Stepping out of Deere’s study, Ian carefully reflected on the words Deere had just spoken, and his heart remained restless for a long time.
‘Did Aetherinra’s parents really die in the last Human-Demon War? And they died to protect my father?’
However, everything finally clicked into place.
‘No wonder Aetherinra hates the Demon Race so much. No wonder she still wants to improve her combat abilities despite being a Support-type Mage. She wants to avenge her parents, doesn’t she?’
Ian could understand Aetherinra’s feelings.
After all, anyone with such a background would harbor a deep-seated hatred for the Demon Race.
But understanding was one thing; he wasn’t going to follow Deere’s advice and comfort Aetherinra right now.
She was the Heroine, after all. Why would she need a Villain like him to comfort her?
“Young Master, the Young Lady is so pitiful. She barely has any family left as it is, and now Big Sister Veronica is unconscious. Should we go see her?”
Beside him, Elise looked at Ian with her large, watery eyes as she spoke.
Hearing Elise’s words and seeing her adorable expression, Ian reluctantly nodded.
It wasn’t that he wanted to go; he was simply accompanying his Little Maid.
Before long, the two of them arrived at the door to Aetherinra’s room.
Veronica was currently lying inside Aetherinra’s room.
Since Aetherinra’s quarters were better and more comfortable, she had brought Veronica there to recover in peace.
*Knock, knock.*
He rapped on the door twice.
“Come in.”
Aetherinra mistook the visitor for a maid from the Duke’s Mansion and gave a casual permission for Ian to enter.
Opening the door, Ian saw a very simple room.
Unlike the luxury of Ian’s room or the low-key stability of Deere’s, Aetherinra’s room appeared extremely plain.
It was so simple that it was hard to believe it was a room within the Duke’s Mansion.
‘It seems Aetherinra lives a very simple life as well,’ Ian couldn’t help but marvel inwardly as he surveyed the surroundings.
At that moment, Aetherinra was sitting beside her bed.
The person lying on the bed was the unconscious Veronica.
“If it’s food, just leave it to the side. I’ll eat in a while.”
Aetherinra didn’t turn around, still assuming Ian was a maid delivering a meal.
“Young Lady, it’s us.”
Hearing Elise’s familiar voice, Aetherinra was momentarily startled.
She then turned around and saw Ian and Elise.
Upon seeing Ian, her expression became even more surprised, as if she couldn’t believe Ian would actually come to her room.
“You’re awake?”
After a long silence, Aetherinra managed to squeeze out those three words to Ian.
“Yes, I’m awake,” Ian nodded and replied.
Seeing Aetherinra’s haggard appearance, Ian wanted to offer some words of comfort, but he didn’t know what to say.
“Is there something you need?”
To his surprise, Aetherinra’s attitude toward Ian wasn’t as hostile as before; there was even a hint of goodwill in her tone.
“I saw that you haven’t rested in a long time, Young Lady. I wanted to persuade you to get some sleep,” Elise said, her heart aching as she noticed the faint dark circles under Aetherinra’s eyes.
Aetherinra shook her head and said to Elise, “When Ian was unconscious, Elise, you also stayed by his side without leaving for even a step.”
“I want to stay here until Veronica wakes up.”
After speaking to Ian and Elise, Aetherinra turned her head back and quietly watched Veronica lying on the bed.
Looking at the scene before him, Ian felt a sense of internal torment.
Words of comfort remained stuck in his throat.
He wasn’t the type of person who enjoyed comforting others, and he felt that Aetherinra wasn’t the type of person who enjoyed being comforted.
Therefore, when the words finally reached his lips, they turned into an apology.
“I’m sorry!”
Hearing Ian’s words, Aetherinra chuckled.
She seemingly hadn’t expected Ian to apologize.
“Why are you apologizing to me? I don’t remember you doing anything that requires an apology.”
“It’s my fault for not protecting Veronica. If I had been stronger back then—strong enough to solve the Beast Tide alone—Veronica wouldn’t have been attacked.”
“Do you really think I’d blame Veronica’s coma on you?”
“You’re underestimating me way too much, Ian.”
Aetherinra turned to look at Ian.
She stared at him with a resolute gaze, though the corners of her eyes were red, suggesting she had cried earlier.
“I’ve asked the soldiers of the Guard Corps. I know that you were the one who protected Veronica the very first moment she was attacked.”
“Not only will I not blame you, but I actually want to thank you. If not for your protection, Veronica might truly have never woken up again.”
Ian fell silent upon hearing Aetherinra’s words.
He hadn’t expected her to already know the full sequence of events.
“The person who truly deserves the blame isn’t you, but that Mysterious Person in Black who attacked Veronica.”
“I know my strength isn’t enough yet, but one day, I will have my revenge against them.”
Looking at the still-determined Aetherinra, Ian knew she didn’t need his comfort.
“Me too.”
Aetherinra nodded at Ian’s response.
“If there’s nothing else, I won’t be entertaining guests here.”
Ian recognized this as Aetherinra’s way of asking them to leave, so he tactfully led Elise out of the room.
After closing the door, Elise and Ian walked side by side down the corridor of the Duke’s Mansion.
“Young Master, the Young Lady is really strong.”
“Yes, she is. Aetherinra always likes to carry everything on her own shoulders without letting it affect others,” Ian agreed, nodding at Elise’s remark.
As they walked, Elise suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong, Elise?” Ian asked.
“I think we can’t let the Young Lady carry this alone anymore.”
“I… I want to help the Young Lady.”
Elise’s soft, cute face showed a hint of stubbornness as she looked at Ian.
Seeing her determined expression, Ian couldn’t help but tease her.
“And how do you plan to help Aetherinra?”
“T-This… Elise hasn’t thought of that yet.”
“But, besides the Young Master, the Young Lady was the second person in the Duke’s Mansion to care about me. So, I want to help her.”
Ian smiled at Elise’s words.
He felt gratified that she had such thoughts, feeling a bit like a proud father.
“What you need to do now is work hard on your cultivation. After all, you can’t help Aetherinra without power.”
Elise nodded and said, “Yes, Elise will definitely work twice as hard to cultivate.”
“When the time comes, I won’t just help the Young Lady—I’ll help the Young Master as well.”
Ian gently reached out and patted Elise’s head.
“Alright then. I’ll be waiting for you to help me.”
Being patted on the head, Elise didn’t feel the least bit displeased; instead, she seemed to want Ian to pat her more.
“I definitely will!” Elise cheered herself on.
“Then hurry to the Training Ground. Seize every moment you can to cultivate. Things might get quite busy soon.”
“Is the Young Master not going?”
“I have other, more important things to do.”