10 But there is no cure for white fever

(Therrion) I am going to leave the mansion.

I was in my room, and Therrion was in front of me announcing his resignation, no matter how hard he tried, he could not hide his true intentions.

(Leonora) What is your motive?

I asked with my usual poker face.

(Therrion) I don't want to continue working for the witch.

Therrion's hands and voice were shaking as he spoke, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

(Leonora) if those are your motives, then I won't stop you.

(Therrion) fine, I'll leave, I don't need any kind of compensation.

Therrion turned around, and was about to leave, but he stopped, it was obvious that he wanted to say something else, but he kept it to himself, and left the room.

After a short while the maids returned, and set about changing me.

Therrion had arrived first thing in the morning, just after I woke up, and before the maids came to dress me. He even waited until we were alone, no matter how many lifetimes go by, it always amazes me how much of an idiot people could be.

The maids finished changing me and I asked them to call Irma. Soon after, she arrived.

(Irma) She sent for me, Miss.

(Leonora) Therrion has left the mansion, I want you to delegate your duties, and assume his position.

(Irma) I'll be ready in an hour.

Irma left the room, and I could tell she looked slightly more cheerful.

She never liked Therrion, that is a constant in all my lives. She has chosen to serve me willingly, only she tends to be somewhat jealous when it comes to serving me, as she doesn't like anyone else to be my right hand.

I went to my office, and started working. Not even half an hour had passed, when Irma knocked on the door and came in.

(Irma) I have finished delegating my duties Miss Croiss, I am ready to stay by your side.

To anyone, Irma is the same as always, but I know her, I could notice that her voice is slightly higher, and the corners of her lips are almost imperceptibly raised, which is the closest thing to a smile I have ever seen her do.

(Leonora) Well Irma, what is my agenda for today?

(Irma) Right away Miss.

We continued our work, until after noon when there was a knock on the door.

Irma came to the door and announced.

(Irma) the dukes miss

The pitiful couple entered, and I stopped my work to welcome them.

(Pitiful) Good morning dear.

(Leonora) Good morning parents, what can I do for you?

(Pitiful) As you know, tomorrow we will be leaving for the capital for her majesty's birthday.

The pitiful woman began to speak and the human waste continued.

(Waste) and we would like to know when you will give us the allowance for the trip to the capital.

I have had many things on my mind, so I had not thought about the trip to the capital for these two, I was about to admit that I had forgotten, when Irma interrupted.

(Irma) My apologies, it was my mistake. It will be delivered to you at this time.

Irma rang a bell and two maids came in, each holding a tray with a bag of coins.

She indicated to one of them to approach and spoke.

(Irma) Before you are 40,000 lilies, but at the request of the lady, you will be given twice as much if you bring your children with you. Obviously another carriage has already been prepared, and the lodging reservations paid for.

The pitiful couple seemed quite excited at the money in front of them.

(Waste) oh no problem, I'll ask my girls to join us.

(Pitiful) and my little one had a desire to see the capital, so it's perfect.

It should be clarified that the 3 sisters are daughters of the human waste, and different mothers, so the only male is the son of the pitiful woman, and a lover she met at a party. A certain William Kafka, or something like that, I really don't care.

The pitiful couple married without love, just for convenience, but they have a relationship where the other can do whatever he wants, without any complaints.

Irma handed them the money and they both left.

Honestly I am surprised, that was a perfect job, without the pitiful couple around, their children would be more annoying than usual, so I didn't want them in the mansion, while I don't mind staying with Liz, she has on several occasions told me she would like to go to the capital, so offering them more money on the condition that they take them was a good move, completely in line with my wishes.

There is simply no comparison, even at his best, Therrion is no match for Irma.

I congratulated her, so the corner of her lips lifted a micron, and we continued the work.

Mid-afternoon I took a break, while sipping a chocolate, I began to think about what lay ahead.

The trip to the capital was 10 days, and there was a festival for her majesty's birthday that would last a week, culminating in the party to which the pitiful couple are invited, and 10 days back to the mansion, if they stay a few more days in the capital they would be out of the duchy for a month.

The very idea of having the mansion to myself made me smile, I could work without interruptions, and complete the final preparations. But as I remembered what I had to do, my mood darkened again.

I hate goodbyes, but this is one I feel obligated to.

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The next day my family was about to start their trip to the capital, only Liz came to say goodbye, I hugged her, gave her some extra money just for her, and told her to hide it from the others.

(Liz) see you later, Leonora, I will bring you something from the capital.

(Leonora) take care Liz, and remember, the bread they serve at the banquets is a sucker's trick, designed to fill you up with it, so you can't eat anymore.

She laughed, and left the room, so I went to the window to watch them leave.

I'm really fond of Liz, even though I'm usually quick to part ways with her, I really consider her my sister.

As I said goodbye, I remembered again, that I would have to attend another farewell soon, so I instructed Irma to empty my schedule for two days next week.

