Chapter 17
“…Hah!!”
I gasped for breath and suddenly sat up in bed.
“M-My lady!!”
When I opened my eyes, I saw Anna dropping the basin she was holding in shock.
With a pale face, I slowly looked around.
‘This is….’
At that moment, a heavy pain spread through my entire body. I tightly shut my eyes, and the memories from right before I collapsed came rushing back all at once.
As I reflexively curled up, Anna hurriedly pulled the bell cord.
“M-My lady, Lady Selenea…!”
Soon, noise erupted outside, and the closed door burst open. People rushed in all at once.
I slowly lowered the hands that had been holding my head. Among the crowd, I saw a familiar face.
“…Walter.”
When I murmured weakly, Walter rushed over to me.
“My lady! You’ve finally regained consciousness!”
I barely had the strength to respond and only managed to nod. I had countless questions, but I was so short of breath that speaking was difficult.
As I lay there, breathing heavily with a deathly pale face, someone who had been standing by the wall hurried toward me.
“I’ll need to examine you for a moment.”
He spoke politely and took my wrist, placing his palm over it.
The next moment, a warm light strangely spread from his hand.
I stared blankly, my mouth slightly open.
Along with the light, warmth traveled from my wrist throughout my body. The pleasant sensation gradually calmed my chaotic thoughts.
After slowly removing his hand, he spoke carefully.
“The magic power remaining from that man has now completely disappeared. However…”
“However?”
“…I sense something else.”
At his meaningful words, both Walter and I looked at him at the same time.
“How should I explain this…”
He muttered, looking confused.
At a glance, the man looked well-built and had a gentle, friendly impression.
The lenses of his glasses, which seemed slightly small for his face, briefly glinted.
Then our eyes met. He made a small “Ah” sound and spoke.
“I should introduce myself first. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady. As you can see, I am the new physician assigned here. Before coming here, I—”
“Keep it short.”
Walter cut him off sharply. The physician smiled good-naturedly.
“Yes. I’ve somehow become your personal doctor.”
I glanced at Walter, and he nodded.
“His Grace personally brought him to accurately assess your condition. Despite appearances, he’s said to be quite capable.”
“I’m Martin Dunbaum.”
The physician extended his hand with a proud expression. I awkwardly took it.
At that moment, I felt that same warmth again at my fingertips. When I flinched slightly, Martin smiled reassuringly.
“Since I’ve got your hand anyway, I’m checking again.”
‘He can examine me just by holding my hand?’
I looked at him suspiciously, but soon he slowly released my hand.
Then he tilted his head.
“Ever since earlier… I keep sensing this.”
“What do you mean?”
When I asked, his expression grew serious.
“When I first examined you, your body was completely filled with that man’s magic power. It seems he injected a considerable amount into you.”
My expression stiffened. I had expected as much, but it was still unsettling enough to make my skin crawl.
“So at the time, I couldn’t properly see your ‘vessel’…”
“Vessel?”
“Yes, literally. It refers to the amount of magic power a person can contain. Usually, the larger the vessel, the greater the ability one manifests—like your father, Duke Tigris.”
I nodded. Thinking of God’s Tears that Ansen had created, it made sense.
‘Everyone has a natural vessel, and if the amount of magic exceeds it, it goes berserk.’
Martin continued.
“As you can see, I’m a physician, so I manifest a holy-type ability—healing. But healing is actually quite simple.”
“Simple…?”
“Yes. The principle is that I circulate my magic throughout the patient’s body to heal injuries.”
I recalled the warmth I had felt when Martin held my hand.
That unfamiliar sensation of something warm spreading and circulating through my body.
“Because of that, I naturally become aware of the patient’s vessel.”
“So by circulating magic, you can estimate the size of the vessel.”
Martin smiled.
“You’re quite sharp. However… I cannot sense your vessel at all, Lady.”
“Isn’t that because I’m an unawakened one?”
He shook his head.
“The difference between the awakened and unawakened is simply whether they possess magic or not.”
“……”
“Think of humans as cups—it’s easier to understand. Some cups are born already filled with water. That water never runs dry, no matter how much you pour out.”
