After walking a few steps, she turned and said, "Don't cook the leeks for lunch." The man nodded. Without a word, Lily descended to the basement.

Alexander's cough had subsided considerably. Lily was right; he was improving, both physically and mentally. Checking his pulse, she found his condition less severe than she'd anticipated.

The difficulty lay in the virus's cunning nature. Alexander's pulse would be steady, his condition seemingly normal during the day, yet his cough would worsen at night. This was unlike any disease Lily had encountered in her medical studies or in ancient texts. She concluded it was a novel virus, undoubtedly connected to the laboratory experiments.

"Drink this," she said, handing him a bowl. Removing his mask, he quickly and silently emptied it. The medicine was bitter; Lily had tasted it herself. His stoic acceptance filled her with admiration, prompting a disgusted grimace from her. "How long do I have to take this?" he asked, replacing his mask.

"Hmm… three… five… seven to eight days!" she replied after a moment's thought.

Alexander playfully glared, his eyes betraying his amusement at her teasing. Were it not for his illness, he would have embraced and kissed her. Lily laughed at his unhappy yet helpless expression. "I'm kidding," she said. "Your pulse has stabilized, and your seizures are less frequent. Another two or three days, I think, and you'll be fully recovered. However, this virus is peculiar; I need to observe you further."

"Okay, I'll listen to you, my miracle doctor!" he teased, gazing at her affectionately.

Her cheeks flushed. "Whatever! By the way, any news about Edward?"

Edward weighed heavily on her mind. Olivia must be distraught. And with Lily now with Alexander, she feared Olivia's anxiety might escalate without regular updates.

Alexander shook his head, his face falling. The thought of a wounded Edward in a foreign land was grim; his chances of survival seemed slim in such chaos.

Yet, hope remained. Until a body was found, until definite news arrived, Alexander's search for Edward would continue relentlessly.

"Are you still searching in Burnwken?" Lily asked after a pause.

Alexander nodded. "Yes. The search has expanded to nearby villages and towns, even the next district. My Burnwken staff have exhausted all resources, searching every corner, every tiny street. It's like finding a needle in a haystack."

Lily frowned, seeming hesitant.

"What's wrong?" Alexander asked, noting her pensive expression.

"Do you think he might have returned to the country?" she asked.

"Returned here?"

Lily nodded. "Think about it. You're back. If he's alive, staying abroad is risky. You and Olivia are here. Why stay away? He'll come back to us!"