Chapter 14 – Curing Sylvy

Later that night. The Duke sent all of the servants from Sylvy's room. When Gerald cleared everything, Louise revealed herself.

On the bed, Sylvy was lying like an inanimate object. Her face was pale, and her lips showed cracks on them. She was like a dead person being preserved.

The Duke showed pain on his face. He could not bear to see his daughter like this. She was a lovely and lively girl, yet now she was lying like she would not wake up.

Louise approached the bed and silently observed Sylvy. She lay her hand on top of her, and a bluish aura slowly covered her body. It took almost ten minutes before she retracted her hand.

When she removed her power, it solidified into a round shape. Then, the room started to turn cold, and Gerald observed that the walls showed some snow patterns. He could also feel the frost on his skin, and its hair began to stand up.

The Duke's attention turned to Louise, and on her palm, he saw a little creature that kept on banging the wall of the floating ball.

It was a male toddler around four to five years old. The ice who looked like snow particles covered the kid's whole body with ice. He had an innocent face compared to his eyes viciousness.

It looked at the two of them.

"You and you!" He pointed to the Duke and Louise, "Who gave you the courage to disturb this young master sleep!? I will not let you off! I'll make sure I'll freeze both of you to death!" It shouted angrily.

Both Louise and Duke Gerald stared at the kid who was throwing a tantrum. The Duke wanted him to be squeezed to death. This monster bastard was the one who caused the illness of his beloved daughter. Still, he waited for Louise to make her move.

The ball started to elevate slightly enough for the kid to have the same eye level as Louise. The boy crossed his arms unafraid and started to have a staring contest with the mage.

"Oh...what a stubborn brat," Louise commented.

"If you let me go now, this young master might forgive and let you off." It spoke arrogantly.

"And if I don't?"

"Then don't blame me for being merciless."

Louise gently smiled, "If that is the case, then...," the ball started to squeeze the little guy.

The kid's eyes widened, and the ice on his skin started to evaporate.

"Stop! Stop it! It hurts!"

Louise seemed unaffected and let the ball squeeze him. She didn't want to waste any more time and tried to finish it the soonest as possible.

"Waah..waah..it hurts! Stop it, please." The kid cried.

Louise stopped, and the ball returned to its average size. The kid slumped within the ball while sobbing. Then, he raised his head and looked at Louise. He felt that this girl was earnest about eliminating him for good.

"Don't.. don't kill me," he begged.

"Why not?" Louise asked back. "You will be the cause of the death of that girl if I haven't pulled you out. An eye for an eye. Isn't it the common rule?" Then she added, "Didn't you want to harm me as well?"

The kid looked up with snots on his nose, then responded, "I'm sorry, waah!"

The mage rolled her eyes and pricked her ears, "Where did this crybaby come from?" Then she spoke with some irritation, "Shut up!"

The kid immediately stopped and spoke.

"I don't have a choice. That's my only way to survive. That mage captured me from my home and just injected me into that girls' body," he explained, "If I do not consume her vitality, I will be dead for good. I want to live."

Louise turned to the Duke and asked his opinion. Duke Gerald looked at her daughter. Sylvy's face was now returning to her original state. Yet, it was still a little bit pale.

"You can deal with it." He responded.

Louise then returned her gaze to the ice monster then smiled.

"Very well."

She waved her hand, and the ball disappeared. Then, the ice on the wall started to dissipate. Soon the room returned to its usual tranquility.

"I did my job here. Your daughter should be able to wake up in a little bit."

She then disappeared after.

******

A while later, Sylvy's lashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. She looked around and noticed her father sitting beside her bed.

"F..Father", she called out. Her voice was a little hoarse due to its dryness. "I'm thirsty."

The Duke immediately answered.

"Yes. Father will ask water for you."

He called one of the servants outside, who immediately ran out to the kitchen upon noticing that their young miss was awake.

Later, her mother, Madam Alysson, also entered the room. She almost cried when she saw her daughter, who just woke up from her long slumber.

"Oh, thank you so much." She cried. Then, she looked up to the Duke and asked about the details.

"We should thank that lady from the Moon Palace." He answered.

"Her?" Madam Sophia paused a little bit but suddenly came to a realization. "Then I should personally thank her. But how did she do it? Is she a physician?"

"She cured our daughter out of her goodwill. No need to thank her, I already did." He responded, ignoring her last question.

"Mother, who are you talking about?" Sylvy asked curiously. She just woke up, so, understandably, she is clueless about the current events.

The Duke took the opportunity to answer her.

"She is now my adopted daughter and your sister."

He then summarized all the details for her daughter and wife. This was the first time that he told them about Louise. Of course, he omitted some points, but overall, what he told them was the truth.

"Then why is it that you did not clarify this matter during our dinner with Garcy?" Alysson asked.

"That's because there is no need to. Besides, even if I told Garcy that she is my benefactor, it doesn't change the fact that Louise will still be an eyesore to her, just like you and Sylvy."

"Louise? Is that her name?"

"Yes."

Then realizing the other details from his husband's statement, Alysson's face stiffened.

"Is it her? Is she the one who harmed Sylvy?! And to think that we believed the word of that physician." She asked furiously.

Duke Gerald reached her hand and patted it to calm her down.

"I understand how you feel, but we should not rush things out. I'll deal with Garcy, so leave it to me."

Alysson wasn't able to control herself and cried. The Duke hugged her tightly and patted her back. Then, he ensured that all of the servants were sent out of the room, just him and his first family.

Sylvy also understood everything. She already knew that Madam Garcy didn't like them at all. But this was already going overboard. If it's possible to divorce that Garcy, she would already ask her dad. But she was noble, and she understood political marriage. So she would be putting her dad into a problematic situation if she asked for it.

His father could not divorce her, for she was a marriage bestowed by the king himself. Garcy was the daughter of one of his great advisors, and Duke Gerald didn't have any choice but to comply.

They could use this time to find fault with Madam Garcy, but they don't have any proof yet. That's why his father needed to let her have her ways in the meantime.

Duke Gerald smiled at both of them.

"I'm thankful that you are cure now. Just recuperate in your room and have your trustful servants serve you. In a few weeks, we will be visiting the kingdom of Dusk, so you have to be well."

Sylvy obediently nodded.

"I will, father."