Raiden and his family returned to the main building, dismounting at the grand entrance where several guards awaited them.
The guards quickly took the reins of the horses, leading them away as Raiden was gently set on his feet, with his family gathering protectively around him. Together, they headed inside, each step echoing through the grand hall.
It wasn't long before the family's doctor and healer arrived—a woman with a confident stride, a bright smile, and a curvy, elegant figure. Raiden's eyebrows rose slightly as he watched her approach, her presence immediately filling the room with a quiet authority.
'Well, well… you don't say,' Raiden mused inwardly, amusement flickering in his gaze. In all his three years in this world, he had never once seen this woman.
Not during his birth, nor any time afterward. It made sense, though—he had read that mana hearts kept illnesses at bay, making it rare for anyone in the family to need a healer's assistance. But now that his family believed he didn't have a mana heart, it seemed they were determined to play it safe.
The healer, Hilda, knelt down to examine him, her hands warm as she placed them gently on his shoulders. "So, you're the young lord I've been hearing so much about," she said with a smile. "It seems you've given your family quite the scare."
Raiden simply gave her his best innocent look, though inwardly he was calculating, watching her every move. Hilda's mana sense was strong—strong enough that if she were to detect even a flicker of mana within him, his secret could be revealed in an instant.
Hilda's hands began to glow faintly as she moved them over him, conducting a thorough examination. She scanned him with mana sense, her eyes narrowing slightly in concentration.
Raiden felt his stomach twist as he tried to remain calm. 'If she senses my mana heart, this is going to be awkward.'
The healer's mana moved in waves, probing gently but thoroughly as she checked for any anomalies. Raiden's heart pounded, a slight panic rising within him. But when Hilda's expression softened, he felt the tension melt away. After a final scan, she leaned back, sighing in relief.
"There's nothing wrong with him," she announced to Lady Elise with a reassuring smile. "No signs of illness, and no unusual mana signatures. Whatever caused his fainting spell, it seems he's perfectly fine now."
Raiden felt a surge of relief, mirroring his mother's expression. Lady Elise's face lit up as she clasped her hands together. "Thank you, Hilda. I'm so relieved to hear that," she said, her voice soft with gratitude.
Raiden managed to keep a straight face, hiding his triumph. 'Thank you, [Mana's Cloak],' he thought, mentally tipping his hat to the skill he had chosen so wisely.
His concealment ability had apparently hidden his mana heart so completely that Hilda couldn't detect it at all, likely because his mana heart and veins were composed entirely of mana.
When Hilda finished her inspection, she turned her attention back to Raiden, giving him a gentle smile. Only his mother remained with them in the room, so Raiden decided to take advantage of the moment.
"Miss Hilda," he began, looking up at her with wide, curious eyes. "Why haven't I seen you around here before?"
Hilda laughed lightly, resting a hand on her hip. "Oh, I'm not always around, little lord. I usually accompany the Chief Guard and the other warriors when they're on missions. They need my healing skills more often than anyone here."
Raiden's curiosity only grew, and he nodded thoughtfully. "So… have you been traveling since I was born?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.
"Here and there," she replied with a grin. "I've been busy, to say the least. But I'm back now, and I'll be keeping an eye on you until I'm sure you're in perfect health."
Satisfied with her answer, Raiden gave her a polite nod. But he had one more question up his sleeve.
"Are you going to be staying in the main building?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual. "Or one of the other buildings?"
Hilda chuckled, glancing at Lady Elise with an amused expression before turning back to Raiden. "I'll be staying in my lab, two buildings away from here," she answered.
"But if you're ever curious, you can come visit me anytime. I'll be more than happy to welcome you." She winked playfully, adding, "You seem like the curious type."
Raiden maintained a simple smile and nodded, but inwardly he was grinning, his mind already running with ideas. 'Two buildings away? Noted.' But just as he was congratulating himself on his smooth questioning, he felt his mother's eyes on him, her gaze sharp and slightly suspicious.
"Raiden…" Lady Elise began slowly, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "What are you planning now?"
Raiden blinked innocently, shrugging as he looked up at her with wide eyes. "Nothing, Mother. I just wanted to know more about Miss Hilda."
Lady Elise's skeptical expression softened slightly, but her eyes remained narrowed. "Well, keep that curiosity in check," she warned. "You've already given us all a fright with this disappearing act."
Hilda laughed, rising to her feet. "I'll be back soon to check on you, Raiden, just to make sure you're truly fine," she said, giving him a warm smile as she turned to leave.
Raiden waved, his face a picture of innocence. "Of course I'm truly fine," he murmured as she stepped out, flashing a small smile. 'Better than ever, actually.'
As Hilda left the room, Raiden leaned back against his pillow, mentally replaying the day's events. He had pulled off a feat none in this world could dream of at his age, he had managed to keep his mana heart concealed, and he now had a new connection to the family healer—an invaluable resource for information, he was sure.
For now, he would play the role of the innocent youngest son of the Goldheart family. But in his mind, he was already mapping out his next steps.