Elias sat beside Monica’s bed, holding the bowl of pureed food in one hand while carefully feeding her with the other. Monica remained unconscious throughout the process, her pale face illuminated by the faint blue glow of the magical formations surrounding the bed, and for several minutes, everything proceeded peacefully.
Then her body suddenly began to tremble.
Elias paused for only a moment before recognizing the signs.
"Another seizure," he muttered.
Dark, shadowy smoke began leaking from Monica’s body, spreading across the bed and curling around her like living mist.
Unlike the first time, Elias didn’t panic or call for Benjamin. He immediately placed the bowl aside, reached into the pouch of antidotes he had been given, and took out one of the small black pills.
He stepped into the spreading smoke without hesitation.
The pain came almost immediately, prickling across his skin like countless needles, but the Shadow Ghost Poison Resistance he had received from the system kept the poison from seriously harming him.
Elias gritted his teeth as he reached Monica and gently opened her mouth.
"Come on, Monica," he said quietly.
"Swallow this."
He placed the antidote between her lips and carefully made sure she swallowed it.
The seizure continued for several seconds before Monica’s trembling gradually weakened. The dark smoke began to dissipate, retreating into her until the room was once again clear.
Elias remained beside her for a moment, watching her breathing stabilize.
"Much better," he mumbled.
Monica’s expression returned to its usual peaceful state, and within moments, she had slipped back into her unconscious condition.
Elias picked up the bowl again and finished feeding her once the seizure had completely passed.
When he was done, he placed the bowl aside and stared at Monica for several seconds.
"The system called it Shadow Ghost Poison, but I’ve never heard of anything like that," he whispered.
He remembered what Monica had told him about the three forbidden elements, but the poison seemed to be something entirely different.
There was still too much he didn’t understand.
Elias sighed before standing.
"I’ll figure it out eventually," he muttered.
He adjusted Monica’s blanket before leaving the room. After stepping outside, he locked the door behind him and checked it once more to make sure it was secure.
Monica’s poison was far too dangerous for anyone to enter the room recklessly.
With that done, Elias walked through the manor until he reached the garden.
The garden was quiet, with several trees surrounding a small stone path and rows of flowers swaying gently beneath the afternoon warmth. Elias found an empty chair beneath the shade of a tree and sat down, leaning back as he looked toward the clear blue sky.
For several moments, he simply stared upward.
It was difficult to believe how much his life had changed.
Only two days ago, he had still been the useless son of the Crimson Ducal Clan, someone nobody expected to accomplish anything. He had spent years swinging a wooden sword without making meaningful progress, constantly being reminded that he lacked talent and would never amount to anything.
Now he had three wives.
He possessed a mysterious system capable of rewarding him thousands of times over for helping them, an A-grade talent, a sealed Three-Star Harmonic Dragon Physique, an upgraded mana aptitude, vastly improved swordsmanship, and several strange skills he had never even known existed.
Elias lowered his gaze toward his hands.
He had also fought an Intermediate swordsman and won.
He still found that difficult to believe.
"What a strange life," he mumbled.
He leaned back against the chair and stared at the sky again.
Yesterday, he had been wondering whether he should run away from the Crimson Ducal Clan and abandon everything.
Now, he couldn’t imagine leaving.
Natasha had finally smiled.
Stella had trusted him, at least one side of her did.
Monica had allowed him to care for her despite her usual sharp tongue.
They were still broken, and Elias had no idea whether he was capable of fixing them, but he had already started feeling responsible for them.
He remained lost in thought for some time before a familiar voice finally broke the silence.
"My lord."
Elias turned his head.
Benjamin was standing beside the chair.
Elias raised his eyebrows and asked, "How long have you been standing here?"
"For quite some time, I was waiting for you to finish your thoughts, my lord," Benjamin answered.
"I see..." Elias said as he studied the butler’s expression. "I believe you have something you wish to ask me?"
"I do," Benjamin replied.
"Go ahead, then," Elias said.
Benjamin hesitated for a moment before asking, "Was that wise, my lord?"
Elias’s brows furrowed.
"Are you questioning whether protecting my wives’ honor and dignity was wise of me?" he asked.
"I am not questioning the intent, my lord. I am questioning the method. The new city lord can use what you did to the Outer Night Watch’s knight to pressure you," Benjamin replied calmly.
Elias fell silent.
Benjamin had a point.
If the new city lord was someone unfriendly toward him or the Crimson Ducal Clan, then the incident could easily become a problem.
Elias had humiliated one of the city’s knights, and even though the man had insulted his wives first, Elias was still the one who had initiated the challenge.
"I suppose you’re right," Elias admitted after a moment.
"Still, I cannot watch others badmouth my wives."
Benjamin stared at him for several seconds before asking, "You have only met them for two days, my lord."
"That’s true," Elias said.
Benjamin’s lips curled into a faint smile.
"I suppose it was love at first sight," he said.
Elias immediately shook his head and replied, "No, I don’t love them."
Benjamin’s smile faded slightly, and he asked, "Then why?"
Elias fell silent.
He looked down at his hands and began rubbing his right index finger with his left thumb, thinking carefully about the answer.
For most of his life, he had never had anyone to rely on.
He had learned to take care of himself because nobody else would.
Now, somehow, three people had been placed under his responsibility.
Three women who had been abandoned by the people and organizations that once saw them as treasure.
Elias slowly looked toward the blue sky and said quietly, "All my life, I have been responsible for myself, but now I am responsible for three more lives."
Benjamin remained silent.
Elias’s expression softened as he continued.
"And..." He paused before smiling faintly. "I’ve always had a soft spot for the broken."