Chapter 26
Startled by a sudden scream, Edward and Natalie stood up. Following the sound with their eyes, they saw a woman in soiled, tattered clothing—sitting on the ground and holding a small boy in her arms.
Opposite her, a man in a white coat, glaring as if to drive her away, had slightly opened a door.
“…Even here, if you don’t have money, I can’t provide treatment. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to give up.”
“W-what…? My child has had a fever that won’t break since the day before yesterday… please…”
“Blame the lack of money, then…”
The child the woman held carefully looked listless. Yet the man paid no attention to this, and the door slammed shut. Surely, he must have been a doctor—and that place must have been a clinic.
The woman’s face reflected despair at the closed door, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“…In undeveloped regions, there are many impoverished people. It’s unfortunate, but even if we intervene, we cannot solve the root problem.”
Edward spoke in a dark tone about the harsh reality: without money, people cannot receive treatment. Even temporary aid would be meaningless. In the end, the poor would fall ill again due to poverty.
“Then let’s leave here—Natalie?”
Although she noticed Edward calling her, Natalie remained silent and steadily approached the mother and child.
“…Um…”
“…Ugh… wh-what is it?”
The woman, still holding her unwell child, looked dejected. She seemed desperate, paying no mind even to Natalie approaching her.
“…May I examine your child and offer treatment?”
“…Huh?”
“I can use healing magic. May I please treat your child?”
The mother, perhaps not expecting anyone to offer treatment for her child, looked startled. Her gaze at Natalie held a mixture of anxiety, doubt, and urgency.
“…This may seem sudden and frightening. So… may I demonstrate my healing magic on your… arm injury first?”
Because Natalie’s magic does not affect herself, she suggested trying it on the mother’s injury first. The mother, clutching at any hope, revealed the wound on her arm visible through her tattered clothing.
Natalie sat down nearby, placed her hands over the wound, and cast her healing magic.
Gradually, the cut healed, disappearing before their eyes. Seeing this, the mother looked at Natalie with pleading eyes.
“Th-these are all the coins I have… I hoped to pay for my child’s treatment…”
“…You don’t need to pay. It’s simply my concern.”
The mother offered a few copper coins, but even seeing them made Natalie’s chest tighten. Her mind was focused on helping the suffering child before her.
Natalie extended her hands toward the child in the same way, tracing the body—hips, lungs, head—soothing the source of the fever. The child, who had looked pained, relaxed the furrow in his brow and began to breathe peacefully.
“R-really…?”
“Phew… the fever is gone now.”
As Natalie finished the healing, the mother, overjoyed, gently touched her child’s forehead and body to confirm the fever was gone.
“Thank goodness… truly… how can I thank you…”
“Hehe, I am also glad your child’s fever has gone down—and I can see you are quite tired as well.”
“…Huh?”
Natalie placed her hands on the mother’s shoulders and cast healing magic to relieve her fatigue, restoring her energy. Feeling its effect, the mother exclaimed:
“I-I even… truly, I have so little to offer…”
“…That’s fine. Don’t give me the money… use it for yourself and your child.”
“Ugh… really…”
“You are a kind mother… so please use the money to give your child something delicious to eat.”
“T-thank you, thank you so much!”
The mother, overcome with emotion, continued to cry tears of gratitude. Natalie smiled, and the mother, relieved, repeatedly thanked her before carrying her child and walking toward the back path.
“…Ah!”
Focused on healing, Natalie had forgotten about Edward. She quickly stood and turned to where he had been, finding Edward watching her the entire time.
“I apologize… for making you wait…”
“No…”
Edward’s expression was tense, his brows furrowed.
“…Do you plan to open a hospital?”
“…Huh? N-no…”
Upon hearing Natalie’s reply, his expression darkened further. His voice was heavy:
“…Then, do you heal that mother and child to indulge yourself?”
“Eh…?”
“I, too, was treated by you, so I feel awkward about this…”
Edward spoke seriously to Natalie:
“Your actions—are they not a form of hypocrisy? You don’t help everyone, only those you can see… extending your hand selectively.”
“……”
“You cannot know if that mother and child will live a happy life afterward because of your actions.”
With sharp words, he criticized Natalie’s actions, questioning the uncertainty and whether such deeds bring misfortune. After expressing his opinion, Edward lowered his gaze and fell silent.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still—the air was thick and heavy. Even the sunset shining between the buildings seemed cold. As Natalie sensed the tension, Edward opened his mouth to speak.
“Yes.”
“…Huh?”
“My actions may be hypocritical. But… I don’t mind.”
(Yes, I cannot become a god…)
Resolute within herself, Natalie looked up at Edward, who was higher than her in status, meeting his gaze.
