#30. A Night Where Grace Begets Grace
In the infirmary, softly illuminated by a pale red lantern, Silia sat by the bedside, staring blankly at Roden even at this late hour. Having heard the full story from Head Butler Gellion, her expression was somewhat subdued.
"Dad... you're amazing, really."
As Gellion had explained, to save Roden—who had made a mistake in front of the king—Dad had smashed the vial himself and performed a mana injection. It seemed he'd used an artifact for it. Silia had always respected her father, the family head, but she never imagined he'd go that far to save a mere servant. Admiration mingled with worry at the corners of her mouth. If that act had been discovered, who knew what punishment might fall for deceiving the king? After all, he had tricked the king.
Even so, Silia felt anxious yet immensely proud of her father.
"How can you be so cool?"
Of course, she suspected Roden's "mistake" wasn't a mistake at all, but intentional. Gellion had hinted at as much.
At the time, everyone's attention was fixed on Isel, so everything had frozen. For Roden to slip up right then... it must have been to keep the family head out of trouble.
Gellion had vaguely sensed that Rosel cherished Isel. There were three things in the world that couldn't be hidden: a cough, poverty, and love. Of course, he hadn't jumped to conclusions yet, nor could he fathom why a kingdom's duke might fall for a slave.
But one thing was clear. Behind the pity and sympathy in Rosel's gaze on Isel lurked love. After three years of faithfully serving him, Gellion's seasoned eyes could see it plain as day.
A duke in love with a traitor to the realm—a forbidden theme even in novels. It made him uneasy, but the infinite trust inspired by the name Rosel led Gellion to set aside his doubts for now. That's why he'd told Silia that Roden had likely erred on purpose to spare the family head embarrassment.
Of course, it was still hard for Silia to grasp fully.
"When will he wake up?"
Silia asked Physician Rexus.
"Hm, hard to say if he's just in a deep sleep or suffering side effects from the mana injection. We'll need to watch a bit longer."
"Oh... okay."
Silia wanted to ask Roden directly if it had been intentional once he woke. If it was, she'd see him in a whole new light. No, she already did.
At that moment, the infirmary door opened, and someone entered.
"Oh, Her... ah, I-Isel...?"
Silia's face lit up at the sight of the golden-haired girl regaining her vitality, nearly calling her by her hero name before switching to the slave one. Head Maid Jichel followed behind.
Silia hopped down from her chair and scurried over to Isel.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
Silia asked worriedly. Speaking casually to someone she revered felt awkward and uncomfortable with eyes on them, but she had to be careful. Jichel, with her years of wisdom rivaling Gellion's, could see Silia's affection plain as day. But not all unhideable things were romantic love. With honey practically dripping from her eyes, it'd be weirder if she hadn't noticed.
Still, Jichel pretended not to and answered for Isel.
"She felt nauseous and vomited, so the family head ordered an examination."
"Really? Why? Isel, what's wrong?"
Perhaps finding Silia's worried upward gaze adorable as she craned her neck, Isel offered a faint smile.
"No, I'm fine now."
She had already received comfort from Jichel on the way here, healing the nausea Biela had triggered. But since the family head had ordered an exam, Jichel had half-dragged her to the infirmary.
Physician Rexus approached.
"Vomiting, you say?"
"Y-yes."
She omitted anything about Biela. Jichel agreed it was best.
"Lie down here."
At Rexus's instruction, Isel lay on the bed. Rexus wasn't just skilled in mana healing; as a full-fledged physician, she had ample medical knowledge too. Something like vomiting could be checked without mana.
Rexus began pressing firmly on Isel's abdomen.
"Does it hurt here?"
"No, it's fine."
"Here?"
"No, fine."
"Here?"
"Seems okay."
"...Here?"
"...Fine."
Rexus furrowed her brow and sat up. If her stomach was bad enough for vomiting, there should be pain—gastric ulcers or enteritis, at least. But nothing showed.
"Open your mouth."
"Ahh~..."
"Hm, some acid reflux and esophagitis, but not severe. Headache?"
"Well..."
There had been a headache. The moment she'd faced Biela, horrific memories had surged, bringing intense pain. But now she was calm.
"It's gone now."
"Hm, probably temporary from the headache, then."
With diagnosis complete, Rexus went to the corner pharmacy, prepared a packet of powder medicine, and handed it to Isel.
"Take this first. Come back if it happens again."
"Yes... thank you."
Isel took the medicine, sat up, and glanced at Roden on the next bed. As expected, he seemed peacefully asleep. She let out a relieved breath and turned to Silia.
"Is Roden... okay?"
Isel genuinely worried about him. Even if he'd fainted from mana injection, side effects were possible. And though she didn't know why, his blunder had spared her terror—she wanted him safe.
Silia nodded.
"Yeah. Ah, no—I mean, yes. Just fainted. He's sleeping now. He'll wake soon..."
"Mm..."
"Huh? Roden!"
Just then, Roden groaned, furrowing his brow. After a full twelve hours unconscious, he was coming to. All eyes in the room turned to him.
Jichel, who also cherished Roden for his closeness to Silia, hurried to the bedside.
"Mm..."
Roden groaned again, relaxing his furrowed brow. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
Staring at the ceiling, his gaze shifted to the golden hair at the edge of his vision, and he mumbled.
"Ugh... wh-where... is this... heaven?"
He'd sacrificed himself for others and died, so resurrection in heaven seemed right. And there, smiling faintly at him, was an angel. Radiant golden hair, emerald eyes—a vision of heavenly beauty.
Of course, in Roden's still-foggy vision, Isel looked like an angel.
