Chapter 7
And right now, the important thing isn’t the pain from the wound. It’s treating it as quickly as possible.
Liriette took a small jar of ointment out of her bag.
It was a medicine made from a blend of several herbsāa remedy the High Priest had created in her previous life.
The High Priest’s divine power was so weak that the only thing he could do was sense the divine power of others.
But when it came to medicinal herbs, no one was more knowledgeable than he was.
As the wounds on Liriette’s body became more numerous, he had made this medicine for her.
Of course, it hadn’t been out of kindness.
If Lirietteāhis source of incomeādied, it would be a problem for him.
This was merely the bare minimum he was willing to do.
Just thinking about why he made it is disgusting… but regardless, this medicine works incredibly well on me.
Unless the wound was very deep, it would heal completely within a day.
It was exactly what Liriette needed now.
She generously spread the ointment over the cut on her fingertip before wrapping it carefully with a bandage.
Whew… I finally feel relieved.
Letting out a small sigh, she took off her clothes.
The moment she lowered herself into the warm bath, she couldn’t help letting out a tiny gasp.
“Wow…”
At the temple, bathing in heated water was forbidden.
Officially, the doctrine claimed that washing with water heated by artificial fire would interfere with one’s spiritual discipline.
But the real reason was much simpler.
The High Priest was unbelievably stingy.
No one but him was allowed to use hot water.
So…
This was the first time Liriette had ever taken a bath in warm water.
Her cheeks flushed as she murmured,
“So this is what it’s feels like…”
“It feels as though spring has come beneath the water.”
The faint floral fragrance drifting through the bath made it feel even more like that.
Smiling brightly, Liriette happily splashed the water around.
* * *
She became so absorbed in playing with the water…
…that she completely forgot Marie was still waiting outside the door.
The moment she remembered, she gasped.
Hurriedly climbing out of the bath, she threw on a bathrobe and called out,
“I’m finished bathing!”
With all her heart…
She hoped Marie wouldn’t answer.
Unfortunately, her wish wasn’t granted.
Almost as though she’d been waiting, Marie immediately entered the room.
Liriette looked as though she were about to cry.
“I’m sorry!”
“Hm? For what?”
“You were waiting outside…”
“I should have finished bathing as quickly as possible…”
“But I didn’t.”
Only then did Marie understand.
The corners of her lips twitched upward.
Smiling gently, she asked,
“Why couldn’t you come out sooner?”
Closing her eyes tightly, Liriette confessed honestly,
“The water was so warm…”
“I felt so happy that I lost track of time.”
“I’m sorry.”
Rather than getting angry, Marie beamed.
“I’m glad you enjoyed your bath.”
“That makes all the effort we put into preparing it worthwhile.”
“…”
“When you’re comfortable with it someday, please let me help you with your bath.”
“I promise I’ll make bath time even more enjoyable.”
Those kind words made Liriette’s cheeks flush.
“…Okay.”
Aaah! Even when she’s shy she’s adorable!
Suppressing the overwhelming urge to rub her face against Liriette’s soft-looking cheeks, Marie and the other maids carried the bathtub away.
Once everything had been cleaned up, Simon entered the room.
Seeing Liriette all clean and fresh, he couldn’t help murmuring,
“Wow…”
She was adorable before… but now she’s even cuter.
She looked like a fluffy little lamb that had just been washed clean.
Her freshly shampooed silver hair, even softer and fluffier than before, only added to the image.
“Sir Simon?”
Her voice snapped him back to reality.
“Since you’ve finished bathing…”
“Shall we get you to bed?”
“Yes.”
Liriette quietly climbed beneath the blankets.
Oh my…
Without thinking, she exclaimed,
“The bed is so soft.”
“It feels like I’m lying on a cloud.”
Simon chuckled at the adorable comparison.
“I’m glad you find it comfortable.”
“Still, sleeping alone in an unfamiliar place can be frightening.”
“Would you like me to stay beside you until you fall asleep?”
The unexpected offer startled Liriette.
She hurriedly shook her head.
“No, it’s alright!”
“…”
“I’m not scared at all.”
“Really.”
