“One person?”

“Yes”

There shouldn’t have been any turning back for him at this point, but he didn’t talk for a long time.

“You can tell me about the person who tried to make you leave this country.”

“Protect me please. They wouldn’t stay still knowing this.”

“Was it because you came here against their orders?”

“Yes, so protect me, please.”

I just nodded amid the shift in atmosphere.

“I get it. I don’t even know what’s happening, but I’m going to protect you. So please tell me about it. Who the hell is trying to hide the truth about me?”

“…. It was His Holiness.”

I might not have been so shocked had it been the Emperor or someone else, but I was momentarily speechless when he said it was the High Priest who had always treated me kindly.

I was confused about what to say, nevertheless, I added.

“Am I not mishearing right now?”

“No, you aren’t. Even though I didn’t know the reason, after a thorough investigation into this particular genetic disease passed down from generations, the priest came to visit me. I was ordered not to investigate the matter further and not to tell what I knew about it”

His hands trembled from anxiety.

“Is that all?”

“Yes… and he paid me to leave the country, but…”

His face glittered with greed as he talked about money.

“As expected… you came to this place.. is it because of the money?”

I thought he should have plenty of chances to escape since Ian didn’t drag him here by force, but to my surprise, he didn’t.

‘So it’s about money, after all.’

“N-No way. That can’t be the reason. I’m just…”

“…. I can give you the money if you want. If you want to leave, I will help. But, do you have anything you heard or you want to tell me?”

“Not at all. He stopped me when I was about to start investigating. He just said that it was a disease bestowed by God.”

“I suppose you don’t know how to cure me, either.”

“Yes, but the High Priest might know something.”

Maybe that was why he was obsessed with me.

‘Because I’m suffering from the disease known as the disease of the gods?’

As I wondered, the doctor was still watching me.

“But it’s a bit strange.”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

“You look much better than the last time I saw you. You can’t have this complexion with that disease.”

He looked at me curiously.

“….Do you think I look so much better?”

“Yes.”

I laughed bitterly because he said that.

It was one of the two.

Was it because an unknown disease was wearing away my vitality…

‘Or the day I was sold here, Liona was already dead’

It was already strange that I was suddenly brought here and took over someone’s body. But I felt stifled the more I mulled over it. I might be looking into the wrong answer, after all.

“Can I examine you?”

As he came closer with an uncomfortable gesture, I let him examine me.

His face turned white after examining me for a while.

“…You’ve gotten a lot better, I think?”

“Better, you say….”

“At this point it won’t impact you that much. Have you been passing out suddenly of late?

“No, I don’t think there was any incident.”

“I see…there’s nothing to be worried about, then.”

“….All right. I appreciate you telling me. Please return to your room. I’ll handle the matter after that.”

The doctor seemed relieved and got up from his seat.

“Thank you.”

After watching him rushing out in a hurry, I rang the bell on the table. Then May rushed inside.

“Did you summon me?”

“Take the doctor to the guest room. He will be there for a while.”

“Alright.”

Delighted laughter broke out as he followed May outside with light steps. After watching the doctor leave for a while, I rested on my seat while pressing my temple.

How can this happen? Genetic disease? What do you mean you were blocked by the High Priest.

‘Why on earth?’

Did he wish for me to die?

‘Did he try to kill me that day? In front of Ian and Rere.’

Suddenly, I felt chills running all over my body.

Did I trust people that easily?

My hands trembled. I thought he was a nice person, but he was trying to hide my illness. Wasn’t it a matter of life and death?

“Seriously…”

Just at that moment.

Someone approached me. I was so deeply in thought that I was unaware that anyone had come near me.

“Oh…”

“I was going to play a prank on you, but I didn’t expect you to be this immersed.”

He sat down and looked directly at me, so perhaps he felt that my expression didn’t look good.

“Leona?”

“…Yeah”

“What’s wrong? Did the doctor say something weird?”

“Ian.”

