The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 116

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Her body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton. Her head throbbed as if it would split, and her thigh ached.

Lillieta opened her eyes with difficulty.

“Miss!”

“Lillieta!”

The tear-filled face of her maid and her mother’s pale complexion filled her vision.

“Mo…”

Rita tried to speak but ended up coughing dryly instead. Hanna hurriedly disappeared and returned carrying a glass of water on a tray. The Countess took it and held it to Rita’s lips.

After drinking a few sips of water, her parched throat calmed down. She cleared her throat a bit and spoke again.

“How long was I asleep?”

“You were unconscious for two days.”

The Countess answered tearfully. She stroked Rita’s cheek with trembling hands.

“Really… do you know how frightened mother was? His Highness the Crown Prince carried you here, and your dress was stained bright red with blood… He said you encountered monsters in the forest.”

From those few words, Rita guessed how Gid had handled the situation.

He probably only mentioned what Hanna had witnessed – being attacked by the Horned Boar – and didn’t mention anything about the Crawler afterward. He must have made it seem like the Crown Prince rescued her while she was still there.

Since her family knew she and the Crown Prince had a connection from the Ashen World, they would have roughly understood why he brought her back.

He seemed to have handled other minor issues, her special constitution, and recovery methods well too, judging by how her condition wasn’t too bad despite overexerting herself.

‘It doesn’t seem like I received healing magic or divine power either.’

While Rita was making this analysis, the Countess seemed to recall the moment she had returned, breathing roughly with a pale complexion.

Though she had improved significantly since Lillieta’s return, she was still not in good health due to her originally poor stamina combined with ten years of bedridden illness.

“To lose so much blood… how much it must have hurt… Mother, mother really can’t even imagine…”

Rita belatedly noticed her mother’s face, which looked ready to collapse at any moment. At the same time, she recalled what she had realized while talking with Gid.

In the past, while she would have felt sorry, she also would have thought it wasn’t such a serious matter, making this kind of worry feel somewhat frustrating and burdensome.

But now her heart purely ached. Because she fully understood that her injury had caused her mother pain.

Lillieta spoke with sincerity.

“I’m sorry, I should have been more careful.”

“It’s alright, you returned safely, didn’t you? Fortunately, if you rest well, there won’t be any scars or aftereffects on your leg, sob, they said… Oh, Lillieta, I was so worried you might not be able to walk properly, or that ugly scars might remain, mother was really, sob…”

The Countess finally burst into tears. Rita embraced her to comfort her while pondering.

‘There will probably be scars though… What did Gid tell them to make her feel at ease? Oh, maybe he mentioned Sera? That there’s a healer who can handle my constitution…’

In the Ash-covered Era, Sera had once cleanly removed the scar from Gid’s bite mark on Rita’s left hand.

Of course, that was using healing arts, and the current Lillieta had a constitution that didn’t respond to healing arts, so a different method would be needed, but somehow it seemed like Sera would find a way.

‘Anyway, Gid wouldn’t have said empty words, so there must be some method.’

Honestly, she didn’t care much about scars on her legs since it wasn’t her face, but she could fully understand that her mother would be upset if scars remained, so she was grateful for Gid’s consideration.

‘I should thank him next time and ask for details.’

While having such thoughts and comforting the sobbing Countess, she noticed Hanna holding the tray beside them, silently shedding tears.

She couldn’t interrupt while the Countess was speaking, so she kept her mouth shut, but her expression showed she had much to say. She seemed crushed by guilt and desperately wanted to apologize somehow.

Rita made eye contact with her and smiled faintly to convey that it was okay. Hanna trembled and hurriedly wiped her tears before speaking.

“Oh, Miss, I’ll go tell the Duke, the Young Duke, and the Young Master that you’ve awakened. They’ve all been waiting anxiously.”

She said this and quickly left the room.

Not long after, urgent footsteps could be heard as large men came rushing in.

“Lillieta! Thank God!”

“Rita…”

“Hey!”

