Chapter 10
Five minutes earlier…
On the way to Jayden’s room with Conrad…
“I’m very sorry, Young Master.”
I heard someone apologizing over and over.
An elderly servant came stumbling out into the hallway, looking completely defeated.
He was carrying a tray with food on it.
A bowl of clear soup, probably prepared for a patient.
That must be Jayden’s room.
There was only one patient living in this mansion.
The soup hadn’t even been touched.
It had already gone cold.
“Please wait here for a moment, Lady Viola.”
“I’ll find out what’s happening.”
Conrad walked over to the miserable-looking servant and spoke with him briefly.
“What happened?”
“Where is the young master’s personal maid?”
“Well…”
After speaking with the servant, Conrad returned and adjusted his glasses awkwardly.
“Has something happened?”
“I’m terribly sorry.”
“I think it would be better if you came back tomorrow.”
“The young master is especially sensitive today.”
He explained the situation.
Since Jayden believed his illness could never be cured…
He had gradually come to hate physicians and pharmacists.
Whenever he was in severe pain…
It became much worse.
Unless it was someone who had served him since childhood…
He wouldn’t even let them approach him.
“On days like this, he sometimes becomes violent.”
“You could be hurt.”
“His Grace also instructed us to be careful.”
“I understand…”
“I originally planned to introduce you to his personal maid while you were here.”
“But she’s away at the moment.”
“I’ll arrange another meeting tomorrow.”
“I think it’s best if you return today.”
Conrad looked genuinely worried.
He’s thinking about me.
I understood.
Jayden was dragon-blooded.
Ordinary medicine had almost no effect on him.
If I rushed in and only upset him…
It would make things worse for everyone.
Still…
The more I listened…
The more worried I became.
It looked like he skipped his meal.
And if he was especially sensitive today…
That probably meant he was in terrible pain right now.
I didn’t want to leave like this.
“Would it be alright if I checked on him myself?”
“It could be dangerous.”
“I really recommend coming back tomorrow.”
“But sooner or later…”
“I’ll have to treat him anyway.”
My voice became firmer than usual.
Jayden probably hadn’t rejected treatment from the very beginning.
He had likely grown exhausted because nothing ever improved despite all the pain he endured.
When patients refused treatment…
It didn’t mean they wanted to stay sick.
It usually meant…
They were already suffering physically…
And they couldn’t bear to hope anymore, only to be disappointed again.
Knowing that…
I can’t just walk away.
Especially when the patient was only six years old.
As a pharmacist…
No.
As an adult…
I couldn’t accept that.
Seeing my determined expression, Conrad blinked in surprise.
Oops…
Maybe I got too emotional.
“A-And besides…”
“It’s my job.”
“My responsibility.”
I added more quietly.
“…Now I understand why His Grace entrusted this to you.”
“On Young Master Jayden’s behalf… thank you.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
Conrad smiled faintly.
“It’s nothing.”
“Come with me.”
“I’ll go in first, just in case.”
Knock. Knock.
The moment Conrad knocked…
An angry shout answered from inside.
“I told you to leave!”
“I said no one is allowed in!”
Conrad remained calm.
“Young Master.”
“I’ve brought the pharmacist.”
“I don’t need one!”
The answer hadn’t changed.
Conrad glanced at me one last time.
Perhaps he wanted to confirm I was ready.
When I nodded…
He simply turned the doorknob.
“Please forgive us.”
“We’re coming in.”
“I SAID GET OUT!”
Creak…
The door slowly opened.
A wave of unbearable heat hit my face.
Ugh.
The room was covered with heavy blackout curtains.
In one corner…
The fireplace blazed like it was the middle of winter.
The air was dry and suffocating.
…This is even worse than I expected.
It was the worst possible environment for a sick child.
How could they leave him in a room like this?
No wonder he’s getting worse.
I thought Conrad said he had a personal maid…
I couldn’t help sighing.
Fresh air was the absolute minimum.
It seemed I had a long road ahead.
But there was a more urgent problem.
I looked around carefully.
The bed is empty.
Instead…
A small figure was curled up on the sofa in the corner.
“I told you…”
“To leave…”
“Haa… haa…”
The boy breathed heavily.
His silver hair, which must once have shone beautifully, was soaked with cold sweat.
It had completely lost its shine.
