Chapter 2.6

After the commotion had passed, Manor Ford quickly became quiet. Once the doctor had treated the major and minor wounds, those exhausted by the long rain soon fell into a deep sleep one by one.

“Wow, I’m so tired…”

After helping Herace to the guest room, Brienne took a warm bath and collapsed onto her bed. Her whole body ached, and her legs were so numb that standing any longer was impossible.

Just how many things had happened in the past few days?

Kaiden’s engagement news. The visit of Young Master Belif. The burned engagement invitations. And the sudden date proposal.

‘…There wasn’t even a moment to think about any of it properly.’

Suddenly, she was dreaming about things she’d read in books, and then she set off alone with Young Master Belif to find her father.  

If she hadn’t slept for a long time before that, she might not have returned safely—she might have collapsed somewhere. Brienne sighed and fiddled with her still damp hair.  

She wondered how long it had been since she’d gotten used to waterproof magic. Somehow, having wet hair felt strangely unfamiliar.  

‘Magic always seemed like something from a completely different world.’  

Brienne recalled Herace, who had cleared away the enormous tree right before her eyes. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t even properly thanked him for that. Nor had she apologized for causing trouble by following along.  

From getting a carriage at Luman Square to coming to the manor. Brienne had been focused only on hurrying, thinking Herace needed to get treatment.  

If Herace hadn’t been there, what would have happened? She wouldn’t have gone to rescue her father, and would have just waited helplessly at home. In the end, her father might have died.  

The thought made her heart sink.  

‘…Until now, I always thought I could do everything on my own. I never realized how grateful I’d be to receive someone else’s help.’  

After a moment’s thought, Brienne abruptly sat up and went to sit in front of the fireplace. She wrung out the water from her still-wet hair and wrapped it in a towel to dry.  

Just a moment ago, she’d felt like she would pass out, but thinking about Herace, she somehow felt restless and couldn’t rest comfortably.  

Now, it was really time to say thank you.

* * *

“Is the treatment all finished? I’d like to see Young Master Belif.”  

Brienne, who had changed from her negligee into a simple indoor dress, waited for the doctor in front of the guest room.  

The doctor had just finished treating everyone in the manor and was about to check on Herace one last time.  

“…Miss Ford? You want to see Young Master Belif?”  

“Ahem!”  

At that, Damon, who had accompanied the doctor on rounds with his injured ankle, pulled him to one side of the hallway.  

“Haven’t you already done all you can for Young Master Belif? And prescribed medicine too?”  

“Yes, that’s true, but… Right now, I just need to apply ointment and change the bandages. Earlier, I only disinfected and stopped the bleeding.”  

“Ointment and bandages… Even someone with basic medical knowledge could handle that, right?”  

“I… suppose so? But why…”  

A smile appeared on Damon’s face as he looked at the doctor. He deliberately turned his back to Brienne and glanced over his shoulder.  

“In that case, you should step aside now. Just say you’re not feeling well. Quickly!”  

“Uh, what? I don’t quite understand…”  

The doctor looked back and forth between Damon and Brienne, flustered. Damon gave a loud cough and nudged the doctor with his elbow.  

“Hurry up, will you!”  

“What’s going on?”  

Brienne, narrowing her brow suspiciously, approached them. The Marquis glared once at the doctor and then shouted loudly, pretending not to hear her.  

“Oh dear! So, you’re saying you’ve caught a highly ‘contagious’ cold, is that it?”  

“Uh, yes?”  

“And it comes with a terrible stomachache! You have to run to the bathroom several times a day—what a hardship. But why are you whispering about it as if it’s embarrassing?”  

“Marquis…?”  

“A healer shouldn’t be ashamed of being sick! Anyway, it’s a big deal. Someone with such a serious illness shouldn’t be working as a doctor, right?”  

A sinister glint appeared in Damon’s eyes as he looked at the doctor. Only then did the doctor realize Damon’s intent, and he quickly clutched his stomach.  