The Duke cried out as he rushed over to embrace both the Countess and Lillieta at once, while Leonhardt let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her awake, then staggered and leaned against the wall.

And Richard shouted with bloodshot eyes.

“How long have you been back that you’ve already fainted and been carried in twice? I thought I was going crazy during the boat incident, but this time you were completely covered in blood? Is this some monthly event? Do you want the whole family to collapse from heart attacks before you come to your senses?”

“Calm down, Richard. Rita didn’t do it on purpose.”

Leonhardt approached him with a pale face and grabbed his shoulder. Richard choked up and shouted.

“Brother, do I look like I can calm down right now? She told me not to get hurt and even tied a handkerchief for me, but then she came back all beaten up herself!”

“I understand how you feel, but Rita is still a patient. Lower your voice. You’re hurting her ears.”

“Phew…”

At Leonhardt’s point, Richard covered his face with his hands and let out a heavy sigh.

Rita had to repeatedly apologize to her family members and promise several times that she would be careful to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Countess, who had been quietly watching her husband and sons grill their youngest daughter, stepped in when the Duke was about to make Lillieta promise not to go around alone anymore.

“That’s enough.”

The Countess, Rosetta, raised her blue eyes determinedly and continued.

“Dear, how far do you plan to interrogate Lillieta? Enough is enough.”

“Darling…?”

“Lillieta isn’t just some fragile child. She’s caught monsters that appeared in the river, smashed targets at the Shooting Competition, a brilliant genius marksman who amazed you. She’s mature enough to handle difficult grand dukes well, and wise and mature enough for Duke Duilebog to personally visit and express his gratitude. That’s our daughter.”

Rosetta lifted her chin. She looked at her youngest daughter with pride, then frowned at her husband.

“How can we, her family, not trust such an amazing child? We can worry, but we shouldn’t try to restrict her under the excuse of worry. Telling her not to go out alone – are you planning to lock Lillieta in the house and prevent her from doing anything?”

“No, darling, I, I didn’t mean to…”

“Then why are you asking her to make such a promise? Lillieta isn’t still a 10-year-old child. She’s a grown-up, even such a wonderful adult, and asking that of her is restriction.”

“…I’m sorry, darling. You’re right. I was being short-sighted.”

Rosetta looked over her sighing husband, bitterly smiling eldest son, and second son who looked like he’d been hit on the back of the head, then turned her gaze back to Lillieta.

“Lillieta, don’t let yourself be swayed too much either. Not going around alone – how far were you planning to promise?”

“…I felt sorry for making you worry.”

“You’re so kind, our daughter.”

She sat on the edge of the bed and embraced her daughter. Lillieta naturally hugged her back. Rosetta stroked her hair and whispered.

“But don’t give up your freedom just because we worry. You can go around alone as much as you want. There will be times when you want to, and times when you must. You’re not a powerless or immature child, but an adult who knows how to take responsibility.”

“…”

“Lillieta, mother hopes you’ll do everything you want and live fully utilizing your abilities.”

“Mother…”

“Mother… couldn’t be by your side while you were growing up, but I can always be on your side. So do whatever you want. Mother believes in you.”

Lillieta unconsciously hugged her more tightly. Rosetta smiled and patted her.

“But when things get difficult, make sure to tell mother, and don’t overdo it. Keep in mind that your family worries about you, and always be careful. Can you promise me these things?”

“Of course. I promise and will keep it in mind.”

“Thank you, my daughter. Mother loves you very much.”

Rosetta kissed her forehead. Lillieta smiled softly and returned a kiss on her mother’s cheek.

“Me too, Mother.”

Her mother, smiling so brightly that wrinkles formed around her eyes, hugged her daughter tightly once more before letting go.

“Are you hungry? I’ll have a meal sent up, so eat and rest a bit.”

She got up from the bed and linked arms with her husband who was standing awkwardly.

“Dear, you can have tea and a date with me. Leonhardt, please explain to Lillieta later what she needs to be careful about during her recovery.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Richard, you go wash up and cool your head. You’re a mess with sweat and dirt.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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