episode_0056

The siblings’ post-rescue moment was abruptly interrupted by Eleanor’s loud cry, which brought her back to her senses.

Following that, the chief physician from the Beaurnga family, who had been kidnapped and brought in since the crack of dawn by Albriss, came face to face with Eleanor.

Regardless, to receive treatment, she had to show her wounds.

Eleanor lowered the beige dress she was wearing under her waist, sitting on the bed with only bandages wrapped around, revealing the wound on Shilrove’s leg.

However, she still maintained her dignity. She covered herself by lifting the blanket up to her chest, concealing everything that needed to be hidden.

After all, the injured area was on her back.

Inspecting the wound on Shilrove’s leg through partially unwrapped bandages, the chief physician from the Beaurnga family nodded as he examined it. Then, he stood before her again, reaching out his hand towards her.

As a faint silhouette of her slender body peeked through the light blanket, Eleanor’s wrist was just as delicate. Her thin, white wrist seemed like it could snap with just a little pressure.

How could such a lady survive Shilrove’s attack?

With this thought in mind, the chief physician projected a blue light orb from his fingertip onto Eleanor’s wrist.

Absorbing the flowing blue mana into her body, Eleanor widened her eyes in awe, forgetting any embarrassment, as she gazed at the spectacle.

“This is what fantasy looks like. Wow!”

Musing over the incongruity, Eleanor softly smiled at the refreshing energy emanating from her wrist.

How much time had passed?

After infusing mana, the chief physician captured the blue light orb and spoke, moving his lips.

“Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any significant issue. The poison from Shilrove seems to have almost neutralized within your system, so you should be able to walk on your own by this afternoon.”

Perhaps due to being troubled by Albriss since dawn, the voice of the chief physician sounded more tired than usual, lacking its usual authority.

“How about Shilrove’s shoulder? What’s the status?”

Before the physician could finish speaking, Albriss’s voice flowed through the hastily made curtain of the bedsheet.

“As the wound heals, structurally and functionally, there doesn’t seem to be any major issues.”

“Really? Phew… That’s a relief.”

Behind Albriss’s relieved sigh,

“However.”

“However?”

Gazing at the slightly eerie shoulder wound, circled black against the pale flesh, the physician continued.

“Due to the delayed treatment, it seems likely that a scar will remain. It would be advisable for you to return to the mansion later and discuss it with the priest.”

“A scar? A scar! What nonsense! How can Ellie, who has just debuted, have a scar!”

Behind the subdued voice of the physician, Albriss’s increasingly agitated voice grew louder.

If she keeps getting angry since morning, what will happen later? Eleanor subtly signaled to the physician, tilting her head slightly.

Since awakening in Eleanor’s body for the first time, the physician had seen her frail body many times. Therefore, he understood well what Eleanor’s subtle gaze meant.

“For now, your stability is the top priority. There is still poison in your system. Both young master and everyone else, please leave.”

Eleanor confirmed that Albrice was wrapped in a blanket and the attending physician removed the sheet covering the bed.

Upon hearing about the scars left beyond the curtain, Albrice’s face turned gloomy, causing Eleanor to feel a bit sentimental. However, she refrained from staying by his side as it would have been bothersome.

“Sigh… Elly, then rest well. I’ll let you know when the carriage arrives to take you.”

“Yes. See you later.”

To the knights, Albrice, and even the attending physician.

The small room of Ailey, which had been noisy since morning, regained its peace.

Inside, Ailey remained, checking her wounds and rewrapping the bandages. In a corner, there was only a dark-haired woman bowing her head as if she were a sinner.

Watching Eleanor tend to Ailey’s bandages, she glanced at Oejenny. Since entering the room, Oejenny had not met Eleanor’s eyes, simply bowing her head deeply.

If that was the case, why not wait outside? What was she doing there?

“Oejenny? What are you doing over there?”

At the lady’s voice, Oejenny gently raised her head. Her violet eyes trembled with worry, apology, and self-reproach.

“Oh, milady….”

Unlike usual, Oejenny responded hesitantly. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then continued speaking.

“I’m relieved, milady. It’s truly a relief that you’re unharmed.”

“Yeah. Thank you for worrying.”

