The next day came and all I did was to make sure everything was well prepared before Livius arrived. After I counter-checked everything, I also simply checked if Father was working at his office but as I expected, he was not there.
Of course, he would not be around the moment Livius cures his subordinate. His care for a mere subordinate is not true. Everyone here is just a tool for him. He never knew how to care for others.
Besides, his presence is not necessary here. What I need is an audience, preferably the family of the patient. What I am aiming for here is to make them spread rumors that Livius set foot on a duke's mansion.
I know how quickly the rumors spread in this estate and I will use it to boost his influence by that.
A knock on my door brings me to reality. I didn't notice I was standing for too long beside my study room's window with a deep thought.
"Come in," I said as I turned around to face whoever knocked.
When the doors opened, I saw Elene, the housekeeper. "My lord, Mister Sarrafort has arrived."
I wasted no time and I immediately went out of my study room to see Livius in the receiving room.
As I enter the room, Livius immediately stands up and bows his head before me. "My lord," he said.
"Skip the formalities, just go with me and see my father's subordinate," I said and left the room first.
Elena came along with us to lead us to the way where Sebastian, my father's subordinate, was resting. Then Livius is following us.
Father acts as if he feels guilty for what happened to Sebastian, that's why he asks his subordinate's family to allow him to take good care of Sebastian and to take the responsibility to cure him.
People of this estate think my father has that kind of empathy. They were all naive to that idea.
Elena opened the door's room for me and I didn't hesitate to enter. This was my first time setting foot here in Sebastian's room, so I didn't know who I might see inside.
Inside the room, of course, Sebastian is lying on his bed. He has a bandage on his right eye, but he doesn't have his right arm anymore. And I also heard from some of our maids that he's now incapable of walking.
On his right side, I guess sitting beside him is his wife and his daughter, who is way younger than my sister.
While on the left side, there is our butler, Marcus. Aside from him, there are also some maids here that is assigned to look after Sebastian.
Marcus approaches me and bows before me. "My lord, the duke informed us of your visit."
I'm looking at Sebastian when I talk to him. "Let Sarrafort do what he needs to do. Just watched him."
As I said that, Livius appeared before me. I notice he brings some of his herbs. I know he will bring his herbs, but…
"I apologize, Mister Sarrafort. But we can't allow you to use any medicine aside from what the household prepared," Marcus said as he immediately halted Livius and pointed out the medicine that one of the maids was holding in a tray.
Livius immediately looks at me as if he's asking me to save him from trouble.
I remember how he shielded those herbs from me, that's why I'm certain how valuable those herbs are to him. But even if I say to let him use his herbs, Marcus will insist on obeying my father's order.
Of course, I can use rapport and persuasion again to make them follow me but I don't think it's a good idea in this situation. I don't want to cause problems, it won't help Livius to raise his reputation.
I crossed my arms while smirking at Livius. "Come on, this is a Duke's mansion and of course, there's rule in here. Just treat him using the herbs they told you to use," I said.
He rubbed the back of his neck as he handed over his herbs to a maid. Then, he approaches the wounded person lying on the bed.
I remain standing while watching him check Sebastian, but I can't stop wondering why his gaze bounces from side to side. Is he worried because he is not allowed to use the herbs he brings? What's with those herbs? He seems so nervous around us.
He looks at Marcus who is also standing near him and asks in a very low voice, "Perhaps, you know… what happened to him?" He makes sidelong glances while keeping his head still at Sebastian.
Marcus immediately nodded. "Yes. He accompanied the Duke to an expedition on the northern border of our estate because a villager near it reported there was a wandering monster in the forest," he said.
He looks at Sebastian before speaking again, "According to the duke, the monster who attacked them was about four feet tall, resembles a blend between a large feline and a reptilian beast, and its skin is dark…"
Then he bows his head before saying, "Mister Murry protected the duke but unfortunately, this is what he ended."
Livius shifts his gaze to Sebastian with a sudden focus. "Perhaps, it's a Nightpiercer," he stated, naming the monster who attacked my father and Sebastian. "He might get paralyzed from its bite. I can't bring his right arm back but I can still remove the paralysis on his body," he added.
I suddenly raised my eyebrows when I heard Livius say that, I was surprised because his voice suddenly became lively out of nowhere.
Then Livius shifts his gaze to the maid, who is holding some herbs. "I believe you prepare a Moonveil Bloom with you?" he asked.
The maid glanced around as if looking for answers, then she squished her eyebrows together and tilted her head. "Uhm, I… I apologize, S-Sir. But that herb is very hard to find. The only herb I have here is a herb that is similar to that, which is the Duskripple Weed."
Livius drew his breath and released it before speaking, "It's a low-quality type of herb. It is not enough to cure the patient," he said in a rapid speech.
The maid just opened and closed her mouth without speaking. She glances around again as if asking for a rescue.
Then Marcus speaks, "My apologies, Mister Sarrafort. Like what she said, Moonveil Bloom is a rare type of herb. We can only offer you the Duskripple Weed as an alternative for that. Please don't hesitate to use it to Mister Murry."
Livius shakes his head. "It won't work… possibly, the effect will only be a temporary cure."
I didn't know about herbs but I understood Livius had a problem with the herbs that our maid prepared. I needed him to cure Sebastian or else my plan would be in vain. I need to do something…
'Persuasion,' I said internally to activate my skill.
A smirk comes out to my lips as I look at Livius. "Come on, there shouldn't be a problem if it is you who will cure him, right? If you don't trust the herb that our maid prepares, then why don't you try to treat him using your magic?"
He looks at me for a second but returns his gaze to Sebastian.
I look at Marcus. "It isn't a problem, right?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yes, my lord."
I also look at Sebastian's family. "You two have no objections to that, right?"
They looked at each other before Sebastian's wife answered me. "As long as he can cure my husband, I'm fine with any method he will use, my lord."
A smirk comes out to my lips again while crossing my arms. "It's settled, then. Do it, Sarrafort. Use your magic to cure Sebastian."
Livius didn't bother to answer me. Instead, he comes near to Sebastian and puts his palm on his chest. A light suddenly appears in his palm.
The smirk never leaves my lips while I nod. That's it, man… prove yourself to them.
While Livius still tries to heal Sebastian, I remember the setting of this world from the series.
In Arventia, all citizens here are born with elemental magic such as water, wind, fire, earth, lightning, and ice. But Livius is the only person here in this kingdom who possesses light magic. A magic that can only be used in healing a person.
Your magic will appear after you reach age five, no one knows when it will happen; it will just happen naturally. For Livius, it appears when he saw one of his friends get hurt while they were playing. He hurried to help him and as he held the kid's left leg, a light magic appeared in his palm.
At first, he thought his magic was special because he was the only person who had that. In the original series, it is mentioned in his backstory that the moment he awakened his magic was the moment he decided he wanted to be a physician. And that's how people begin to make fun of him.
Magic is a status symbol in this kingdom. Whether you are a noble or a commoner, if you don't possess lightning or ice magic, you are not special. What more if you possess a magic that is only good for healing?
"I see nothing has happened, Mister Sarrafort."
My mind went back to reality when I heard Marcus's voice talking to Livius. When I looked at him, I confirmed that our butler was right, the patient was still unconscious with the same condition.
I frowned. Why Livius can't heal Sebastian using his light magic? Is his magic weak or something?