The real Jayden looked far worse than I had imagined while reading the novel.
His face, visible beneath his messy silver hair, was burning bright red with fever.
“Do you want to die?”
“I told you not to come in!”
After noticing us…
Jayden staggered to his feet.
His unfocused eyes flashed fiercely.
Conrad stepped in front of me to protect me.
His voice became firm.
“This is His Grace’s order.”
Huh?
Was it my imagination?
Jayden’s shoulders visibly flinched.
Come to think of it…
The novel had mentioned that Jayden was afraid of Cain.
There was no reason to upset a sick child even more.
I quickly stopped Conrad.
“Wait, Mr. Conrad.”
“I’ll—”
But he continued speaking.
“If you continue refusing treatment…”
“I’ll have no choice but to call His Grace—”
“I DON’T NEED IT!”
Jayden screamed.
His young voice was so loud it felt like my ears would burst.
“I know my own body better than anyone!”
“JUST LEAVE!”
As he wildly swung his arm…
The flower vase on the bedside table flew straight toward me.
Crash!
It shattered right in front of my feet.
Sharp pieces scattered everywhere.
“Lady Viola!”
“Are you alright?!”
Conrad turned toward me in shock.
But I had no time to answer.
Jayden turned away angrily.
Yet his body looked dangerously unsteady.
Unable to withstand the high fever…
He suddenly staggered.
No!
He was about to fall forward.
Straight toward the shattered glass.
“Watch out!”
Before I even realized it…
My body moved first.
I threw myself forward and grabbed his shoulder.
“Don’t touch me!”
Startled…
Jayden shoved me away with all his strength.
Crunch.
I heard something horrible.
The next thing I knew…
I was lying on the floor.
Jayden!
I immediately looked toward him.
Thankfully…
The force had pushed him backward instead.
He landed safely on the rug.
Thank goodness.
He was already sick.
If he had been injured too…
It would have been terrible.
Relieved, I tried to get up.
Then—
“L-Lady Viola!”
Bright red blood dripped from my left arm onto the carpet.
“…Huh?”
Jayden stared at the blood flowing from my arm.
His face turned completely white.
He looked unable to believe what had happened.
Only his trembling lips moved.
The room fell into suffocating silence.
Then—
A cold shadow appeared in the open doorway.
“Jayden Ashelrn.”
“What exactly is going on here?”
The icy voice belonged to Cain.
Cain forced himself to suppress the anger rising inside him as he looked around the wrecked room.
He had deliberately stayed away so he wouldn’t interfere.
Yet the moment he heard the screaming…
He rushed here.
Only to find complete chaos.
His brow furrowed.
The smell of blood filled the room.
Bright red blood ran down Viola’s pale arm beneath her torn sleeve.
“Conrad.”
“Take her away first.”
“Treat her injuries.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Conrad immediately hurried toward Viola to support her.
Cain slowly turned his head.
His eyes settled on Jayden.
The boy was trembling with fear.
His face had become completely pale.
Not a trace of color remained.
…
This is exactly why I didn’t want this to happen.
Cain swallowed bitterly.
To him…
Jayden was like a ticking bomb.
He knew the child desperately needed treatment.
But because Jayden was so sensitive…
No one could approach him easily.
The only exception was Cain.
Yet even then…
Jayden wasn’t calm.
He was simply frozen in fear.
Instead of helping him recover…
It only made everything worse.
“Explain.”
Cain gestured toward the shattered vase and Viola’s bleeding arm.
His voice was low.
Jayden’s shoulders jerked violently.
“I-I didn’t do it!”
The words escaped before he could stop them.
He quickly covered his mouth.
But it was already too late.
“Hah.”
Cain laughed coldly.
Then he slowly spoke the boy’s full name.
“Jayden Ashelrn.”
The pressure radiating from Cain grew stronger.
Jayden felt himself being completely overwhelmed.
His face became even paler.
Why…
Why did this happen?
I just…
I just didn’t want any more treatment…
“Those with dragon blood stand above others.”
“You must never show weakness.”
A man’s voice echoed inside his mind.
I’m scared.
I’m… not worthy of dragon blood after all.
His breathing became shallow.
The closer Cain came…
The hazier his mind became.
Then—
“It’s a misunderstanding!”
A bright, clear voice rang throughout the room.
