The hall alone was more extravagant than a noble's mansion. Jasper walked with slow steps, remembering his home—the home that he had given up willingly to escape with his life.
Rolling his eyes to the right, he caught Jessica in what seemed like a nervous habit—her thumbnail trapped between her teeth, fretting with quick, restless nibbles. The soft clicking sound barely rose above their footsteps. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, creating small lines across her otherwise smooth forehead. Though he couldn't read her thoughts, the tension radiating from all over her frame suggested two possibilities: Either she feared the medicine he carried might prove as useless as every other remedy they'd tried, or today would be her mother's last breath. A sudden shake of her head, as if dispelling some dark thought, told him all he needed to know—she was bracing for the worst.
Heinrich moved with deliberate calm, his steps steady, his face unreadable—but beneath the surface, chaos simmered. A tightness in his jaw, a flicker of tension in his hands, the slightest hesitation before each breath—small betrayals of the storm within. Jasper, watching, turned his attention to his armbrace. His fingers found the hidden seam, and with a quiet click, he retrieved the earpiece, positioning it into its proper place.
"By the way, Mr. Heinrich," Jasper asked, breaking the annoying silence in an imitation of Ivar's usual habit, "may I ask what the doctors you brought said about her condition?"
The older man's chest rose and fell in a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of years of anguish. His voice, when it came, was rough, "They all said the same thing: she is weak and needs to stay away from any physical activity. Even walking is tiring for her."
Jasper's eyes slowly widened, but still kept his cool. He had heard that his biological mother had suffered the same mysterious decline before his birth, her vitality ebbing away. Each day was worse than the last
His father had been against having a child with her. But she had pleaded with him desperately, afraid of dying and leaving Kenan all alone in this world. She had wanted to leave a connection that would outlast her failing body. In the end, both had departed this world, leaving behind only a child to struggle against this wicked environment.
He shook his head, throwing the already forgotten events aside, yet holding onto the thin thread that tied this situation to his own. The coincidence felt too perfect, too deliberate—like pieces of a puzzle falling into place smoothly.
His feet continued their steady rhythm against the marble while his mind wandered through darker corridors. Heinrich and his father shared more than business acumen—they both wore the target of noble resentment. 'Being a righteous merchant is the hardest thing in this world.'
"Guild Master Heinrich, are you sure that your wife isn't poisoned?" The sudden question made the grand hall shrink. The man stopped as if his legs were frozen. Jessica let out a long "Huh?" that echoed through the hall.
"What do you mean, poisoned?" Heinrich's eyes reddened.
"I'm not sure myself. However, my mother died giving birth to me—a few years before that, she suddenly fell ill, or let's say she grew weak, at least that's what the doctors told my father."
"Couldn't this just be a coincidence?" Jessica's voice wavered, hope and fear warring in her tone
"Let me say that my father had a hostile relationship with the nobles. They couldn't frame him or find any form of corruption in his business dealings. No one thought that my mother probably died at the hands of nobles and merchants, but I'm beginning to wonder now that your wife suffers under the same mysterious condition."
Heinrich's fist clenched, veins bulging from the force of his grip. A little more pressure, and blood might have welled beneath his nails—but Jasper's next words forced his fingers to loosen, if only slightly.
"Whatever happened," Jasper said, allowing a confident smirk to play across his lips, "you are fortunate that I'm here now."
The bedroom door opened with the softest creak, revealing a sanctuary that breathed with the life of the forest. The air carried the clean, green scent of pine needles and morning dew, as if the room existed in some enchanted grove rather than within stone walls. Sheer curtains danced in the gentle breeze from partially opened windows, their movements mimicking the sway of branches and the flutter of leaves. Shafts of golden afternoon light filtered through the fabric, creating patterns that shifted and moved like living things across the polished floor.
The woman lying upon the four-poster bed resembled nature's own masterpiece in decline—a flower at the end of its glorious lifespan, its petals still beautiful but brushed by inevitable withering. Her golden hair fanned across the white silk pillow like sunlight piercing through clouds, each strand catching the filtered light and reflecting it in gentle waves. Her skin, pale as dawn's mist, seemed almost translucent, revealing the delicate blue tracery of veins beneath.
The sound of the opening door brought no movement from her still form, but her ears caught the familiar symphony of approaching footsteps. Three sets of feet entered together—Heinrich's heavy boots striking the floor with authority, Jessica's lighter steps creating a softer counterpoint, and then something else. Something that moved with deliberate quiet, almost scary in its silence, yet somehow audible to her heightened senses.
