A light seemed to shine in Petra's eyes as she looked up at Grin and said:
"I'll do my best, Big Brother Grin, but I'm really worried... What if everyone really gets taken by the wolves... What should we do then!"
Grin crouched down to Petra's eye level before responding with a warm smile.
"If that time comes, I will definitely come to save you."
A glimmer of light appeared in Petra's eyes, and she extended her right hand.
"Then let's pinky promise!"
"Okay."
Grin also extended his hand, and their little fingers hooked together.
"By the Dragon God, I swear this."
Petra chanted with her eyes closed. When she opened them again, she was completely calm.
"Big Brother Grin, I will definitely protect everyone!"
With that, the Little Girl quickly turned and ran back.
Clatter, clatter~
The sound of the dragon carriage moving rang out. Right on time, Rem had driven the dragon carriage over... In the Mansion, to avoid being seen by others, Emilia had rushed back ahead of everyone.
She hadn't stopped running the whole way, and even with Puck's help, she was finding it a bit too much to handle.
As soon as she returned to her room, Emilia threw herself onto the soft bed, looking utterly exhausted.
Puck, however, was still full of energy. Perched by Emilia's ear, he said, "Lia seems quite happy today."
Emilia rolled over, lying limply on the bed.
"I've always wanted to go to Aram Village, and this time I finally made up my mind to do it."
Puck teased, "My poor daughter, you really don't have to be so cautious. As long as you wear that cloak that hinders recognition, you could have gone with Grin."
Emilia shook her head. "Hiding under a cloak and hiding behind a cherry blossom tree are essentially the same thing."
Puck raised a small paw and tapped his own head. "Sorry, Lia. I misspoke that time."
Emilia opened her arms and hugged Puck to her chest, saying gently, "It's okay, Puck. As long as you're with me, that's enough."
Knock, knock, knock!
Right in the middle of this warm moment between father and daughter, the sound of knocking rudely interrupted.
"Who is it?"
Emilia called out, but there was no response.
Creak~
She pushed the door open. To her confusion, there was no one in sight outside.
Puck's observation skills were better. He immediately pointed at something on the floor and reminded her, "Lia, look down."
Emilia obediently lowered her head and indeed saw a tray on the floor.
On the tray lay a fresh cluster of cherry blossoms and a pink cake that looked rather roughly made.
Emilia covered her mouth in disbelief, momentarily at a loss for words.
Did Green-kun bring this back for me from Aram Village?
Yes, it must have been him.
Puck was also surprised. Just as he was about to fly over, Emilia quickly stopped him, saying, "Wait, Puck. Don't come over just yet. Just wait a moment."
As she spoke, Emilia quickly pinched her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes.
After several deep breaths, she crouched down and picked up the tray.
"Lia..."
Puck called softly. He knew that Emilia, who lacked affection, was feeling deeply moved at the moment, and it was best to let her adjust on her own.
Emilia sniffled and changed the subject:
"Grin has been led astray by the children of Aram Village. Next time I see him, I must give him a good scolding."
Puck nodded and gently ruffled Emilia's hair.
"Get some rest, Lia. You look exhausted."
Emilia placed the cherry blossoms in a vase by the bed and tightly clutched the cherry blossom cake in her hand.
She had really wanted to eat it earlier, but now she felt reluctant to do so.
The weary Emilia closed her eyes like this, holding the cherry blossom cake and leaning against the bedside, drifting off into a hazy sleep... After an unknown amount of time, a sudden flurry of hurried footsteps shattered the tranquility.
"Outside... why is it so noisy?"
Emilia got out of bed and put on her slippers.
Looking out the window, the sun was already touching the mountains in the west.
The Great Spirit Puck had long since reached his rest time and had retreated into the Magic Crystal hanging from Emilia's chest.
As soon as Emilia opened the door, she bumped into a visibly anxious Ram. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she asked,
"Ram, has something happened?"
Ram's eyes held a trace of sorrow. "Lady Emilia, Grin... Grin is dying!"
"How could that be?"
Emilia staggered, and the cherry blossom cake in her hand fell to the floor with a soft thud.
Ram didn't have time to explain. She grabbed Emilia's hand and ran towards Grin's room.
Upon reaching the room, it was already crowded with people.
Roswaal, Betty, Rem, and a completely bewildered Subaru Natsuki were all gathered around Grin's bed.
Grin, usually so full of vitality, now lay weakly on the bed.
His skin was pale, his breathing shallow, appearing to be on the brink of death.
Rem tightly held Grin's hand, trying to alleviate his suffering.
"Why is this happening? He was fine this morning."
She had come to deliver herbs to treat his bite wound, only to find Grin unconscious on the bed as soon as she entered.
In her panic, Rem could only notify everyone to come, hoping they could help.
Suppressing her heavy feelings, Betty raised her right hand and cast a spell to detect abnormal conditions.
A moment later, wisps of black smoke suddenly began to rise from the canine bite marks on Grin's palm.
"It's here!"
Betty grabbed Grin's hand and examined it closely.
"This wound is the medium for the spell. Someone has placed a curse on Grin."
Hearing this, Rem's pupils trembled.
Grin had been bitten while saving her.
"It's Rem... who killed Green-kun..."
Once this thought took root, it began to grow wildly without limit.
Emilia walked up to Grin's side, tears finally flowing unrestrained.
The Half-Elf girl spoke with heart-wrenching sorrow: "Why... Why would such a terrible thing happen... I thought we could become friends..."
Rem knelt by the bedside, her hands gently covering Grin's cold hands, just as he had protected her.
Her blue eyes were already reddened, her usually determined gaze now filled with fear and helplessness.
"Is there really nothing Lady Beatrice can do?"
Hearing this, Betty let out a long sigh.
"If we had discovered it earlier, we could have easily disrupted the inactive spell. Now that the curse has taken effect, the only way to stop it is to kill the one who cast it."
"Rem will go kill her now!"
Veins bulged on Rem's arm, as if she might undergo Oni transformation at any second.
She clearly remembered the appearance of that magical beast and its master.
Betty shook her head. "It's too late. This spell continuously drains the cursed one's mana. Judging by Grin's current state, he can hold on for at most another hour."
Rem stubbornly stood up and walked towards the door.
"Rem will kill her within an hour..."
Ram looked at her sister with concern. She knew it was impossible to dissuade her now.
Moreover, she herself owed Grin her life.
Thinking of this, she walked to Grin's bedside and said to the unconscious boy:
"Even the White Whale couldn't take your life. Ram doesn't believe you could become so fragile..."