# Chapter 18: Change
After what happened, they swiftly departed, To mend Alfonso in a safe charted place. Within the carriage, Mary sat, her concern rife, Watching the boy's struggle, fearing for his life.
Knights of skill, their mana tirelessly spent, In a bid to heal Alfonso.
Every crevice of his skeleton is shattered so grievously that a mere touch, if too firm, might elicit a sharp crack. The thought of the pain he must endure was beyond her comprehension. Having suffered broken bones herself in the past, Mary knew all too well the excruciating agony they brought.
The reality that Alfonso remained among the living sent tremors through her, yet, despite everything, her heart swelled with relief at his survival.
But she couldn't bear the sight of his suffering!
"..."
The wound inflicted by the beast was still mending; thankfully, the bleeding had been halted. Had it not been for their prompt action, Alfonso might have succumbed to the hemorrhage.
With her brows furrowed, Mary then clenched her hands when she recalled the words Valentina uttered.
|| "Alfonso used a potion, I believe, a reason for his enhanced state and how he matched the assassin stride for stride... Yet now, it seems he is possibly going to be crippled...
I sincerely apologize... It was my fault for being weak..." ||
Valentina's voice resonated within her, a soft murmur piercing the silence.
"We're nearly there, my Lord... You'll find relief soon." Tears blurred her vision, yet her gaze hardened with resolve.
"I won't let that happen!"
The origins of the potion Alfonso had come into possession of remained a mystery to her. However, the undeniable truth lay in its lethal nature; the very potion had nearly claimed Alfonso's life but at the same time saved him.
‹ Was this the cause behind what occurred to him on that recent day? ›
She mused as she reminisced about the moment Alfonso crumpled, his bones shattered not too long ago.
‹ Did he come perilously close to death on that fateful day? › she pondered.
Mary, in a quiet reflection, managed to mend Alfonso's wounds without seeking assistance, when he collapsed while training that day. Driven by both concern for his well-being and the discreet application of her unique skill, the
'Black Mist.'
However, during Alfonso's encounter with the assassin and the sudden appearance of the knights, she refrained from healing him earlier, foreseeing the potential consequences.
Revealing her prowess would have turned the tables, diverting the knights' attention away from aiding Alfonso. Instead, they would have set their sights on her, unaware of her hidden skill, risking her life and jeopardizing her lord's safety. The peril lay not in healing the ailing Alfonso, teetering on the brink of death, but in the lethal threat posed by the revelation of her secret ability.
‹ I'll never show my ability unless deemed necessary... And won't harm my lord... ›
Even if she dared to jeopardize her life and employed her skill to mend him at that very moment, the knights might have thrust her with their swords, disrupting the delicate process of healing, and rendering it futile. Her power demanded unwavering concentration. With this awareness, Mary gazed at Alfonso, her eyes revealing a softness as she reminisced about his deeds.
"My Lord... I perceive the weight of regret you bear, yet isn't the penance you impose upon yourself excessively harsh?
The path that led you the way you are, was not of your own fault..."
In a hushed voice tinged with melancholy, her gaze as profound as the ocean's depths, she recalled the gradual change in Alfonso from his childhood. Tears soon welled up, spilling over as she spoke through her sobs.
"I deeply regret not being by your side when you needed me most, three years ago."
"..."
"However, fear not, for I shall ensure your safety, utilizing everything in my power if necessary. The blame lies with me, after all..." Mary whispered, her voice laced with guilt.
Meanwhile, upon witnessing Mary's sudden tears, the two knights at her side registered a moment of surprise, their expressions betraying their astonishment. Yet, they quickly disregarded her emotional display, resuming their responsibilities without further ado.
They could care less, after all, their concerns were not merely about punishment; rather, they were haunted by the thought of severe repercussions due to Alfonso's critical condition.
The thought of execution loomed over them as a potential penalty for their failure. In their efforts to mitigate the fallout, they strived to avoid exacerbating the situation, well aware of their duty to safeguard the one under their watch.
Aware of Alfonso's dreadful temperament, a chill of fear coursed through them, leaving them with nothing to do but clench their jaws tightly in dread.
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As the three girls sat inside a luxurious carriage, one blonde girl with eyes as green as the emerald spoke.
"State your relationship with Alfonso commoner"
Her voice emits a demanding tone yet a gentle one.
"Ummm...I'm sorry but... Lord Alfonso is our first time meeting. It's the truth..."
The little girl with the hue Auburn responded albeit with a meek voice.
Valentina, who listened to the commoner's response touched her chin.
‹ I pondered whether he was putting on a show, but it turns out it was all sincere. He wouldn't normally risk himself, and the fact that he did just to rescue a stranger baffles me. What could have prompted such a selfless act? ›
As she went deeper into her contemplations an abrupt question came forward.
"My Lady, are you truly not going to stop the break of your engagement?"
A maid spoke.
"No, Christine you know why"
But Valentina quickly responded to her.
"I think you should think it through first before making a decision?"
Christine continued yet Valentina's unwavering eyes persisted and gestured;
"No need for that. I'm adamant about my decision"
With her head shaking.
Slowly, her hands crossed. As she contemplated how risky Alfonso's actions were.
Valentina was struck with disbelief at the lengths Alfonso had gone to just to save a commoner.
He had daringly ventured to imbibe a potion lethal enough to claim his life, all in the name of rescuing her maid and the girl. Such an act of selflessness was beyond Valentina's wildest imagination! She knew all too well the peril of potions designed to amplify one's prowess in mere moments; they were fraught with death, for the human frame could scarcely contain the surge of mana without risking utter devastation.
Yet, instead of succumbing to an explosive demise, Valentina surmised it was Alfonso's skeleton that bore the brunt of the ordeal. Overwhelmed by the mana's force, he endeavored to wield this newfound strength, even if it meant his bones shattered under the strain, all to harness and expel the volatile magic within him.
Such a tactic was oft attempted by others, yet seldom met with success.
What if Alfonso were to meet his demise? Would not such a turn of events spell disaster for her sire? Perchance not war, but assuredly, a blot upon her father's esteemed name would be the least of their troubles. And then there was the matter of Antelmo's fury, which surely would not bypass them lightly.
Amidst these swirling thoughts, Valentina could do naught but clench her fists tightly, her heart heavy with concern, silently beseeching the heavens for Alfonso's survival. Still even with the repercussions she was grateful that he saved the commoner including her maid.
However, as her mind wandered deeper.
‹ How did he do it...? Even though he used a potion... The skill he showed... His swordsmanship... How? ›
Valentina asked, recalling the techniques and sword skills that Alfonso showed.
Her brows then slowly furrowed as she remembered how Alfonso always looked down at her.
"Being a girl doesn't mean I can't be a knight... Accepting our engagement doesn't mean I abandoned my dreams; I simply didn't want to burden Father with my ambitions."
Her whisper was so faint, so delicately soft, that had it not been for the gentle creak and roll of the carriage, it might well have carried through the air.
"I'll show you..."