"Oh dear, sweaty, did you bring a cat with you?" The woman didn't even open her eyes to check, that's how tired she was. Jasper was amused by how keen her senses were. But her statement made both the father and the daughter turn to Jasper.
Jasper didn't understand what was going on, but he stepped forward and, in a soft voice, said, "Excuse my sudden visit, Madam. I'm no cat, but I can be if you wish me to be. Though I'm here hoping to get you back on your feet again."
A sound like happiness to Heinrich's ear emerged from Emilia's throat—a chuckle that seemed to bring warmth to all his being. Using arms that trembled like flower stems in the wind, she slowly raised herself to a sitting position against the carved headboard. Each movement appeared to cost her precious energy, but determination burned in her gestures. "Emilia…" He surged forward, his boots striking the floor with urgent rhythm, hands reaching out to support her.
"Stop it, my dear," she said firmly, though her voice remained gentle, "I can at least do this much." Her eyes opened slowly, revealing irises the color of a clear sky. Despite the weakness that had claimed her body, those eyes remained bright with an inner light that illness could not dim—warm and gentle as hearth fires in the bitter cold of loneliness.
Jasper understood why Heinrich completely changed when it comes to his wife. Even in her dying state, she could fill the room with warmth and vitality.
"May I ask what our amusing guest has prepared to lift my spirits?" Her lips curved in the faintest smile. "If it's your humorous side, I'm afraid I'll be too weak with laughter to even raise my head—I've always been helpless against funny people," she said, her tone gentle and lighthearted.
Jasper's hand moved closer to his mouth, "Hey, ArmBrace, can you check if it's possible for her to endure the Neural Chem-Catalyst?"
"Hmm? What did you say, sir Jasper?" Jessica's head tilted in curiosity, her voice carrying genuine puzzlement.
"Ah ha ha ha, I was just thinking out loud, that's all." Jasper hesitantly used the same excuse twice now. He started fearing that he would one day be labeled as crazy for speaking to himself.
Let me give you some good news, dear user. Despite men and women both being human, they are not similar. Unlike men, women can safely consume the Neural-Chem Catalyst; the only notable side effect is a transient burning sensation in the chest, lasting no more than a few minutes. However, keep in mind that the recovery effects will take at least a day to manifest.
"Isn't this liquid a bit biased? Never mind. But she is probably poisoned—won't there be any side effects?" Feeling his voice rise above a whisper, he turned to Jessica, giving a forced laugh and a sorry gesture.
If you are not feeling comfortable about the operation, get closer to her.
First, put the armbrace in front of her face.
Second, tell her to put her hand on the armbrace.
Third, sting her with this needle—be sure that her blood is on the needle—then put it back here for analysis.
Fourth, stay still and wait for me to notify you.
Jasper approached her confidently after getting the instructions from the system.
First, he positioned the armbrace before her, scanning her facial features. She stared in fascination, her sky-blue eyes tracking his every movement trying to understand what he was doing.
Then, "Please place your hand on the armbrace," he instructed gently. Now confusion bloomed across all three faces like flowers opening to morning sun. Heinrich's brow furrowed deeply, Jessica's lips parted in a silent question, and Emilia's eyes darted between the strange device and Jasper's hidden face.
Next, and without warning, Jasper's fingers revealed a needle that gleamed inside the room. The appearance of the sharp instrument triggered Heinrich's protective instinct. Here, he stepped forward, shouting, "What are you trying to do with that needle?" His hands reached for Jasper's wrist, but the younger man was as slippery as an eel, dodging the grasping fingers smoothly.
"Now I understand why doctors usually ask patients' families to leave the room during treatment," Jasper tone was a bit cold, "If you don't calm yourself, Mr. Heinrich, you're welcome to wait outside. Your daughter seems far more composed than you are."
Jessica, if anything, was an expert at understanding others' emotions. She understood his feelings toward her—not the desperate love you find in every story, but something simpler and more rational, more real. With a face like his, disfigured by whatever misfortune had befallen him, finding any woman willing to share companionship would be miraculous. She trusted that he would never risk destroying such a precious connection. Her mother's condition was far too serious for games or deception—he knew this and hadn't hesitated to help.
