Chapter 94

My hand, which had fallen limply from Ramande’s arm, was caught and held by him as if to receive it.

“I thought about it too. About why I couldn’t bring myself to kick that monstrous creature out of your room that first time.”

“Why… couldn’t you?”

I asked hesitantly—it was something I’d been curious about myself.

Had Esadien begged him? Or had he regretted suggesting we break off the engagement when I was at my lowest?

I’d considered many possibilities, but none seemed like the definitive reason.

And just as expected, the answer that spilled from Ramande’s lips was something I’d never imagined.

“I didn’t have the courage to be hated by you.”

“What? Hated?”

“I always go along with what you want, don’t I?”

For a moment, I almost snapped back with, “What, you?” but barely managed to hold it in, remembering the serious mood.

Whether he let it go or truly didn’t notice, Ramande continued speaking calmly.

“Because I wanted to be helpful to you. From when we were young until now, I’ve always had one role—helping you recover.”

I wanted to protest and tell him he meant so much more to me than that, but Ramande silenced me with just a look.

“But now you’ve formed a contract with a spirit and regained your health. I’ve outlived my usefulness. So…”

“Ramande!”

I couldn’t bear to hear the rest—I already knew what he was about to say.

I never expected him to say he’d leave so suddenly.

“I… I…”

“Minuelle?”

Ramande gripped my trembling hands tightly, but it did little to calm me.

You said you never planned to stay here as my personal healer. Hypocrite.

My conscience whispered, tightening around my throat.

But if not for this reason, Ramande would no longer stay here.

They say true friends can care for each other from afar, and that even if you meet again after ten years, it’s like no time has passed. But I couldn’t be sure we’d be like that.

“I’m not completely healed. Gabbie said… I only have five years left.”

I was relying on Ramande far more than I had realized—on the person who had watched over the ten years I’d spent in this world.

At this moment, I felt that fact with painful clarity.

‘Making up really is a good feeling.’

As I drank tea with Ramande, as if we’d never been on awkward terms, the thought came naturally.

Still, amidst the comfort, anxiety would suddenly bubble up inside me.

I abruptly put my teacup down and sighed deeply.

“I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy.”

“About what? Are you dizzy or something?”

Since learning about my shortened lifespan, Ramande’s attitude had changed completely—like night and day.

“Should you be resting? Want to go lie down?”

Watching him act like I was a delicate glass sculpture, I felt a mix of regret for bringing it up and unease that my sisters might start getting suspicious.

“Act normal. I’m not dying right now.”

I clenched my teeth and whispered, lowering my voice as much as possible in case anyone overheard.

“…?”

But Ramande didn’t respond. When I looked at him, he was making a very strange expression.

He was biting his lower lip harshly and trembling slightly—his purple eyes quivering. It almost looked like he was holding back tears, but I wasn’t fooled.

“…Why are you laughing?”

“Pfft—hahahaha!”

At last, Ramande burst into loud laughter, clutching his stomach. He laughed so hard that even the servants walking below the terrace looked up in alarm.

“Ah… I had to try so hard not to laugh every time you looked at me all weird and confused.”

“What?!”

So all that pampering like I was royalty—was just a joke?!

As I stood there, shocked, he added insult to injury.

“Minuelle Karnian, you idiot.”

“What?”

I kept repeating, “What?” until I really did feel like an idiot.

But Ramande’s expression was serious, so I knew he wasn’t joking anymore.

‘Ugh, now I just feel even more annoyed.’

But this wasn’t the time to get mad.

Ramande had been paying even closer attention to my condition than I had.

“After you said that, I went to ask Gabbie right away. He said that because your strength has increased, your remaining lifespan has too. And if Gabbie fully recovers, you’ll be able to live as long as any normal person.”

“Ah… really?”

I never imagined my lifespan and the spirit’s power were directly related.

I’d suffered for so long that I couldn’t imagine that same power might actually save me.

Ramande, unable to hide his exasperation, scolded me outright.

“‘Ah, really?’ That’s all you have to say? How do you not know your own condition, you idiot.”

“Stop calling me an idiot!”

“Why, does it offend the idiot?”

That’s it! I can’t take this anymore!

“Ramaaaaaaande Plendenaaa!”

I’ll stretch that skinny cheek of yours like hot dough!

With that determination, I jumped up and reached for his face—

Smack!

A sharp, clean sound echoed from my forehead. A brief sting, and then soothing divine energy flowed through me.

Classic “hurt and heal.”

