Chapter 33: Heroine Supplement Plan (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 33: Heroine Supplement Plan (2)
The rain fell in an exceptional deluge that day.
It was enough to make the soldiers guarding the Clausewitz estate mutter under their breath, wondering if the world was about to be submerged.
Despite the weather, a woman draped in a raincoat approached the guards who were steadfastly performing their duties.
"Stop, Madam. I apologize, but please reveal your face and state your name."
"...I am Miriam, wife of Baron Bauer."
The moment they saw Miriam’s slender face, the soldiers stared at her, dumbfounded.
Is this really the same Miriam?
That was the only thought occupying their minds.
"I wish to see Lady Natalia."
"...Pardon?"
"I said I wish to see Lady Natalia. I have a letter to deliver."
"That is, well... I apologize, but you look so different from the Lady Miriam we know... and more importantly, Lady Natalia is currently refusing to see anyone..."
Without a word, Miriam held the letter up before the soldiers.
Specifically, she showed them the seal on the letter.
Even through the heavy downpour, the Konstanz family crest stamped into the wax was clearly visible to the soldiers.
"...!"
Unlike a moment ago, the soldiers' faces were now filled with shock.
Seeing their reaction, Miriam recalled what Leon had told her when he handed her the letter.
—The soldiers will likely block you, claiming they cannot verify your identity or that Lady Natalia is refusing visitors.
—I see... What should I do then?
—When that happens, show them this letter. Make sure the Konstanz family crest on the seal is clearly visible. That will open the way.
—...I understand.
Miriam waited in silence.
The longer her silence stretched, the deeper the soldiers' confusion grew.
Lady Natalia had said she would see no one.
However, did "no one" include the Konstanz family?
Which order should take priority?
Which choice would keep their heads on their shoulders?
Just as their minds were becoming a chaotic mess of question marks, one soldier approached Miriam.
"Forgive us for the wait, Madam. Uh... I apologize, but could you wait just a moment longer? This is a matter beyond our authority to decide, so we must receive new instructions."
"I will wait. For as long as it takes."
"Thank you for your understanding."
The news that the Konstanz family had sent a letter to Natalia reached the ears of the family head, Loengram, in an instant.
His wife, who refused to see anyone.
The Margrave's family, who had sent a letter to such a wife.
The only person who could make the final call was the head of the family.
Before long, a soldier came running breathlessly toward Miriam, who was still standing in the rain.
"Huff, huff... I am terribly sorry to have kept you waiting..."
"It is fine. What is the verdict?"
"His Excellency Loengram has granted permission. I will escort you immediately."
"I appreciate the gesture, but that won't be necessary. This is not my first time visiting this mansion."
Miriam walked through the massive doors as they slowly creaked open, the rhythmic clicking of her heels echoing behind her.
*
The last time I was here, she was staying in the largest room on the third floor...
Natalia’s invitations now felt like memories from a very distant past.
Recalling those days, Miriam walked down the mansion's hallways, feeling a mix of familiarity and awkwardness.
As she reached the most familiar corridor, a very strange sight met her eyes.
"Sigh... how much longer do we have to keep hauling these meals..."
"Tell me about it... carrying them back and forth is one thing, but cleaning up afterward is even harder..."
The maids were whispering complaints to each other while struggling to push a cart laden with food.
The moment she saw them, Miriam’s modest wit sparked.
"Is that meal headed for Lady Natalia’s room?"
"Huh? Oh... yes, it is... but who might you be...?"
Once again, Miriam produced the envelope Leon had given her.
The contents were nothing but a blank sheet of paper, but the important part was the seal on the outside.
Flaunting the Konstanz family crest for all to see, Miriam spoke without hesitation.
"I have come to see Lady Natalia. If you don't mind, I would like to deliver that meal myself. What do you think?"
The polite tone carried the weight of a command.
I want to be alone with Natalia, so get lost.
Since it was a maid's job to read between the lines, they immediately bowed their heads to Miriam.
"Yes, Madam. Lady Natalia’s quarters are in the room right up ahead."
"Thank you."
Leaving the maids behind as they hurried away with lightened steps, Miriam pushed the cart.
The weight of the cart, which two young maids had been struggling with, was naturally burdensome for Miriam as well...
"Nngh...!"
It wasn't a matter of whether she could do it, but that she had to.
With that single-minded determination, she pushed the heavy cart all the way to the front of Natalia’s door.
Standing before the door at last, Miriam knocked cautiously.
"Lady Natalia..."
"Leave it at the door and go!"
It was a shrill, irritable voice—something unimaginable from the Natalia of the past.
Hearing that voice made Miriam’s heart ache uncontrollably, but...
As if she had been waiting for this very day, Miriam’s modest wit sparked once more.
"Yes, Lady Natalia."
—Click, clack...
Miriam stomped her feet in place, making sure the sound was audible.
Gradually softer. As if she were walking away.
The moment Miriam’s stationary marching stopped, Natalia’s door swung wide open.
"You...!"
Black hair that was not only dry but matted in clumps.
A round face slick with oil.
An obese physique visible even through her loose-fitting underwear.
Facing the distorted and broken Natalia, Miriam bowed her head with a tearful smile.
"It has been a long time, Lady Natalia. It is Miriam."
*
Betrayal, bewilderment, shame, and... relief and surprise.
Faced with the Miriam who had suddenly appeared, Natalia was submerged in a flood of emotions for a long while.
She had said she would see no one, so how on earth was Miriam here?
And how had Miriam returned to her former self?
