***

"Th-the winner for this round is La-Lady Evelyn from the house of Emsworth!"

​​

The host announced the winner while he stuttered as the smoke vanished and Evelyn was laughing her heart out as she stood in front of her brother. The firstborn, Allan was on the cement floor, hiding his hold on his crotch as he faced the floor.

"Evelyn... You...!" Allan bit his lower lips as he glared furiously in his sister's direction. The pain between his legs was extreme and it was enough to make him almost lose consciousness.

"That was payback for the slap you gave me back then..." She told her brother as she walked forward to where he was. "Now we don't owe each other!"

Her words were cut as her vision blurred which made her sway like a drunkard.

Allan, who saw this, became perplexed and tried to sit upright to ask about his sister's condition.

Evelyn's sunset eyes shook as she saw the whole place swaying like there was an earthquake taking place. Her heart started to pump vigorously that she was sure it could burst out of her chest because of its fast beating.

She started to feel little needles that pricked her heart and she placed her hand on her chest like she was trying to get a hold of it. She began to pant and gasped for air as her lungs felt like it was drowning and subdued in cold water.

Allan, who saw his sister gasp for air, got to his feet like he wasn't feeling the pain in his jewels and quickly made his way to his sister's side. Evelyn coughed and Allan's pair of eyes that mirrored the hue of his sister's sunset eyes went wide as he saw through the gaps of Evelyn's slender fingers the red liquid that flowed out.

Evelyn's eyes followed her hands as she moved them away from her mouth. She saw blood, and she also saw the familiar shoes of his brother walking faster towards her. She glanced at her brother's face and saw the grimacing look in his eyes as well as shock and confusion.

She opened her mouth as she felt a heavy force wear down her body.

"...brother... Catch me..."

He saw Evelyn's body slowly fall like a leaf. As he heard her sister's weak voice, he hurriedly moved and caught her falling body.

"Evelyn! Evelyn! Hey!!!" He lightly slapped her face and when he saw the blood around her lips, he wiped it with his hands carefully, and his face became gloomy when his sister didn't react to his touch.

"What do you think you're doing?! Call the doctor!" He shouted as he saw the host stupefied and frozen in his place.

"Evelyn?! What the f*ck! Hey!!! Wake up!" His hands trembled as he felt her sister's pulse slowly decrease and her vibrant color faded as every minute passed by.

The host quickly left and the medic showed up a while after. They quickly enveloped her body with an enchantment circle and did the first aid treatment.

Allan was wiping his sweaty face and brushed his silver-blue hair with frustration. He didn't know why but he wanted to wreak havoc when he saw his sister's face become pale.

***

Gab and Silvester cheered as they saw Evelyn's triumphant face amidst the white smoke as she stared down her brother who was lying on the floor.

Gab's face turns sour as his senses are keener than the humans. He squints his eyes and sees Evelyn panting, gasping for air. He quickly turns around and runs towards the exit. Silvester was confused and called out his name.

"Hey!!! Gab! Where are you going?" He saw Gab's aura darken and he realized that something was amiss.

He turned his gaze around and saw Evelyn's body fall. He cursed under his breath and clicked his tongue.

He immediately followed Gab and they made their way to Evelyn.

Silvester and Gab saw the medic's enchantment circle which meant that Evelyn needed first aid as her condition was grave.

Amidst all their confusion. The crowd was silently staring at what was happening in front of their eyes. As Evelyn who was just standing a minute ago was coughing blood and now they saw the panic in the eyes of those who were close to the Lady.

***

Evelyn woke up and saw the white ceiling. She glanced around and thought about what happened after the host announced the result.

'That's right... I won and then felt the sudden ache within my heart like it was burning and being stabbed multiple times... I thought I would really die!' She recalled everything that happens until she collapses in her brother's arms.

"So I'm in the school's clinic," she concluded as she felt familiar with the white beds and the curtains. She sits up.

