The Duchess clenched the cup of tea in her hand tightly as she let out a chuckle. "It is true that there is no healing magic you can use on tea. But Shelia, you seem to forget that you are special."
Ashelia flinched lightly. "Please, mother. It doesn't matter how special I am. I am incapable of treating you whether it's directly or through tea–"
"Stop that," Her mother interrupted firmly, making her stiffen. "How many times must I tell you that my condition must not burden you?"
Ashelia pursed her lips. "Mother, I'm just worried…"
The Duchess frowned sadly. "You are not worried, Shelia," she told her. "You are burdened, and that burden comes from the fact that you blame yourself for my condition."
Ashelia's eyes fell and she hung her head in an effort to hide the tears threatening to spill. 'Look at you. You're almost dying so how could I not blame myself?'
It wasn't until she was about six years old that she found out the reason for the Duchess' illness.
Before then, she always wondered why her mother looked so sickly and searched for every possible way to take care of her, to the extent of making the bed she would sleep on.
She couldn't leave the castle to gather herbs for her, so she diligently stuck to what she could do instead. She read books upon books of herbs, healing spells, and medicine. The ones she could and couldn't understand.
On a particular day, when she went to steal tea snacks from the kitchen like she always did, she overheard some of the maids gossiping with worried voices over the Duchess' condition.
Ashelia's eyes widened with horror when she learned she was the cause. She never saw those maids again after that day.
But no one ostracized her for it, no one despised her for putting their beloved Duchess Orlan in such a state. No one dared to even look at her in disdain.
Ashelia clenched her fists behind her back. Maybe it would have made things a little better if everyone blamed and hated her.
Then she wouldn't blame herself and she would despise everyone enough not to feel the dread of the possibility of losing her mother.
The Duchess clearly saw her daughter's inner turmoil and lightly tapped the space beside her. "Come sit with me," she said softly. "Let's watch the scenery from my window together."
Ashelia looked confused. How did that relate with what they were talking about just a few moments ago? But she didn't dare argue and just did as she was told.
Then her mother gently placed a hand on her head and gave her a warm smile. "My lovely Shelia, you are the most beautiful gift life has ever given me."
Ashelia buried her head in her mother's shoulder, not bothering to hold back her tears. 'Why… why does she love me so much even when I'm the one who put her in this state?'
She clenched the Duchess' light gown and started to sob. 'I will find a way to cure you, mother… I promise!'
….
Ashelia buried her head in her hands in shame, her ears were reddened. She sighed. 'I came to do the consoling yet I was the one who got consoled in the end.'
Duchess Orlan watched her daughter's squirming and chuckled lightly.
A knock suddenly sounded on the large double doors of the Duchess' chamber attracting both of their attention toward the entrance. The door pried open and Duke Alistair walked in.
His eyes lingered on Ashelia for a while before his attention moved to his wife. A small smile graced his lips. "Seraphine… How are you feeling?"
Seraphine de Orlan smiled warmly at her husband. "Much better now that Shelia has given me her special tea." She chuckled. "I might even be able to go for a walk later too."
The Duke let out a sigh of relief, it was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Suddenly, his brows furrowed and he fixed his attention on his daughter seated on the spacious bed.
Ashelia tried her best not to show how nervous she was. "Good afternoon, father!" She greeted him cheerily.
Duke Alistair let out another sigh. "Where have you been, Shelia?"
Ashelia stiffened, trying to avert her eyes. "W… well…"
The Duke's frown deepened. "The entire manor was in an uproar when your mother woke up, yet you were nowhere to be found."
Duchess Seraphine gently stroked her daughter's hair. "Don't be too hard on her now, Alistair. Her maid already told me she was sleeping in a hidden part of the orchard up until just a few minutes ago."
"Is that so?" Duke Alistair still looked suspicious but he decided to let the matter go. "Very well, then."
Ashelia let out a silent sigh of relief. 'Thank goodness!"
"Still, you must come with me, Shelia," Her father urged, making her heart skip a beat. "I have something important to discuss with you."
Ashelia followed her father in silence as they walked through the long hallways of the manor. Her heart couldn't settle on their way to his study.
'Does he suspect something?' She wondered anxiously while maintaining a respectful distance behind him.
When they finally entered the Duke's study, the silence that continued started to make her even more nervous.
The small room was lined with large bookshelves on both sides, an especially designed center table and cushioned chairs on both sides in front of a mahogany desk at the far end. The soft ray of sunlight filtered in from a large window just right behind the setting.
Taking a seat behind the desk, the Duke fixed his eyes on his daughter. "You didn't think I would believe what your mother told me, did you?"
Ashelia flinched. "What?! But father, I really was–"
Alistair sighed and massaged his forehead. "It will not be an exaggeration to say I sent out the entire knight's order to search the manor for you, and yet they couldn't find you. Which means you were never here to begin with, Shelia."
Ashelia pursed her lips and hung her head. "I'm sorry, father." She admitted.
The Duke's brows furrowed sadly. "It is my fault that you have turned out like this, so I will not punish you, Shelia." He said softly. "But I will be sure to find every escape route you have and seal them, before reinforcing the manor's walls with magic."
With a heavy heart, Ashelia swallowed the urge to protest. "I understand."
Duke Alistair pursed his lips. "Please know I do this for your own good, my dear. Bad people would do anything to get their hands on you."
Ashelia instantly recalled what happened in the forest and suddenly, she didn't feel so sad about his decision anymore. 'Yes… maybe it's best I stay in the manor for a while.'
She never wanted to experience something that scary ever again!