When Rheannon woke up the next day, she found Hadrian already awake and in the middle of getting changed. It was unusual for him to wake up earlier than Rheannon.
"You couldn't sleep last night?" Rheannon asked, then yawned a little.
Hadrian turned and walked over to Rheannon. His habit of checking Rheannon's body temperature continues. "On the other hand, you slept very well last night," he said. "Last night must have worn you out. You fell asleep in the room where I left you. It was Lord Chas who brought you here last night."
"Oh. So how did last night go?"
Hadrian was silent for a long time. "Today I'm just about to really get started. I've also sent some people to Desmond's old house."
"You can send Chas there if you want," Rheannon said. "Or send him to the place where the accident happened. I will leave the Nightmare Demon with him."
"You can do that?"
Rheannon nodded. "Only in certain people, and the results will not be effective. But at least the Nightmare Demon that I entrusted with me can see a bit of the past traces of that place."
"The effective way… Do you have to come along?"
"Yes. There's actually a quick way that doesn't require us to bother going there."
"From how you talk, I don't think I would like it."
Rheannon smiled faintly. "I can force my way into Desmond's memory, just like I did to you during the Pyrs attack that time," she said.
Hadrian closed his eyes for a moment. "Forget it," he said. He continued changing his clothes.
"I can do that for other prisoners to speed up your interrogation."
"No. I don't want to force sick people to work. So forget it." Before Hadrian stepped out of their room, he said, "Please have a good rest. You have a fever. I'll call the doctor."
And Rheannon was alone in her room.
She didn't realize she had a fever.
***
The doctor said Rheannon was just a regular fever. Nothing serious. If she rests for a while, it will definitely heal right away. Nevertheless, Hadrian took it seriously. And that caused Rheannon to be stuck in the room most of the day.
When Rheannon felt like she would die of boredom, a soft knock was on her bedroom door. Rheannon, who was napping, immediately woke up and invited whoever it was to enter.
Desmond's timid face peeked through the crack in the door.
Rheannon immediately flashed a smile. "Come in, Desmond," she said softly.
Desmond enters hesitantly. He approached Rheannon and sat on the edge of the bed.
His little hand touched Rheannon's. It's soft and warm.
"Is Mother all right? I heard from Sir Ichabod you have a fever," said Desmond quietly.
"How do you think I feel? Do I still have a fever?" she asked.
Desmond shook his head. "I think it's getting better."
"How about you? Are you okay?"
Desmond was silent for a long time, then looked down. Desmond is still thinking about last night's events. Well, of course.
"Come here, Desmond," Rheannon called. She shifted slightly, making room for Desmond to lie down with him. "It's so boring to be alone here."
With hesitation, Desmond lay down beside Rheannon. There was still some distance between them, but at least Desmond was willing to get close to him.
"Did you sleep well last night?" she asked.
"Yes… Not bad… How about Mother?"
"Your father said I fell asleep in the common room next door. I even woke up earlier today."
"Hmmm," Desmond played with his fingers. "That's great. Looks like… all is well."
"Not at all, Desmond. Some things are not okay," said Rheannon. "And that's only natural. Including if you feel afraid and confused."
Desmond turned to Rheannon quickly.
"Even if it's not all good now, it will definitely get better later," said Rheannon.
"I…" Desmond muttered. "Don't know anything. I was confused and… scared. Papa and Mama used to treat me normally. I didn't know that my mom…"
A demon controller.
"There may have been a time when you saw and felt something," Rheannon said cautiously. "But you didn't realize it."
"I don't really remember," Desmond told her. He bent his legs and rested his chin on his knees. "Honestly, I don't remember much of my time with Papa and Mama. I just feel warm when I remember them."
Actually, it's natural that a child of Desmond's age doesn't really remember his childhood. But considering his mother was a demon controller, Rheannon suspected that Desmond's memory had been modified by his own mother.
If that's true, this will be hard, Rheannon thought.
"Am… I really am a demon controller just like you?" asked Desmond.
"Are you afraid of becoming a demon controller?" Rheannon asked back.
"It is not like that. It's just…" Desmond looked at Rheannon sadly. "What about Mother? I know that before this, you were in prison because people thought that Mother was dangerous. What if they… put Mother back in jail?"
"It won't happen again." Rheannon took Desmond's hand and kissed it. "No one will be able to touch me again. His Grace won't allow that to happen anyway."
"So Mother will be fine even if I'm a demon controller?"
"I'm actually pleased because there are still other demon controllers in Rexton."
Desmond suddenly ran over to hug Rheannon. "Then you promise not to go, okay? I don't want to be alone anymore."
"Don't worry, Desmond." Rheannon stroked Desmond's head. "There are still many things I must teach you as a demon controller."
Desmond is a special person. He is a rare phenomenon. Rheannon must prepare this boy for the future of many people.
This is not the time to be weak and die.