I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 144

72. — Realization (2)

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At Lord Jackson’s call, the guards and Phem rushed in as if they had been waiting. Lord Jackson and the physician entered the bedroom, followed quickly by Irene, who had hurried in after hearing the news.

I stood outside the room, biting my lip anxiously.

The arrow had flown straight toward my neck, aimed at no one else but me.

If Lord Jackson hadn’t been in that courtyard, I might’ve been killed before I even realized someone was trying to kill me.

This was nothing like the time I almost got run over by a carriage.

Back then, the shock of realizing that my memories had been altered and the overwhelming confusion had drowned out the reality of nearly dying. At that time, I felt more relief that I hadn’t plagiarized someone else’s work than fear over the fact that I could’ve died.

But this time was different.

Until now, I had always considered this place—consciously or not—just a fictional world I had created in my book. Like an actor performing on a stage, I thought all I had to do was play the role of Adelia Blaise.

However, the fear of death in that moment shattered the illusion and forced me to confront reality.

‘…I could very well become someone’s target and die at their hands.’

The moment that realization hit me, my body began to tremble. Even though it was the beginning of summer, with its humid breeze, a cold chill prickled across my exposed arms and shoulders.

As I hugged my arms and hunched my shoulders, someone draped a jacket over them.

Startled by the sudden warmth and the heavy weight of it, I looked up to find Cain gazing down at me. He met my trembling eyes and, without a word, pulled me into his arms. He spat out a low voice as my eyes widened in surprise at the suddenness of his embrace.

“When I was young, there was a time I realized that, even if I’d done nothing wrong, someone could still harbor malice toward me. That realization terrified me.”

“….”

“At that time, my mother said something to me.”

“….”

“Sometimes, a single moment of warmth can bring more comfort than a hundred words ever could.”

It was the first time in my life I had experienced such blatant malice, so clear and unabashed, that someone would try to kill me in plain sight. And when he saw me so terrified by such malice, I felt like I could somewhat understand what he was trying to say.

As his hand gently patted my back, I felt tears threatening to well up for no reason. Resting my forehead against his shoulder, I asked.

“So… are you comforting me?”

“If you need my comfort, you’ll always have it.”

Cain’s gentle voice brought a quiet laugh to my lips.

His embrace was warm and steadfast, like a silent promise to stay by my side. It made me want to believe that, even if the whole world turned against me, he would remain.

So much so that I wanted to be selfish and hold onto him.

I lifted my head from his shoulder to look at him. As our gazes met and lingered, my heart began to race, thudding loudly in my chest.

“Cain, I—”

At that moment, the tightly shut door clicked open.

Instinctively, I stepped away from Cain and turned toward the door. Irene, stepping out of Lord Jackson’s room with a stern expression, spotted me standing in the hallway and hurried over.

“Lia!”

“I-Irene.”

“I heard from Mr. Phem! They said you almost got hit by an arrow!”

“Ah…”

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

Seeing Irene’s worried expression as she asked, I felt like I was finally coming back to my senses.

“I-I’m fine…”

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind Irene.

“Lia!”

It wasn’t the voice I usually heard echoing in my head.

It was Noya, running toward me with a bright smile. He called out to me in a clear voice that anyone could hear, not just me, and then threw himself into my arms.

“…Noya, did you just talk?”

“Are you surprised? Irene taught me how!”

Noya, clinging tightly to my waist, turned to glance at Irene, who gave a slightly awkward smile, clearly flustered by the child’s words.

“It wasn’t difficult. Noya has such an incredible amount of divine power that it can even be used for communication…”

Even though Irene explained the situation as if it were nothing, my dazed mind couldn’t take in anything she was saying.

All I could see was the situation I had created.

Whether I intended to or not, I had completely taken her place.

Realizing this once again, I removed Noya’s arms from around me and stepped back hesitantly from where I had been standing. As I stumbled backward, almost as if fleeing, the sight of the three of them staring at me came into full view.

“Lia?”

Yes, this was how it was supposed to be.

This was my place from the very beginning.

“Adelia.”

Hearing Cain’s low voice, I bit my lip firmly before responding.

“…Lord Jackson was badly hurt because of me.”

“….”

“I think I need to stay by his side. Thank you, everyone, for worrying about me.”

I pretended not to notice Cain’s gaze, fixed on me with furrowed brows before I pushed open the door.

Inside, Andre sat on the large bed, his expression calm as he turned to look at me. The sight of him gesturing toward the spot beside him with a smile brought me back to reality.

As if to say, this was the place for the extra young lady, Adelia Blaise.

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