12 - I Healed the Male Lead's Trauma
Episode 12
3. The Second Male Lead Needs an Extra (1)
Anyway, Beled, was it? That person seems a bit odd too.
The more I learn about this family, the more I long to return to school.
I don't know what Prince Isidor was thinking, sending us here….
'To even have an apothecary, it's incredibly unsettling.'
Even though he couldn't possibly know my troubled thoughts, Beled finished packing his bag and stood up.
"It would be best to rest more today. You still look pale."
"I don't think it's that bad."
"It's always people like you who ignore the advice and don't listen, only to come back in worse condition."
But I know my own body best.
I was taken aback by his accurate assessment, but I tried to ignore it.
"So, please focus on recovering your strength first, and I'll visit again in two days."
He turned away, earnestly reminding me to take my medicine regularly after every meal.
He didn't forget to wave goodbye as he disappeared outside.
He's leaving surprisingly easily?
I thought he would bother me more or pry into things.
'If he just leaves, that's fine with me.'
And so, I was alone again.
"Phew, I almost got caught."
I finally coughed out the cough I had been holding back.
I thought I saw a handkerchief earlier, but I couldn't find it. I roughly wiped the liquid that had soaked my palm and saw it was covered in dark red bloodstains.
I didn't forget to rinse my mouth to get rid of the bitter taste that filled it.
'If Hiakin sees me coughing up blood, he'll grab Akteon by the collar for sure.'
As much as the two were enemies in the original story, I wanted to eliminate any possibility of their relationship worsening.
But still, it wasn't like we had any serious contact. I just held his hand and stabilized him, and I not only fainted but even coughed up blood.
I didn't realize so much energy would be drained.
"I should never do Guiding for Akteon again."
Of course, since I manifested as a Guide, Guiding is my bread and butter, but I should only volunteer when I can handle it at my level.
This is something I can't do twice.
I shook my head, thinking of Akteon's face.
Saving him is secondary; I feel like I'll kick the bucket first.
* * *
About a week had passed since I had been cooped up in my room, groaning and resting.
My exhausted body was finally starting to recover.
"The recovery was slower than expected, but now it should be okay for you to move around."
It seemed Beled had noticed I was hiding my internal injuries. He looked at me intently and said,
"Don't overdo it. If something like this happens again…."
"Happens?"
"Hiakin looked like he wouldn't let it go."
“…That’s a bit scary.”
I nodded awkwardly, and Beled gave me a few precautions before leaving to do his work.
Anyway, that means I can go out now, right?
He said it was okay to move around, but he probably didn't expect me to go out right away today.
I rang the call bell, and the maid assigned to me rushed in.
Was her name Anna? Or was it Hanna?
"Y-You called?"
"I'm going out for a bit. I'm staying here, so I should let someone know. Could you tell Blair that I'll be out of the mansion for the afternoon?"
Didn't she ignore me on my first day here?
Hanna, who was completely different from before, asked anxiously.
"Th-Then, when should I say you'll be returning?"
She probably thought I had gained the Duke's favor by saving Akteon.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't taken aback, but I don't want to bother arguing about it….
I have something else important to do right now.
"I'll be back before dinner."
She said she would tell Blair right away and hurried off.
However, my plan to quietly go out and come back alone was shattered.
This time, Hiakin came to my room.
"What, where are you going?"
Hiakin was taken aback when he found me neatly dressed.
"How long has it been since you recovered?"
"I've been lying down, sleeping, and eating for a week. I'm starting to want to get out of this stuffy house."
I'm an excellent introvert who can survive in one room for a week or a month, but I realized for the first time that Brondearne is a bit of an exception.
So, since I had something to do anyway, I needed a change of pace.
"I'm going out to take care of some personal matters and get some fresh air."
"If that's the case…."
Hiakin hesitated for a moment and then stopped me from leaving.
"Then I'll go too. I haven't even properly seen District 1."
Hmm… would that be okay?
I hesitated for a moment since I had things to do, but I quickly stopped.
'Well, wouldn't it be okay?'
He had been oppressed and living in Lorraine, so he probably didn't have time to comfortably walk around outside.
Above all, it was the first time I had gone out with Hiakin since entering the academy.
