I watch him run toward the back of the house. When he disappears from view, I hear another rustling behind me. I whirl towards the sound and see Pellegrini's household maid.
"Lady Lyrica…" she whispers.
"Can I help you?" I cock my head at her. "I didn't get your name earlier."
She approaches me. She opens her arms in a hug. But I don't get why she needs to hug me, so I take a step backward to evade her.
"What is it?" I ask. I don't even know her name. Hugs with strangers are something that I am unfamiliar with.
"My child…" she whispers, and she grabs my hands instead.
"Your child?" Does she already have one? But she looks the same age as me.
"I know he's not my real son, but he is mine… Return him to me, please… I'll do anything. If you desire General Calais, I can set up a rendezvous where you can have him all for yourself. I will make sure he can't fight back. You can play with him all you want. My mistresses are off-limits, but anything or anyone, I will give them to you. Just please return my child to me."
"Slow down. I don't have your kid. I don't even know him."
She pauses and looks down at her feet. "So you still deny your wrongdoings? Earlier, Lady Eliana was telling us she was mistaken about you. But she's wrong, I…" She lifts her skirts.
"Miss Tiana? Lyrica?"
I whirl towards Calais's voice. He's pulling a black horse. It looks even bigger than Eliana's. Then, I watch his eyes widen in surprise, and then he screams, "Watch out!"
I turn towards the servant's direction—just in time to see the glint of a knife's edge coming down on my chest. Without thinking, I reach up to stop her hands but got cut with the knife instead. I grimace, but I can't let go unless I already want to die in this world. If I die, what will happen to me? Will I return to my world?
"Lyrica!"
At the sound of Calais's voice, I remember to use my magic. I strengthen my chest and make it as formidable as a metal plate. I let go of her knife and I let it hit my chest, which only creates a clanging sound.
The servant looks at my face—her fear palpable. I activate my wind magic. I am only planning to give her a slight push, but she spirals out of the gate and hits a tree—a few meters from the Pelligrini's property.
Startled at the amount of output I can release, I clasp my hands together. Calais passes me and rushes towards the servant to help her. I drop to the ground when I realize that she's unconscious. Calais takes the knife from her hold and throws it away from them.
Without a moment longer, he lifts her and runs back to the house. I hear exclaims and commotion from behind me, but I didn't move. I'm starting to hate this body. I am the one who was almost killed, but why do I feel like it's my fault?
I look at both of my wounded palms. The blood is still dripping from it because of trying to catch the servant's blade. I can see the gash and I feel the throbbing pain. Somehow, it hurts more than I expected.
I look closer at the wound. There are dark remnants on it. My head is telling me that it's poison. Using my magic, I cleanse it as much as I can. But I know that I need to drink some antidote for it. I've read about it in the mansion's library. The ingredients are simple, which I am sure are also available in the mansion.
I stand up. I can't wait for Calais anymore. I need to walk towards the library. My hands throb again. The poison might have been so potent that my healing magic could not fully cure it.
I walk towards the gate and out the Pellegrini's property. I still remember the way towards the library. I can walk there and wait until night falls and Emman returns. Or maybe I can ask Eliana for a horse. Even if I am not sure if I can ride it, maybe my body will remember.
After an hour of walking, I feel dizzy. My temperature is increasing. Is this the effect of the poison? I look at my palms. The gash is getting uglier. Suddenly, I fall and hit the ground.
I blink. Why is there no pain? I can clearly see the ground touching my cheeks, but there's no sensation. This is bad. If only I can fly as fast as an airplane, or even half of that speed, I can reach my house without a problem. But flying takes more energy than walking and running.
I grin. What am I even thinking? My eyelids feel heavy. I snort. Am I dying painlessly? Is this the last mercy that the Pellegrini servant has shown me? And that child she mentioned… Did Lyrica really take him?
If I survive this, I will check and if that young woman is telling the truth, I promise, I will find a way to return him.