woke up chapter 13

“El!” Marquis Steffen rushed towards Ariel in alarm.

Etheldred, equally startled, turned his head. He took a step towards Ariel, then hesitated, stopping where he stood.

At that moment, the crushing weight that had been suffocating Ariel lifted.

What is this? What’s going on?

Ariel stared at Etheldred, her eyes wide with confusion.

But…it was fine when he was a little further away just now….

“El, are you alright?”

“Are you hurt somewhere?”

Two voices chattered beside her, but Ariel remained silent, her gaze fixed on Etheldred.

What is this? Why is this happening?

Marquis Steffen turned, his eyes landing on Etheldred. His face instantly hardened in anger. “Etheldred Steffen, go to your room this instant!”

Etheldred hesitated, glancing at Ariel before sighing and bowing his head in submission to his father’s command. As he took another step away, a sharp pain shot through Ariel’s back, as if someone were playing seesaw on her spine.

“Oof!”

“El?!”

“I-It hurts.”

It hurts, I think I’m dying! It feels like someone folded me in half the wrong way. Even through the agonizing pain, Ariel realized one thing: she had to keep Etheldred close. She didn’t know why, but she knew she had to.

Marquis Steffen, seeing Ariel’s pained expression as she clenched her fists, frantically called out, “Quickly, get the physician!”

Despite the pain, Ariel reached out to Etheldred. “Wait, Esse-, Etheldred, don’t go.”

At her desperate plea, Etheldred froze, his usually impassive eyes widening in surprise.

“Rodbrill, take El to her room!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Etheldred too. I want to go with Etheldred!” Ariel insisted as Marquis Steffen lifted her into his arms. The Marquis frowned, his disapproval evident. “El, there’s no need to worry about…”

“I hate you, Uncle!”

“What?”

Tears welled in Ariel’s eyes as she saw the shocked expression on her uncle’s face. “Etheldred was helping me, but you don’t even realize it! Do you hate me being here?”

You’re the one who picked a fight with me, so I couldn’t even eat my dinner, and now I’m dying of pain! Ariel bit back the rest of her complaints and, with a determined look, turned to Etheldred. “Etheldred, you’re not going to leave, are you?”

“I, well…” Etheldred looked back and forth between Marquis Steffen and Ariel, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. He abruptly turned his head away. “…Don’t be a nuisance and get treated first. I have nothing else to do, so I’ll go with you.”

Ariel seethed at Etheldred’s curt reply but held her tongue. Just you wait until I feel better, you jerk.

Only after the physician entered the room did Ariel’s pain begin to subside. Wow, I thought I was going to die.

The physician, her curly red hair pulled back in a bun, examined Ariel. “Did you experience any shock or trauma today?”

Ariel’s eyes widened. Wow, she’s good.

The physician, noting Ariel’s expression, nodded and turned to the Marquis. “Please wait outside for a moment while I conduct a thorough examination.”

“Me too?”

“Etheldred too?”

Both Marquis Steffen and Ariel asked, their eyes wide with surprise. The physician nodded, her tone indifferent. “Just for a little while.”

With no room for argument, Marquis Steffen reluctantly left the room. Ariel mouthed to Etheldred, Don’t go. Stay right outside! Etheldred, understanding her silent plea, gave a small nod.

Once everyone except Ariel had left, the physician stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Lady Ariel.”

“Yes!”

A slight smile played on the physician’s lips as she observed Ariel’s nervous demeanor. “We’ve met occasionally with your mother, but we haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Anastasia. You can call me Asha.”

Oh, she’s Mom’s friend!

“Yes, Lady Asha!”

Anastasia nodded at Ariel’s reply, then suddenly asked, “Wasn’t the pain lessened when you were with the young master?”

“Huh?”

How did she know? Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise. Anastasia, reading her expression, grinned and pointed to her own violet eyes. “I have rather good eyesight. I can see the flow of magical energy.”

Ariel, gazing at the amethyst hues of Anastasia’s eyes, asked hesitantly, “Does the flow of magical energy have something to do with my pain?”

“Yes, everyone possesses a certain amount of magical energy. Naturally, if you lack the necessary amount, you’ll experience pain.” Anastasia added in her characteristically impassive tone, “I observed the young master’s abundant magical energy flowing into you, which leads me to conclude that you can acquire magical energy externally. Therefore…”

“Being near Etheldred will help?”

Anastasia’s lips curved into a smile. “You’re quite perceptive. However, this is the first time I’ve encountered such a case.”

“F-First time?” Ariel’s eyes trembled.

Is it a rare disease? Is it incurable? Am I terminally ill?

“Magical depletion rarely occurs, even among mages… Especially in someone like you, who isn’t a mage.” Anastasia observed Ariel with a look of fascination.