Episode 16. Aren’t You Going to Take It Off Quickly?

“Using magic during a natural disaster. Don’t you know that means losing your mage qualification?”

‘What’s this about now?’

Losing mage qualification?

Brienne, startled, stared intently at Hereis. But Hereis seemed intent on ignoring Zen’s words outright, saying nothing at all.

In the end, unable to hold back her curiosity, Brienne asked the same question.

“Losing qualification? Mages have such a rule?”

“Yes.”

“…Yes? Then that’s a big problem!”

“Well, I think it’s rather a good thing.”

Hereis smiled meaningfully. As Brienne pondered over the meaning of those words, she realized then that her hand was still firmly held by Hereis.

“Ah, when did this…”

However, when Brienne tried to pull her hand away, she could only stay still.

“Didn’t you call me a patient? I already knew from earlier that Lady Ford was quite a cold person, but I didn’t think you would be so heartless as to not even help a patient walk…”

“…Fine, I’ll help you.”

At those words, Zen, who had walked ahead of them, turned around and looked at Brienne. Having successfully caught her gaze, Zen grinned and rolled up his clothes.

On his well-built, dark-toned skin, a small wound was revealed.

“Miss, I’m a patient too. Blow here for me.”

Thanks to that, Brienne immediately squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Wow, what a shock… Is he really crazy?’

“Sir Zen! Please!”

Then Russel, who had been walking behind, rushed forward and grabbed Zen’s waist. Zen shouted something in protest, but none of it registered in Brienne’s ears.

She didn’t know who these people were, but one thing was certain. They were noisy. Incredibly so.

It was truly an exhausting return home.

***

After the commotion passed, Ford Castle quickly quieted down. Once the physician had tended to the major and minor wounds, those worn out from the long heavy rain fell one by one into a deep sleep.

“Wow, I’m so tired…”

After helping Hereis to the guest room, Brienne took a warm bath and then collapsed face down. Her whole body ached, her legs were numb, and standing any longer was impossible.

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

Kaiden’s engagement news. The visit from Young Duke Belif. The burnt engagement invitation. And the sudden date request.

‘…I haven’t had a moment to think properly about any of it.’

She had even dreamt of something from a book, gone off alone with Young Duke Belif to find her father.

If she hadn’t rested enough beforehand, she might not have returned safely, collapsing somewhere instead. Brienne sighed and fiddled with her still damp hair.

How long had it been since she got used to waterproof magic? Her wet hair felt strangely unfamiliar.

‘I always thought magic belonged to a completely different world from mine.’

Brienne recalled Hereis, who had removed that massive tree right in front of her eyes. Come to think of it, she still hadn’t given him a proper thank you for that. Nor had she apologized for causing trouble by tagging along.

From securing a carriage at Luman Square to returning to the castle, Brienne had focused solely on hurrying to get Hereis treated.

What would have happened if Hereis hadn’t been there? She wouldn’t have gone to rescue her father, and she would have been forced to wait helplessly at home. In the end, her father might have died.

The thought made her chest drop.

‘…Until now, I always thought I could do everything on my own. I didn’t realize how grateful it is to receive someone else’s help.’

After a moment’s thought, Brienne sat up abruptly and went to sit in front of the fireplace. She squeezed the remaining moisture from her hair and wrapped it in a towel to dry.

Just moments ago, she had felt like she might faint right away, but thinking about Hereis made her feel unsettled, unable to rest comfortably.

It was time to truly give her thanks.

***

“Is the treatment all finished? I would like to meet with Young Duke Belif.”

Having changed from her negligee into a simple indoor dress, Brienne waited in front of the guest room for the physician. The physician had just finished tending to everyone in the castle and was about to check on Hereis one last time.

“…Lady Ford? You want to see Young Duke Belif?”

“Ahem.”

Then Damon, who had been accompanying the physician on rounds despite his injured ankle, pulled him to the side of the corridor.

“Didn’t you say you had finished all possible treatment for the Young Duke? The prescriptions too?”

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

“Ointment and bandages… With just basic medical knowledge, that much can be done, right?”

“Well… yes? But why…”

A smile spread across Damon’s face as he looked at the physician. Turning his back deliberately to Brienne, he glanced sideways.

“Then you had best step away now. Say you are unwell. Quickly.”

“Pardon? What are you talking about…?”

