Chapter 21
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Who Holds the Hilt
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Charlotte grabbed Ben's right hand and shook it lightly back and forth. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she switched hands and lifted his left.
She'd thought the qi flow in Ben's left hand wasn't great last time, but now it felt even more chronically blocked, like the channels were completely clogged.
"I told you before, I'd check out your left hand, old man. The qi flow here's just awful."
Ben honestly had no idea what she was talking about.
But as a physician, he couldn't very well admit he didn't understand what Charlotte was saying.
Ben tilted his head sideways and nodded awkwardly in response.
"Ah, yes, you did mention that. But it's not about any qi or whatever—my left hand just aches from old age."
Charlotte smiled softly.
"Yeah. I know."
"...Pardon?"
"Just hold on a bit. I'll show you exactly what kind of overwork I've been up to. No clue how long you'll have to wait, though."
Watching Charlotte's oddly amused smile, Ben's expression grew even more bewildered.
The news of Charlotte waking up spread through the manor, and soon her tiny attic room was packed with visitors once more.
Ben, who had been checking on her condition, was joined first by Joseph and Jerome, then Isaac himself. When Betty bustled in with a bowl of steaming soup, the cramped space felt ready to burst.
For Charlotte, being surrounded by people who actually cared about her was a completely novel experience—but it felt nice.
That lasted only a moment, though.
Every time Betty fed her a spoonful of the warm soup, someone else would pipe up with a question, leaving her utterly drained.
"Did you collapse because of Prince Joseph?"
Isaac kept tossing out barbs like that, making the atmosphere tense.
"Is it because you're lacking something? Need an escort? What do you need?"
Jerome, oblivious as ever, kept firing off pointless questions.
And while she struggled to answer between bites of soup, Jerome and Isaac even started some bizarre standoff.
"She can't even respond properly, can she? Uncle, you'd do better prescribing some tonic for her health. Shadow Blade Day's coming up—how's she supposed to show her skills like this?"
"...Since when have you been so attentive to Charlotte? Ben's got it handled."
"Handled so well the room's in this state?"
Jerome glanced around the room again, narrowing his eyes.
He had to admit that punishing her after every mishap had left the place increasingly shabby. But hearing it pointed out by someone else made him bristle—it looked like he'd been neglecting his daughter.
"Isaac. Whether it's silverware, gold, or a teddy bear you shove at her. I'll handle it my way."
"Oh, sure, you'll handle it on the sly just fine."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
They didn't raise their voices, but listening to their sharp exchange was exhausting all the same.
Charlotte's ears were burning; she couldn't take it anymore.
Clack.
She slammed her spoon down with a clatter and pointed toward the door.
"Enough. Both of you, out."
At Charlotte's firm eviction, Isaac and Jerome exchanged stunned glances.
Isaac, the near-certain heir of the proud Setia House, and Jerome, the real power holder known as the Minor House Lord—when had either ever been told to get out?
"...Out?"
"You're telling me, your father, to leave?"
"I'm grateful for the concern, truly. But it's too chaotic right now. Come one at a time later, or let me finish eating, rest up, and visit you separately."
Seeing their dumbfounded faces, Charlotte pointed at the door again.
Joseph, who had entered the room and simply watched Charlotte silently without a word, lingered his gaze on the unusual scene.
Good-for-nothing Charlotte, platinum-failure Charlotte, invisible Charlotte.
Nicknames like those had stuck to her for ages.
Ever since her talents failed to manifest, right up to now.
Yet somehow, that reputation had vanished overnight. Even Isaac had shown her an oddly protective attitude right in front of Joseph.
Joseph watched Isaac's retreating back for a long moment before slowly turning to Charlotte.
Clack. Clack.
Even after Isaac and Jerome left, Joseph said nothing. Betty and Ben couldn't insert themselves into the exchange, leaving the attic in heavy silence. Only the quiet scrape of Charlotte's spoon against her bowl echoed softly.
In such an awkward atmosphere, anyone else might have squirmed. But Charlotte leisurely finished her meal until her belly was full, then set her spoon down.
"Betty, mind giving us the room?"
"Oh, of course!"
Unlike Charlotte, Betty had clearly found the tension unbearable. At her gentle urging, Betty hurriedly gathered the bowl and napkin and slipped out.
"Call if you need anything, miss."
"Sure."
With Ben's departure as well, Charlotte stretched languidly.
'Food in me now—feeling alive again.'
She had far more energy than when she first opened her eyes.
And not just her—Joseph looked far more normal than before, too.
It was only a temporary fix to smooth out his qi and blood circulation, but at least he didn't seem to be in pain right now. He looked better for it.
'That already striking face looks even more so.'
His jade-like skin gleamed with luster, and his lips, like crimson butterfly wings, had some color to them.
Separate from that handsome face, though, the sharp intensity in those pitch-black eyes glaring at her felt like it might bore holes right through.
"Thanks, flower."
Joseph frowned.
"My subordinates brought it."
"Still, you had them do it, right?"
Joseph fixed his glassy black eyes on her. Instead of yes or no, he asked something else.
"Is collapsing like this... my fault?"
Charlotte studied Joseph's face.
There was no guilt on the twelve-year-old boy's features. More wariness, and other emotions too complex to read plainly.
Charlotte nodded without denying it.
"Yeah... embarrassing, but yeah. But you don't need to feel bad. It's mostly my own inexperience."
She tried to cushion it in case he blamed himself, but Joseph seemed unconcerned as he shot back.
"What did you do? How?"
"Well..."
"What did you find out before that?"
"That's..."
"Who told you? The Duke? Jerome Setia? Did the Second Prince say something? That I'm sick?"
"Calm down a little."
"Or the court physicians? One of them leak info?"
"Look, Prince Joseph."
Charlotte tried to soothe him gently, but the feral edge in Joseph didn't fade. If anything, his questions grew sharper.
"Are you a healing sorcerer? Or did the Setia talent skip you for holy power? Or an artifact?"
Charlotte scratched her head.
She realized she couldn't brush him off like she did the others. Not with this kid.
Because Joseph suffered from an illness no one could cure.
Through those lonely years battling symptoms near Qi Deviation, how desperate must his helplessness have felt?
So for a nine-year-old brat to suddenly fix it? Of course he'd be suspicious.
Charlotte chose her words carefully.
"Um... Your Highness, do you believe in reincarnation?"
"What?"
"Past lives."
"...Hah."
Joseph let out a hollow laugh.
"Trying to dodge with vague nonsense? Spit it out straight."
His already menacing gaze darkened further.
'No way. It's my huge secret I haven't told a soul.'
Past life talk wouldn't land here.
And if she didn't convince him properly now, he'd peg her as the Second Prince's spy for sure.
Charlotte racked her brain for a plausible excuse but shook her head.
'Grew up as a murim fighter who settled things with fists—not really into talking people into trusting me.'
Sure, she wanted Joseph's trust. Favorite character and all. He was cute, stirred her pity too.
But if he didn't trust her, what catastrophe would that be?
Still seated, Charlotte grabbed a fistful of her pink hair draping down to her knees and flashed a grin.
"Believe me if you want. Don't if you don't."
Joseph's brow furrowed deeply.
"...What?"
"See, Your Highness? Who do you think holds the hilt right now?"
Joseph eyed her strangely at the sudden boldness.