“…Ugh, you never let me win, even once.”

Rubbing my forehead, I grumbled. Ramande, back to his usual old-man self, just grinned.

“But what are you so anxious about?”

His ability to change the subject so smoothly was almost impressive.

Feeling like I was constantly losing to him, I replied grumpily.

“I was just wondering if Elga and Mom are overdue to arrive.”

“Don’t worry. They didn’t set a specific date to begin with.”

“They didn’t…”

But still, I had a feeling.

Mother said she would stabilize the duchy quickly and come as soon as she could—and I, trusting her word completely, had expected it to be wrapped up quickly.

“I thought, no matter how late, they’d be done by last week…”

It was later than expected, but I couldn’t refute Ramande too strongly.

If anything serious had happened, surely someone—whether person or through magic communication—would have contacted us.

“But I can’t just pester Juela every day, especially when she’s busy…”

Just as Ramande said, I’d have to stay calm and wait.

Mother and my sisters were strong—there was no need to worry.

I tried to steady my heart and face the evening.

Now that I’d made up with Ramande, I was getting ready to finally face Esadien.

“He’s saved me so many times… and I just kept avoiding him.”

A moment of deep self-reflection.

Looking back on all the events so far, the number of times Esadien had gotten hurt or made sacrifices for me far outweighed anything I’d done for him.

“He even transformed so suddenly just to save me.”

And yet, how did I treat someone like that?

“Even this very moment, just being near you is awful. Let’s break off the engagement!”

“I don’t feel anything at all.”

“Uwaaaah!”

This embarrassment wasn’t going to fade until the sheets were shredded.

I hadn’t even been drunk—how could I say those things?

As I was clutching my head in anguish, a sudden knock came, more urgent than usual.

It was Clidane, calling for me.

“My lady, the head merchant asks that you come downstairs.”

My sister was calling me—and for them to speak that urgently?

The heat in my face quickly drained away.

I hurried to straighten my disheveled hair and headed down to the entrance hall, where a familiar face was waiting—it was my mother’s aide.

“Sir!”

“My lady, it’s good to see you again.”

I ran down the last steps, and he greeted me with a smile—but I could see a shadow behind that smile, and the ominous feeling only grew stronger.

Still, I forced myself to stay cheerful.

“So the subjugation is nearly finished? Is that why you arrived first?”

“…Ladies.”

Juela quietly came to my side and held my hand.

The aide looked between us, his face bitter.

“Her Grace will not be coming.”

“Ah…”

The moment he said that, my sister’s face turned pale, and she staggered.

I instinctively caught her. All I could do was stand there in a daze.

My stunned brain took what felt like minutes—though it was only seconds—to begin working again.

“She’s not dead. No—she can’t be dead.”

If something had happened to either of our parents, or to Elga, this would not be how we were informed.

Juela, clearly having come to the same conclusion, took a deep breath and straightened up.

“You must be tired from the long journey, but I know you understand our feelings. Please, tell us what has happened.”

“I’m fine. Thanks to the young lady, I was able to use the magic gate.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“Sis, at least sit down while we talk.”

“Ah… yes. Let’s.”

Even that short walk to the parlor felt as long as a journey to the imperial capital.

Dinner was to be sent to the aide’s room later, so only a cup of honey tea with dried flowers floated in it was placed on the tea table.

I didn’t like sweet things and only took a few sips, but the aide, who considered honey precious as a northerner, enjoyed it thoroughly.

But even the sweetness of the tea couldn’t soften the weight of his next words.

“The monster invasions haven’t stopped.”

“They’re lasting longer than usual?”

“That’s one way to put it. But usually, they’d retreat after gathering enough food in a few waves. This time…”

Since monsters couldn’t speak with humans, this was something northern people had learned over time.

In winter, they came down for food to last through spring.

They weren’t mindless—they would retreat once they’d gathered enough, minimizing their own losses.

The aide continued.

“This time, there’s no end in sight. It’s as if… they’ve even brought out their non-combatants to fight.”

The yearly monster waves were like the rainy season or typhoons for northerners—a cycle that had repeated for decades, even centuries. They came, and they went.

But now, that pattern has changed. So what was different?

Thinking hard, one thing came to mind.

“…Could it be because of me? Because the spirit stone isn’t in place?”

But the aide furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“I don’t think so. This may sound strange, but…”

He trailed off, and Juela pressed him.

“We trust you. Please, go on.”

“The monsters… they seemed like they were running away from something. That’s how it felt on the ground.”