Even the Old Maid Feels the Spring Breeze (2)
Alonne knocked on the door.
"Sis, I know it's embarrassing, but come out already.... I promised the High Priestess I wouldn't tease you anymore."
But there was no response.
Her sister remained silent, forcing the younger sibling to let out a deep sigh.
After guests visiting Yushin had all witnessed her sharing his sickbed, Ardena—overcome with self-loathing and shame—had confined herself to her room.
Her boss, the High Priestess. Her colleague, the 12th Warrior Captain. Her little sister and her sister's friend. Even her subordinates in the Helenwood Knights and her father—they'd all seen her in that compromising position. Ardena had decided to cut ties with the world, holing up in her room and refusing to emerge. She was even taking her meals inside, the picture of a total shut-in.
Guess Sis likes Master too, after all.
Alonne sighed deeply.
Her sister loved Master. She'd sensed it vaguely until now. That her sister harbored feelings for him.
They were sisters who'd spent ages together. Despite the big age gap that sometimes made her feel more like a mom, they were so close that Alonne knew everything about her.
That's how she'd picked up on it—from the faint smiles Ardena wore whenever Alonne chatted with Master. Those were the smiles of love.
"...How's Yushin?"
Her sister's voice came from beyond the door. Alonne's face lit up.
"He's still unconscious, but the doctor says he's in stable condition now. We can relax."
"Thank goodness."
Alonne could hear the deep relief in Ardena's reply.
Even holed up in her room, she'd been worrying about Master nonstop. Alonne managed a bittersweet smile.
Can I really beat Sis? Can I push her aside and claim Master for myself? Who do I think I am?
Ever since witnessing her sister sharing Master's sickbed, Alonne's mind had grown more tangled by the day.
"What about the Santander lady?" Ardena asked.
She must have been curious about Leticia's reaction to seeing her disgrace alongside her little sister.
"Sh-she seemed a little shocked.... But what's there to be embarrassed about? We were just lying there sleeping, right?"
Alonne stammered through her words.
Silence fell after that.
Did she see through my lie? Alonne figured her sister could spot her fibs in an instant.
In truth, Leticia had been extremely shocked. Utterly floored. Her most revered figure in the world—sharing a bed with her own teacher. An unmarried man and woman sleeping together? For a high elf noblewoman, it was beyond bold; it was unthinkable.
"Sis, come on out already."
"I'll come out when the time is right."
"Then tell me when that is."
"Later."
Alonne was struck once more by just how bullheadedly stubborn her sister could be.
Way worse than me.... I should've known from how she kept her chastity for 300 years straight, upholding that unbreakable vow.
People called Ardena Valencia things like "Valencia's Noble Knight" or "Symbol of Pure Pride."
But Alonne knew better. Her sister wasn't some flawless superhuman—she was a normal woman who could snap over nothing and dig in her heels like nobody's business.
"Lady Ardena, we've brought the documents you requested from Maheritt Palace."
A line of maids appeared.
The maids of Valencia Castle pushed carts loaded with stacks of paperwork, struggling under the weight.
With Ardena's self-imposed confinement approved by the High Priestess for remote work, the maids were stuck with this grueling document haul.
Sis really takes after Mom....
Her mom, who'd separated from Dad for five years just because he broke her favorite teacup.
Alonne took after her dad, Wallace, but Ardena was all Mom—which meant she inherited that legendary stubborn streak in spades.
Dad knew it too, sighing deeply over his eldest daughter's shut-in antics.
"Ardena?"
"Still glued to her room, Dad."
"Glued?"
Wallace blinked. Alonne shrugged.
"Y'know, holed up tight. It's this trendy slang going around with my friends lately."
If Yushin were here, he'd have bluntly shot back, "You don't have friends."
"Ardena, come out already."
"Dad, seriously? Like that's gonna work."
"Then I'll have no choice but to order you as family head."
"She won't listen."
"Where's my authority as patriarch gone...!"
"Ever since I saw you and Mom go at it five years ago."
Wallace's face fell at Alonne's sharp jab. The family head's dignity had hit rock bottom. No more lordly gravitas.
He'd tried persuading her in his capacity as father, but his firstborn showed no sign of budging.