Amidst the endless stream of questions, Miriam’s thick, tear-choked voice reached her.
"Lady Natalia."
"...Why have you come to find me? I believe I said I would see no one."
Miriam briefly touched Leon’s letter tucked inside her dress.
However, she did not take it out this time.
Relying on borrowed authority ended here. This time, she had to do what needed to be done herself.
So that Natalia could save herself.
"Lady Natalia, if you would be so kind, perhaps we could..."
"Can you not see the state I am in? Ah, of course you can. In that case, did you come here to mock me?"
Natalia’s sharp, piercing gaze was almost venomous.
More than anything else, that look stabbed into Miriam’s heart like a dagger.
Because Natalia’s contempt and self-loathing were being directed at herself, and no one else.
"..."
Miriam gazed at Natalia in silence.
There were no words she could say, and no words she needed to say, so she simply let her tears fall.
A forced marriage to a man she did not love.
Sexual intercourse that was no different from breeding livestock, and children who were graded like cattle.
The screams, laments, and eventual resignation that this isn't me—cries that no one listened to, or that people merely heard without truly listening.
Because she understood those feelings better than anyone, Miriam wept for the Natalia standing on the edge of a precipice.
She sobbed silently, pleading with her to stop hating and loathing herself.
Miriam wailed, conveying that none of this was her fault.
"...Why are you... like this..."
"It was only you, Lady Natalia. You were the only one who first reached out a hand to me, the only one who first spoke to me."
"For... for just something like that..."
"Yes, just that was enough. My past self was saved by just that much."
"..."
"Lady Natalia, do you remember? You once said that the only person who can save you is yourself."
"I said such a thing..."
Just as she had once before, Miriam took Natalia’s hand.
She cherished and enveloped the fat hand that was slick with grime and oil.
"I do not think that I can save you, Lady Natalia. I do not believe I am the kind of person capable of that."
"..."
"Lady Natalia."
The only one who can save you is yourself.
All I can do, all I must do, is place a small candle on that path.
As if saying those words, Miriam pressed a small business card into Natalia’s hand.
The card Leon had handed her along with the blank letter.
"This is...?"
"He will help you find the things you have lost."
"...The things I... have lost..."
"I shall take my leave now. Lady Natalia, I pray you find peace."
With that, Miriam vanished from Natalia’s sight.
Natalia stood there until the woman's back disappeared.
Standing just outside the door she hadn't stepped through even once.
*
"I offer you my sincere respect and praise, Madam Miriam."
The moment I heard Miriam’s report upon her return, I wanted to shout for joy inwardly... but.
Regardless, I was a noble too, so I had to maintain my dignity.
Besides, Miriam was soaked to the bone from the rain, so I couldn't exactly celebrate in front of her.
Anyway, Miriam nodded slowly and spoke with some difficulty.
"Do you really think... Lady Natalia can return to the way she was...?"
"That depends entirely on Lady Natalia’s own will, so I cannot make any guarantees. However, if she reaches out to me, I will pull her up as much as she needs."
This wasn't just a feeling; it was a conviction.
Looking at it coldly, the reason Natalia’s physique had collapsed was similar to that of retired athletes.
In other words, the cause was a massive caloric intake that used to be proportional to a massive amount of exercise.
An unwanted marriage, childbirth, and childcare.
Furthermore, because she was expected to fulfill the social role of the Knight Commander's wife rather than the Sword Princess, Natalia had no choice but to put down her sword.
That was why she gained weight.
Her activity level plummeted, but her eating habits remained the same.
"Certainly... since you fixed me as well, Young Master, then Lady Natalia too..."
"Haha, I am not the one who made you beautiful, Madam. It was you yourself. The person you are now is only possible because you fought and won against yourself every single day."
"...That sounds similar to what Lady Natalia once said. That the only person who can save me is myself..."
"Hmm, that is a sentiment truly worthy of the Sword Princess."
Of course, Sitri’s Suggestion played a decisive role in Miriam being able to win her battle against her appetite.
If it weren't for Sitri, I probably would have had to give up on conquering Natalia.
One way or another... the pieces on a chessboard cannot move on their own.
"Um... do you think I should visit Lady Natalia again...?"
"Hmm... I wouldn't recommend that. As you know, Madam, courage is something one must find for oneself."
"I suppose so..."
Well, Miriam’s "courage" only came about thanks to my business card.
But in the end, Miriam lost weight and found her confidence, so isn't that what matters?
"Now then, we shall conclude your treatment as of today. However, as I have told you repeatedly, maintaining your figure..."
"Healthy eating habits and regular exercise. Nothing is achieved without effort."
"Hahaha, you remember well. You mustn't rely on me and start living a dissolute life."
"Fufu, yes. Then, I shall take my leave."
"It's raining hard. I hope you return home safely."
"Thank you sincerely for your kind words."
With that, Miriam left my consultation room.
From now on, the chances of seeing that woman again... well... you could say they're non-existent.
As I watched Miriam’s retreating figure disappear into the rain, someone gently wrapped their arms around my neck from behind.
"Are you feeling regretful now?"
"Huh? About what?"
"You never laid a hand on that woman in the end. Though you did seem to give her massages quite often."
"Miriam is like a wildflower. She has her own beauty, but no one goes out of their way to pluck a wildflower to decorate their garden."
"A wildflower... Then what kind of flower do I look like to you?"
"Haha, well. A one-of-a-kind flower in all the world, perhaps?"
Exchanging such cliché dialogue, I kissed Sitri’s "flower."
I truly love the flowers I already have... but it's about time to add a new flower to the garden.