[IFITAOAMV] Chapter 49
When Evelyn returned from the temple after receiving the prophecy as a child, she was on the verge of tears, her face pale with fear. The Duke had felt as if a dagger had been thrust into his heart at the sight of his usually composed and undemanding daughter so distressed.
Since then, the Duke had devoted all his efforts to finding the "master" mentioned in the prophecy, but they had yet to find even the smallest clue.
Ferron stared intently at the feverish Evelyn before speaking slowly.
"It might be too soon to jump to conclusions. For now, why don't we trust the physician's judgment?"
"Focus our resources on finding the owner mentioned in the prophecy."
"Understood," Ferron said quietly before leaving the room.
"I will protect you, my daughter," the Duke murmured, his voice steady but filled with deep paternal love.
Of all the prophecies, why did she have to receive such a dreadful one? The thought that this precious girl might lose everything weighed heavily on his heart.
Evelyn had decided to become the head of the family because of the prophecy. She wanted to protect what was hers and fight against her fate.
Of course, as the only child, Evelyn was the natural heir to the family. But if she hadn't wanted the position, the Duke was prepared to search among distant relatives or even adopt someone to take over the family.
Please, let it just be a fever. Let it be something that can be cured.
‘Monica, please protect our daughter,’ the Duke silently prayed, thinking of his late wife as he often did when Evelyn was unwell. His face softened with longing and sorrow.
"Please, wake up soon," the Duke whispered, gently brushing Evelyn's sweat-soaked violet hair.
***
Fortunately, Evelyn's high fever subsided a few days later, and she regained consciousness.
"Are you alright?" the Duke asked anxiously as he rushed to her side.
"I'm fine now, Father. I'm sorry to have worried you."
"It's alright. You’ve recovered, and that’s what matters."
Evelyn’s face looked slightly thinner, likely from being ill for several days. The Duke couldn’t help but feel concerned. However, instead of saying more, he stood up from the bedside.
“Ah…” Evelyn winced and closed her eyes as if in pain.
“What’s wrong?” the Duke asked quickly.
“The light… it’s too bright.”
The Duke glanced around the room but saw nothing that seemed particularly bright. The only change was that Zelene had just pulled back the canopy after confirming that Evelyn was awake.
“What’s causing the brightness?” "I don't know... I just can't keep my eyes open," Evelyn replied, covering her eyes with her hands, clearly distressed by her condition. The Duke's expression hardened, sensing that something was seriously wrong.
"Olson, fetch the physician immediately," he ordered, and the butler, standing a few steps away, rushed out of the room. The Duke remained silent, holding Evelyn's hand tightly.
"May I examine you, my lady?" the physician asked cautiously as he arrived with the butler. Evelyn gave a small nod. The physician instructed the maid to lower the canopy again and examined Evelyn's condition.
After a thorough check, the physician finally spoke, his tone heavy. "It seems her eyes have become sensitive to light. I believe this is a lingering effect of the fever."
A tense silence fell over the room. The Duke pressed his lips together in a firm line while Evelyn sat still, shocked by the diagnosis. No one dared to speak until the Duke finally broke the silence with a low voice.
"...Is there a treatment?"
"Regular medication and eye cleansing may improve her condition, but a full recovery is unlikely. My apologies," the physician said, bowing deeply.
"...To what extent can her vision be restored?"
"We won't know until we begin treatment. Although fevers are common, I've never seen this type of complication before..."
"Will she be able to go about her daily activities?"
"At this moment, it would be difficult."
"What about gemstones? Will she be unable to examine them?" Evelyn asked, her voice trembling.
"...I apologise, my lady. It would be best to avoid anything that sparkles."
The physician's answer, though gently phrased, was clear enough. Evelyn clenched her hands tightly together.
"Understood. Use every means possible to aid in her recovery," the Duke commanded.
"Of course, Your Grace." The physician quickly exited the room after bowing deeply.
"Don't worry. I'll find a way to ensure your full recovery," the Duke said, trying to reassure her.
"What if I can't fully recover?" Evelyn asked. Her voice was calm, but her pale grey eyes had a note of fear.
"Even if that were the case, you would still be the next head of the family."
"But if the head of a family that runs a mining business can't even look at gemstones, I'll be a laughingstock."
"Our main strength isn't in crafting; there won't be many tasks you need to handle personally. You can rely on trustworthy advisors to manage those responsibilities," the Duke explained more thoroughly than usual, trying to soothe her worries.
"If this continues, I won't be able to attend balls or any other events."
"Those aren't important for the duties of a head of the family. Let's focus on your treatment for now."
Evelyn stared at her father for a moment before reluctantly nodding.
"First, you need to eat. You've barely touched any food in days," the Duke said gently, patting her hand before standing up. But as he moved to leave, Evelyn lightly grasped the hem of his robe.
Noticing this, the Duke sat back down, silently asking her what was wrong.
"...My prophecy... Do you think it's starting?" Evelyn's voice was steady as she brought up the prophecy, but the Duke hesitated to answer.
"You haven't found the person mentioned in the prophecy yet, have you?" she asked resignation in her voice. The question weighed heavily on the Duke's heart.
