Green Shade Territory.
Inside Romayada's lavish manor.
A tense atmosphere hung in the air.
These pampered nobles, protected by the High Wall, were largely insulated from monsters. The greatest storm they might face in their lives was likely disease.
And of all diseases, the Red Itch Plague was the one they dreaded encountering most.
It was an incurable disease with no chance of survival.
Lian was also thinking. 'When I first arrived in Green Shade Territory, the Guards almost buried me alive.'
'The caravan survivors entered Green Shade Territory because of me.'
'Could they have really been carrying the virus? No, if that were the case, I should have been infected even more easily since I shared a closed carriage with them. Shouldn't I have gotten sick long ago?'
'But I'm perfectly healthy right now, with no signs of infection whatsoever.'
'Besides, they didn't have the [Virus Source] or [Infected with the Plague] traits.'
It was different from Miss Riel's situation.
When Riel fell ill, Lian had seen her hidden trait: [Infected with the Plague].
A Doctor in a white coat entered Riel's room, then quickly came out shaking his head and whispered something in the butler Lu'an Schroeder's ear.
Lu'an Schroeder approached Romayada and said gravely, "It's the Red Itch Plague."
"How is that possible? Weren't all those infected refugees buried alive on Lord Moria's orders? Why is the Plague still spreading? Who on earth has Riel been in contact with?"
Romayada said furiously.
"My lord, now is not the time to be assigning blame."
Lu'an Schroeder said, "We need to decide what to do about Miss Riel."
Romayada fell silent.
He didn't want his entire family to be infected because of Riel.
Lian was standing right beside the two of them and naturally overheard their conversation.
"What is the Red Itch Plague?"
Lian asked.
"It's a highly contagious plague. Neither the Church nor the hospitals can do anything to help."
Anna said softly, "Even if the bodies are burned, the germs will spread through the air. Only burial in the earth can stop the disease from spreading."
"Anyone who contracts the Red Itch Plague is essentially sentenced to death. Lord Lian, we should also go to the church and be cleansed with Holy Water to avoid infection."
Annie added.
'A disease that neither the Church nor the hospitals can solve?'
'What a joke. This is the Extraordinary World, a world with Magic.'
'It must be that the Church doesn't want to get involved, right? Otherwise, how could their Holy Water grant immunity to the disease?'
"Make it less painful for Riel."
Romayada said heavily. Though he felt his youngest daughter Riel was utterly talentless, she was still his dearest little girl. Making this decision was tearing him apart.
Having rushed over, Madam Emil heard Romayada's words, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted. A Maid helped her back to her room.
Bella's face was also deathly pale with fear. If her personal Maid hadn't been supporting her, she might have fainted just like Madam Emil.
Miss Suri frowned and asked Romayada,
"Father, what's wrong with Riel?"
"The Red Itch Plague."
Romayada said in a low voice.
"The Red Itch Plague? Oh? I told her not to spend time with those low-born commoners, but she just wouldn't listen. And now she's gone and gotten infected with the Plague."
Suri's expression was full of disgust.
"Low-born commoners? Who led Riel astray?"
Romayada asked furiously.
"Father, I don't know for sure. I just know that she went to the outer city for several hours every day. She must have been messing around with those filthy commoners for this to happen. What have you decided to do now?"
Hearing Suri's words, Bella looked even more panicked. She wanted to say something but lacked the courage, stopping before she could speak.
Romayada looked at his two daughters with a troubled expression. He didn't want to tell them his decision, afraid they would either object or faint from shock like Madam Emil.
Seeing her father's silence, Suri couldn't help but speak up.
"Father, you can't hesitate any longer. We have to bury Riel alive as soon as possible. We also need to hurry to the church for Purification. If we miss the window, we'll get infected with the Plague, too. I don't want to lose my life because of Riel's foolishness. And the Lord is here as well."
Romayada was taken aback. "Suri, is that what you really think?"
"Of course."
Suri nodded firmly. "Please, make your decision."
Bella covered her mouth, her eyes welling with tears, unable to say a word.
Hearing his daughter's words, Romayada's resolve hardened once more. He looked toward his butler, Lu'an Schroeder.
Lu'an Schroeder nodded, preparing to order the servants to carry out the task: kill Riel, then bury her in the earth.
It seemed this was Riel's only possible fate.
Just as everyone was sentencing Riel to death, Lian coughed twice.
"Wait."
Lu'an Schroeder turned to look at Lian.
"Esteemed Lord, is there something you wish to say?"
"Romayada, I have studied some Medical Skill in the past. Perhaps you'll let me take a look at Riel's condition."
Lian said, looking at Romayada in his tall green top hat.
"Lord Lian, you can't do that! You are the Lord. If anything were to happen to you, the entire Yada Clan would be branded as sinners."
Romayada said sternly.
"That's right, Lord Lian. There's no need for you to take such a risk."
Annie reminded him,
"If you really want to save Miss Riel, I can send her to the Priest's room at the church. If the Priest gets infected himself, he'll surely find a way to cure himself."
'Do you have a grudge against the Priest, or against Miss Riel?'
Lian rubbed the bridge of his nose, then turned back to Romayada.
"Please, trust me. I wouldn't joke with my own life."
"If anything happens to Lord Lian, the entire Yada Clan will be buried with him. So, Lord Romayada, you needn't worry too much,"
Anna said with a smile.
Romayada instinctively tried to shrink his already short neck, suddenly feeling quite threatened.
"Anna, don't scare Romayada. Please, have faith in my Medical Skill. I once studied under a Mister Pinocchio."
Lian said.
"Who is this Mister Pinocchio?"
Romayada couldn't help but ask.
'A master liar.'
"A wandering miracle doctor. Please, just leave it to me."
Lian finally convinced Romayada and entered Riel's room alone.
Riel was tied to the bed with ropes, unable to move. Her small face was a mask of terror and pain.
"Don't kill me, I'm begging you, please don't kill me! I didn't get sick on purpose! I don't want to die!"
She already knew she had the Plague and believed she would certainly be abandoned, just like the commoners who had been infected before. She would be buried alive in the dirt, her body crawling with worms. The mere thought of this scene terrified Riel.
"Miss Riel, calm down. Let me examine you first."
'Now, where are you hiding that red trait of yours?'