“…I want to help those I can see, to expand the possibilities.”
“Possibilities…?”
“Yes, if one dies… there can be no thought of happiness anymore.”
“……”
She spoke of the potential for happiness as long as one is alive. Certainly, having died once, it was ironic to say so, but living a second life, seeing her parents smile, and seeing Mina happy made her realize how precious life and conversation with others are.
Having faced death, she had only despair, no happiness.
“Living can be painful, of course. But as long as we live… we can move toward happiness.”
“……”
“It may be a naive thought—but that is why I use my magic.”
Listening to Natalie, Edward widened his eyes, staring at her, his gaze full of mixed emotions. Suddenly, unable to maintain eye contact, he looked away.
“…I see… ah, the sun is starting to set.”
“…Indeed.”
“Let’s end here for today… and return to the castle.”
“Y-yes.”
Edward extended his hand hesitantly, saying, “Your hand,” waiting for Natalie to touch it. She did, and together they returned to the royal castle.
◆◇◆
Currently, Natalie was in the luxurious reception room of the royal castle. After returning with Edward, her father seemed to still be detained by the king. She wasn’t sure of the details, but perhaps the discussion had unexpectedly progressed.
Until her father was released, she was kept in the reception room. Her hair had returned to its usual color; Edward had likely undone the magic upon returning to the castle.
After undoing the magic, Edward parted ways, looking somewhat vacant.
(…Did I say too much to His Highness?)
Realizing she might have committed an act of disrespect, Natalie felt cold sweat trickle down her back. To calm herself, she drank the tea provided.
“Hmm… Father is late.”
Time passed as she sipped tea and nibbled sweets from the castle servants. She recalled the servant suggesting, “If you have time, perhaps visit the garden—Dahlias are at their peak now.”
Expecting her father’s swift return, Natalie had waited in the reception room, but her body grew stiff from sitting.
(Might as well… go see the garden.)
She left the reception room to visit the garden.
◆◇◆
“Oh…?”
Having visited the garden during the ball, she easily found it. A guest was already there—a fluffy, golden kitten.
“Ahaha, you must feel nice, huh?”
“Meow, meow!”
The third prince was present, joyfully interacting with the lion cubs. Not wanting to disturb him, Natalie tried to leave quietly.
“Ah! Natalie, big sister?”
“Huh?”
Startled by being called, she turned to meet the third prince’s gaze. Even more surprisingly:
“Greet the sun of the kingdom—”
“Wow! It’s big sister! Hehe, you don’t need to greet me.”
“Meow.”
Though she tried to give a proper greeting to the prince referred to as the sun, the third prince stopped her. Meanwhile, the large kitten ran over and began rolling at her feet.
“…Uh, did I disturb you?”
“Eh? No, not at all!”
“R-really… that big sister—”
“Yes! Natalie, big sister!”
Curious why he called her that, she realized it was just natural for him. No answer was given. Accepting this, she decided to chat with him instead.
“Hey, big sister.”
“Y-yes?”
“Did you fight with your brother?”
“…Huh?”
Surprised, Natalie had no memory of fighting—her mind was on the earlier disrespect issue. Sensing her confusion, the third prince looked up at her.
“…Well, my brother seems troubled.”
“……”
“If you didn’t fight him… maybe it’s the usual struggles.”
“Struggles…?”
Confused, Natalie asked, and the third prince nodded.
“Yes… I don’t understand difficult things, but…”
“…Yes?”
“Gradually, my brother… only has weird smiles.”
“Weird…?”
Still confused, Natalie listened as the third prince continued:
“His face smiles… but looks pained.”
“……”
“Even today… his face looks like it hurts.”
Edward’s illness—caused by poison—was healed at Franz’s place. Could it have recurred? As Natalie pondered, a small hand touched her.
“Huh?”
“But when he talks with you, big sister… he seems happy.”
“Oh… I see.”
“Yes. So, I want you to talk to my brother… not me.”
Before Natalie could ask what he meant, the third prince grabbed her hand. The scenery shifted with a familiar distortion of vision.
This garden was different—like another flower garden. Surrounded by blossoms, many small lion cubs lounged about.
In the center, on the grass and seen from behind, was Edward, sitting with his hands on his head. Seeing this, the third prince let go of her hand and pleaded: “Big sister… please.”
“Y-yes.”
Seeing his earnest eyes, Natalie, moved by his request and wanting to investigate the potential cause of Edward’s “suffering” from the possible recurrence of poison, approached him.
Hearing her footsteps, Edward immediately turned toward her.
“Na-Natalie…?”
In his bewildered eyes, tears overflowed. Before she could wonder why, their gazes met—full-on.
