Chapter 20: I Wish She Would Die Soon

Eventually, the two of them left the Phineas mansion. Eirene thought Clive had something to tell her, but he didn’t bother to correct her. If he had explained, she wouldn’t have come out. Clive and Eirene took the carriage provided by the Countess and headed to the city.

“We could have just talked inside the carriage. Is there any need to go so far?”

She had no way of knowing the man’s desire to spend even a little more time with her under the pretense of business.

“Don’t you enjoy going out?”

“I do, but right now I have things to do inside the Phineas mansion. Going all the way to the city and back seems like a waste of time.”

“Have you discovered something?”

Eirene shook her head.

“No need to rush. They’ll only plot something when you occasionally leave the mansion.”

“I want to know quickly.”

“Rushing things can ruin even what would otherwise succeed.”

When she nodded and fidgeted with her injured hand, Clive’s gaze shifted to it. Looking at it made his anger rise. How could they have only disinfected it? How could that possibly be considered adequate? 

According to Ulik, it was a wound that shouldn’t have been treated with disinfection alone. The thickly wrapped bandage was proof. Yet Eirene remained carefree, treating it like nothing serious. It would have been better if she had complained about the pain or shown irritation. 

He could have handled anything, but Eirene’s nonchalance only irritated Clive more. 

Unable to direct his frustration at her, he chose silence and turned his gaze out the window. Orange twilight spread thickly across the land as darkness approached.

* * *

“Didn’t you bring me outside because you had something to say?”

She had expected they would go to a café to talk privately, but instead, Eirene found herself facing a doctor.

“I told the Countess we were going out because of your injured hand, so we can’t go anywhere else.”

Unable to argue with his logic, she remained silent while the doctor awkwardly smiled and asked to see her hand. Eirene hesitated. Honestly, not being able to use one hand was more inconvenient than she had expected. 

She needed Gemma or Betty’s help whenever she washed or ate, and though they assisted her without showing any annoyance, she somewhat regretted causing the trouble. 

She had considered getting medicine from the Phineas family doctor but had left it alone hoping her Divine Power might heal it. 

Seeing no particular reaction so far, it seemed she didn’t yet have the healing ability for a wound of this size. 

What should she do? 

While she wavered indecisively, Clive took Eirene’s hand and showed it to the doctor. Only then did she make up her mind and silently permitted the treatment. The doctor unwrapped the bandage and asked:

“My goodness. This is quite a deep cut.”

“Is it? I didn’t realize.”

“You must have lost a considerable amount of blood. I’m surprised you didn’t notice. That could have been dangerous.”

The doctor examined the wound closely and applied a thin layer of medicine while speaking:

“But there’s not much for me to treat. A wound this deep should have required stitches, but the flesh has healed quite well. It’s been managed so well that you don’t even need a bandage anymore.”

At the doctor’s words, Eirene hurriedly looked at her palm. It had been a deep wound, enough for the flesh to gape open. No matter how good one’s recovery might be, it was impossible for flesh to heal in less than a week. She no longer needed to doubt. 

She had wiped away ink that stained her hand, and the spot where the rose thorn had pricked her disappeared by the next day. And now this cut was already healing. Her Divine Power was clearly growing stronger.

“Please wrap the bandage again.”

“It needs good air circulation.”

“I’ll take care of it myself. For now, please wrap it again because it looks unsightly.”

She couldn’t let anyone discover her hand had healed. Everyone would look at her strangely, and who knew what the Count, Countess, or Siaran might do if they found out. 

She had been at a loss about how to practice, but this was fortunate. Without needing to practice, her Divine Power was returning with time, just like before. If she could be more greedy, she hoped it wouldn’t stop at healing. 

She wanted the opposite ability to return as well, like before. That would make things much easier. But there was no sign of the ability opposite to healing returning. 

Perhaps that too would become possible with time. 

In any case, today was a productive day. It was a stroke of luck that came just when she had been discouraged, wondering if it wasn’t time yet.

* * *

She had looked genuinely displeased when seated before the doctor, but suddenly her mood improved. Though the change was subtle, Clive noticed everything. 

Even Eirene’s footsteps seemed lighter. Outside, darkness had already fallen. Night had come, and there were fewer passersby.

“Let’s eat dinner before going back.”

Clive put his arm around Eirene’s shoulders. She flinched in surprise but didn’t pull away, nodding her head. 

He knew her good mood would make her agreeable. He had been prepared to persuade her with talk of important matters if she refused, but that proved unnecessary. 

Knowing her weakness for desserts, Clive had mentally selected a restaurant with the best desserts while Eirene was being examined. He had instructed Ulik to go ahead and arrange a place where he could be alone with Eirene. 

Ulik had chosen a restaurant with no other customers. Whether he had selected it that way or chased the customers out was unclear, but Ulik was certainly excellent at his job. 

Eirene didn’t find the empty restaurant strange. She was deeply absorbed in her thoughts, occasionally missing what Clive was saying.

“Why did you do it?”

Clive looked at Eirene’s hand.

“I told you. I was trying to cut my hair.”

“I’d be a fool to believe that. And if you really did cut yourself while trimming your hair, then you’d be the fool.”

Should she tell Clive about her returned Divine Power? She felt there was no reason or need to tell him, but on the other hand, with his higher education, he might know something useful. 

