Chapter 8

「Hmm… Then we’ll have to monitor the progress steadily, for quite a long time. Even at the shortest, until next March! If the treatment doesn’t work, we’ll reschedule then.」

“…I see.”

Listening to the conversation between Ian and White Bunny, Elcia unconsciously felt relieved. If it ended by November, as he had said, she might have had to leave Usley Castle. But since Ian showed determination to be able to wield his sword again, she could stay by his side longer. She was shocked at herself for thinking this.

‘What am I thinking? I told myself I’d only see the Count as a patient, and now I’m letting my thoughts run wild again. That’s too much.’

“Elcia?”

“Yes, yes?”

Elcia was startled when her name was suddenly called and looked at him. Ian’s eyes seemed a little subdued as he spoke unexpected words.

“…Thank you.”

“Pardon?”

“Thank you for coming to treat my hand. Even though you must have been shocked by someone as hopeless as me, you didn’t run away and stayed until the end… Thank you.”

“Count, I…!”

He gave a smile that swallowed his pain.

“I’ll be counting on you until next spring. I’ll start reinforcing the inner walls so you won’t be cold in winter, so if things get noisy during the day, please bear with it for a while. Is that alright? I’ll tell the butler to give you earplugs.”

He was a man who had once firmly rejected her, telling her to go away.

Her sincere efforts had paid off!

Ian, who had opened his heart just a little, was warmer than she’d expected.

Elcia was touched by his unexpected kindness, but couldn’t cry in front of her patient, so she sniffled quietly, while Ian simply watched her emotional reaction. Then, White Bunny, who had returned to Elcia’s arms, muttered softly.

「What’s this? The rabbit does all the healing, but Elcia gets all the thanks? Hmph.」

As the adorable bunny doll grumbled to herself, Haden smiled fresh as a leaf. Behind Haden, a faint aura of holy power swirled and quickly vanished.

Four days later, Ian successfully underwent the procedure to remove the bone fragments. White Bunny, being specialized in healing, demonstrated an amazing ability to pinpoint inflammation or bone fragments without even looking directly. Each time she poked Ian’s hand and palm with a blunt pin, bone debris popped out through the spot.

Since talking was forbidden during surgery, Ian kept his lips tightly shut, though his eyes showed curiosity. The soft coral color of his lips always matched his pale face beautifully. Could a man’s lips really be so beautiful? Elcia watched the treatment with dreamy eyes, then shook her head.

‘What am I doing… I’m crazy, crazy, Elcia. I should slap my own cheeks when I’m alone.’

But now she had to admit her feelings. She knew all too well that she couldn’t turn back from the start of a hopeless, impossible love.

Even if she could never approach the immortal lover who lived in his heart,

Elcia Bennett, out of her depth, loved Ian Kypris…

Would Ian, who stole Elcia’s heart in an instant, ever understand how she felt?

Elcia wanted to hold his hand privately, but was more afraid than anything of having her feelings discovered.

Her love was so fragile, with a soft shell.

If Ian ever touched it, it would be exposed at once.

When the first treatment ended, White Bunny fitted a light brace on Ian’s hand and gave instructions.

「For the next two days, don’t use your right hand at all. If you need to use your hand, ask someone else for help. We’ll start the bone-setting treatment after that.」

“Understood. Thank you for treating me, Rabbit Doll. Rest well.”

「Hmph!」

Having finally received praise after showing her skill, White Bunny smiled and leapt into Elcia’s arms. Holding the hard-working doll, Elcia looked at Ian with sympathy.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

「What, you don’t trust me? I gave a light anesthetic and removed all the inflammation, so why would it hurt?」

“I’m fine. It’s nothing. Um… More importantly, Elcia?”

Even as White Bunny protested, Ian gazed quietly at Elcia. Was he finally going to tell her to leave once the treatment was over? She felt anxious and replied with an unintentionally trembling voice.

“Yes?”

“How is His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Ah…”

Elcia’s expression darkened at the mention of Conrad. Her attitude was completely different from when she’d used his name to recommend treatment earlier.

Ian sighed and spoke softly.

“It’s alright. I swore to serve him as my only lord, but I couldn’t keep that vow, so I deserve any criticism. No doubt, many have pointed fingers at me around His Highness. Yet, His Highness sent you to me, even for someone as useless as myself.”

“No! Who would ever point fingers at you, Ian… I mean, Count?”

Elcia tried to stop him from being so self-deprecating, but Ian’s eyes wandered to the distant past.

“When I was driven out and abandoned in this old castle, things weren’t good. Even those who used to like me must have turned away by now. Rather… Those who subtly defend me now are just pretending to be sympathetic. They think there’s no way I’ll ever return to His Highness’s side.”

“Count…”

Ian carefully rested his treated right arm on the table and gave a lonely smile.

“It’s alright, Elcia. I know exactly what crime I committed, so I’m not trying to avoid it. Don’t be afraid, just tell me what you know.”