Jasper took hold of a finger from Emilia's nearest hand and pricked it. Her skin was so fragile that the needle barely touched her before blood welled up. "Oh sh—sorry, Mother, your skin is so delicate."
Emilia forgot about her flowing blood and focused on the word mother. "Mother?" She turned to her husband and daughter, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"Ah-ha! It's nothing, really." Heinrich waved a dismissive hand, his laugh a little too quick. "His mother was like you—bedridden, with the same condition. You reminded him of her, so he… well, he called you 'mother' without thinking."
Jasper withdrew the needle, sliding it back into his armbrace, and shot Heinrich a bewildered look. What are you talking about? his expression seemed to say. Isn't she my mother-in-law?
Before he could speak, Heinrich grabbed his wrist and hurried him out of the room. "Mr. Jasper, forgive me for putting you in such an awkward position," he muttered, voice low. "But the doctors warned us—no shocks, good or bad. If Emilia learns her daughter is to be married… I fear her heart wouldn't take it."
Jasper exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. "I see. Then… It's fine."
"So have you finished the treatment? Why didn't you give her the medicine yet?"
"No. What we need now is patience—for I don't know how long."
Heinrich raised an eyebrow; his doubt about Jasper's shady treatment was growing deeper and deeper. "What do you mean by pa—"
Ding!
No risk to the patient's health detected. You can give her the Neural-Chem Catalyst with peace of mind, dear user.
Jasper, hearing the system speak in his ear, raised his hand, cutting off the conversation. "No need to wait anymore. Let's go."
Heinrich felt his mind was about to blow. "Is he planning to drive me mad as payment for saving my wife?"
Back in the bedchamber, Jasper withdrew a bottle of dark liquid from within his cloak. The vicious look of the liquid made Emilia's stomach clench with instinctive revulsion.
"Don't worry, madam," Jasper's voice carried absolute sincerity, "The last thing you could imagine is me causing you harm."
Emilia accepted the bottle with trembling fingers. Every instinct screamed warnings, every fiber of her being recoiled from the ominous substance, but desperation won over fear. She tilted the bottle back and drained its contents in one swift motion, all that she felt after drinking the liquid was like acid reflux.
"Okay, my job here is done." Jasper turned toward the door with obvious intent to depart, but Heinrich's hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"Mr. Jasper, where are you going in such haste?"
Jasper gestured toward the window where the sun hung low, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. "I prefer not to travel in darkness. That's why I'm departing now."
"But you've told us nothing! You simply gave her that black liquid and now you're leaving?"
'What exactly do you expect me to say?' Jasper thought desperately. 'I'm no physician. Do you want me to ruin everything by spouting nonsense?'
The ArmBrace intervened swiftly, instructing Jasper to repeat after it. As he spoke, his words carried an almost sage weight—as if wisdom itself had taken form.
"Now I must take my leave, and as I promised, tomorrow she will stand upon her own feet. I shall visit again when circumstances permit." With that, Jasper strode away, his footsteps echoing through the grand hall.
The sharp click-click-click of a woman's heels on marble followed him, the sound creating a rhythmic counterpoint to his own steps. Turning, he expected to see a servant but instead found Jessica approaching with graceful steps.
She offered a brief curtsy, then smiled warmly. "Thank you for all you have done, sir Jasper."
Jasper's hand flew instinctively to his hood, the memory of the wind pulling it back still vivid. He clutched the fabric protectively—even though he was inside the mansion, where no wind should reach him. But who knows? He might be that unlucky.
"I... yes... I would gladly do anything for you. I shall pray for your mother's swift recovery."
"Your kind words warm my heart, Sir Jasper. Please, stay safe on your journey back."
"Yes, thank you." Each word felt like it might trip and fall from his tongue, but somehow he managed to speak them without complete embarrassment.
Riding his horse, he went back home. "Heh heh heh," he smiled and laughed like a fool.
Dear user, I usually don't give random advice, but you need to stop with this eerie laugh and go home fast, or the city gate will be closed by the time you get back.
"Oh god, I nearly forgot about this. Let's hurry, my friend, or we'll be sleeping beneath the stars tonight."
Unfortunately, when Jasper and his horse finally approached the towering stone walls, the massive iron gates stood firmly closed. No amount of calling or pleading would open them until dawn painted the eastern sky.
"What now?" Jasper's voice carried into the darkness, answered only by his neighing of his horse.