Looking slightly disappointed, Simon nodded.
“Very well.”
“Sweet dreams, Lady Liriette.”
After Simon left…
Liriette was alone.
An unfamiliar room.
Unfamiliar people.
An unfamiliar bed.
An unfamiliar scent.
Yet none of it frightened her.
Not simply because she had already lived one lifetime.
“They’re all so kind.”
No matter the reason she had come, she was still only a ten-year-old girl whom none of them had ever met before.
And yet…
Everyone in the castle had treated her with warmth.
Her sky-blue eyes sparkled.
“I knew I was right.”
Liriette hadn’t chosen the Duke of Windsorice merely because he possessed enough power to stand against the High Priest.
There was another reason.
In her previous life, everyone she healed thanked the High Priest instead of her.
Because they believed he was the true owner of her divine power.
But…
The Duke of Windsorice had been different.
After his eyes were healed…
He hadn’t gone to the High Priest.
He had come to Liriette.
He had bowed his head.
And he had saidā
“Thank you.”
His voice had been low and cold.
Yet to Liriette…
It had sounded warmer than anything she’d ever heard.
That was why she had come here.
Because she believed…
The Duke isn’t simply a cold-hearted man.
She had been right.
The Duke was stern.
But he treated her with respect.
The people who served him did the same.
“I’m really glad I came here.”
With those final words…
Liriette’s large eyes slowly drifted shut.
Perhaps it was because her stomach was full.
Perhaps it was the soft blankets.
Or perhaps it was the sweet scent of soap lingering in her hair.
She felt certain…
She would have pleasant dreams.
* * *
The Duke’s room.
The Duke of Windsorice sat quietly in his chair.
As Simon removed the bandages covering his eyes, he reported,
“Lady Liriette fell asleep almost immediately.”
“Fortunately, she didn’t appear uncomfortable in the slightest.”
“I see.”
The Duke’s expression remained completely indifferent, as though it made no difference to him.
When Simon finished removing the bandages…
The Duke’s face was fully revealed.
Along with the horrific wounds marring it.
But compared to before…
The condition of his eyes had unquestionably improved.
Filled with amazement and joy, Simon asked,
“What kind of medicine could Lady Liriette possibly have used?”
The Duke’s injury wasn’t an ordinary wound.
It had been caused by the venom of a special monster.
The poison had burrowed into his eyes, causing them to rot.
The Empire’s greatest physicians…
Even people blessed with divine power…
None of them had been able to cure him.
And yet…
After applying the medicine only once…
His condition had visibly improved.
Simon’s fox-like eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“They say the High Priest is exceptionally skilled with medicinal herbs.”
“Could she have secretly brought medicine that he created?”
Before Simon could continue, the Duke’s cold voice interrupted him.
“Enough.”
“…”
“I promised the child.”
“I wouldn’t ask about anything.”
Contrary to the rumors spread by some people, the Duke wasn’t a blood-crazed murderer.
If anything, he treated his subordinates generously.
But…
He showed no mercy to those who disobeyed him.
Understanding that, Simon immediately dropped the subject.
Instead, he said,
“It seems Lady Liriette lived a very difficult life at the temple.”
“What do you mean?”
Simon described what he had witnessed during dinner.
For the first time that evening, the Duke’s expression turned serious.
“She doesn’t eat meat at all?”
“Yes.”
“Is that even possible?”
“I didn’t think it was…”
“But apparently it is.”
Silence settled between the two men.
For the people of the harsh northern lands…
Meat was essential.
From the moment a child’s first tooth emerged, they began eating meat.
Even toothless elders continued eating it with every meal.
Without it…
They couldn’t endure the bitter cold.
Nor could they gather the strength needed to defend themselves against the monsters that frequently appeared.
The Duke frowned.
“So that’s why her voice was so weak.”
Unable to see, the only thing the Duke could judge about Liriette was her voice.
Yet even from that alone…
He had realized just how frail she was.
Simon nodded.
“Yes.”
“It’s not just her voice.”
“She’s much smaller than other children her age.”
“And she’s terribly thin.”
“Honestly… it’s surprising such a tiny body can even keep moving.”
