Chapter 199: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (63)
Chapter 199: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (63)
Lately, the Saintess had been having very hectic days.
It was because the temple was overflowing with the wounded. The assault, which had mobilized hundreds of demonic beasts, had wrought numerous tragedies, and some priests had even been caught off guard by beasts that self-destructed.
Patients were many, and priests were few.
Thus, it was an inevitable consequence that the Saintess, who possessed the unrivaled highest divine power within the Academy, would become busy. Lately, however, she was even more distracted than usual.
The day to treat Ian was fast approaching.
The preparations for the sacrifice were complete. Once she officially began the rite using the Divine Artifact, Ian’s injuries would be completely healed.
That was how precious a ‘Divine Artifact’ was.
It was powerful enough to fully restore a man who had been brought in on the verge of death several times recently.
With the Saintess’s skill, it wasn't a particularly difficult task. Nevertheless, there were two main reasons why she was devoting her heart and soul to preparing for Ian’s treatment.
First, the Saintess loved Ian.
She was a bit reluctant to admit it to herself, but that was the truth. Though it was said that all were equal under the Heavenly God, no one actually believed those words literally.
It was only human nature to want to take better care of someone you had a connection with. It went without saying when that person was the man you loved.
And second, the Saintess had a strange conviction that Ian would return injured yet again.
Up until now, Ian had never once returned without an injury. Furthermore, the clouds of war were now gathering over the Academy.
From the Hunting Festival to the orphanage, and now the Homecoming Festival, the 'Dark Cult' had emerged as the mastermind behind the trail of events.
The anomalies would not end here.
If so, Ian, who always stood at the center of it all, would not be able to avoid the conflict. She needed to be as meticulous as possible and save the Divine Artifact’s power.
Because she would have to use it again when Ian got hurt.
Aside from that, there were many matters to coordinate.
For one, there were far too many people claiming to be Ian’s guardian.
As patients were slowly being discharged, the temple had begun allowing visitors for those with serious injuries, and every time they did, the hospital room became a sea of tears.
This was especially true for Ian’s room.
The Saintess still remembered the face of Seria Yurdina as she looked down at the pale Ian.
Her face had turned deathly white, and she had nearly dropped the basket of fruit she was holding. In a trembling voice, Seria had asked about Ian’s well-being over and over again.
Each time, the Saintess repeated that she should rest easy, but Seria showed no signs of calming down.
In the end, it only stopped after Delphine let out a sigh.
“……That’s enough, Seria. I told you the Imperial Family even sent a Divine Artifact. As long as he’s breathing, it won’t be a disaster.”
Only then did Seria hesitate and turn her gaze back to Ian.
She couldn't bring herself to disobey the command of the sister she respected most after Ian. Delphine, watching this with a bitter look in her eyes, soon bowed politely to the Saintess.
“Then, I leave Ian in your care.”
The words Who do you think you are? almost surged up the Saintess's throat, but she barely managed to suppress them.
Right, it was a sentiment one could easily offer to a cherished junior.
Even so, the Saintess could only reply with a slightly disgruntled heart.
“Yes, Brother Ian is someone with whom I also share a deep bond.”
As the Saintess smiled brightly and bowed back, Delphine stared at her intently.
But the silence was brief.
Soon, Delphine wore a mysterious smile and whispered into the Saintess’s ear.
Her coquettish voice was sweet enough to melt the Saintess’s eardrums.
“What a coincidence, so do I… By the way, have you ever been spanked by Ian?”
“……W-What?!”
The Saintess jumped the moment she heard those words. The content was so far beyond her imagination that she wondered if she was hearing things.
The Saintess immediately began crossing herself and stammering.
“S-Such a shameless! I'm a bit envi—no! That is blasphemy! I will have you referred to a religious trial!”
Chuckle. Seeing her reaction, Delphine only let out a languid laugh.
“It was a joke.”
The Saintess glared at Delphine with suspicious eyes until the very end, but even she couldn't interrogate the successor of the Yurdina family about such a private truth.
