Chapter 85: Hint of Hope
The Duke slowly shook his head, his gaze somber, a silent confirmation of her greatest fear. The Duchess remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the gleaming tabletop, her expression sympathetic but equally devoid of answers.
A cold dread settled in Eirin’s chest. It felt futile. She knew, with a certainty that chilled her to the bone, how truly hopeless this situation had become. Her eyes then fell on Shade, struggling valiantly but fruitlessly to scoop food into his mouth.
Seeing this, the Duchess, sensing Eirin’s distress, immediately intervened. "Perhaps, the young lad would be more comfortable eating in your room, dear," she suggested kindly. Eirin didn’t hesitate, accepting the offer with a grateful nod.
Once they were back in the quiet sanctuary of their luxurious guest room, Eirin helped Shade with his meal, carefully spooning soft porridge into his mouth.
’I know he turned into a child,’ Eirin mused, observing his silent, docile obedience, ’but does that mean he can’t speak anymore?’
The thought lingered, a new, unsettling question. With how incredibly mild and gentle Shade had become—a stark contrast to his usual arrogant, prickly self—Eirin almost, almost, didn’t mind him staying like this a little longer. This childlike docility was a strangely pleasant change from his usual challenging demeanor.
But then, the practical side of her asserted itself. ’I need him for the mission, though,’ she reminded herself, the tangled threads of her thoughts forming a chaotic knot in her mind. As she was lost in this internal debate, Shade abruptly stopped eating, his small mouth clamped shut.
Eirin paused, a spoonful of porridge poised in mid-air, and raised a brow. "You need to eat so you can drink your medicine and get some rest," she coaxed, her voice firm but gentle, trying to guide the spoon to his lips. But he turned his head away, a stubborn, childish defiance in his tiny posture.
"Do you want to die with that fever?" Eirin asked, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. She gently, but firmly, cupped his small face, turning him back towards her.