"Ahh... this place really is... heaven..."
Mumbling that, he turned left. Far below the angel, a demon stared up at him. Vivid red hair and reddish-brown eyes—clearly demonic symbols.
"No... this is hell..."
"What?"
Thwack!
"Ow!"
"Why say hell when you see me?!"
The demon's iron fist crashed into his forehead, and Roden screamed. Only then did his foggy vision sharpen.
"Gah! That hurts...! Wh-what?! Silia? You died too?!"
Roden clutched his forehead, bolting upright to look at Silia, then back at Isel.
"N-no! The hero died too?!"
He'd given his life to protect them, yet they were here with him—despair. A futile sacrifice.
Of course, Jichel's voice dismissed the delusion.
"You're not dead, Roden. The family head's grace saved you."
"Y-yes? But the wine bottle definitely shattered..."
Roden rubbed the side of his head where the bottle had struck. No wound.
Looking around, he saw even Physician Rexus smiling warmly.
"How..."
"You fainted from the mana injection. Your body has mana resistance, so the family head used that."
"Ah..."
At Rexus's explanation, Roden finally pieced it together, blankly stroking his intact head. His skull should've been caved in. But he'd clearly heard the bottle shatter before blacking out.
"Th-then how did the bottle break...?"
Isel, who had witnessed it, answered.
"The master broke it himself."
"...Really? D-did he get hurt bad?"
Roden fretted first for his lord's safety, drawing a pleased smile from Silia.
"Don't worry. Dad's tough."
"...Still... I was really fine..."
Roden had been ready to die. Even if it was the rash death of a thirteen-year-old boy, for Silia's convictions, he'd face it unflinching. Hadn't he sworn to the family head? To protect Silia.
That oath wasn't just his life—it was Silia herself. So offering his worthless life should've been enough, yet his lord had sacrificed to protect him.
As Roden had shielded Silia, Rosel had shielded Roden. Infinite gratitude surged; he couldn't even speak thanks.
"Ah... saving my life twice..."
He'd acted to repay a debt, only to incur another. Moisture welled in Roden's eyes.
He'd sought to repay grace, but now more piled up. He bit his lip, swallowing the emotion.
"Alright, he needs rest, so visiting hours are over."
Rexus spoke as Roden grew melancholic. She knew he was strong, but the brush with death wouldn't fade easily.
"And until the banquet ends, keep this quiet. Roden, no work—just stay here."
"Y-yes."
"Ugh, making us worry for nothing."
At Silia's scolding laced with concern, Roden grinned sheepishly, scratching his head.
"Haha. Sorry."
"...But you were kinda cool."
"...!"
Before leaving, Silia's casual compliment froze Roden mid-scratch. An unexpected confession.
Pffft! Steam practically burst from his ears and nose as his face turned beet red.
"...D-don't spout nonsense...!"
"Pfft, idiot. Take care of yourself. Let's go, Head Maid."
"Yes, Young Lady."
But Isel lingered by Roden.
"Not going? Isel?"
"Um, s-sorry... could I talk to Roden alone for a bit...?"
"With that dummy? Fine. I'll head up first."
"Y-yes...! Thank you...!"
"Heh, whatever."
Physician Rexus excused herself to finally head home, and Silia went up to the third floor alone. Jichel stood at the infirmary entrance. Protocol demanded she monitor the slave inside, but she stepped aside to give Isel privacy.
Now alone in the infirmary, Roden—still flushed—asked Isel.
"...What'd you wanna talk about?"
"Oh, uh... just... to say thanks."
"...For what?"
Her wariness toward him hadn't fully faded, but Isel needed to express her gratitude.
"I saw. You tripped on purpose... Your eyes were aimed that way..."
"Ah... No, it wasn't on purpose. So no need to thank me."
Roden averted his gaze, rejecting the thanks. Isel knew dodging eyes meant lying.
She clasped her hands politely and bowed.
"No, thank you. Really. I owe you a great debt."
Not hating the praise, Roden wiped his nose, calming his twitching lips. Fresh from Silia's "cool," his mouth was already dancing. In moments like this, he was every bit the innocent thirteen-year-old boy.
"W-well, it wasn't that big a deal. Wasn't even for you, Hero—or Isel. No thanks needed."
Isel smiled lightly. His honest face was utterly endearing. And she thought: He suits Young Lady Silia perfectly.
"Then... rest well. I'll go."
As she turned to leave, Roden's voice stopped her.
"Ah, um... H-Hero."
Roden had seen it. His lord shaken by Isel's fear. Mourning her terror. He couldn't pinpoint the emotion in those eyes, but one thing was clear: better trust the family head than King Brikal.
If that was his lord's will, Roden resolved not to see Isel as a threat anymore.
"Y-yes?"
Startled by "Hero," Isel turned. Roden didn't correct himself this time.
"Ah, well..."
His next words brought a moved smile to her face.
"Th-thanks to you too. For saving the kingdom."
"..."
Warm thanks exchanged. On this night where grace begat grace, they shared heartfelt gratitude and goodwill.
"Talk go well?"
"Ah, yes."
Emerging from the infirmary, Isel bowed humbly with a smile at Jichel's question. Her heart warmed. Just earning that boy's acceptance was enough.
But the smile faded fast.
Biela waited in the small room beyond the door. Jichel had escorted her only to the entrance, leaving her alone with Biela.
"Bi-Biela...?"
"Ah, Isel—no! Emilia...!"
Biela called her by that day's name. Something had happened—her face was pallid, trembling in fear. Moments ago, she'd sneered with blazing eyes; now she cowered like a puppy before a tiger.
Just like Isel that day.