Awakening Amidst Tears
“Ugh…”
All the way through the underground passage, Aria kept tearing up as she stared at me cradled in Esilla's arms.
She was biting her lip hard, clearly frustrated.
Was it guilt for failing to protect me?
Or pity at the sight of me in such a wretched state, covered in filth and blood, nestled in the knight captain's embrace?
I could feel her constantly trying to meet my gaze with every step.
But Esilla ignored her glances and pressed forward silently.
Why's the mood like this?
I could only think that inwardly amid the suffocating tension.
Esilla's steps were steady.
Even on the uneven, sticky floor, she carefully balanced so my body wouldn't jolt too much.
We retraced the path Aria and I had taken, and after some time...
The rotten stench that had stung my nose finally began to fade.
Fresh, cool night air rushed in from the tunnel's end.
“Captain!”
The moment we emerged from the secret passage entrance, a group holding torches greeted us.
It was the imperial guards who had mobilized after Esilla's contact.
Dozens of knights turned toward us, their gazes locking onto me in Esilla's arms as if by prior agreement.
“……”
The area fell deathly silent in an instant.
Eyes wide with shock they couldn't hide.
Can't blame them.
A duke's daughter emerging from the sewers bloodied and cradled by the knight captain—no wonder.
Rumors would spread like wildfire back at the dorms: Lady Bellaph spotted, covered in blood, and so on, growing more exaggerated by the minute.
“Report.”
Esilla asked curtly, still holding me.
Only then did the knights snap out of their rude staring.
“We've sealed off the entire underground sewer area. The individual suspected to be from the Black Moon cult is en route to the prison.”
A knight who seemed to be her adjutant hurried over with the update.
“Good. Send the investigation team in immediately to collect the magic circle remnants and wolf corpses.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
At her command, the knights moved in perfect unison.
I watched the scene blankly, my eyes the only thing shifting.
It's really over now.
That thought snapped the taut string of tension I'd been holding, and my body went slack.
My vision blurred sharply at the same time.
The backlash from burning through my life force like mad hit all at once.
And with all the blood I'd lost, it was a miracle I'd stayed conscious this long.
My mind went white as deep sleep dragged at my ankles.
“…Lady.”
In my fading awareness, Esilla's voice reached my ear.
“You can close your eyes now.” She tightened her arms around me just a bit.
“You're safe.”
Her words felt like a sleep spell.
The moment I heard them, my heavy eyelids slid shut, and consciousness sank into deep darkness.
///
Flicker.
I opened my eyes. My vision cleared from hazy fog to sharp focus.
White ceiling. Antiseptic smell. Warm morning sunlight pouring through the window cracks.
“Mm…” A small groan escaped me unbidden.
Pain throbbed in my right shoulder.
This place…
It was familiar.
The same spot I'd woken in days ago after breaking out of prison and collapsing underground in the auditorium.
The academy infirmary's VIP suite.
I'm alive.
I checked my body first and foremost.
Focusing on my fingers.
-Wiggle wiggle
They move. They clenched and unclenched smoothly at my command.
The system's forced temporary paralysis debuff seemed lifted.
My whole body felt heavy and limp like a waterlogged sponge, though.
But hey, moving on my own terms beats being a ragdoll.
At least it was better than collapsing helplessly before.
I tried to prop myself up halfway.
“Ow.”
My right shoulder screamed like it was tearing, furrowing my brow.
I turned to look.
Thick bandages wrapped meticulously over the pristine white patient gown.
Patient gown? Only then did I notice the clothes hugging my body.
My uniform—caked in mud, sewage, and black blood—was gone.
Replaced by soft silk white patient wear.
Even the black blood smears and mud clumps on my face had been scrubbed clean.
Someone had washed my unconscious body and changed my clothes.
Esilla?
Or the infirmary nurses?
Whoever it was, the thought of them seeing me naked while out cold didn't sit well.
With my past-life memories intact, it stirred an unwelcome twinge of embarrassment.
“You're awake.”
A quiet voice from the room's corner.
I turned to see a figure by the window. Neat uniform. Red ponytail.
“Esilla.”
“Paralysis lifted in exactly fourteen hours.” She glanced at her watch, tone flat, then approached my bed slowly.
Her green eyes scanned my face, assessing.
“How do you feel?”
“So-so. Aside from feeling like I got beat all over.”
I answered dryly.
Beyond the relief of blocking a main scenario threat, there wasn't much thrill.
The level-up penalty hadn't been that brutal either.
“Water. Throat's dry.”
Without a word, Esilla poured from the bedside pitcher into a glass.
I took it and downed it in one go.
The cool water cleared my head as it slid down.
Handing back the empty glass, I asked,
“Hey, Esilla.”
“Yes?”
I tapped the crisp white gown covering me.
“About my clothes. Did you change them?”
“……”
Silence blanketed the room. Esilla's hand froze mid-air taking the glass, avoiding my eyes as she set it down.
-Clink
The glass's chime rang unnaturally loud.
“Esilla?”
“……It was an extension of my duties.”
Her delayed reply came after a long pause.
Her voice strained for its usual stiffness, but the end trembled faintly.
“Your body was severely contaminated with sewage and beast blood.”
She cleared her throat once, then continued like justifying herself.
“Leaving it risked infection at the wounds, so I handled it personally and swiftly.”
What the…?
Her reaction made it seem like I'd asked something forbidden.
She'd been so bold washing me in the ravine, but stripping and dressing an unconscious person apparently pricked her conscience.
“Anyway, treatment's complete.”
Esilla rushed to change the subject.
“No issues with recovery either, so a few days' rest and you'll move without trouble.” Her deflection was obvious.
“Good work. Thanks.”
At my straightforward thanks, her lips twitched before she forced her stoic mask back on.
“Just doing my job.”
She replied stiffly, stepping back as if securing distance.
“More importantly.”
Esilla spoke again.
“You have a visitor.”
“Visitor? For me?”
“Yes. She's been stubbornly waiting outside until you woke…”
A flicker of displeasure in her eyes.
“Your… roommate.”
“Roommate?”
I only had one.
Aria. Aria had waited all night outside?
-Click
Voices from outside? The door creaked open cautiously.
I turned to look.
“Lady…?” Orange hair peeked through the gap.
Aria.
She looked wrecked.
Face screaming an all-nighter outside the room, no sleep.
Her big eyes met mine and reddened instantly.
“Uh… Aria?”
Calling her name shifted the room's air oddly.
Esilla beside me let out a short sigh.
She grabbed her gloves from the table and turned.
“With your guest here, I'll take my leave.”
“Leaving already?”
“Yes. Duties require continuing the investigation.”
Purely professional tone.
“Expect a summons on the sewer incident. Rest until then.”
With that, Esilla swapped places with the hesitant Aria at the door and exited.
-Click
The door shut fully behind Esilla.
“Hic… Hwaaaang…!”
The second it closed, Aria burst into the tears she'd held back and rushed to my bed.