Chapter 49: The Price of a Cure

Xina’s eyes were closed, her face contorted in pain, yet she remained undeniably beautiful.

She lay on the bed in the room, deeply unconscious, like a sleeping beauty.

Chloe gazed at the poor child, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. She gently placed a hand on Xina’s forehead, finding it alarmingly warm.

“What happened to her?”

Lucia’s lips still bore a trace of vibrant red, but she had rushed to Xina’s boudoir with Chloe, too distraught to wipe it away.

“Xina fell ill in Linber, then collapsed on the way back. She hasn’t woken up since.”

Chloe’s anxiety was palpable. Xina had suddenly collapsed beside her without warning, prompting Chloe to urge the coachman to drive back with utmost speed.

Lucia’s vermillion eyes meticulously scanned Xina from head to toe. Her face was pale.

“She’s fading fast,” she murmured.

Chloe’s heart seized. She turned to Lucia with a mechanical slowness.

“What do you mean, ‘fading fast’?”

Lucia brushed Xina’s bangs aside, revealing her glabella to Chloe, where a faint dark red mark had appeared.

“Two weeks before Norlin succumbed to his madness, he fell critically ill, and a similar mark appeared on his forehead.”

Even the usually composed Lucia now wore a troubled expression, her lips trembling as she spoke. “But why is Lady Xina’s condition progressing so rapidly? Norlin’s illness, from its onset to his death, spanned nearly a decade.”

Chloe’s heart trembled.

“You once said Xina was born with Norlin’s curse. Does that mean the countdown began at her birth?”

“But if that were the case, Lady Xina should have already fallen into Norlin’s hysterical, late-stage madness long ago.”

Lucia swept her bangs back, rubbing her forehead.

“But she’s still only in the intermittent seizure stage,” Chloe murmured.

“Because you are here. You are her inhibitor.”

Chloe frantically looked towards the door. Alice Fabian Caligula and Anna stood there, Alice’s face grim, while Anna rushed anxiously towards Xina.

“What does ‘inhibitor’ mean?” Chloe asked Alice.

“Haven’t you realized? She’s been struggling to appear normal precisely because you are present.”

“Norlin sent Xina to her mother because he could no longer control her,” Anna murmured. “Though I’ve only heard whispers, Xina apparently caused quite a stir at Sirena Castle.”

“For instance, she once threw Norlin’s beloved dog down a well, killing it,” Lucia stated flatly. “At the time, we dismissed it as an accident, but now it seems otherwise.”

‘Had Xina been in a state of madness all along?’

A myriad of emotions churned within Chloe. She had always believed only Norria Normanthine could cure Xina’s madness, given that Norria had indeed calmed her during their first encounter. However, Chloe had overlooked one crucial detail: Xina had only truly calmed down after seeing *her*.

“Why me?” Chloe murmured.

“Your blood,” Lucia succinctly hinted.

Chloe was the most ancient Progenitor, and those under her control would obey her every command? Was it truly so? A bitter taste filled her mouth. Had the bond she and Xina had forged over so many days truly been nothing more than the effect of magic?

Confusion and disgust filled her heart. She glanced at Xina, the girl with whom she had experienced so much, now on the brink of death.

“Tell me, how can we save Xina?” Chloe looked directly at Lucia.

“You should know the answer.”

Lucia stroked Xina’s hand, her eyes filled with guilt.

‘Her blood, combined with Carloman’s blood, was the only way to create the antidote.’

“We need Carloman,” Chloe declared. “If we want to save Xina, we must see Carloman.”

Anna looked at Chloe in astonishment, while Alice merely gave a slight nod.

“You mean the Emperor of Eledis?” Anna asked. “Does he have a way to save Xina?”

“Yes, and only he can save Xina.”

Chloe gritted her teeth. ‘What method could possibly allow her to meet Carloman?’ The answer was already clear.

“I heard you mention Carloman.”

A short, ugly-faced elf stood leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, with a handsome elf trailing behind him.

“If you’re looking for Carloman, the best way is to attend Lord Cliff’s wedding. That’s when you’ll have a chance for close contact. If you try to approach him directly—believe me, given his caution, you won’t get to see him.”

“Who are you?” Lucia glanced at him.

“I am Lord Chloe’s unfortunate captive, named Bloen, and this is my brother, Bloa.” Bloen rolled his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Begging your pardon, but that is the most direct and quickest method.”

