"The truth is, by the time I learned this, both Gray and Alen had already passed away. And so the ducal family's fortune was transferred to Rosalyn, Glock, and the paternal Thodell family."
Laya couldn't help but cry out worriedly, "Helena, your body is—"
But she just gently reassured her, "It's all right. I've completed my mission. Now all that's left is for me to return to where I belong. I was finally able to tell you this, so perhaps my efforts weren't for nothing."
Laya cried out, "Helena, I will grant your wish and make sure your efforts weren't in vain. First thing in the morning, I'll tell Alen and search for the doctors from Hess."
"This is my final request. My life is over, so please leave the pain behind and live for the joys of the future."
And Laya watched her past self fade away before her very eyes.
A few days later, the doctor was brought to Gray's bedside. He continuously prepared medicine for her, and then the doctor took Gray's pulse. A while later, he came out.
The director, who was waiting anxiously outside, saw him as the door closed and immediately went over to inquire. "Sir, what is Lady Gray's current condition?"
He replied as he walked out, "Her health is weaker than I expected. But fortunately, I only just recently completed my research on this illness. How did you all know to contact me?"
He smiled and explained, "Someone recommended you to us."
The doctor exclaimed in surprise, "Me? Why is that?"
He continued, "You grew up in Hess, didn't you? That person said it would be very helpful."
Hearing that, the doctor smiled brightly and remarked, "Oh, to know of my origins and still make the recommendation, they must be a person of exceptional skill and insight. Will I have an opportunity to meet this person someday? To be able to deduce aspects of Lady Gray's illness without research? I would genuinely love to hear their opinion."
The director then explained, "Ah, well, this may be a bit hard to believe, but the person who recommended you, doctor, was the Duchess herself. A few days ago, her grace had a dream."
Meanwhile, inside the drawing room, Alen was joyfully exclaiming, "My mother is finally recovering."
Laya also cried out excitedly, "That's truly wonderful."
He asked Laya inquisitively, "Can you tell me about the dream that you had? I summoned the doctor in a hurry, but I never imagined a miracle would actually happen."
Before she could even begin, he expressed his thoughts, and Alen furrowed his brow in confusion. "Why wouldn't I believe you?"
Hearing this, she still hesitated with her head down, so he smiled. "Let's lighten the mood. You seem a bit tense, my lady."
Laya smiled gently and explained, "I don't know where to begin. The first day we met—"
Alen also started to feel confused. "The first day we met."
Then he recalled that day she had said, "You dropped this, sir."
Alen exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, this is very precious to me. I almost lost it. Please take this. If you ever need help in the future, bring this and come to the Thodell estate."
Laya nodded affirmatively. "Yes, from that day on until the time I came to find you, there was so much to explain."
Alen paused when he heard that. "The day you came to find me. Back then."
Laya had looked up at him trembling and asked, "Do you remember me, sir?"
After recalling, Alen answered her, "It was raining heavily that day. You were wearing only thin clothes and had fled all alone to my estate."
Laya looked up a little surprised and asked, "So you do remember?"
His gaze lowered slightly as he affirmed, "Of course, I remember, because I was always waiting for you to come find me."
Hearing this, Laya cried out in confusion, "You were waiting for me?"
At this point, he finally confirmed, "Yes, to be more precise, ever since we first met, I have been waiting for you to appear."
She exclaimed in astonishment, "What?"
Just then, Alen let out a tired sigh. He gently reached his hand out to her as he smiled and suggested, "It seems we have a long story to tell, don't we? So, would you like to take a walk with me?"
And so, the two of them talked together until nightfall.
"I finished my story. It's hard to believe, isn't it? I can't even believe it myself, so I don't know how you must feel, Alen."
But he just gently turned to her and smiled. "Not at all. I believe you."
Laya asked again, completely bewildered. The sound of their footsteps echoed. Clip-clop. Clip-clop.
Laya spoke softly. "Alen, there are still stories that are hard to believe."
Alen looked down at her, smiled gently, and asked, "Do you know, really?"
She thought to herself, Even though Lady Gray is recovering and Alen's past is real.
"What I thought, after hearing the story you just told. First, I was very surprised, and then my heart ached, knowing that you also went through that same nightmare as me."
Laya exclaimed in surprise, "Alen, you too?"
She looked up in confusion, waiting for his words. Alen gently placed his hand on hers.
"Laya, before I married you, I had a dream. I met the woman I loved and married her. But in the dream, I treated her with such cruelty. I didn't feel right, acting so cruelly towards her, but I couldn't control myself in the dream, no matter how hard I tried."
At first, her heart skipped a beat. Could it be?
Just then, Alen pulled her into a sudden embrace, exclaiming, "But it's such a relief."