"You're awake?" She heard a manly voice and saw the curtain slightly open.

The man was none other than the headmaster Carsillion. He smirked when he saw the crumpled face of Evelyn as the reply to his question.

"Don't give me that look, dear Evelyn."

Evelyn choked on her own saliva as she heard the sweet tone of the scheming headmaster.

"And who do you think made a deal with me to win all the matches?!" She raised her brow to Carsillion and he became flustered before he grinned.

"That's right... It was me!" He answered while he reached for the nearby chair and sat beside the bed.

She sighs and greets the headmaster. He was still in a high position within the school and according to the proper etiquette, she needed to greet him first. Though it might be a bit late.

"... Greetings, headmaster Carsillion."

"And here I thought you would talk to me like we're close," he said playfully.

Evelyn stops herself from rolling her eyes in front of the headmaster so she quickly changed the topic.

"So... What made the mighty headmaster come here?" She said sarcastically. She didn't trust the headmaster so her villainess attitude was showing.

"Oh, dear... Did I make a mistake, Evelyn? You're treating me like a bug."

She couldn't hide it anymore and she rolled her eyes at him.

"Get straight to the point, headmaster... What did you come here for? And where's my aide?" She asked as she remembered that Gab and Silvester came running as her consciousness faded away.

"Don't worry, I shooed them out as they're noisy and pestering the medical staff." He explained before he chuckled as if he remembered a funny scene.

"Oh right... You collapsed because your body couldn't take the mana within you and... And your mana cap seems to have shattered which means... Your mana is leaking. If you don't do something about it, it will take away your life force" Carsillion added as he looked at Evelyn who was still processing what he said.

A few minutes later, Evelyn answered. "Wait... What do you mean? You're saying I'll die if my mana continuously leaks?"

A bomb was suddenly dropped onto Evelyn and she froze when she heard from her own mouth, the word 'die'.

'There's still my demise as per the novel's story and now another red flag was added? Is my fate just to die early?!' She pondered.

'Gil is this true?!' She waited for her contract spirit to answer but only her thoughts were heard in her consciousness.

'Gil?'

'What the...'

"Evelyn? Are you... Alright?" Carsillion asked, his eyes showed concern but his face was the usual neutral face.

"Yes... I'm fine!"

'No. I'm not!' She sighs.

"Is there a solution to how I can fix my mana cap? And control my mana from leaking?" She asked.

"There is... Just don't use your mana for the time being. I'll contact my friend who knows a lot about mana. So for the time being, rest." Carsillion stood and began to walk away before Evelyn grabbed his cuffs.

He turned around and saw Evelyn's narrowed brows.

"How about your promise?" She asked.

"Promise...?" He inquired.

"Haaa... About my mother?! You said you'll answer my question about the duchess."

"Oh... Yes! There's that... But did you win? You're still part of the semi-finals. Nothing is sure yet... So, until then I'll keep my mouth shut about the Duchess." He answered before he turned around and walked out the door.

"Damnit!"

She cursed as she lay her body on the bed again.

Evelyn placed the pillow on her face and screamed her lungs out in frustration!

'There's nothing written in the novel that a person with mana will die if the mana leaked out from one's body! Is this because I changed and made big progress?! Is this the world telling me not to change the plot?!' She silently complained.

"And now Gil isn't responding when I need it the most! Damnit!" She cursed and the door swung open. Gab and Silvester walked over to her bedside and Gab kneeled to match his eye level to Evelyn's.

"Are you alright, Eve? What happened? Why did you collapse?!" He asked as he knitted his brows which made wrinkles appear on his beautiful forehead.

"I'm fine."

'No, I'm not!'

"Are you sure? Then why did you cough blood?!"

Evelyn slightly moved her head to see who was talking as the deep voice rang inside the clinic room.

"I asked you, Eve. Why did you cough blood if you're alright?!" His red eyes glowed dangerously as he made his way to Evelyn's side.

"Cabel..."