Only Seria sensed the unusual atmosphere between the two and tilted her head in confusion.
Even that didn't last long; as soon as her sister left the room, Seria looked at Ian regretfully before following right behind her.
After them, Celine and Reto visited.
Celine spent a long time sniffling while holding Ian’s hand, eventually pleading with the Saintess in a desperate tone.
“O-Our Brother Ian… he’ll survive, right? Saintess, please……”
“Do not worry, Sister Celine.”
The Saintess had to force a smile, feeling that if she didn't, a curse might fly out of her mouth instead.
To touch the hand of an unconscious man so boldly—she was truly an immodest woman.
“Once the rite begins tomorrow, I expect Brother Ian will regain consciousness within three days at the latest. This, too, is the grace of the Heavenly God. Immanuel.”
Celine let out a loud honk as she blew her nose into a tissue in the corner of the room. It was a sign of how much she had cried.
It made sense, given it had been a while since they last saw each other. However, that exaggerated gesture could only be seen as having a certain intention.
An implicit signal that this man was hers, so don't touch him.
Of course, it didn't work on the Saintess at all. Rather, she just scoffed inwardly.
Unable to watch the spectacle any longer, Reto gave Celine a sharp kick near her waist.
“Ack! Ow! Hey, Reto… are you crazy?! I’m asking the Saintess for a favor right now!”
“I get it, so let’s go, let’s go. The Saintess needs time to prepare, doesn't she?”
It was the most welcome thing she had heard all day.
The Saintess bowed slightly, expressing her gratitude to Celine and Reto as they left the room grumbling. As Reto passed by the Saintess, he spoke in a small voice.
“……Please take good care of Ian.”
The Saintess’s hand traced the sign of the cross.
“Immanuel.”
She had intended to do so even without being told, but she had no choice but to respond with sincerity to words spoken from the heart.
Afterward, the siblings Elsie and Lupin also visited.
Surprisingly, Elsie didn't even shed a tear. She merely looked down at Ian with somber eyes and asked in a low murmur.
“If I had followed Master, would things have been different?”
It was a hypothetical no one could answer.
The only response she could give was a formal consolation. Naturally, Elsie was not satisfied with that answer.
As Elsie left the room, a faint resolve lingered in her blue sapphire eyes.
It was impossible to tell where that determination would lead.
The only thing the Saintess could do was pray. She only hoped that Elsie’s heart would lead her on a path that would be helpful to Ian.
As long as she didn't get too close to him.
Offering a prayer filled with such personal desires, the Saintess finalized the preparations for the next day’s rite.
It was then that the final guest sought out the Saintess.
She was a beauty with dark blue hair and striking light gray eyes. Unlike her past self, who was haughty and upright, her face was now shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.
Realizing her identity instantly, the Saintess placed a hand on her forehead.
A cold voice leaked through her lips.
“……I told you not to come.”
“I want to see Sir Ian.”
But Cien’s tone as she stood her ground was equally resolute.
The Saintess glared at her with icy eyes.
“See him later to your heart's content. After Ian opens his eyes. You weren't even that close to Ian to begin with. Right? Letting you and Ian meet will only interfere with his treatment, so why……”
“I’ll do anything.”
The Saintess’s words came to a dead stop.
Her pinkish eyes looked at Cien with bewilderment. Regardless, Cien only murmured in a somber tone.
“As long as I can see Sir Ian, I’ll do anything… Please, give me any task.”
However, the Saintess could only scoff.
Give her anything?
Treatment was not such a simple task. Furthermore, when it came to treating injuries that required a rite, there was no room for an unskilled person who hadn't even completed proper training.
The Saintess continued mockingly.
“What could you possibly do? At most, fetching water like a maid or doing some mopping? You’re a Royal; why would you do such menial chores……”
“……I’ll do it.”
Once again, the Saintess was speechless.
Her wide-open eyes proved just how nonsensical that statement was.
The Royals of the Empire were noble.
