chapter 50
Count Linden Payson entered Rubiana’s bedroom.
Rubiana was lying on the bed, asleep, while Virginia and Justin sat beside her, their eyes red and swollen from crying.
“She’s asleep after taking her medicine.”
“What happened?”
Linden, his expression tense, looked closely at Rubiana’s face.
“Stephanie stopped by for a meal before her night training. But then she heard that Rubiana hadn’t returned after riding out for two hours, so she went to look for her just in case.”
“…”
“She was found collapsed by the lake, unconscious. Thankfully, it wasn’t worse. If Stephanie hadn’t been there, it could have been a serious problem.”
“Hmm…”
Linden’s face tightened into a grimace, lips pressed firmly together.
He was deeply worried about his daughter, suffering from symptoms with no clear diagnosis.
It was unbearable to see Rubiana collapse like this, even when she seemed fine most of the time.
Justin sniffled.
“R-Rubiana… she’ll wake up, right? She won’t… won’t stay like this? I’m scared.”
“Let’s not worry too much. Rubiana is stronger than she looks. She’s taken her medicine, so if she rests enough, she’ll wake up soon.”
Virginia gently wiped away her young son’s tears, speaking soothingly.
Her voice trembled with the effort to remain composed. Linden quietly wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and the butler entered quickly.
“His Highness Duke Elion has arrived. He heard the news of the young lady collapsing and came out of concern.”
The count and countess’s eyes widened at the news of Elion’s visit.
The reality that Rubiana and Elion were engaged became even more tangible.
Linden calmly addressed Virginia and Justin.
“Now, wipe your tears and let’s go greet our guest.”
After exchanging brief greetings with the Payson family, Elion immediately entered Rubiana’s bedroom.
His heart skipped violently at the sight of her pale face.
As soon as he took her hand, he could vividly feel his mana flowing into her.
Elion kissed the back of her hand.
‘Now I feel alive.’
The intense mana that had surged earlier was replaced with a refreshing calm.
Her headache gradually subsided.
He continued to kiss the back of her hand for a long while.
“Ugh… ahh…!”
Rubiana grimaced in pain and shifted in bed.
“Milady? Rubiana? Are you awake? Milady!”
Elion called desperately, but she still had not regained consciousness.
The soft moans that escaped her small lips grew louder.
After a brief hesitation, Elion cupped her face with both hands and kissed her.
He lightly bit her small lips and drew slowly.
Mana flowed out through the delicate membranes, and finally, her pained moans ceased.
At the same time, under Elion’s orders, Hailey sought out Omar.
Perhaps sensing Hailey’s grave aura, Omar greeted her with an unusually subdued voice.
“Something bad happened.”
“Milady has collapsed again. His Highness summoned you. Could you come with me?”
“Ah…”
Omar did not conduct house calls.
Even dealing with visitors was a demanding task.
But treating a possessed guest with a gap between body and soul was another matter entirely.
He didn’t hesitate long.
Omar rose and donned his robe.
“Could you support me a bit?”
“Of course.”
Omar held Hailey’s offered arm with one hand and his staff with the other.
The carriage carrying Hailey and Omar arrived at the Payson estate.
The family’s eyes lit with anticipation at the sight of the duke’s physician Hailey and the heavily-robed healer Omar.
But Elion was not among them.
As soon as Omar entered the bedroom, Elion grabbed him by the collar.
Hailey had no chance to intervene.
Elion’s face flushed with anger as he snapped.
“What the hell happened? You said our bodies were in perfect condition. How can someone suddenly lose consciousness and collapse when we were in peak condition?”
“W-Well… we’ll need to examine her to know for sure.”
Omar’s calm voice finally loosened Elion’s grip.
Yet the suffocating tension remained.
Hailey was still in disbelief at the scene she had witnessed.
‘To see someone usually so rational and composed act this emotionally…’
Even if she told Fred about this, he would never believe it.
‘Has His Highness grown so fond of Lady Rubiana that he’s become emotionally agitated?’
As Hailey tried to calm her trembling heart, Omar retrieved a crystal orb from his bag and approached the bed.
He placed Rubiana’s hand on the orb, then his own hand atop hers.
After a brief examination, Omar spoke.
“You remember that I said your bodies are incomplete until fully restored.”
“…Yes.”
“This case is no different. Even if she was in peak condition, she was still incomplete.”
“I’ve already heard that explanation. Give me something else that might make sense.”
Elion’s eyebrows furrowed in anger.
Despite his sharp reaction, Omar remained calm and continued.
“Here is my view of today’s case. Yesterday, she absorbed an excessive amount of mana. If today she did not, the sudden gap in mana could have stressed her body.”
“…”
“Or stress could have been the cause.”
Elion exhaled sharply, running a hand roughly over his face.
According to Omar’s explanation, Rubiana’s collapse was entirely his fault.
It was he who had pushed her with overwhelming mana the night before.
It was he who ignored Omar’s suggestion today and cut off conversation without listening to her thoughts.
‘Damn it! This is all because of me…!’
As Elion berated himself, Omar carefully continued.
“Once again, I suggest exchanging a large amount of mana for exactly one week.”
“….”
“This method should be effective for Milady.”
“…Fine. Enough, let’s go.”
Elion waved his hand, clearly unwilling to hear more.
But Omar was not finished.
“May I examine Your Highness first? Your mana appears highly unstable.”
“I’m fine—”
“Please, Omar.”
Elion tried to refuse, but Hailey intervened first.
Their gazes clashed sharply.
Hailey ignored the warning in his look.
“Please allow me to perform my duty, Your Highness.”
“….”
Elion bowed his head deeply, unable to refuse her earnest plea.
Suppressing his anger, he placed his hand on the crystal orb.
After the examination, Omar spoke with a grave expression.
“As I suspected, Your Highness’s mana is extremely unstable.”
“What’s strange about that? Just like Milady, my body is incomplete, so rapid changes are possible, weren’t they?”
Elion responded coldly.
He no longer trusted Omar’s words.
To him, Omar seemed incapable of predicting that Rubiana would collapse in a few hours—a mere amateur, despite being the Empire’s top healer.
Yet Omar remained undeterred and continued clearly.
“You are correct. However, unlike Milady, I sensed artificial energy in your mana. It seems the instability was influenced by an external factor.”
“Artificial factor?”
Elion’s face, and even Hailey’s, twisted at Omar’s words.