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I got off the carriage, and looked around, this was a small town a few hours away from the mansion, I told Irma that I would be back tomorrow, and find an inn where I can rest the horses and coachman.

She asked me to accompany me, but I refused, I had to do this alone.

I went to a lonely house almost on the outskirts of the village, opened the door without waiting for an answer and entered.

Inside Therrion was bedridden, his appearance had deteriorated even more than it already was in the mansion.

Therrion, although he is not a character in the game, is mentioned by Leonora as the only person who was good to her during her childhood, she also states that one day he disappeared from the mansion, and she never knew of his whereabouts.

He suffers from white fever, a cursed and merciless disease that the bastards of the developers only defined as "a deadly disease, which has no cure".

If it were a disease of my world, while I had no medical knowledge sooner or later I would have it so I could treat it.

But white fever has no cure.

If it were a disease that came from magic, I would eat my pride and start researching its origins and possible treatment.

But white fever has no cure.

If it were a disease with any fucking logical sense and not a fucking death sentence declared by the game developers, I might actually come up with a cure.

But white fever has no cure.

I approached the bed, and Therrion finally noticed my presence so he set about trying to kick me out.

(Therrion) Get out of here, I don't want to see you damn witch!!

(Leonora) I'm not going anywhere.

(Therrion) you're a monster, go away....

(Leonora) No.

(Therrion) Please go away, I don't want you to see me like this.

(Leonora) No.

Therrion finally seemed to calm down, so I pulled a chair closer to his bed, and sat down.

(Therrion) Please Miss Leonora, go back to the mansion.

(Leonora) I'm not leaving here, Therrion.

I searched the house, until I found a cloth and a small bowl, filled it with water, and set about futilely trying to control his fever.

(Therrion) Don't strain yourself miss, that won't help.

I know, I know better than anyone.

The hours passed, and I continued with my futile effort to lower her fever, even though winter was approaching, and the water in the well was cold, I had to change the water for a fresh one every half an hour or so.

(Therrion) It's late Miss, you should be hungry.

(Leonora) I'm fine.

(Therrion) I'm so sorry, but I have nothing to offer you, I never thought you would come.

(Leonora) You're a terrible liar, Therrion.

(Therrion) I'm so sorry, miss.

The afternoon turned into night, and little by little sleep overcame me.

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I was on my knees crying in front of a bed.

In my hands I held a man's hand, and pressed it tightly against my chest trying to use my warmth to bring him back to life.

But I myself had no warmth to give.

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Therrion's moans woke me up, I went to the kitchen and filled a glass with water and made him drink.

(Therrion) you didn't have to do any of this miss.

(Leonora) I do it because I want to.

(Therrion) You are a good person miss, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I kept quiet, and I just changed the cloth over her head once more.

(Therrion) you know miss, I have had a hard life, for many years I thought I would live fixing the duke's problems, but I was able to meet you and that makes me happy.

I know, I know you well, I know what you've been through.

(Therrion) If there is one thing I regret, it's that I won't be able to see you grow up.

(Leonora) Just imagine me a little taller, I don't think it will make much difference.

He laughed a little at my comment and began to smile.

(Therrion) I served your grandfather, you know, I would have liked to tell you stories about him. He was a worthy man whose only mistake in his life was perhaps spoiling his son. I served him for an entire decade, where I was eternally indebted to him.

He laughed, and declared.

(Therrion) At least I know I can repay him a little of what I owe him with stories about his granddaughter.

(Leonora) Perhaps you could tell me a story now, wouldn't you like to?

Therrion laughed, and nodded.

(Therrion) I'd love to.

In a soft, soothing voice, Therrion began to tell me stories of the grandfather I can never know. Stories I've heard a thousand times, yet I've never been bored with them. A couple of hours passed, and Therrion's voice grew fainter and fainter, at which he excused himself, and settled down on the bed.

(Therrion) I'm a little sleepy miss, let's continue talking tomorrow.

(Leonora) Rest Therrion, rest.

The next morning, Therrion died.

Silently looking at his body, I began to think about the positive of all this, and that is that he will not see me commit the crimes I am about to commit.

This world hates me, and is terribly hostile to me, still, if I want to survive, I must avoid its ruin, and to achieve this, I will do whatever it takes.

I left the house, and in the same place where I had said goodbye to her, Irma was waiting for me.

I didn't ask her if she hadn't moved or even if she had slept, as I knew she would answer me to that. So I just approached her quietly.

(Leonora) Good morning Irma.

(Irma) Good morning Miss.

(Leonora) Let's go back to the mansion.

(Irma) I'll get the carriage.

On the way I began to think.

This life was useless, I was too soft and my condition as the witch had already been discovered with the villagers, and I could not weaken my greatest enemy, all I had ahead of me was to escape.

Escape, and do whatever it took to beat death by a few more moments.

Well.... since I'm the biggest loser in history, and every defeat brings me closer and closer to success.