Chapter 17
It was said that once the poison entered the body, the victim would vomit blood until their organs twisted in agony and their body dried up like a mummy. A terrifying death awaited them.
What made Carlotta’s poison even more horrifying was the timeline: the entire process of dying stretched over the course of a year. Those who ingested it would spend a full year writhing in pain so unbearable that they would often beg for death before it could claim them.
Thanks to the physician’s swift intervention, the vomiting of blood had been halted. But because the poison had not been fully neutralized, its toxins remained. Unable to escape through the blood, the poison instead triggered recurring fevers.
Carlotta’s poison…
Fernando whispered the name under his breath, a chill creeping into his chest.
Elaine had nearly died from that poison.
“Then… what can be done to cure her?”
“I’m sorry, my lord, but there is no antidote for Carlotta’s poison.”
“What?!”
Enraged by the physician’s helpless reply, Fernando forgot all decorum and grabbed him by the collar.
“What kind of monstrous nonsense is that?! Are you saying I have no choice but to stand by and watch Elaine die like this?!”
“I-I’m terribly sorry. While a full antidote doesn’t exist, we can administer a suppressant to keep the poison from reactivating…”
At the time, Fernando was desperate. He would do anything to save his dying sister.
The physician—brought in from the far South after an exhaustive search—stayed by Elaine’s side for days and nights, tirelessly crafting medicine and administering treatments. At last, the relentless fevers began to subside, leaving behind only the faint, flower-shaped scars near her navel.
But the poison was not completely eradicated. Since that day, Fernando took every possible precaution to protect Elaine.
Thanks to his constant care, Elaine survived beyond the fated year. By the time she turned ten, she had regained her health and looked no different from any other child. Though she would have to take medicine every single day for the rest of her life, Fernando considered even that a blessing.
The fact that little Elaine Aiola had survived—that she could now call out “Brother Fernando” with rosy cheeks and a radiant smile… The simple truth that she could wake up each morning, eat, run around, play, study seriously, and fall asleep again at night—just live a normal life—was more than enough for him.
“Do you remember, Elaine? How you almost died because I failed to protect you?”
Now thirty-two, Fernando bit down gently on the inside of his cheek as he looked at twenty-year-old Elaine.
There was a twelve-year gap between them—a long distance between the older brother and his younger sister.
“You were only six when I became the head of House Aiola at eighteen. I couldn’t protect you back then… and that failure still weighs heavily on my heart.”
“That wasn’t your fault, Brother,” Elaine replied gently. “Someone else gave me that cookie. And even then, it wasn’t truly their fault. It was nothing more than a small, simple mistake.”
Her voice was calm, as if the incident meant little to her. In that moment, Fernando saw a flash of the six-year-old Elaine, and the contrast made his heart twist.
“A small mistake? You nearly died, Elaine! And you still live with that cursed medicine, every single day! You’ll probably have to keep taking it until the day you die!”
“So what?” Elaine said with a light shrug. “Even if that’s true, I get to stay here—by your side. Taking medicine every day is uncomfortable, yes, but it’s just a minor inconvenience. It’s hardly even a real misfortune.”
“…”
The more lightly she treated her past, the heavier Fernando’s guilt became.
A long silence followed. The only sound in the room was the gentle clinking of the teacup as Elaine sipped from it. Fernando, who hadn’t touched his, simply rubbed his face with a rough hand. Then, unable to hold it in any longer, he buried his face in both palms and finally spoke.
“Anyway… Elaine. You still look like that little six-year-old in my eyes.”
“…”
“The thought that I had to protect you—that was the only thing that kept me going all these years. And I… I…”
Fernando slowly lifted his head and looked at his now-grown sister, sorrow filling his eyes. How had that tiny little girl become a woman before he’d even realized? In that moment, he had no choice but to accept the truth—Elaine was no longer a child.
And suddenly, he realized just how pitiful his words had been until now. All his justifications had been flimsy excuses.
“No… it was all just cowardice. Just my guilt making excuses to justify keeping you locked up.”
Quietly rising from his seat, Fernando walked over and knelt before Elaine.
“I’m sorry, Elaine. I acknowledge everything. I regret everything. I swear I will never again treat you like a child or use my guilt as a chain to bind you.”
“Brother…?”
“I won’t force you to do what you dislike, nor stop you from doing what you want. As a fellow adult of the Hermanda line, I will respect your will and your choices. I won’t dismiss your love as some passing crush—I’ll support it wholeheartedly.”
“…!”
Elaine, startled, managed to gently place her teacup on the table without spilling it. Then she burst into tears.