"Then shall we go together for the first time in a while?"
I smiled playfully and held out my hand.
His stubborn expression, which looked like he would follow me even if I refused, softened.
"It's been a while since I went out with you, Sis."
As we left the room and headed towards the front of the mansion.
Ahem, he cleared his throat, trying to hide his happy expression.
Seeing that, my heart ached, and the already resolved matter came to mind again.
'If I had known he was having such a hard time, I would have brought him sooner.'
The things Hiakin went through in the original story also flashed through my mind, making me feel complicated.
'No. I'm going to change that future, so it's okay.'
Hiakin, who was holding my hand, gave a rare gentle smile. I was about to smile back, liking the sight.
"It would be better to request the carriage a little later."
Akteon's voice cut in.
It was so natural that Hiakin didn't notice anything strange until he belatedly turned to look at him.
"Akteon?"
When did he get here?
Akteon was wearing his usual casual attire, with just a long coat over his shirt.
When his eyes met my questioning gaze, he greeted me with a bright smile.
As expected, the story of the fox who fell into the water and followed the person who saved him came to mind.
'It's not just a fox, there's a cat too, so it's a problem.'
Hiakin, who thought his rare harmonious atmosphere had been broken, was wary of Akteon like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"I don't need your help. Don't even think about sneaking in."
"It's better for me to join now. I'll say it again, I recommend requesting the carriage a little later."
I know that Akteon and Hiakin don't have a good relationship.
'The reason is obvious.'
I can imagine how terrible their relationship was while I was unconscious for two days.
Hiakin, who is sensitive and cautious, and Akteon, who is skilled at hiding his true feelings and doesn't give anyone other than his own people an opening.
Since both of them are far from having good personalities, it's more difficult not to clash.
'If you want to be precise, it seems like Hiakin unilaterally dislikes him, but whatever.'
Anyway, Akteon, who had been watching my condition for the past week while being careful not to be too bothersome, was stopping me to this extent.
"Someone else is going out besides us."
"Yes, that's right."
Akteon, who answered obediently, pointed to his sleeve, saying it was wrinkled.
"Someone who hates you two the most."
"Ah, Kashiel."
Where is it wrinkled?
As I was looking at his sleeve, he straightened the buttoned part for me.
I could feel Hiakin's piercing gaze, but it seemed unusually severe this time, so I ignored it.
'More than that, Kashiel.'
Asking a servant to prepare the carriage would be easy, but if we, who are disliked, send someone.
'We would have to prepare two carriages at the same time, so Kashiel's servant would also know.'
Since the first day I came to Brondearne, I had been avoiding walking around the mansion as much as possible to avoid running into Kashiel.
The Duke seemed to have a favorable impression of me because I saved Akteon, who was expected to have a high rank, and the Duchess just seemed to be continuing her role here, so it didn't matter.
'I can't predict Kashiel at all. He doesn't seem like the type to change his attitude on a whim because of Akteon's affairs, which have nothing to do with him.'
So, I had been avoiding even meal times as much as possible.
And now I'm running into him?
'I don't know what will happen.'
But I don't really want to know why Kashiel hates us.
'It's best to just avoid things like this rather than find out the reason.'
I don't have the luxury to worry about Kashiel.
'Would it have been different if it was Milia?'
Well, Milia would have moved Kashiel as in the original story.
'I don't have a reason to do that.'
So, I persuaded Hiakin as Akteon said.
"It's not like we have a set time, so it's okay to go out a little later."
You don't want to run into Kashiel either.
When I sent him that look, Hiakin thought for a moment and reluctantly nodded.
"That's, that's true."
"My brother doesn't seem to be in a good mood today either."
Then we should avoid him even more.
It's not that I'm afraid of shit, I'm avoiding it because it's dirty.
But as Kashiel's carriage left the main gate in the distance, a strange sense of unease rang in my head.
It was as if it was mocking me, saying, "Do you really think things will go your way just because you try?"
And this premonition was correct.
I definitely thought I had avoided almost all contact that could involve Kashiel.
* * *
“…Y-You, why are you here?”
…I ran into him, damn it.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Brother.”
“It’s not strange for a student to come to pray.”
Especially with two of the most awkward people in tow.
