17. The State of My Image?
In the end, it took three days for Sion's recovery. For those three days, I had to tend to her every need since she couldn't even lift a finger. Not that it was a bad time, really.
Even after the pain fully subsided, I spent a full day monitoring her progress and making sure she got plenty of rest. It wasn't until the fourth day that we could finally head back to the center together.
"It's been a while since I've come to the center. Feels nice, doesn't it, Mr. Hope?"
"Not really for me."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Beats me. I've never once thought about hating to come to work before."
Was it the backlash from suddenly taking a vacation after three years without one? Heading back to work now felt strangely heavy, both body and soul.
"Guess that's my fault too."
"Is it?"
"I pushed myself too hard and made you take time off."
She was the reason for the vacation, sure, but my reluctance to return to work had nothing to do with her—or so I thought.
"So you're feeling sorry about it again, huh?"
I glanced back, wondering if she was making that guilty face again, but Sion just smiled serenely, no trace of remorse.
"What can you do? Ah, Sion Laurel! You sinful woman. Here I go again, troubling Mr. Hope~"
Instead, she pressed a hand to her forehead and shook her head like it was such a hassle, looking downright bold about it. Wasn't she taking this lack of apology a bit too far?
"Your character's shifted a little."
"What do you think? Like it?"
When she asked like that, of course...
"As long as you're feeling good, that's what matters. You're the important one."
Better than her moping over needless worries.
"Glad you like it, Mr. Hope. Acting how you want is my specialty!"
"Huh? What was that...?"
"Nothing at all."
She brushed it off with a bright smile. Truth be told, I hadn't misheard her. If my senses were right, the hero Sion's personality went far beyond mere goodness or kindness.
Doing things because I wanted them? Even self-care had to tie back to helping others?
At this point, her pursuit of virtue and care for others was starting to feel like obsession bordering on madness.
Anyway, now that we'd returned together and finished Sion's checkup, it was time for the real schedule.
"Mirei. Help Sion change and bring her to the rehab gym."
"Got it. Um, sir...?"
"What is it?"
Mirei, the head nurse maid who acted almost like my secretary at the center. Excluding Sion, she was the closest to me, but she rarely approached for personal chats, so this was probably work-related.
"There's a bad rumor going around the center... Do you know about it?"
"Oh, that. Yeah, I've heard. You mean the one about...?"
She was referring to the rumor I'd heard before. I knew what it was, but did I have to say it out loud?
"......"
"......"
A brief silence fell.
Even Mirei found it hard to say, huh... Hats off to the baker's wife for voicing it to me directly.
"Lately, I've been seeing this young, pretty patient a lot, and people are saying I've taken her home with me... Right?"
In the end, I was the one who broke the ice.
"Yes, exactly."
"Wh-what...?"
Sion's face twisted in shock as she overheard.
"Does that mean people think you and I are... you know, that kind of couple?"
"......"
"......"
I couldn't exactly deny it.
"So, Mirei, is that what you wanted to ask if I knew about?"
"No, not that, but..."
Was there some new development? Not another escalation or misunderstanding, I hoped.
"With that rumor floating around, and then you taking vacation and holing up at home, it's spiraled out of control."
Ah... so that's how it went down.
My head throbbed. To think that's how we looked to everyone else.
True, even after Sion arrived at the center, I handled her treatments and duties the same as always. But she couldn't rehab without me, so I oversaw all her sessions personally—and anyone could see I was focusing on her intensely.
"While you were out, staff got bombarded with questions. They were at a loss."
More than that, why didn't they come to me? My place wasn't far...
Sigh, a mere doctor like me worrying about scandals. How do I fix this...?
"So we had to tell everyone that Sion is the hero."
What?
My eyes snapped wide.
"Mirei."
"Yes."
"Is that what you were going to say?"
"Yes. Anything weird about it?"
Wait a sec, come to think of it...
"Besides you, who else knew Sion was the hero?"
"No one. That's why this mess happened."
"Ah..."
The throbbing in my head cleared instantly, strength draining from my body.
"Now that you mention it, we never hid it, but never announced it either."
No one had recognized Sion as Sion Laurel the hero when we first met. Even when Nao introduced her, I hadn't believed it.
"Exactly, sir? You should've told the staff at least. The rumors hit them hard too—I suffered tons alone."
"Got it, Mirei. I'll give you a bonus."
"Oh, I wasn't aiming for that."
"Take it. Budget's plenty. Good call."
"Then thank you kindly."
Just revealing Sion as the hero should dismantle most of the wild rumors and misunderstandings. No one would bat an eye at me focusing on the hero Sion Laurel, and even if they knew I'd taken her home, no one would dare assume it was for anything scandalous.
Come to think of it, when I first brought her, I'd considered using her presence to help other patients' treatments—but I'd completely forgotten.
"Still, what do people take me for to spread rumors like that? Treating me like a pervert one and all..."
"Oh, aren't you?"
"Don't say it like that, Sion!"
"If people knew what I've been through these past days, they'd all think they were right."
"Sion!"
Don't say useless stuff like that! Jokes between us are one thing—this makes it real!
I whipped around to Mirei in panic, but her face was already...
"...Sir?"
"Nooo, it's not!! Sion! Tell her it's not true quick!"
"I've never lied once in my life. How could a hero utter falsehoods?"
"Sion!!"
As if shaking off past grievances, Sion clutched her chest, closed her eyes in feigned sorrow, and gave an Oscar-worthy performance. Mirei sidled up and hugged her warmly.
"You've been through a lot, Hero."
"Sob... Mirei... During those four days off, he did all sorts of things to me. Couldn't tell a soul..."
"I get it... Don't worry anymore. I'll protect you, Hero."
These two were putting on a full show. What "things"? What did she "get"?
"Protect her? From what?"
"From you, obviously!"
"Sigh. Sorry, Mirei, but that's impossible."
"Why?"
"You're fired."
"Ah."
Mirei's face went blank at the news.
"Sir... You're joking, right?"
"No need for a nurse maid protecting patients from doctors."
"......"
With Mirei speechless in shock, it was Sion's turn. She shook the dazed woman pitifully, but got no response.
"Mirei...?"
"Sion."
"Huh?"
Did she sense something from my extremely pissed-off glare? Tension crept into Sion's wary expression.
"Time for you to leave my house too."
"What? Leave?"
"Serin will be here soon."
"Ah... Already that time."
Her eyes widened briefly at "leave," but she relaxed with relief. Sion's rehab was entering week three, so Serin, dispatched from the empire, should arrive in the kingdom soon. I'd hand over her care and admit her then.
Serin was Nao's specially picked caregiver who'd tended Sion for three years—reliable enough.
"So we need to set an admission date... Mirei?"
"......"
"Mirei! Snap out of it! Time to work!"
"Work? Can I still?"
"You can, so get back here."
"Yes, sir!!"
Mirei, who'd been hugging Sion, scurried back to her spot.
"Mirei, after today's rounds, check the next admission patient and go with Sion to ask them to yield their spot."
"Huh? Yield their spot? What...?"
"Sion will explain."
"Understood."
Quite the noisy morning. Now, real work time.
"Mirei. First, help Sion change and..."
"Oh, that's what I was getting to."
"Still more?"
Was the rumor talk not over?
"Yes. After telling staff and patients that Sion is the hero, a bunch want to meet her and chat..."