“And if one day that love brings you sorrow, I won’t call you foolish. I’ll go find that man and kill him with my bare hands. And if your heart changes and you choose to love someone else…”
“…”
“I’ll understand. I’ll respect that, too. From now on, I’ll prioritize your voice above all else—not just in love, but in every matter that comes your way. So please, Elaine… forgive me.”
“You… you stupid big brother!”
Elaine flung her arms around Fernando’s neck and slipped into his embrace.
“You can’t just kneel so easily, you’re the head of House Aiola!”
“I knelt not out of weakness, but because you’re precious to me. And I realized I had wronged someone that precious.”
“Still, don’t do that again. You’re the lord of Aiola. Your dignity is the dignity of the entire house.”
“I understand. And I’ll remember that, Elaine.”
“I’m sorry, Brother. I’ve been so cold to you, haven’t I? I know you acted out of concern for me.”
Fernando lifted her gently in his arms. Her small, light frame rose off the floor, and her slippers slipped from her feet and dropped with soft thuds. He set her carefully back down onto the plush sofa and placed the slippers at her feet.
It was a gesture as tender as if she were still that six-year-old child.
“If you hadn’t been cold to me, I probably wouldn’t have realized my mistake. I would’ve kept thinking that locking you away in this estate and shielding you from the world was the best way to protect you.”
Now seated in front of her, Fernando took a sip of his now-cold tea and smiled softly, his eyes crinkling. It was a smile more parental than their parents had ever shown. Elaine’s heart ached all the more.
“But I still hurt you, didn’t I? I knew my words would wound you, and yet I kept my distance. And even so, you still understand me, and you reached out your hand to me. Thank you for that. Please always remember how deeply I love you, Brother Fernando.”
“And you, Elaine. Damn it—love. Sure, I said I’d support you, but if some man becomes more important to you than me or Vanessa, I’ll be heartbroken.”
Elaine burst into laughter at his playful scowl.
Just as the two had finally reconciled and laughter returned to the room, there was a soft knock, and the door opened. They assumed it would be Anna or one of the other servants, but instead, it was Vanessa who entered. She clapped her hands as she saw the cheerful atmosphere between them.
“So you finally made up? What a touching sibling moment!”
“Vanessa…?”
“I came to tell you it’s time for dinner, but the mood seemed so intense that no one else dared interrupt. So I volunteered.”
Vanessa perched naturally on the armrest of the sofa where Fernando had been sitting, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
“Good thing too. I was worried your cold war would ruin my birthday party next week.”
Come to think of it, Vanessa’s birthday wasn’t far off. Feeling a bit sheepish for having caused her concern, Elaine gave an awkward chuckle.
“Sorry, Vanessa. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“More importantly—now I really want to know. What kind of man could possibly come before Fernando in your heart?”
“Wait a minute, Vanessa. That’s a false assumption. No man on earth could possibly outrank me in Elaine’s life—”
“Quiet, Fernando. I wasn’t talking to you.”
Fernando tried to protest, but Vanessa elegantly pressed a finger to his lips.
“If it’s alright with you both, I’d like to invite Dominic to the Aiola estate next time, and introduce him to you properly.”
“Dominic…?”
Fernando and Vanessa both froze at the name.
“Yes, Sir Dominic Cheshire. Don’t you remember? I met him at the spring party here at the estate.”
Elaine tilted her head in confusion at their blank expressions. Then suddenly, Fernando’s face twisted in horror.
“Wait, Elaine…! You weren’t even of age back then…!”
Shoving Vanessa’s hand aside, he leapt to his feet in agitation.
“So that damned bastard—pardon me. That… just slipped out.”
Though he had sworn to support her love, the idea that someone had already “stolen” Elaine’s heart made Fernando feel as if the man were a common thief. He rubbed his face in frustration.
“So you were only nineteen when that slimy bastard managed to charm you. I need to see the face of that repulsive scoundrel. Make sure you bring him to Vanessa’s birthday.”
His voice, though restrained, came out like a growl, and both Elaine and Vanessa burst into laughter. Elaine clasped her brother’s and Vanessa’s hands with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Yes, Brother! I’ll bring him! You and Vanessa will definitely love Dominic once you get to know him.”
[Lord Fernando Aiola and Lady Elaine have reconciled. Their relationship now seems even stronger than before their argument. And they’re hoping to meet you at Vanessa’s birthday party. Lady Elaine—recently given formal approval to court you—was smiling brightly when she said it…]
The letter from Bella, bearing news from the Aiola estate, was crumpled tightly in Dominic’s hand.
