Volume 6, Chapter 31 – Scars

“Eh…? A… god… dess? Where… am I?”

Marie-san stared at me with a vacant expression. But what did she mean by “goddess”?

Hm? Ah, I see. The sun’s behind me, so I literally have a halo.

“Hello. Your name is Marie-san, right?”

“Y-yes.”

Marie-san answered, looking terribly timid.

“Nice to meet you. I am Fiene Argentata. This is the field hospital of the White Moon Kingdom’s Second Royal Knight Order. You were attacked by an Ogre in the forest, so you were treated and transported here.”

Marie-san looked around the room, and as if she’d finally understood where she was, she apologized for some reason, saying, “I’m sorry.”

Since I had no idea why she was apologizing, I introduced Alois-san, who had carried her here, just to keep the conversation going.

“Ah, the knight who brought you here is Alois-san over there.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Marie. I am Alois Baldiribia, a knight of the Second Knight Order.”

Marie-san stole a glance at Alois-san. A flush crept across her cheeks, and she hurriedly hid her face, pulling the blanket over her head.

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“I-I’m sorry. To show someone like me such a filthy face… I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Marie-san’s muffled voice drifted from beneath the blanket.

“Lady Marie, that simply isn’t true. You are very beautiful. Your eyes, your beautiful flaxen hair, and your radiant skin… I truly think you are beautiful.”

Whoa. Alois-san just started flirting with Marie-san like it was the most natural thing in the world!

“Hie! Ah, someone like me… I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

“No, I truly mean it, Lady Marie. You must have suffered until now, but from this day forward, I shall support you.”

Whoa, isn’t that basically a proposal?

Isn’t that a bit too sudden?

As I wondered, Chris-san noticed my expression and explained in a low voice.

“Fiene-sama, knights are originally meant to be like him. The knights of our kingdom offer their swords to the King, and prove their loyalty by aiding and giving to the weak. It simply means he still has room to take another person under his protection.”

Then, Chris-san added with a hint of sadness, “Though these days, there are very few knights who actually do such things.”

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I-I see…? It sounded exactly like a proposal to me, but that’s not what it meant?

“Since it would be difficult for Fiene-sama to remain in this town to support Marie-san, it would be best to leave her in the care of Alois-dono. Besides, even if Alois-dono intended to treat Marie-san as a concubine or a servant, it would still be far better than her current unstable situation.”

Right. She certainly hadn’t looked like she’d ever been treated properly.

Still, we won’t get anywhere unless she comes out from under that blanket first.

“Marie-san?”

“Hie!”

She seemed frightened even by my voice and refused to emerge.

“Lady Marie, the Saint-sama is calling you.”

“Eh? …Saint…? Fiene… sama?”

The lump of blanket stopped moving for a moment. Then, she began apologizing again.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. But I cannot show such an ugly face! And my leg… it got… eaten… nooooooo!”

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Marie-san panicked and let out a scream.

“Calm.”

So she wouldn’t hurt herself thrashing about, I used Calming Magic to settle her down.

“A-ah, I… um, well… I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright. Also, your left leg has grown back properly, and I’ve treated all the injuries and scars beautifully, so please rest easy.”

“…Eh?”

I gently placed my hand on Marie-san’s motionless left leg.

“M-my leg…”

“And look, your real face is very beautiful, Marie-san. So please, come out from the blanket.”

When I said that, Marie-san hesitantly peeked out. I held up the precious hand mirror I had received from Char and showed her reflection.

“Eh? This is… me…?”

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After delivering what felt like the most cliché line imaginable, Marie-san stared blankly at the mirror.

“Yes. As you can see, all your wounds have been healed. So there’s no need to keep putting yourself down like that anymore.”

“S-Saint-sama!”

With that, great tears began streaming down Marie-san’s face.

“Now, Saint-sama. It is about time.”

Dr. Melveik called out to me. It seemed it was time for the knights to return from the forest.

“Well then, Marie-san. I have to treat other patients, so I’ll take my leave for today.”

And so, I left Marie-san’s room.

From inside the room, I could faintly hear Marie-san sobbing, along with Alois-san’s gentle voice trying to comfort her.