He wasn’t someone who would become dangerous if she revealed it. If Clive knew, it would likely bring more benefit than harm. 

Hoping for a better situation than her current state of knowing nothing on her own, Eirene slowly began to speak. Right after she finished her story, the food arrived. He suggested they eat first, saying nothing about Eirene’s Divine Power. 

He remained silent throughout the meal and even as they ate dessert, only speaking when Eirene had just one piece of dessert left.

“So, to conclude. You cut your hand with a knife to confirm whether your healing ability had returned?”

“Yes.”

Clive sighed deeply. He started to say something, then stopped and drummed his fingers on the table. After a long pause, he finally spoke:

“Don’t ever do that again.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t harm your body just to check.”

“Isn’t that my decision to make?”

Even though they had a relationship of mutual assistance, she disliked excessive interference. It wasn’t Clive’s place to be concerned. He sighed again, this time with a hint of laughter.

“It’s fortunate it healed well. If it had worsened or become infected, it would have hindered our work.”

“Ah, I hadn’t thought that far. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Clive shook his head.

“If something similar happens again, show it to a doctor immediately if anything seems off.”

“I will.”

“Promise me.”

Eirene reluctantly promised. Was a promise really necessary? 

She had thought he was kinder than he appeared, but it seemed he was thorough when it came to work. She liked that about him.

* * *

In the darkened bedroom, Aishe watched through the gap in the curtains as Clive stepped out of the carriage. After getting out first, he took Eirene’s hand as she followed. 

The two talked for quite a while, holding hands after exiting the carriage. They smiled at each other, and when Eirene shyly lowered her head, Clive brushed her hair aside and naturally held her chin. 

Then came a kiss. 

After sharing a gentle kiss, their hands remained clasped, slowly separating with apparent reluctance to part. Clive stayed in place until Eirene disappeared into the mansion. 

Aishe pulled the curtains forcefully after watching Clive leave. The curtain, frayed in places from her fingernails during her observation, fell to the floor. Her clenched fists trembled, and tears suddenly dropped. Glaring at the fallen curtain, Aishe stomped on it while screaming:

“I wish she would die soon! Die! Just die!”

Eirene was like the curtain under her feet. A being suited for the dark, damp basement. Like abandoned land trampled underfoot where not even a weed could grow. Gloomy and dismal, yet acting like she was truly the Grand Duke’s fiancée, ignorant of her place. 

Though Aishe knew Eirene was playing her role, she felt maddened whenever she saw her. Clive, who had met Aishe with her face covered, had never been so intimate with her. Even when he spoke kindly and acted considerately, he somehow maintained a distance. 

Yet that person had changed. Aishe had told Eirene to get close to him and engage in physical contact, but she had been confident. Confident that he wouldn’t fall for Eirene. She had also partly expected Clive might be able to tell them apart. 

While hoping not to be discovered, she had also wanted him to tell Eirene, “You’re not Aishe!” 

But he hadn’t recognized the difference at all and treated Eirene with more devotion than he had shown Aishe. Stupid Clive. So stupid. 

No, this was all Eirene’s fault. Clive was only treating her that way because he thought Eirene was Aishe. That wretched girl.

“When will you finally die!”

Aishe, crushing the curtain under her feet, burst into tears unable to contain her anger. Then suddenly she stopped crying and went outside. She couldn’t wait any longer. 

Waiting was one of the things she was worst at, and she had waited long enough. Aishe went to Count Phineas and demanded that Siaran be called immediately.

* * *

“I can’t do it.”

Aishe clenched her fists, her eyes showing she would accept no other answer. The Count and Countess tried to soothe their daughter, coax her, and even scold her, but she wouldn’t budge. 

Today, she wouldn’t listen even to the Countess, whose words she usually understood. Aishe was most angry at Siaran, who remained silent throughout the process.

“Siaran. Do it right now.”

“It’s difficult.”

“What’s difficult about it? You just need to do it! If you can’t, just say so. I’ll find another mage!”

“Would you really find another mage? Would there be a mage willing to accept and understand everything we’ve done so far? A mage who would agree to complete what remains to be done? Above all, could you find a mage who is capable?”

Siaran was right. Setting everything else aside, finding a “capable mage” was nearly impossible at this point.

“I understand your impatience as we approach the end, but don’t try to ruin things this way. This isn’t just your problem; it’s mine as well.”

Aishe’s tightly closed lips quivered. Insisting wouldn’t help. She couldn’t help feeling frustrated. For Siaran, it wasn’t just about money. 

This was also a matter of pride for him as a mage who had invested so much time and effort. After causing a commotion, Aishe calmed down and asked Siaran:

“Tell me roughly how much time is left. That might help me wait.”

“It’s difficult to say precisely. At most a year, at least three months.”

Her barely calmed heart flipped at hearing “a year.” 

Given the current relationship between Clive and Eirene, they could marry and even have a child in a year. Aishe felt her mind would snap and screamed:

“A year? Are you saying I have to watch them for a year? How can we know what they might do!”

The Count and Countess tried to restrain their daughter who had lost her composure, but she wouldn’t quiet down. 

Watching Aishe scream so loudly the room echoed, Siaran smiled strangely. It was a smile that made his face look distorted, breaking apart.

“Lady Aishe. Why are you so anxious? Whether it’s a year or ten years, it’s your body in the end.”