I looked at him. I made eye contact with him. His red eyes were on me like flickering flames of burning timber.

That was why I couldn’t tell him anything.

‘Ian. I suffer from a weird disease. A disease that may or may not be cured. A disease that may or may not take my life.’

I couldn’t bring myself to tell him anything, to Rere, too.

They were supposed to be happy.

But Ian held my hand without saying anything.

“Please tell me. What did you hear that made your face so pale? It really broke my heart to see you.”

“…Nothing. Nothing happened.”

“Leona. Please don’t carry the burden alone.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

But Ian’s eyes betrayed his persistence. It was so firm and adamant as if he wouldn’t take my silence. What should I say to him?

I mumbled for a long time and let out a deep sigh.

“As expected, I don’t have the blood of the Selen family.”

“I see.”

“And I was abandoned because I carry a disease inside my body”

“What kind of disease?”

“It’s a hereditary disease. It was called the curse of the gods a long time ago. The doctor was curious about my disease and tried to find out about it and was silenced by someone. Anyway… he said that I could die.”

I spoke so firmly but my fingers were trembling somehow. Living as Leona was not easy at all. It was full of misfortune. And it was such a tiring life.

I thought we would all live happily together when Rere’s health improved, but that dream was crushed again. Now it wasn’t because of Rere, but me.

‘Is it because I didn’t follow the novel?’

As I thought deeply, Ian’s hand swept my cheek.

“It’s a relief.”

“What relief are you talking about….”

“Liona was making every effort to treat Rere’s illness when there seemed to be no cure. I believe we found a solution because of you.”

“…Ian”

“But we know what kind of illness Leona has. So I’m sure you can get better from now on. If you know the reason, I’m sure there’s a way to get better.”

I looked at him silently.

“Nothing will change. Leona will not die.”

I always acted like I was okay the whole time. Pretending that nothing worse happened and that everything would be alright.

But the truth? I wasn’t okay. I wanted to be happy. I wanted to live as a normal person.

But God was so cruel to me for taking away my happiness when I thought I was closer to it. There had been moments when I wanted to give up. I wanted to vent out all my exhaustion but I couldn’t do that.

‘Because I’m Rere’s mom’

I had a child to protect. So I had held it in, but the hopelessness came over me because it seemed that there was no more hope for me.

And this time Ian’s hand held mine.

“You will live. Both Leona and Rere.”

“…Is that…possible?”

“Of course. I’m sure of it.”

Then.

“Oh, geez. Hey, Big Bunny! When will you come?”

Suddenly, Rere, wearing a large straw hat and carrying a strange instrument in her hand, rushed into the room.

“Rere…?”

“Why didn’t you come? I’ve been waiting for Big Bunny all the time!”

“Ah…!”

“You said that you will do this with me.”

“I’m sorry. Did you wait for me?”

Only then did my dithering mind become solid again.

“Yes I am! I’ve been waiting for so long! I want to have fun with Big Bunny. Just like before”

“Just like before…”

“Yeah! I actually had a lot of fun! Every morning after I woke up was really, really fun. I thought about what to do with Big Bunny today. But I’m sad because I haven’t been able to do that lately.”

Rere came closer and grabbed my hand from my lap.

“So, let’s go!”

“All right. I’m going”

Rere smiled so brightly, almost like she knew what I felt. So I laughed along with her.

‘Right, it hasn’t happened yet.’

I would look into this matter soon whether it is about my disease or the High Priest. But I wanted to cherish the moment for now.

This moment would never come back.

“Shall we go then? Ian should join us, too.”

“Where are we going?”

“We are going to play farm together!”

“Play farm?”

I got up and followed the two of them out of the room. I was going to follow Rere’s lead. But May, who had just accompanied the doctor to his room, grabbed me.

“Excuse me, Madam.”

“What?”

“I found out about that matter you asked me a while ago.”

“Ah…!”

In very curious timing, May handed me a small note.