now?”

“Fortunately, the seizures have subsided a lot compared to this morning. Though she’s lost consciousness again.”

“Tell the physician to keep the incense burning without stopping. I’ll find a way somehow.”

“Understood.”

After giving Nadia her orders, Maeve left the storehouse.

She had come down because she was anxious about the Velamo stock running low, but now she was uneasy about having left Lillian’s side in the meantime.

Maeve, the Marchioness of Dalton, was also the Emperor’s aide. Having been granted the title of marchioness early on as the Emperor’s senior lady-in-waiting, she had been on leave ever since Lillian fell ill. Thanks to the Emperor’s consideration.

Still, she couldn’t stay on leave forever, so today she had arranged to have an audience with the Emperor.

But just at that moment.

Just as Maeve was about to leave for the Emperor’s palace, Lillian had another seizure.

The tiny five-year-old child vomited blood and shed tears in streams.

The sheets on the large bed were stained red, and the child’s blue eyes—so like her deceased husband’s—brimmed with pain.

Maeve simply couldn’t bring herself to leave.

How could she leave a child who cried out only for her mother?

So she committed the disloyal act of making the Emperor wait. Even so, he graciously understood.

The Emperor didn’t show any displeasure and grieved over Lillian’s illness as if it were his own family’s.

—

*’Hugo is deeply worried too, Maeve. Your face looks terrible. Is there anything I can do to help?’*

—

Maeve declined, but he was insistent.

The Emperor gave her Velamo from the imperial treasury and even granted her the privilege of summoning the High Priest of the Temple privately.

“Nadia, the High Priest will be visiting soon. His Majesty has specially permitted it.”

“The High Priest?”

Nadia was greatly surprised by the news Maeve delivered.

The Empire’s Temple was a sacred place dedicated to serving the gods, and the High Priest acted only for the Imperial Family.

Ordinary citizens couldn’t even approach the temple, and the High Priest—let alone ordinary priests—was a being above the clouds, not easily met.

And yet, they were summoning such a person for Lady Lillian.

Nadia spoke with emotion.

“That’s wonderful news! The High Priest is as skilled in magic as the Tower Master. If even the High Priest is coming, Lady Lillian is sure to recover.”

“Yes.”

Maeve answered weakly and headed toward Lillian’s room.

Judging by the fact that he had even allowed the High Priest to be brought in, the Emperor seemed to feel guilty for not having been able to look after Lucien properly when he was ill.

But Maeve didn’t particularly resent him for that.

Back then, everyone had assumed that young, strong Lucien would soon shake off his sickbed and get up.

But mana rampaged with terrifying force, gnawing away at his life.

That being born with immense mana wasn’t entirely a blessing.

That it could be more dreadful than any curse.

At that time, Maeve had learned it to the bone.

Mana was as cruel and merciless as a starving beast.

Would Lillian be able to avoid being devoured by mana until the High Priest arrived?

Please, just hold on for one more day.

Hoping that she would endure today and greet tomorrow, Maeve headed toward Lillian’s room.

But then.

“Ugh, hnngh, cough! Keck!”

As Maeve entered the corridor where Lillian’s room was, she heard an ominous sound from afar.

“Lily!”

Instantly turning pale, Maeve called the child’s name and ran toward the room.