He didnt know what possessed him to lean forward and caress her cheek. But before he could make sense what he was doing, he was already so close to her. She smells nice, and her skin is so soft. He wonders, since when did she look like this? How come he didn’t notice it before? Did Lilian always look this way? How did she look again when they first met each other? Was she always this beautiful?

Natalia’s words echoed in his head. He must be crazy thinking about that odd conversation with a seven-year-old.

Lucas’ eyes widened when he saw her reaction. It was the last thing he expected from her, and there is a mixture of pain, confusion, and darkness in her eyes. When she raised her hand and slapped him, he didn’t feel the sting on his cheeks until she quickly got up.

“Wait, Lilia-”

“Don’t follow me,” Lilian said angrily. Before Lucas could take forward, he felt his entire body freeze.

The girl’s eyes flashed a brighter shade of red, and he cursed. Why is she using that now? If she doesnt, want him to follow, he won’t. There is no need for her to make her condition worse.

Lucas could only watch as she rushed out of the room. He sighed deeply when he heard approaching footsteps. “Didn’t I tell you to leave already, Miss therapist?”

“Miss Lilian told me to stay. She wanted me to make sure you were fine too.”

Lucas sighed again when he heard those words. “It’s fine, and it was the usual type of job.”

“But don’t you hear voices too? Surely that isn’t healthy.”

“It is a side effect from using dark magic,” Lucas admitted.

Naomi nodded. “I suppose that makes sense.”

“Just focus on Lilian. But if she ever makes unreasonable demands question it.”

“Unlike you, I happen to value my life.”

“Then just agree temporarily, and consult with me afterwards.”

A troubled expression appeared on the woman’s face. “You know, sir Lucas, I sometimes wonder if I can treat her.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Yes. In the beginning, I still saw hope. But whenever we talk recently, I notice that she is not listening anymore. Every time I advise her what to do, her gaze seems even emptier than before.”

“But she listened, right? I mean, she made friends with that woman.”

“I told her then that maybe it would be better for her to interact more with others.”

So Lilian did that herself? Lucas blinked, surprised. “Isn’t it a good thing if she is taking the initiative on her own?”

“I thought that too, that this is a good thing and I shouldn’t worry too much. But look what happened just there.” Naomi trailed off. “Sir Lucas, why do you stay beside Miss Lilian?”

Lucas blinked, surprised at her question. “Why do I stay?”

What an odd question; he never thought of this before. Why does he stay by her side? At one point, it just became natural for him to be with her. He gave up on those previous attempts to escape too. Even though he tried to escape before, he wasn’t serious. He just wanted to see how far she would go.

To his surprise, her way of stopping him was completely different.

“Sir Lucas?”

“It’s not like I have anywhere else to go.” He repeated her words from earlier.

As much as it hurt him, it was true he did not have another place. He could return to the magician city, but so much time has passed. The people he knew are most likely no longer there.

“Why do you two have to make everything so complicated. You’re strong, smart, and honestly would make a beautiful couple.”

Lucas sighed. “Just now, I teased her a little, and she freaked out.”

“So you made a move?”

“I wouldn’t call that a move.”

“But she looked flustered.”

“Quit it, don’t even imply such a thing.”

‘Still, she did react oddly.’ It is a first for him to see her that way, so he doesn’t know how to react. Was what he did just there bad?

“I am sure she told you already what she asked of me. Hypnosis so she could recall certain events clearer.”

“Which event?”

“The incident a year ago. Now that I think about it, that was when Lilian started to behave strangely.”

Lucas turned quiet when he heard those words. So it was something like that, he supposes that makes sense. That incident was the last straw for her. Any hope for Lilian to become normal vanished that day.

Now he understood why her therapy sessions have decreased. It’s because she didn’t want Naomi to see. “When was the last time?”

“It was before you started to look around for the world tree.”

“That long ago?”

That was almost four months ago. She went that long without her therapy sessions; in that time, what did she do?

“Is there anything else?” Lucas wanted to get to the bottom of this. “Right now, Lilian is challenging the Empress. If she isn’t in good condition, then she will lose.”

“The Empress huh, I got told to see her tomorrow.”

“Well, you are supposed to be the royal therapist, yet you make random house calls like this.”

Naomi laughed. “It is better this way. I have a license to treat anybody I want, not just restricted to treating the royal family.”

“Is that so?” Lucas still found this woman suspicious at times. But he knew better than to voice those thoughts out loud.

Lilian trusts only a few people. He does not want to take one away from her.

“Since Lilian is so curious about the Empress, though, I will see what is going on.”

With those words said, Naomi quickly left the room. Lucas immediately sensed a surge of magic not too far away and sighed deeply. ‘That girl is so stubborn.’ Naturally, Lucas knew it would be hard for her to move in that condition.

It seemed his own movement had returned, so he left the room.

After walking for a few minutes, he eventually found her crouched down on the bottom stairwell. Judging from what he could see of her face buried in

Lucas sighed as he bent down and brushed his hands across her forehead. “You have a fever. You probably reopened your wound.”

“…”

“Get on my back.”

“Lucas?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not mad for my behavior earlier?”

“The teasing went too far.” Lucas admitted.

‘Sometimes I forget she is a normal girl; then again, Lilian isn’t the type to show her weakness openly.’ It was only the past two years where she started to open up to him.

Lilian laughed. “Were you really teasing? Mr magician, you’re not harboring any odd thoughts about me, are you?”

“I value my life.”

“I see. Did Naomi tell you?”

Lucas sighed deeply. “I wish you wouldn’t act so carelessly like this. Do you know the Kingdom will fall apart if something happens to you?”

“Are you saying the Kingdom needs me to survive?”

“I don’t know why they bothered with the Empress thing.”

“It’s because there are those who do not like how I handle things. I would choose war and destruction over prioritizing the interests of the Kingdom.”

‘Indeed, Lilian often chooses to go to war then settle matters peacefully.’

“Is there anything wrong with that since you provide successful results?”

Lilian has not lost a single war since she became a general. No matter how impossible the situation looked, she has never lost. Still, she isn’t indestructible. How many times has he had to save her from the brink of death?

“Results aren’t everything. Even I am aware that I am not fit to rule this nation.” Lilian trailed off. “But I do not think that Empress will last very long.”

“The way she reacted to you?”

“This nation needs somebody calm and rational.”

“Calm and rational, are you saying you’re not?” Lucas paused. “On second thoughts, you’re right there; you don’t have that rationality.”

She goes crazy at the sight of blood, and not even he can get through her when she is like that.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To your room.”

“It’s a bit messy.”

Lucas immediately understood what she meant. “You’re going to kill off all the servants at this stage.”

“It’s fine, and father will get more. Besides, I give them my blood too.”

“Lilian.” Lucas said sharply. His gaze darkened when he heard those words. “I told you already those creatures are dangerous; even if you are a special existence, your blood isn’t infinite.”

“I haven’t found a better way to control them yet.”

“There isn’t a better way, and they lust after their owner’s blood until they are dead. They can feed off others’ blood, but in the end, they will desire their owner’s blood more than anything.”

She could have used a dragon familiar, but in the end, she chose those blood-lusting creatures.