Even high-ranking nobles had a strong aversion to menial labor. Hadn't Delphine refused to do errands for a while at the orphanage?
And yet, a Royal would carry water and mop floors?
It was nonsense. It was something that could only happen if a Royal crushed their own pride into the dirt.
Where in the world was a human who would pour water and serve at the command of a pig they were raising?
The shock was of that magnitude.
Caught off guard, the Saintess’s lips opened and closed fruitlessly.
“I’ll do it. Whether as a maid… or a servant… so please, just let me see Sir Ian……”
As Cien pleaded, tears began to well in her eyes.
Eventually unable to hold them back, Cien sniffled and wiped her eyes with her sleeve several times. Her emotional fluctuations were significant.
It meant her mind was pushed to its limit.
And in the midst of that, the only means of healing she had chosen was to see Ian.
The Saintess was curious why she was so obsessed with Ian and how Cien’s mind had been driven into such a corner, but it wasn't a matter to dig into right now.
The Saintess hesitated for a long time before biting her lip and spitting out a single sentence.
“……Do whatever you want.”
It was the moment Cien’s rank among the group was decided.
Cien, the 5th Princess of the Empire, the lowest in the hierarchy.
She was a maid.
*
Ian opened his eyes, gasping for breath.
His entire body was drenched in cold sweat. The air filling his lungs carried a faint scent of herbs, allowing him to quickly realize where he was.
The concentrated healing room of the temple.
Just how long have I been lying here? Ian had to groan for a while from a throbbing headache.
He soon pushed his upper body up.
He still felt a bit stiff, but his body itself seemed fine. He had worried about aftereffects, but it seemed he had been fully healed somehow.
The door to the room opened just as Ian was letting out a sigh of relief.
The Saintess, who entered with a tired expression, froze in place the moment her eyes met Ian’s.
Then, she cried out, on the verge of tears.
“……Ian!”
Seeing her, Ian wore a bitter smile.
It seemed he had caused a lot of worry once again. As his hazy mind gradually cleared, memories of the past began to flood back like a tide.
After a moment of daze, the first question Ian uttered was as follows.
“……Where is the Princess?”
“Pardon?”
The Saintess, who was rushing to Ian’s side, tilted her head at the sudden question.
Only then did Ian realize the title was a bit off and quickly tried to correct himself.
“Her Highness the Princess, is she safe?”
“Ah, that woman……”
As the Saintess trailed off, suspicion flickered in Ian’s golden eyes. Nevertheless, the Saintess hesitated for a moment before letting out a deep sigh as if she had no choice.
He deserved to know what kind of state the woman he saved was in.
The Saintess gave a rough explanation of the Princess’s current situation.
She was being treated like a public enemy within the Academy; rumors painted her as a legendary villainess; and her mental state was unstable, often leading to sudden outbursts of tears.
The only thing was that she seemed to regain some stability only when she was looking at Ian.
The Saintess couldn't know the reason, but as soon as Ian heard those words, one story immediately came to mind.
The Princess’s past, and the ‘Dragon’s Eye.’
Ian looked away for a moment without saying anything. Then, he soon attempted to stand up, staggering.
Startled by this, the Saintess let out a scream.
“Why, what are you doing! You’re still a patient! Lie back down, right now!”
However, despite the Saintess’s urgent dissuasion, Ian managed to get to his feet. Then, from among the pile of belongings organized at the head of the bed, he found his hand axe and took it in his hand.
Taking up his weapon after a long time, he felt its heavy weight.
Whish. The hand axe, tossed into the air, was caught in his hand again. Fortunately, it seemed his senses hadn't completely dulled.
The Saintess, watching Ian’s actions closely, asked in a voice that still betrayed her confusion.
“……What are you doing?”
“Practice.”
Ian spoke with a deep sigh.
“……Please call Senior Neris.”
Thinking that there was still some cleaning up left to do.
*
That day, Cien received an unfamiliar envelope.
It was a letter from Ian’s younger sister.