Seeing Oejenny’s attitude so different from usual, Eleanor looked at her with a bitter smile.

To be honest, this level of distance was just right for Eleanor, given the attention she received from women ever since she entered the body of Serju.

Was it her pheromones attracting women, or were the women around her all peculiarly interested?

She had been uncomfortable with the aggressive approaches of women more than once.

Of course, for an ordinary woman, it might have been seen as simple friendly affection, but for someone who had lived as a man for 21 years like her, it was quite a provocative contact.

However, now that she was being treated differently by Oejenny, Eleanor felt somewhat hurt for reasons she knew well.

Still… something felt off….

Afraid that Oejenny might dig herself into another hole if left alone, Eleanor sighed softly. Then she lightly tapped the seat next to her.

“Oejenny.”

Calling out her name as if calling a pet. Despite the elegant call, Oejenny, the maid, remained in place.

“Oejenny!”

Her voice grew slightly stern. Only then did Oejenny raise her heavy foot towards Eleanor.

Approaching closely, Oejenny hesitated before gingerly sitting down on the seat Eleanor had patted.

Her demeanor and appearance were vastly different from usual.

Her glossy black hair, usually well-kept, was now disheveled by the wind. Dirt and dust covered her fair skin.

“Sorry, Oejenny. I worried a lot, didn’t I?”

Eleanor placed her hand on Oejenny’s waist, who had approached her with difficulty. Despite feeling pain in her stiffened back, Eleanor pulled Oejenny into her embrace.

There was no usual softness in Oejenny’s body. It was filled only with the stiffness of her riding jacket and the smell of dirt.

“Oh, milady. I’m dirty.”

Oejenny tried to move away from Eleanor’s touch. However, seeing Eleanor wince in pain, she couldn’t help but nestle into her arms.

“What happened yesterday wasn’t your fault, Oejenny.”

“No. As a maid, I should have taken better care of you…. Even if it took some time, I should have sent the knight to you and tidied up by myself…”

Eleanor placed her face on Jezney’s shoulder as her voice wavered.

“If you think about it that way, it would have been resolved if I had just stayed quiet in that position.”

Looking back, that seemed to be the case.

Like a troublesome character from a novel, it was an incident that occurred while she was acting alone. Of course, there might have been some fault on her part, but it wasn’t something she should entirely blame herself for.

Yet, Jezney… Are you so upset because we were childhood friends? Or is it because you are a responsible maid overflowing with a sense of duty?

Or perhaps, before losing your memory, what kind of relationship did you and I have?

To Eleanor now, it was an unsolvable mystery.

“Eily, please wet a towel with warm water.”

“Yes, milady.”

As Eleanor released Jezney from her embrace, she spoke. Jezney, shivering, still kept her head bowed deeply.

Finally, Eleanor gently lifted Jezney’s chin with the warm towel brought by Eily in a large basin.

“Oh, milady.”

“At least for now, I am not your lady. I am your childhood friend, Ellie.”

Covered in dirt and tears, Eleanor took the wet towel to Jezney’s disheveled face, touching her soft cheek.

“I-I will do it. Milady.”

“Hush. Even if I’m not a lady!”

Taking a deep breath, Jezney, with eyes wide open, looked at Ellie. No, Eleanor. Despite tears streaming down her face, she managed a small smile.

“Wh-what’s that supposed to mean, Ellie?”

“Huh? Jezney! Do you know hair grows on your butt if you cry and then laugh? That’s a big problem, our Jezney. How will you get married like this!”

Soon, the room was filled with the moist laughter of the two women.

Whether Eleanor’s touch was genuinely warm or if accumulated fatigue had overcome her, Jezney, lying in Eleanor’s arms, gently closed her eyes while entrusting her face to Eleanor’s hands.

Looking at Jezney, who had somewhat regained her former beauty, Eleanor thought.

The one she should truly be grateful to was not Jezney but Dimitri. He was the lifesaving benefactor who carried her in his arms for half a day and brought her to the doctor.

She had shamefully pushed him away earlier under the guise of embarrassment….

“This time, I must face him properly.”

Dipping the lukewarm towel she held in her hand into the basin, Eleanor muttered to herself.