IPAMB 20

Chapter: 20

“Instead of that, perhaps you might reconsider….”

“No.”

Bellatia was firm—as if it wasn’t even worth thinking about.

At that, Silven inwardly groaned.

He had already been refused once a few days ago. But since Tristan’s matter had been resolved and things had calmed down at least a little, he thought she might grant permission this time.

‘So it’s still impossible.’

Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to question why she kept avoiding Cain.

After all, he understood better than anyone why she was acting this way.

“Is it because there’s no Purification Stone?”

“…….”

Bellatia fell silent. But that silence was as good as confirmation.

‘Well, the attending physician did say that without a Purification Stone, Lord Gerard’s illness might be transmitted to the Young Master.’

Bellatia’s husband, Gerard Argent, had collapsed from illness and was currently recuperating in the North.

The cause of the disease was unknown. They had searched beyond the Empire, across the entire continent, but found nothing. As a result, the treatment was unknown as well.

But perhaps the world was not entirely without hope—around last year, a physician came to House Argent.

“If you use this Purification Stone, your husband will recover!”

It sounded like something a swindler would say while looking for a gullible customer. But Bellatia, more desperate than anyone to find a cure, immediately believed those words.

And it worked.

‘After that, the progression of the illness slowed.’

Bellatia immediately hired the physician and bought up every Purification Stone she mentioned.

The price was outrageous, but Bellatia didn’t care. She was that desperate.

However, from then on, the relationship between Bellatia and Cain rapidly grew distant.

“From what I have observed, this illness appears to affect only those who inherit the Duke’s blood. Therefore, you must be careful not to let it pass to the Young Master. He has already been in prolonged contact with the patient, so the Duke may have absorbed some of the illness’s aura. You must always carry a Purification Stone. And you must replace it periodically.”

Bellatia firmly believed those words. Of course she did—she could not allow her son to fall ill with the same disease.

If all it took was carrying a stone, then it wasn’t difficult.

But recently, a problem arose. The Purification Stones she had purchased were stolen during transport.

‘That’s why she’s keeping her distance until new stones can be purchased.’

In truth, even when she had the stones, the Duchess hadn’t approached Cain very closely. But now she was being especially cautious.

Of course, Cain didn’t know any of this.

‘The Duchess doesn’t want the Young Master to know anything about the illness.’

She believed that if Cain found out, it would only burden him with anxiety about possibly getting sick himself.

Silven agreed with that reasoning.

But it wasn’t good for the distance between Bellatia and Cain to continue growing like this.

“Even without a Purification Stone, wouldn’t it be fine if Lady Winiel is present? She possesses divine power, after all.”

A Purification Stone was a stone imbued with divine power.

No matter how much divine power a stone contained, surely it couldn’t surpass that of a Saintess candidate.

‘That must be why she didn’t send the Young Master away when he came during her meeting with Lady Winiel.’

Even if the conversation had ended poorly, that was the truth.

“Even so, I cannot trust it completely.”

“Last time they met, nothing happened, did it?”

“Sharing a meal is another matter.”

Silven couldn’t refute that. As Bellatia said, eating together was different.

Even if a Saintess candidate with strong divine power was present, it could still be dangerous.

“Then perhaps just a conversation without sharing food?”

At Silven’s suggestion, Bellatia’s pen—moving steadily until now—came to a stop.

“That would…”

Knock, knock.

“Your Grace, I have arrived.”

A bold voice came from beyond the door along with a knock.

“Come in.”

Bellatia answered immediately, without hesitation.

When the door opened, a woman in a white coat strode into the office with confident poise.

“Zaira Collins, responding to Your Grace’s summons.”

“Good work.”

“It is only natural. If Your Grace calls, should I not go even to the ends of the continent?”

At Bellatia’s words, Zaira bowed gracefully.

Zaira Collins—one of House Argent’s attending physicians and the doctor who had provided the treatment for Gerard’s illness—had accompanied the servants when they came from the North.

