They remained in that position for several minutes, with Adelia silently sobbing in her mother's arms. It took her a while before she could regain her composure.
Finally, she pulled away from the Duchess' embrace, wiping her eyes with her sleeves as she sniffled.
Eva watched her, her thoughts hidden behind an inscrutable expression.
"I'm sorry," Adelia mumbled.
Her mother tilted her head to the side inquisitively. "For what, my love?"
Adelia sniffed again. "For worrying you with my tears."
"You didn't worry me in the slightest," Eva said with a genuine smile. "Although I do get upset when you suddenly break down like that, it's alright to cry it out once in a while."
The young lady stiffened for a moment, then she slowly nodded. If only her mother knew how often she cried.
She took her mother's hand and looked up at her sheepishly, attempting to force a smile on her tear-streaked face. "...Can–Can I?" She asked, her voice hesitant and her eyes seemed to search the Duchess' face for an answer.
Eva pursed her lips, unable to immediately give her a response, as she knew exactly what her daughter was asking.
Adelia had an extraordinary power, one that set her apart from normal witches—the mysterious ability to heal... among other things.
"Is this necessary today, Delia?" she inquired. "I already feel well enough."
"It is necessary," Adelia insisted. "I will continue to do this every day until you're fully recovered."
The Duchess furrowed her brows wearily.
Unlike every other race, her daughter had the unique ability to perform healing spells that no one else could.
With just a few words, she could relieve anyone of their pain and illness, and as far as Eva was concerned, there was no other being in the world with such power.
Her gift had emerged when she found out that her mother was ill due to her birth.
And since that revelation, she began to search for healing spells even more fervently, determined to find a way to cure her mother.
The little girl would exhaust herself every single day looking through books and experimenting, ignoring their pleas for her to rest.
To both the Duke and Duchess, her search seemed in vain, as they knew that even if healing spells existed, no one would be able to wield them.
Still, they couldn't sit idly by and watch their beloved daughter suffer, and so they joined her, searching for a spell that could cure the Duchess or at least bring temporary relief, fully aware that their search might lead to disappointment.
That was until Duke Veldon stumbled upon a heavy tome in the palace's library – one that contained ancient healing spells.
He was skeptical about its authenticity at first, wondering why something so valuable was left to gather dust.
Nevertheless, he brought it back to Veldon Castle, daring to hope for a solution.
After all, they had been searching for a cure for the Duchess with no end in sight.
Within that tome, they found the lone healing spell that seemed to work, 'Curare infirmitatem.' A spell that could not be used by any other witch except their daughter.
Eva let out a resigned sigh. "Alright, if that is what will stop you from being distressed and sniveling today."
Despite her tears, Adelia's face reddened in embarrassment, and she quickly checked her dress and her mother's as well.
Surely, she didn't leave behind any snot, did she?
Eva laughed weakly at her daughter's reaction, but the laughter quickly dissolved into a coughing fit.
Adelia rushed to rub her mother's back with her hands, worry etched on her previously embarrassed face.
"I'm alright," Eva insisted as she cleared her throat and straightened herself. "I'm alright now, you can carry on."
The young lady pursed her lips as she observed her mother, concern lingering in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and took her mother's right hand in both her own.
She huffed softly, "Curare Infirmitatem."
With those words alone, red wisps of aura emanated from her, surrounding them in a warm, comforting glow. The energy sank into Eva's skin and bones, strengthening her as much as it could.
But she knew it would only last for a few hours at most because for some reason, Adelia's spell, though powerful, did not work on her like it was supposed to.
It was both a blessing and a curse – the spell granted temporary relief, but a lasting cure eluded them.
When they had found it, they had expected using it once would rid the Duchess of her illness, but they could never have been more wrong.
Not to mention that its effects on her had reduced drastically over the last two years…
Still, if not for the spell, Eva did not think she would have survived this long.
When Adelia was done and the red wisps of aura had dissipated, she took in a deep shaky breath. The spell always took its toll on her, leaving her feeling drained but not to the extent that she would be unable to recover.
And even if it weakened her to that extent, she would still do it.
She stared up at her mother. "How do you feel?"
Eva managed to smile warmly at her. "A lot better now, my love."
Adelia weakly reciprocated her mother's gesture, attempting to speak, but before she could utter a word, a knock resonated at the large double doors of the Duchess' chamber.
Startled by the sound, both Adelia and her mother turned their gazes towards the entrance, witnessing the doors being gently pried open, revealing a tall, middle-aged man.
His dark matte hair rested just above his shoulders, complementing his eyes that resembled polished emeralds. His skin, though remarkably pale, avoided the ghostly appearance.
The corners of his eyes bore crinkles, which told of how much he smiled, but currently, his expression remained stern as he fixed his gaze on the young lady seated on the spacious bed.
Adelia swallowed nervously, her eyes wavering under her father's piercing stare. Despite knowing he was likely upset, she mustered the courage to address him.
"A—Afternoon, Father," she managed to say.
"Where were you?" The Duke's question came sharply.
Adelia flinched, clutching tightly at her mother's dress, dreading the impending scolding she knew was coming.
Eva chuckled weakly, diverting their attention to her. "Come now, Aldous," she began, regaining her composure. "Don't be too hard on her. I've already reprimanded her enough today. I'm sure she'll learn her lesson," she turned to her daughter. "Won't you?"
Adelia nodded quickly in response to her mother's question and then turned back to her father, asking with her eyes for a more lenient judgment.
"I promise I won't do it again, Father," she offered, her attempt at an apology frail and vulnerable. "If—if I do, you... you may ground me for as long as you wish."
It took great effort for those words to escape her, and she fervently hoped they wouldn't come back to haunt her.
The Duke stayed quiet for so long that Adelia thought her proposal would go unanswered but soon enough, he let out a sigh.
"You spoil her too much, Eva." He said, his usual playful smile returning. "But very well, then. Let's hope you don't regret those words."
Adelia nodded again, apparently happy that she had escaped his rebuke today.
"Thank you—" she wanted to say but the words instantly died in her throat when his expression turned serious again.
"Still, you must come with me, Delia," he urged. "I have something important to discuss with you."