Chapter 13 – The Witch and The Prince (2)

Read​ on KatR​eadin​gCa​fe

“What do you think, Mom?”

Josie carefully fed the patient a suitable potion and asked Estelle for her opinion.

Estelle channeled mana through the man’s body to check his condition. Whether it was external or internal injuries, he seemed much healthier than before, with no apparent issues.

Moreover, the curse she had engraved on his heart, despite some initial complications, had settled perfectly, ensuring there would be no problems in the future.

When she had tried to implant the curse, his body had resisted, causing some trouble. Given the divine energy within him, it seemed he was from the Holy Kingdom.

It was unlikely that a Heresy Inquisitor would fight orcs alone. He was probably a missionary or a pilgrim.

If he tried to harm Josie, assault her, or report them, his brain and heart would explode without mercy. There was no need to worry.

At this point, it almost felt like common courtesy to at least lift a finger, given all the nursing and curses they had gone through.

“The medicine he took earlier didn’t cause any issues, and everything you’ve done so far has been excellent. As for the rest…”

“The rest…?”

“Just trust and wait. You’ve done more than enough. Now it’s up to his will to live.”

If he didn’t want to live, even the best doctor couldn’t save him. All they could do was wait. It was already remarkable that Josie, who wasn’t a doctor or a priest, had healed him this much with just herbs and potions.

Josie, who became timid whenever she stood before the patient, needed reassurance. Estelle gently stroked her hair, careful not to mess it up.

The man woke up three days later, just as Estelle was worrying about how to replenish the half-empty herb storage.

Food could be self-sufficient, but herbs and monster byproducts had to be gathered directly. Things like Gorgon eyes or Mimic tongues required dungeon exploration soon.

She had prepared the necessary potions in advance, but one never knew what might happen.

Since becoming close with Josie, Estelle had started worrying about things she never used to.

“Mom!!! Mom!!!!!”

Josie’s urgent call interrupted her thoughts, and Estelle stepped out of the herb storage.

She didn’t need to shout so loudly, Estelle could hear her just fine.

The tone alone conveyed how desperate she was.

“What’s wrong?”

There was only one thing that could make Josie this frantic.

Even as she asked, Estelle already knew the answer.

“He’s finally awake…!”

Josie rushed over, grabbing Estelle’s hands, her face a mix of seriousness and joy.

It was as if all her hard work had paid off, and she felt the satisfaction of having accomplished something on her own for the first time.

They owed this man a debt of gratitude, so it would be problematic if he died now.

Thanks to him, Josie had opened up to Estelle and even started calling her “Mom.”

Guided by Josie’s hand, Estelle arrived at the patient’s room. The man had propped himself up and was looking at them with half-closed eyes, as if still drowsy.

His eyes, partially hidden beneath his eyebrows, glowed with a golden light.

The unsettling gaze, as if trying to strip her soul bare, instinctively made Estelle uncomfortable.

The Holy Eye. A blessing bestowed only upon the most devout in the Holy Kingdom, said to distinguish the purity of souls.

Legend had it that angels descended in dreams and breathed upon the eyes of the chosen, granting them this power.

Moreover, in the series, those with the Holy Eye often became allies or enemies of the protagonist.

Should I kill him now?

The thought crossed her mind that they might have drawn the short straw among the four.

It didn’t matter to her as a witch, but if Josie were branded a witch, their peaceful life would be over forever.

Without letting Josie notice, Estelle began silently chanting a spell.

Just as she was about to unleash a dark magic spell,

“Ugh…”

“You still need to rest.”

The man winced in pain, likely from overusing the Holy Eye, and Josie rushed to support him. Estelle couldn’t bring herself to kill him now.

There was still time.

If she wanted to kill him, she could do it anytime.

She didn’t want to render Josie’s efforts meaningless.

She cancelled the spell and approached Josie who was anxiously checking the man’s condition..

Even though he must have realized Estelle was a witch through the Holy Eye, he had calmly fainted. She had to admit, he had guts.