‘Since there are no Purification Stones, she was summoned in case the Young Master shows symptoms so immediate action can be taken.’

Normally, she would remain in the North to tend to Gerard. But another physician was there, and given the circumstances, Bellatia had urgently called Zaira.

“However, Your Grace, I happened to overhear something just now.”

Zaira sat on the sofa and crossed her legs as she spoke.

‘How rude. In front of the Duchess.’

But Silven swallowed the words. The one in need must bow their head—and at the moment, Zaira held that position within House Argent.

She was the only one who had ever improved Gerard’s condition.

Silven quietly suppressed his displeasure.

“What did you hear?”

“That you intend to meet the Young Master without a Purification Stone… Surely I misheard?”

Zaira smiled as though the very idea were absurd.

“It’s true.”

“What!? And if the illness were to be transmitted to the Young Master—what then?”

Zaira recoiled dramatically, as if the sky were falling.

Silven glanced at Bellatia before cautiously asking,

“Even if a Saintess candidate is present? Isn’t the divine power of a Saintess candidate greater than that of a Purification Stone?”

“…A Saintess candidate?”

“Ah, in our haste we didn’t explain in detail, but a Saintess candidate is currently staying at the ducal residence.”

Silven smiled proudly as he thought of Winiel.

“She saved the Young Master from a monster and has even protected the estate.”

Realizing he had unconsciously begun listing Winiel’s accomplishments, Silven cleared his throat awkwardly.

“I see.”

Zaira’s expression stiffened. After a brief pause, she spoke in a flat tone.

“A Saintess candidate… Certainly, her divine power would be impressive. However, regrettably, this illness responds not to human divine power, but specifically to the divine power of the Purification Stone.”

“What? This is the first I’ve heard of any difference between the two. Moreover, when they were together recently, nothing happened—perhaps because the Saintess candidate was present.”

“That was merely good fortune. There is indeed a difference between the two kinds of divine power. It is a truth the Temple keeps hidden.”

“A hidden truth…?”

Zaira sighed and nodded.

“The Temple is always like that, isn’t it? Doing as they please. I trust Your Grace understands what I mean.”

“…….”

Bellatia gave no response. But Silven asked nothing.

‘Indeed, the Temple cannot be trusted. Especially not by Her Grace.’

Bellatia was hostile toward the Temple—so much so that she despised anyone connected to it.

It hadn’t always been that way.

‘She was never particularly close to the Temple, but after that incident, the relationship worsened.’

When Gerard collapsed and Bellatia sought every possible cure, she even gave a vast sum of money to request the Temple’s help.

They came to examine Gerard—and said this:

“An illness that contaminates its surroundings? Is that not a monster wearing a human form? Kill him.”

At those words, Bellatia had nearly killed the priest.

She was barely restrained—but from then on, she loathed the Temple.

‘She may believe Lady Winiel is not a spy of the Temple, but if what Zaira says is true, her abilities cannot be trusted entirely either.’

That didn’t mean ignoring what Winiel had done. But thinking of Cain, following Zaira’s advice seemed right.

“Then what should we do? The purchased Purification Stones were taken by bandits during transport.”

“I see. That must have been difficult—especially after carefully selecting them. But if they are gone, we can simply buy more, can we not?”

“I was told those stones are not easily obtained.”

“Oh, and that is precisely why I am here, is it not? I have already found a merchant selling suitable Purification Stones. Those should suffice.”

Zaira took a sheet of paper from her bag.

“If you sign here and transfer the payment, they will send the stones immediately.”

Bellatia signed without hesitation. For a fleeting moment, the corner of Zaira’s mouth twitched upward before returning to normal.

“It is settled, then. I shall deliver this to the merchant.”

With a bright smile, Zaira rolled up the paper, placed it in her bag, and stood.

“Oh—and one more thing, out of concern. Until the new Purification Stones arrive, it would be best not to be in close proximity to Young Master Cain.”

“Very well.”

Bellatia answered at once.

As expected, Zaira smiled faintly and left the room.