Looking at me intently, Martin added, “That water is magic power, and the ability manifested through it is what we call a special power.”
I quietly nodded.
“On the other hand, some cups are completely empty—not a single drop of water. Those people are born without magic and become unawakened.”
“…But both are still cups.”
In other words, whether awakened or not, everyone has a vessel.
Martin nodded, as if acknowledging my understanding.
“But in your case, Lady, I can’t sense that vessel at all.”
“You can’t sense it? That doesn’t make sense.”
“I’m not certain, but it feels as if there’s a wall.”
“A wall?”
“Yes. As though an enormous wall is blocking me, making it impossible to measure your vessel.”
I looked at Martin for a moment, then shook my head and spoke to Walter.
“Walter. This guy… is he really competent?”
Martin’s eyes widened, his mouth half open. But I didn’t hesitate.
“No matter how I look at it, he seems like a quack. Those lines are way too obvious.”
Shaking my head, I stretched my legs to get out of bed.
But the moment my feet touched the floor, all strength drained from them, and I collapsed straight down.
“My lady!!”
Anna rushed over and supported me.
Frowning, I stared at my legs, which strangely had no strength at all.
“Why is this…?”
A bad feeling suddenly crept in.
“…How long was I unconscious?”
“Well… three months, my lady…”
Anna answered, looking at me with worried eyes.
My face went pale as I quickly turned my head to look out the window.
Outside, thick snowflakes were falling heavily.
The day I met Meyer in the reception room had clearly been autumn, with colorful leaves everywhere.
“That’s impossible.”
And now that I looked again, it wasn’t just the weather—the scenery was different too.
From my room at the mansion, I should have been able to see the wide garden. But here…
An endless plain covered in white snow, with massive mountains towering in the distance.
I could even see scattered stone towers and unidentified fortress walls.
“…Where… where am I?”
When I asked in a slightly trembling voice, Anna replied,
“This is Tigris Territory Castle. It’s already been seventy days since we arrived.”
I fell silent in shock.
…Erea prays every day after hearing news of you, young lady. When I asked whom she was praying to, she said, “My late mother.”
Erea and I miss you very much. We hope we can meet you again in good health.
With our wishes,
Estellin
I lowered the letter in my hand and picked up another one.
Breaking the sealing wax on the envelope, I saw neat handwriting filling pale pink paper.
How could you stay unconscious at such an important time? Do you know how little time is left before academy enrollment?
While you were lying there, I already developed my ability further.
Annoying as it is, your advice helped. Martina sends her regards.
Rosetine P. Grimaldi
I slowly set the letter down.
Only then did I notice the bouquets decorating the bedside table, the window, and the top of the fireplace. Several dried flower arrangements were hanging on the wall as well.
“All these flowers came with the letters?”
“Yes. Lady Estellin sent letters almost once a week. Lady Rosetine did as well.”
I pressed my lips together at Anna’s words and muttered,
“…Seriously. I’m perfectly fine.”
Anna smiled beside me.
“Shall I bring you a pen and stationery so you can reply?”
“…Well. Since I’ve woken up, it would be polite to write back.”
Anna nodded and quickly left the room.
I sat there quietly, then idly tapped the stationery on the table.
‘We miss you very much.’
‘Your advice helped.’
Those embarrassing lines from the letters lingered in my mind. I muttered softly again.
“Honestly… those kids.”
They were so innocent. I worried how they would survive in this harsh world if they gave their hearts so easily.
Letting out a deep sigh, I placed the letters back into their envelopes and carefully set them on the bedside table.
When I opened the drawer, a flashy jewelry box lay at the very front.
Inside the half-open box, all kinds of rare treasures sparkled.
Rubies, sapphires, diamonds…
Without hesitation, I shoved it deep inside.
Then I carefully placed the letters in its place.
“Seriously. Anna said there are more letters too. Where am I supposed to keep all of these?”
I shook my head and started to get up—then froze when I noticed someone standing by the door.
“…Duke—no, Father?”
My mind went blank.
The last face I had seen before collapsing.
Duke Tigris was standing there.