“Alright.”

Elcia hadn’t spent much time with Conrad, but the Crown Prince was, surprisingly, the number one in kindness among everyone she’d met. So all her memories with Conrad were vivid.

Ian listened to Elcia recount her not-so-long encounter with Conrad, lost in thought. Seeing his melancholy gaze, Elcia fell for him once again.

Even though his bandaged hand made her feel sorry for him, his handsome face and troubled expression only made her foolish love grow stronger. She forgot all her previous resolve and just stared at Ian, dazed.

After a while, Ian spoke.

“I see.”

“Did my story help you?”

“…I want to ask one more thing. Have you ever met Nersian?”

“Ah…”

Elcia flinched. Though she’d talked about the portrait with Seiran, she’d promised herself never to mention sensitive topics in front of Ian. She hadn’t even uttered Kayla’s name or the word Saint. If she started talking about Nersian, the current Tyr Church Holy Knight Order Commander, could Ian handle it?

No matter how gently she put it, it seemed it would only upset Ian. Nersian had taken over the position and seized control after Ian was forced out.

Moreover, Nersian had once shown Elcia a strange interest. When she said she was returning to the imperial city from the temple, his persistent gaze made her uncomfortable, and she didn’t want to recall it.

As her gaze drifted to Ian’s braced hand, he spoke calmly.

“It’s alright, Elcia. Just because my hand heals doesn’t mean I want to return as Holy Knight Order Commander, or that I hold a grudge against Nersian for taking my place. I just want to know what’s changed in the capital or the church while I’ve been gone. Seiran, who sometimes visits the capital, might know more… But I’m too ashamed to ask him.”

Elcia bravely spoke only of things widely known in the capital, leaving out personal encounters.

“Nersian became Holy Knight Order Commander not long after you were dismissed. There was a lot of debate, with both support and opposition. Many people inside and outside the temple missed you and wanted to wait a little longer…”

“…”

Hearing about people who’d waited for him for so long, an undeniable loneliness flickered in Ian’s eyes. He was, after all, only human.

“Now, there aren’t many strong opinions about Nersian. At least not in the capital—I’m not sure about the temple.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ian gave a cool assessment, just as he’d said.

“Then please rest now, Count. If you feel any pain, even in the middle of the night or at dawn, please call me right away, and you can take the standby anti-inflammatory medicine too.”

As Elcia stood up, holding White Bunny, his gaze followed her.

“Shall I escort you?”

“Wha—no! Ian… I mean, Count, you should rest! You just had surgery, and you shouldn’t get up just to see me off. Please have Haden or someone else stand by nearby, just in case.”

Elcia panicked and rambled, and Ian smiled gently.

“I see. Elcia, if you want to call me Ian, go ahead.”

“Pardon?”

“As payment for healing my hand, that much is fine. Anyway… Here, it’s a name no one else will call, so use it as much as you like. Unless you dislike it?”

“…I’ll head back now.”

Elcia bowed her head and avoided answering, saying goodbye as she left. Ian didn’t say anything as he watched her turn away in a hurry, his gaze filled with a long-familiar emptiness.

On her way back, Elcia’s heart pounded so wildly she could barely breathe. Why? Why did Ian keep showing her such excessive kindness, even though he didn’t seem interested in her as a woman? On the day of surgery, he wanted to escort her to her bedroom again? Told her she could call him by name?

Was he treating her specially, just for her?

Why, why?

‘Maybe…

No, don’t be foolish. Don’t get your hopes up!

You’re not a noble enough woman to replace the Saint!’

Elcia rushed back to her bedroom and threw herself onto the bed. Her fluttering heart still hadn’t calmed down. White Bunny, still not unsummoned, perked up her mouth.

「Silly Elcia, you really do like that man.」

“Bunny…! Quiet! What if someone hears you?”

Elcia, startled by the sudden comment, pressed her finger to her lips while lying down. She didn’t even try to deny it. Sensing her master’s feelings, White Bunny walked over and placed her tiny paw on Elcia’s forehead, continuing,

「You’re such a fool that you can’t even express your own feelings, so I said it for you. I won’t tell anyone else, since I’m just like you.」

* * *

About a month and ten days after Elcia left Usley Castle,

Nersian, Commander of the Tyr Church Holy Knight Order, requested an audience with the Crown Prince.

Conrad sat on the spacious throne, looking down at him arrogantly. It was a strange scene: the Crown Prince, not the Emperor, was occupying the throne, yet no one objected.

This was because the Emperor, though still vigorous and middle-aged, had lost interest in politics and temporarily stepped back from the front. Currently, the Crown Prince was the de facto Emperor, and everyone accepted it. The only issue was that Conrad, the Emperor’s eldest son, hadn’t quickly proceeded with his engagement, causing some gossip.

Nersian, overwhelmed by Conrad’s imposing presence, bowed even lower and greeted him.

“I greet the great His Highness the Crown Prince.”