At Dark Wood Manor—
Nigel took the dagger into his hand and glanced at Little Leo.
Aegen’s brows drew together. He watched silently, already knowing what was about to happen. Worry filled his eyes as he struggled to understand why it still had to be this way.
"Young Lord," he said hesitantly, "you know this isn’t a cure."
He looked toward the unconscious child before continuing,
"He possesses an Evil Bone, and only Primordial Essence Seeds can truly cure him."
"No matter how much of your heart blood you give him, it won’t heal him. It will only temporarily stabilize his condition and keep him alive until the next relapse."
His expression grew heavier.
"Why are you still so determined to keep saving him this way?"
Aegen was not someone ruled by emotions.
Yet watching such a tiny body suffer like this ... even he couldn’t remain completely indifferent.
But what pained him even more was his master.
Again and again ...
Nigel was damaging himself just to keep the little one alive.
"Giving your heart blood every time like this is weakening your core," Aegen continued quietly. "If this continues, sooner or later your foundation will collapse, and—"
"Enough!"
Nigel’s sharp voice cut him off instantly.
"Since when did you start telling me what I should or shouldn’t do?"
Aegen immediately lowered his head.
"I apologize, Young Lord."
Nigel shot him a cold glance before looking back at Little Leo.
The child’s fair little face ...
It reminded him so much of the little girl he had once known.
So much so that even if the child had been completely unrelated to her, Nigel would still have chosen to save him.
"What do you know ..." he muttered almost under his breath. His hand gently brushed over Little Leo’s soft hair once more.
"It’s only right that I save him."
His gaze lingered for another moment before hardening with resolve.
"Bring the bowl."
Aegen immediately obeyed.
Holding the bowl beneath him, he watched as Nigel loosened the ties of his wrap shirt before pulling it aside.
Without even the slightest hesitation, Nigel drove the dagger straight into his own chest.
Deep.
Directly over his heart.
His eyes shut tightly for only a brief second.
The pain was enough to make anyone collapse ...
Yet when he opened them again, they remained as calm as ever.
Dark crimson blood slowly flowed from the wound, dripping steadily into the waiting bowl.
Aegen’s fingers tightened around it. His jaw clenched.
But this time ...
He didn’t say another word.
Once enough blood had been collected, he stepped back.
Nigel pulled the dagger free.
Clang—
The blade struck the floor and rolled aside.
Discarded.
"Bring it here."
Aegen immediately handed him the bowl.
Taking it, Nigel scooted closer to Little Leo without delay. Scooping up a spoonful, he carefully fed the child.
A few drops escaped from the corner of Little Leo’s lips. But before they could stain the sheets, Aegen swiftly wiped them away.
Only after the entire bowl had been emptied did Nigel finally set it aside.
When Aegen looked back at him, Nigel’s lips had already turned noticeably pale.
Although his expression remained as stoic as ever, the loss of heart blood had clearly taken its toll.
"Youth Lord, let me tend to your wound first."
Without waiting for permission, Aegen quickly retrieved the medical kit and began treating the injury.
Nigel didn’t refuse.
He remained silent throughout.
Only after the bandages had been secured did he finally speak.
"You may leave."
Aegen nodded. He turned to leave. Yet after taking only a single step, he stopped.
A flicker of hesitation crossed his face.
Then he slowly turned back.
"Young Lord, he is already like this. Should we ... send him back to the clan he belongs to?" he paused only to quickly add,
"They may have a way to cure him."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Nigel’s expression froze.
His pale face turned completely cold, and his head snapped toward Aegen.
The oppressive darkness surrounding him instantly surged through the room.
Aegen’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately realized he had crossed a line. Lowering his head, he was just about to apologize when Nigel’s icy voice stopped him.
"The clan he belongs to?"
He repeated the words slowly. His voice carried no anger.
Yet somehow ...
That calmness was even more terrifying.
"They deserve him?"
The suffocating darkness surrounding him became even heavier. It felt capable of swallowing every living soul inside the room.
Aegen instinctively took a step back.
"Youth Lord, I—"
"All I know ..." Nigel’s voice remained calm. "...is that Little Leo belongs to her."
"And as long as something belongs to her ..."
His eyes darkened with absolute resolve.
"... I, Nigel Smith, will protect it. Even if it costs me my life."
Aegen no longer dared to argue. At that moment, he finally understood.
Dropping to one knee, he lowered his head deeply.
"I misspoke, Young Lord. I deserve punishment."
Nigel slowly closed his eyes.
His fingers curled tightly into fists as he forced himself to calm the storm raging inside him.
Then, after several silent seconds—
"Leave."
Aegen didn’t hesitate. He rose immediately and quietly left the room.
Behind him ...
Nigel remained seated beside the bed, silently watching the unconscious Little Leo.
How could the child belong to anyone else ...
...when it was she who had sacrificed everything for him? Even herself.
Little Leo belonged to only one person in this world.
Adelyn.
And until Little Leo returns to her ...
Nigel would protect him with all he got.
Outside—
The moment Aegen stepped out of the room, Baldie, Blondie, Saddie, and Oldie immediately rushed toward him.
"How’s Little Master?"
————————————————————
Meanwhile ...
On the other side—
After a long while, Adelyn’s subconscious finally calmed down. Her trembling gradually ceased. And so did her tears.
Little Eira had been terrified after seeing her mother like that.
She was still too young to understand what had happened. But in her tiny heart, the thing she feared most was losing her mama.
So no matter how hard she tried, her tears simply wouldn’t stop.
Only after Adelyn’s condition finally stabilized did the little girl exhaust herself enough to drift back to sleep.
Even then ...
She still murmured softly,
"Dada ... is Mama really okay?"
Dylan looked down at her. His large hand gently stroked her soft hair.
"She’s fine," he said quietly. "Go to sleep. When you wake up, you can talk to her again."
Those gentle words were enough.
Little Eira slowly relaxed before finally falling asleep.
Dylan watched her for another quiet moment before turning back toward Adelyn.
Walking to her bedside, he sat down beside her.
Picking up the damp towel, he wrung out the excess water before gently laying it across her forehead.
Ford hadn’t left. He remained standing quietly in one corner of the room. Yet his brows had remained furrowed the entire time.
There was something weighing heavily on his mind.
Unable to keep it to himself any longer, he finally spoke.
"Master ..."
"Given the way Madam reacted ..., this isn’t something simple."
"It’s definitely connected to the bond that was never truly severed."
He paused.
Then finally voiced the thought that had been lingering in his mind all along.
"... Little Master may still be alive."
He carefully looked toward Dylan.
"Should we look for him again?"