The physician looked back and forth between Damon and Brienne in confusion. Damon gave a loud cough and nudged the physician with his elbow.

“Hurry and do it!”

“Why are you acting like this?”

Brienne furrowed her brows suspiciously and approached them. The marquis, glaring at the physician, shouted loudly as if not to be overheard.

“Oh my! So you are saying you have caught a highly ‘contagious’ cold?”

“Uh, what?”

“And a terrible cold at that, with stomach trouble! Going to the bathroom several times a day. How dreadful! And yet you whisper it because you’re embarrassed.”

“Marquis…?”

“If a person who heals the sick is ashamed of being sick themselves, what good is that! In any case, this is serious. It is unthinkable for a patient with such an illness to continue working as a physician, don’t you agree?”

A grim light shone in Damon’s eyes as he looked at the physician. Only then did the physician catch on, clutching his stomach hastily.

“Ah, yes! Yes, of course! Cough, oh, my stomach, cough, cough…”

Whether believable or not, he put on a desperate act. And there was not just one actor here, but two.

“Ah, goodness! My ankle still hasn’t healed, and now this is a problem! You said the Young Duke’s treatment was still unfinished, right?”

“Yes, co… cough, what to do? There’s no one to change his bandages, cough, cough…”

“Well, it can’t be helped! Brienne! You will have to assist the Young Duke.”

“…What?”

“This is exactly why you learned basic medicine.”

Brienne narrowed her eyes at the suspicious situation, but Damon wasted no time pushing her toward the door. The physician quickly placed a tray into her hands.

“Then I’ll be taking my leave!”

“I must head to my room as well!”

“Rest well! We’re counting on you, my lady!”

Watching her father and the physician hurry away far too quickly for sick men, Brienne adjusted her hold on the tray with a dazed expression.

***

“Lady Ford, what are you doing here…?”

Expecting the physician, Hereis opened the door and widened his eyes at the sight of her. Noticing his reaction, Brienne quickly spoke to explain it wasn’t her idea.

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

If she had known, she would have come later.

Seeing Hereis in only his nightshirt made Brienne want to leave immediately, but she forced herself to stay.

“…And how exactly did I look at you?” Hereis tilted his head slightly, a hint of mischief in his expression.

“Like… like you were looking at some pervert…”

Brienne stammered as she approached him. Outside, the rain had cleared as if it had never fallen, and sunlight streamed through the window onto the bed.

Hereis sat right below that light.

“Anyway! I came because I had something to say. And to pay you a visit while I was at it.”

“If it’s a visit, then what are you holding? Now I’m curious.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not a gift.”

Brienne shrugged and set the tray down on the bedside table. Hereis’s gaze narrowed when he saw the bandages on it.

“Are you running an errand for the physician?”

“No, it’s more like… I’m standing in for him. I’ll be quick and leave, so please cooperate.”

“…Cooperate? In what way?”

The playful look in Hereis’s eyes faltered slightly. After a moment to steady herself, Brienne glanced at his nightshirt.

“Take that… off.”

Then she turned and yanked the curtain closed. The dazzling silver hair vanished from the sunlight in an instant.

“…I think I misheard you. Could you repeat that?”

Hereis, sounding flustered, tried to deny her words. But with the physician truly gone, Brienne had no intention of backing down.

“You didn’t mishear. Take it off, quickly.”

“Lady Ford… perhaps you should reconsider.”

“Aren’t you going to take It off quickly?”

When Brienne turned back abruptly, her cheeks were flushed red.

The stifling heat made her want to leave the room as soon as possible. She had thought drawing the curtain might make it less awkward, but the blazing fireplace only illuminated the space more brightly, as if mocking her. The dim room tinged with red light only made the situation stranger.

‘Still, I can’t just skip the treatment.’

Opening the curtain again would seem even stranger. What to do? She wished they could both just get through this quickly.

“…Should I count to three?”

Her gaze landed on Hereis, who had grown uncharacteristically quiet. His long lashes trembled slightly over his face, which somehow looked forlorn.

It was a strangely pitiful sight.

“One, two, three…”

Counting slowly on purpose, Brienne sighed and finally stepped closer to the bed.

Raising her voice to hide her nervousness, she said, “I understand your feelings, Young Duke. Then I will take it off for you!”

With her eyes tightly shut, Brienne reached out toward Hereis’s nightshirt.