“What do we do now!? He’s unconscious!”

“Calm down. He’s just asleep.”

He had likely overexerted himself by using the Holy Eye immediately after waking from a long coma.

This was perfect.

She needed to give Josie a heads-up.

Whether he was one of the Heresy Inquisitors or not, he was clearly connected to the Holy Kingdom, and Josie, a victim of witch hunts, needed to know this.

To ensure she wouldn’t regret her choices later.

It was Josie who had saved him, and it wasn’t right for Estelle to arbitrarily decide his fate.

In the past, she would have killed him without a second thought.

‘This is all Josie’s fault’, Estelle sighed inwardly.

“Josie, come with me for a moment.”

She took Josie’s hand and led her out of the room.

As she organized her thoughts, she tried to predict Josie’s reaction.

She definitely wouldn’t suggest killing him.

But the Heresy Inquisitors might be a trauma for Josie.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s something you need to know about that man.”

Still holding Josie’s hand, Estelle looked into her hidden eyes.

“That man… he might be connected to the Heresy Inquisitors.”

She felt Josie’s hand tremble and held it tighter.

“Huh? How do you know, Mom…?”

“The bright light in his eyes earlier is a mark of God’s chosen.”

The White Eye of the Heresy Inquisitors was mostly symbolic, but the Holy Eye was a true blessing, a privilege granted only to the most devout. He might even be a saint. Or just a faithful believer.

“That man has the Holy Eye, which can see through souls. It’s said that angels descend and breathe upon the eyes of the chosen. He’s likely of high status in the Holy Kingdom. Directly or indirectly, he’s likely connected to the Heresy Inquisitors.”

“…….”

“Mom respects your choices, Josie. What do you want to do? They despise witches more than anyone, and we witches despise them more than anyone. If we let him live, he might cause us trouble. But even so…”

He might be the one who killed your real parents.

And yet, do you still want to save him?

She didn’t say it out loud, but Josie probably understood.

The same tragedy could happen again. They might not be as lucky as last time.

Even though Estelle knew the original story and had prepared to some extent, there were limits to protecting Josie while fighting.

She felt like a cruel stepmother to force such a choice on a fifteen year old girl, but it was necessary.

“You said it yourself, Mom. Even good people can’t always be good, and evil people can’t always be evil. That’s true for everyone, not just witches.”

“He might be a bad Heresy Inquisitor who killed innocent people. But even if that’s true, I want to ask him why he had to do it. And he might not be the same Heresy Inquisitor from back then, right? Hurting someone based on assumptions… that’s no different from what they did. So what I mean is…”

Josie poured out her thoughts honestly, and Estelle hugged her tightly. Lately, she had been hugging Josie so often it was becoming a habit.

With such beautiful words, who wouldn’t want to hug her?

“But what if he really is a Heresy Inquisitor…? What if he suddenly attacks us…?”

After saying all that, she’s only now worrying about it?

Estelle barely held back a laugh.

“Then~ Josie will have to scold him~”

“What!?!? You said you’d help me!”

People only hear what they want to hear.

Her shameless assumption that Estelle would help made Estelle feel mischievous.

“I said I’d respect your choice, not that I’d help~”

“That’s so mean…”

What can I do? Being mean is part of being an adult.

Even so, when the time came, her body would act before her mind.

Josie knew Estelle wasn’t being entirely serious and puffed out her cheeks on purpose. This cheeky girl.

Assuming he wouldn’t cause them harm, what would happen after he fully recovered?

Josie seemed only interested in saving him, with no plans beyond that.

They couldn’t keep him here forever.

Estelle planned to kick him out once he was healed, but Josie would probably insist on escorting him to the nearest village.

Escorting him to the village wouldn’t be a problem if Estelle went along.

But that meant they’d have to let him stay until then.

The closer the body, the closer the heart.

What if he tried to charm Josie…?

Or worse, what if Josie developed feelings for him…?

Was it too late to give her the talk now…?

Lucent