Reincarnated as the Baron's son: My Infinite Card Upgrade System-Chapter 98: I have always hated you

Back at the Forgeno region.

Alaric was laid safely on the bed, a single doctor treating him as Ava and Meren stood at the back.

Both of them had worried looks on their faces.

Suddenly, the doctor halted and slowly looked at his hand.

There, he could see the dark, burning substance almost eating away at his finger.

"Hmm..." He let out a small sigh before standing to his feet.

Almost instantly, Ava and Meren moved closer.

"How is he?"

"Is Lord Alaric okay?"

They both asked in haste.

The expression the doctor gave them was not in the least bit encouraging.

"I’m afraid there is nothing I can do," the doctor began. "Whatever type of sickness he has, it’s not something anyone from our world can fix without killing me. Though, that can’t be helped either, as the parasite is already eating away at his mana and everything he comes in contact with."

Ava’s eyes dug deep, a bit of shock and fear dancing across her face.

"Parasite? He has one inside him?" Meren took a quick glance at Alaric, realizing it was no longer related to the typhoid he mentioned before.

"Yes, something I have never seen before. Just coming close to him right now is dangerous for anyone. I’m afraid the only thing we can do is wait and see if the parasite chooses to leave."

"I see. Thank you, doctor," Meren replied.

"Please excuse me."

The doctor exited the room.

Once he was gone, Ava moved closer to Alaric, kneeling beside the bed.

Knowing it wasn’t the first time he had gotten a parasite inside him, knowing it was her job to protect him from harm, she couldn’t help but beat herself up for failing to do that.

Even as she tried to touch him, her mana zapped out at a massive rate, making her draw her hand back.

"Ava, do you have any clue as to how he might have gotten infected?" Meren asked.

"No, Lady Meren. I still don’t know," she managed to reply, though she didn’t bother looking back.

Meren sighed.

Her entire plan to have a discussion with Alaric was ruined. Hell, she even wanted to find a way to speak to Ava, the girl she once took care of a long time ago.

There were a lot of things she wanted to do with the two of them around, but now... it didn’t seem like it would be happening anytime soon.

"The doctor told us to wait for a while. I’m sure he’ll be alright. I’ll find another doctor to check up on him,"

Meren said as she turned around. Just as she opened the door, she was shocked to find Hina standing on the other side, with a black hood over her face.

"Sorry? Who are you?" Meren raised a brow, trying to remember if anyone resembling Hina had ever worked in the mansion before.

Hina responded,

"I’ve come to take my lord."

With that, she blew a kiss—a gas from her mouth that made the duchess immediately fall asleep the moment she inhaled it.

Hearing the thud from behind her, Ava looked back and saw Hina walking towards her.

"Hina?" she muttered before her gaze fell on the unconscious duchess.

"Ava, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? How is the young master? Asleep? Expected as much. You know how tough he can be—he made things quite difficult."

Hina spoke as she walked towards the other side of the bed and gently sat on it.

"So tell me, have you figured out how the young master got tainted with a parasite? I’m curious to see if you’re as smart as you let on."

Hina stroked Alaric’s hair.

Ava was shocked. She had barely touched Alaric’s skin, and she could already feel a huge chunk of her mana getting sucked out, yet somehow, Hina was able to touch him.

"Ho...w..." she stammered.

"How am I able to touch him? If you’re still asking that, then it means you haven’t figured it out." Hina looked up at Ava. "The reason I am not affected by the parasite is because I placed it there in the first place."

Ava’s face twisted in confusion.

"What?!"

"Don’t make such ugly faces in front of the young lord. Come on, I haven’t even said anything worth being angry about."

Hina was now standing, her full focus on Ava.

"A few months ago, I had a dream. A dream that would soon become reality. But it wasn’t just a dream—it was a chance for me to help him, a chance to prove I have always been the only one worthy enough to stand by his side. When the goddess approached me and gave me the power I could use to subdue my lord, I took it without batting an eye. If it meant keeping him safe, I was more than willing to do it. I even allied with the bad guys just so I could get to him, but they wanted him dead, so I had to kill them."

Ava stood there, unable to fully grasp what Hina was getting at.

"As long as Lord Alaric stays like this, he should be fine. Oh, and Ava, the only reason I won’t tell you what my goal is, is simply because of one thing," she pointed, "I have always hated you, down to the very core."

"..." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I hate how you think you’re better than me. I hate how close you are to him. I hate how he respects you. I hate how you feel you deserve his attention. I hate you, I hate you, I despise you. As such, you have no place by his side, Ava. His side was never yours to claim."

"What are you talking about, Hina?! Why are you suddenly speaking like this? Why did you poison Lord Alaric? He has done nothing but care for you, even when you—"

"I am fully aware of that fact! Don’t tell me what I already know. It’s because I care for him that I am doing this too!" Hina gave a dirty smile. "I don’t expect you to understand. You were not the one chosen anyway. I was. Me, Hina. I was chosen to be Lord Alaric’s protector. I—I deserve his attention more than anyone else!!!"