Chapter 6

“That’s exactly what you said! I… figured it out through deduction!”

Shouting those words with my trembling body took all the strength I had.

I breathed heavily.

Whew… I almost died.

…But it feels a little better now, doesn’t it?

I carefully looked at Cain.

The sharp, suffocating pressure that had felt like countless needles piercing my body had finally eased.

Thank goodness.

A moment ago, I really thought I was going to suffocate.

I had known he would be angry.

After all, I had deliberately brought up a sensitive subject.

I had even prepared an explanation in advance.

But when I actually faced his anger…

I was completely overwhelmed.

My mind went blank.

I could barely speak.

So this is why they’re called dragon-blooded.

I finally understood why the novel described him as someone everyone feared.

After collecting my thoughts, I forced myself to focus again.

The atmosphere had calmed down.

But this wasn’t over yet.

“Explain.”

Cain spoke in a low voice.

It sounded as though he was giving me one final chance.

Carefully choosing my words, I began.

“I realized Young Master Jayden’s condition a few days ago.”

That was the day I remembered that I had been reincarnated into the novel.

The moment I remembered the original story, I naturally knew Jayden suffered from Tamutar Disease.

One of the early chapters was about Melody helping treat him.

After that, Jayden came to love Melody like his own little sister.

It had been one of the most memorable early episodes.

Still…

Saying I had “figured it out” wasn’t exactly a lie.

Even before remembering my past life, I had already suspected Jayden’s illness.

“As you saw on my résumé, I used to run a pharmacy in a small village in the south. Because of that, I often spoke with herb gatherers. A few days ago, I heard that someone important was buying large amounts of Sharpleaf Grass at very high prices. I thought it was strange.”

Sharpleaf Grass only grew in certain southern regions, making it rare.

Even so, it was usually considered useless.

Its only known effect was mild bleeding control.

There was almost no demand for it.

But that’s only what most people believe.

“It’s not widely known, but Sharpleaf Grass is actually the only herb capable of suppressing dragon energy.”

I had read that in an old book kept by the Marquis’s family.

Old knowledge was often dismissed as outdated.

Most people ignored dusty old books.

But…

Since I never had a teacher…

I had read every book I could find in the mansion.

People often laughed at me for wasting my time.

I never imagined it would help me like this.

I continued calmly.

“So I immediately thought of House Ashelrn. At the same time, I guessed that someone must have Tamutar Disease.”

It was an extremely rare illness found only in dragon-blooded people.

It happened when a growing child’s body couldn’t handle the dragon power inside them.

In other words…

Only children going through their growth years could develop it.

That alone narrowed down the possibilities.

“Your Grace is already an adult, and Young Master Noah is attending the academy. Naturally, I concluded that Young Master Jayden must be the one suffering from Tamutar Disease.”

…That was everything I had prepared.

Will he believe me?

Of course…

If he didn’t, there wasn’t much I could do.

I certainly couldn’t tell him I had read about it in a novel.

Feeling nervous, I cautiously watched Cain’s expression.

He no longer radiated that crushing pressure.

But he continued staring at me with a deep frown.

Please…

Say something instead of just staring.

“So you’re claiming that you figured out all of this from that little information?”

I answered firmly.

“Yes!”

“If you still doubt me, you’re welcome to investigate my background.”

“If you’re truly a spy, then I’ll at least admire your confidence.”

“Not at all. I’m simply telling the truth. If I were really a spy, I would never have appeared before you. I’m not brave enough to think I could deceive the Duke of Ashelrn…”

I meant every word.

For some reason…

Cain gave a small, amused laugh.

…Why does this feel familiar?

Whatever the reason…

The atmosphere wasn’t bad anymore.

Looking straight at him, I spoke clearly.

“Your Grace, you’re free to doubt me.”

“If you decide I’m useless, you may dismiss me immediately.”

“But… please give me a chance.”

“Can you truly help cure Jayden?”

“Yes.”

“I can.”

“No…”

“I want to.”

The reason I had risked everything to come here wasn’t only for Melody and myself.

Jayden was older than Melody.

But he was still only six years old.

I already knew from the original story that he would suffer for many years.

I couldn’t ignore that.

“In return, my request is simple.”

“Please protect the Saintess candidate and me from anyone who would try to take us.”

“You mean… protect you from the temple.”

“Yes.”

Cain nodded.

He seemed to understand.

Then he paused.

There was still something he wanted to ask.

“…But I still don’t understand.”

“Why are you so determined to protect this Saintess candidate?”

“She is still very young.”

“She also suffers from mutism.”

“I don’t know how people might try to use her.”

“Especially since the position of Saintess has been empty for over twenty years.”

I clenched my fists.

The Saintess was someone chosen by the divine mark.

That mark only appeared when a certain holy relic was brought near.

For now…

I could only call Melody a Saintess candidate.

“At the very least…”

“I want to protect her until she’s old enough to protect herself.”

Those words came straight from my heart.

The original novel was a childcare story.

Because of that…

Melody struggled desperately through hardship after hardship.

When I read it as a novel, I thought it was entertaining.

But now…

Everything felt different.

Melody was no longer just a fictional character.

She was a real little girl to me.

She smiled brightly whenever I gave her macarons.

She snored softly when she fell asleep.

She was simply…

An ordinary child.

Of course, I knew she was destined to become the Saintess.

I knew she possessed overwhelming holy power far beyond any priest.

Her fate would never allow her to live an ordinary life.

Even so…

To me…

Melody was simply a little girl.

The moment I realized that…

The original story stopped mattering.

No matter what happened…

I didn’t want children to suffer anymore.

Children should spend their time laughing and playing.

The difficult problems…

Those should be solved by adults.

That was why I couldn’t give up.

“So…”

“Please make this contract with me.”

Looking directly into Cain’s crimson eyes, I spoke my final words.

***

Cain silently looked down at the woman.

Viola.

At first…

She had merely caught his interest.

But the more he spoke with her…

The stranger she seemed.

She was someone whose thoughts appeared completely transparent.

Yet at the same time…

She was impossible to understand.

He had never met anyone like her.

She acted boldly enough to seem fearless.

Yet she clearly wasn’t without fear.

After risking everything…

She wasn’t asking for wealth.

Nor power.

She wanted only one thing.

Protection for herself…

And the young Saintess candidate.

The Saintess candidate…

She means the little girl.

Cain recalled what he had seen yesterday in the town square.

Priests with holy power couldn’t sense it.

But someone with dragon blood could.

Even though the child was still very young…

He had definitely felt an extraordinary power from her.

Now he understood why Viola believed she was a Saintess candidate.

Judging by that overwhelming holy power…

She might truly be the Saintess.

If he protected such a child…

The temple would undoubtedly become his enemy.

It doesn’t matter.

House Ashelrn had never been on good terms with the temple anyway.

Most noble families tried to maintain friendly relations with the temple.

The Ashelrn family was the exception.

Did she know all of that before proposing this contract?

It was almost a pointless question.

She had already figured out Jayden’s illness from only a few clues.

A woman that intelligent had surely thought everything through.

There was no reason to refuse.

At last…

Cain spoke.

“We’ll proceed with the contract.”