CHAPTER 148: CH-148

Agnes stepped inside.

Sunlight fell across her face, revealing that she no longer wore her veil. Her full features showed clearly now, a warm, healthy color replacing the pale shade from last night.

The change made her look even more alive, a stark contrast to the fear and tension that had filled this place last night

In addition, the way her dark hair framed her cheeks drew my gaze, effortless and impossible to ignore.

Her lips held a soft purple tint, perfectly matching the color of her eyes, which were shaded by long, delicate lashes whenever she blinked.

"Congratulations on your full recovery," she said, her voice calm and warmer than before. Even her smile was different—gentler.

For a moment, I wondered if she had some kind of bipolar disorder—the contrast was just too much.

Elizabeth jumped to her feet and bowed several times.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, Madam Agnes." Her words came out between soft sobs. "Remus can go back to his normal life now."

Agnes’s expression changed. A faint twitch near her mouth, a slight rise in her brow. As if she knew something we didn’t.

Confirmed!

That miracle medicine did more than just heal and strengthen my body, and having read too many novels, I couldn’t help but form my own hypothesis.

Agnes stepped closer, her gaze moving from my face to my arms, then back again.

"At the end of the day, it was your will that let you survive the process. Many would have died."

Elizabeth wiped her tears with the back of her hand

"He was in pain all night. I thought he—" Her voice cracked again.

Agnes rested a hand on her shoulder. "He endured because he wanted to stand again. That desire gave the medicine something strong to hold on to."

Elizabeth nodded, eyes red but relieved.

Agnes then glanced toward the open doorway. "You two should eat. Your body needs fuel. Come to the table."

We followed her down the narrow hall to a wooden table placed near the window. Morning light spilled across the surface, giving the room a calm tone.

At first, I felt awkward walking upright, my body wasn’t used to holding itself this way. But after a few steps, the discomfort faded—probably because, in reality, I had only been hunched over for short period of time.

’At least the food looks edible now, ’ I muttered, glancing at the simple meal on the table.

Several bowls sat on the table, each filled with clear broth and tender pieces of rabbit meat, steam rising in gentle curls. The warm, savory aroma hit immediately, filling the room.

"I hope you don’t mind stew in the morning" Agnes commented. "Rabbit is easy to prepare."

"Not at all." Elizabeth took her seat politely, and I slid into the chair beside her, still adjusting to how naturally my spine held straight.

Agnes placed a bowl in front of me, then another in front of Elizabeth.

I noticed the broth shimmered with a thin layer of oil, chopped greens floating lazily on the surface, and the rabbit legs looked perfectly cooked, tender and evenly browned.

The first bite tasted like chicken, sending a jolt through my stomach.

GRRRR!

It growled—loud.

Elizabeth flinched. "Are you that hungry?"

Hungry was too light a word. It felt like my insides had been emptied and replaced with a roaring void.

"This is normal." Agnes answered.

Elizabeth looked between us nervously. "Is it safe?"

"Yes. This will fade by tonight. For now, let him eat."

My bowl emptied in seconds. Without thinking, my gaze locked on the pot near the counter. Agnes saw the look and lifted it with both hands, placing it on the table.

"Eat as much as your body asks for,"

I didn’t hesitate.

By the time I finally set the spoon down, the meal that could have fed twenty people lay empty before me, and still, my stomach felt eager for more.

"Eat this if you’re still hungry." Agnes handed me a plate with a thick, golden-brown piece of meat.

The first bite eased the gnawing emptiness inside me, but I couldn’t tell whether it came from an animal or something else because of the unique texture.

"What kind of meat is this?" I asked, eyeing the plate suspiciously.

Agnes smiled faintly. "Just eat. Your body will tell you if it’s right."

Her answer only made me more worried.

However, the smell hit hard and made it impossible to resist, so the whole piece ended up in my mouth before I even thought about it.

Who cared what it was? This was just a simulation anyway.

After the meal, she stood and turned to Elizabeth.

"Go to town and buy supplies,"

Elizabeth hesitated, her eyes flicking toward me. "Can I... bring him with me?"

Agnes shook her head.

"He needs to stay here for a couple more days. We have to make sure there’s no relapse. One wrong step now, and everything could fall apart."

Elizabeth’s lips pressed together, disappointment flickering in her eyes. She opened her mouth, probably to asked, but Agnes raised a hand, stopping her before a word could escape.

"And one more thing. Don’t say a word about this to anyone. It will only bring more trouble from the Church. They already see me as a problem. If they knew what happened here... well, it will put your friend here in trouble."

Elizabeth swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Yes, Madam Agnes,"

After Elizabeth departed, I remained on my bed, deciding to stay passive for now and just wait for the story to unfold.

The door opened again. It was Agnes, but this time she wore only light clothing, and her hair was still damp from a recent bath.

She walked closer, and the aroma of flowers drifted to my nose. Then she sat on the edge of my bed, looking at me in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

"I have to examine you carefully. Close your eyes and stay still," she whispered, her eyes drifting downward for a split second.