“Ah, yes! That’s right! Cough, oh, my stomach, cough, ugh…”  

It would have been nice if just one of them were acting. The doctor, not knowing what to do, put on a show in both directions.  

But it didn’t end there—there were two actors.  

“Oh, oh no! My ankle isn’t fully healed either, this is a problem! Didn’t you say Young Master Belif still needs treatment?”  

“Yes, c-cough, what should we do? There’s no one to change Young Master Belif’s bandages, cough, cough…”  

“Agh, it can’t be helped! Brienne! You’ll have to help Young Master Belif.”  

“…What?”  

“Come on, this is why you learned basic medicine, isn’t it?”  

Everything about the situation seemed suspicious, and Brienne’s eyes narrowed. But Damon didn’t hesitate and pushed Brienne toward the door.  

The doctor quickly placed a tray in her hands.  

“Well, I’ll take my leave now!”  

“I’d better get to my room too!”  

“Rest well! I’m counting on you, Miss!”  

Watching her father and the doctor run off without looking sick at all, Brienne gripped the tray in stunned silence.

* * *

“Miss Ford, what brings you here…”  

Herace, who had expected the doctor, opened the door and was surprised to see who entered. Noticing his reaction, Brienne quickly spoke up to explain it wasn’t her idea.  

“Don’t look at me like that. I have my reasons too.”  

If she’d known, she would have come later.  

Seeing Herace in just a nightgown, Brienne desperately suppressed her urge to leave immediately.  

“…How am I looking at you?”  

Herace tilted his head slightly, a hint of mischief on his face.  

“L-like I’m some kind of pervert…”  

Brienne stammered as she approached him. At some point, the rain had stopped as if it were a lie, and the sky was bright. Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling across the bed.  

Right below that, Herace was sitting.  

“A-anyway! I have something to say. And I thought I’d check on you while I was at it.”  

“If you’re just visiting, what’s that you’re carrying? I’m curious.”  

“Sorry, but it’s not a gift.”  

Brienne shrugged and set the tray down on the side table. Herace’s gaze narrowed as he spotted the bandages on it.  

“Are you running an errand for the doctor?”  

“No, not exactly… I’m standing in for the doctor. I’ll be quick, so please cooperate.”  

“…Cooperate? With what?”  

The playful smile never left Herace’s face, but his eyes flickered slightly. After a moment’s pause, Brienne gestured toward his nightgown.  

“That… please take it off.”  

Then she quickly turned away and yanked the curtain shut. In an instant, the dazzling silver hair was hidden from the sunlight.  

“…I think I misheard you. Could you say that again?”  

Herace, flustered, tried to deny her words. But with the doctor really gone, Brienne couldn’t back down.  

“You didn’t mishear. Hurry up and take it off.”  

“Miss Ford… Maybe you should reconsider.”  

“Aren’t you going to take it off?”  

When Brienne spun around, her cheeks were flushed red.  

Her body had felt hot and feverish for a while now, and she just wanted to get out of this room. She’d thought drawing the curtain would make things less awkward, but the blazing fireplace just lit up the room even more, mocking her.  

It was enough to drive her mad. With only the red glow in the dim room, the situation looked even stranger.  

‘But I can’t just skip the treatment.’  

Opening the curtain again would feel even weirder. What should I do? 

She just wished they could both get through this embarrassment quickly…  

“…Should I count to three?”  

Brienne’s gaze, wandering around the room, landed on Herace. For some reason, Herace’s face, now quiet, was beautifully framed by trembling eyelashes.  

It was a truly pitiful sight.  

“One, two, three…”  

Brienne deliberately counted slowly, then sighed and finally approached the bed. She raised her voice on purpose to hide her nervousness.  

“I understand, Young Master. Then I’ll just do it myself!”  

With her eyes squeezed shut, Brienne reached out for Herace’s nightgown.