Though Chloe longed to slap Bloen, she couldn’t help but agree with his assessment.

“Cliff Normanthine?” Anna’s face changed dramatically. “Chloe, why would you attend that viper’s wedding?”

“He invited me.”

“Then he will use the same tactics against you that he used against me.”

‘I know,’ Chloe thought to herself. ‘Mosin, Rurik, Longinus—each one was a pawn he had placed.’

“Then I must go too.”

To save this foolish child who had cared for her so diligently when she was injured, Chloe would willingly attend, even if it was a banquet of death.

Alice shook her head, as if resigned to Chloe’s foolish decision.

“I’ll go with you. With an Elder present, he won’t dare to be too reckless.”

“I’m going too. I want to expose the vile behavior of Cliff and Dorota Normanthine at the wedding,” Anna declared.

Chloe was about to refuse, but seeing Anna’s resolute stance, she found it difficult. Besides, Anna was an absolute trump card.

“Very well, but you must wear a mask. Dorota will certainly recognize you.”

“I’ll go too,” Lucia added.

“You must stay home and look after Xina. Moreover, Carloman has a history with you,” Chloe explained. “I can’t guarantee what he might do to you.”

Lucia had betrayed Carloman; sending her would only invite trouble. Hearing Carloman’s name, a flicker of hesitation crossed Lucia’s eyes, and she could only nod silently.

“If Prince Cliff intends to harm any of you, I’ll be right there to put in a good word for you.”

Bloen rubbed his hands, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

“You cannot go,” Chloe said coldly. “Don’t forget, you are our hostage.”

“Oh, of course. I detest weddings anyway.” Bloen maintained an inscrutable smile on his face as he led Bloa away.

Chloe had wanted to extract more information from him, but he was tight-lipped. She considered having Lucia interrogate him, but decided to save that for later.

“How long until Cliff’s wedding?” Chloe asked.

“About a week. If we leave now, we’ll arrive just in time,” Alice replied.

“Is there no way to intercept Carloman’s carriage on the way to meet him?”

Anna truly did not want to attend Cliff’s wedding.

“Carloman’s movements are erratic; no one knows his route,” Lucia said. No one here understood Carloman better than she did.

The options narrowed to a single point. Chloe swallowed nervously.

‘Could this, too, be Cliff’s design? Had Chloe’s attendance at the wedding always been part of his calculations?’

Even after Longinus had left, the unsettling sensation hadn’t faded; instead, it intensified with time. Chloe clutched her chest, feeling as though she couldn’t breathe.

“Let’s have the coachman prepare our things,” Alice suggested. “After all, how can one attend a wedding without a gift?”

Chloe followed the others out of the castle, breathing in the fresh air deeply. Just then, she caught the scent of fresh blood.

Her desires were instantly stirred. She keenly scanned her surroundings, trying to pinpoint the source of the scent.

“Who is that?” Anna pointed nervously into the distance. Chloe followed her gaze.

A silver-coated steed was galloping towards the castle, its black mane flowing in the wind. The silver silhouette was as beautiful as an angel. Chloe vaguely felt a sense of familiarity with the horse.

‘Ximinu?’ The horse’s name surfaced in Chloe’s mind.

A young girl with light purple hair slumped over Ximinu’s back. She was the source of the blood. Her frail hands seemed unable to grip the reins any longer.

“Una?”

Chloe rushed forward. Ximinu halted abruptly, tossing Una from its back. Chloe managed to catch her.

Una’s face was deathly pale, her body weak, and blood continuously welled from her abdomen.

“Lady Alena… I finally found you.”

Una touched Chloe’s face, smiling faintly.

“What happened to you?” Chloe asked urgently.

“They… the Central Curia hanged Chris Hino, and then… they’ve been chasing me…”

No sooner had she spoken than Una completely lost consciousness, the conviction that had driven her here finally fulfilled.

Chloe quickly called for Lucia to carry Una back into the castle. Alice stood beside Chloe, her brows deeply furrowed.

“I knew those old relics in the Central Curia wouldn’t agree, but to stoop to attacking their own people? That’s truly sinister.”

“For now, let’s focus on protecting ourselves.”

Chloe looked into the distance. As far as her eyes could see, dozens of hooves kicked up dust, as if threatening to shatter the earth. The metallic clang of heavy armor echoed like ripples, reaching Chloe’s ears.