"Fine, Ardena. I'll bring it up personally at the Yetzirah Council—push for a special law so you can formally wed Yushin Gilliard. A high elf and human union is unheard of, but that young man's the legendary Diablo Slayer who toppled the Tyranny Demon King and the Raging Flames Demon King, isn't he?"
Thud.
A loud bang from the door. Probably Ardena, flat on her bed, hurling a pillow in mortified shame at Dad's words.
* * *
Allen, freshly awake, spent her time gazing tenderly at the still-comatose Yushin.
Stable condition. Only now could she exhale in relief at the doctor's words.
She poked his cheek with a finger. Tweaked his nose. Tapped his lips.
Yet Yushin didn't stir.
Seeing him so deeply asleep, Allen's face fell more gloomily than ever.
"Why'd you push yourself like that? Those pointy-eared freaks could've all dropped dead for all I care. What do I need elves for? As long as I've got you, Bro...."
Lying beside Yushin, cradled in his arms, Allen wore a mournful look. Her animal ears drooped atop her head.
Maybe if she pulled her ronin tribe form and acted cute, he'd wake up? Borrowing the magic tool's power, she'd transformed on a whim.
But no dice. He remained a corpse-like sleeper.
Her wolf ears flopped, then her tail too. She looked every bit the depressed pet dog moping over its owner's long absence.
"Bro... Bro...."
Her face twisted. Tears threatened to spill any second.
Yushin's limp, listless sleep filled her with self-recrimination.
If I'd been stronger—way stronger than that Demon King—this never would've happened. It's all my fault for being weak. I got caught in that attack, pulled out of the fight, and that's why my beloved Bro took that mortal wound.
"Um...."
Visitors arrived at the hospital room—Yushin's subordinates.
They approached the bed cautiously, checking his state. No usual rowdiness. Just stiff faces and solemn silence as they stared at him.
If Yushin were awake, he'd have scoffed, "What're you paupers moping for?" to lighten the mood.
"Is the Captain okay?" Isana asked.
Allen nodded. "Doctor says he's fine."
Yushin had lapsed into coma from exhausting nearly all his power—even what kept him alive. Now his body slumbered deeply, recovering that vital energy.
"We brought white chrysanthemums for his recovery."
"Weirdly, though, the docs and nurses in the hall stared at us like we were nuts."
The subordinates presented their gifts. Tucker and Hekadi set chrysanthemum bouquets on the table.
Gareth went further, draping a chrysanthemum wreath necklace around Yushin's neck.
"Sniff... Captain...."
"He's always been so unbreakable—how can he look this helpless!"
Tears streamed like faucets as the men wailed. Good-hearted idiots without a shred of common sense, but loyal to a fault.
They bawled openly. Yushin's lips twitched at the noise—like a juicer begging them to stop squeezing and get lost.
But these oblivious Valuans only sobbed harder at his frowning face.
"Let's leave the chrysanthemums for the Captain."
Isana suggested. The men nodded, placing single blooms atop the bed.
Probably aiming to piss him off awake. Even in minimal consciousness, Yushin's fingertips trembled with rage. The second he woke, those morons were going out the window.
"Wahhh, Captain...."
"Rest in pea—er, deep sleep...."
"Idiot, you trying to bury him for real?!"
The room turned into a tearful sea in seconds. Grown men clustered round the bed, blubbering—it was hideous.
Even Allen felt the solemnity, tears welling in her eyes.
She noticed Yushin shivering faintly. Cold, maybe? In coma, he might feel it worse.
With motherly care, she pulled the blanket up to his chin.
"High Priestess."
"Got it, I won't tease."
High Priestess Ileina. Warrior Captain Ardena visited Yushin's room.
After Alonne's relentless nagging finally pried her from her room, she'd heard Yushin was improving and headed back to the hospital.
Running into Ileina in the lobby, Ardena came along to the room.
"Ahem, a visit from the High Priestess... Hiiyaak!!"
Ileina peeked in first.
The shocking scene inside buckled her knees—she collapsed right there.
Ardena fared no better. Ice-cold under any pressure, she shrieked girlishly at Yushin swathed in white chrysanthemums amid his teary subordinates.
The funeral-home vibe drew another horrified scream.
"Wh-white chrysanthemums... for a patient? Y-you fucking bastards...!!"
Now fully briefed, Ileina muttered shakily at Yushin's men.
Even thick-skulled fools wouldn't offer coma patients funeral flowers... These guys clearly had zero common sense.