Chapter 59
“This is just a weak power, so this is all I can do.”
“I see… You wanted to become a healer.”
“Yes, hehe.”
“I saved you so you could do exactly that.”
“Huh? You knew I had the power of healing?”
“That’s not what I meant. You’re free now. You can go anywhere, meet anyone. If you want to become a healer, you can. Or you could become someone else amazing.”
“Milady…!”
“You could have gone far away, lived happily, and maybe someday we’d meet again and become friends. I never imagined you would come to our house. But seeing the version of you I could save, that’s the future I pictured.”
Io was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.
Encouraged by the mood, I decided to say something dramatic.
“You know, Ignitus protects those who wish to be protected. I’m still young and don’t have many skills, so I can’t defend the country like Lord Gaju can.”
Finishing my sentence, I jumped onto a guest folding chair nearby.
“But I can protect the future of a poor little girl. That’s what I wanted.”
However, because I was still small, I failed to land properly on the chair and fell straight to the floor.
“…Io, could you lift me up a bit?”
In the end, I had to ask Io for help in a rather undignified way.
Io heaved and struggled with all her strength to lift me.
“Huh, hhhmm.”
Sitting on the chair, I tried to act nonchalant.
‘If only I were a little taller, it would’ve been really cool…’
But Io didn’t seem to care about that at all.
“You’re the first amazing person I’ve ever met, milady!”
She was already looking at me like a mother bird. Her sparkling gaze followed my every move.
That look didn’t change even when I went back down to the platform.
“Milady, come again soon! I’ll serve you the most delicious grape juice!”
This time, Io waved at me as I descended to the lower platform.
‘I’ve made a new friend.’
Ankus called my actions foolish, but I didn’t think it was entirely so.
“Welcome back, milady. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Returning to the main building, Gordio called me.
“What is it?”
“Lord Gaju wishes to see you.”
Ah, that’s right, he said he had something to tell me.
Ankus said I wouldn’t be scolded, but I wasn’t so sure.
If I were Lord Gaju, I’d probably scold a child acting like me.
The moment had finally come.
I walked to Lord Gaju’s office, tense.
“Come in, Calidora.”
He didn’t seem particularly angry at first glance.
But having observed him for a long time, I knew the angrier he became, the calmer he seemed.
“You are late in giving an account. I summoned you to speak about your actions.”
“Yes, Lord Gaju.”
Once the office door closed, no sound came from outside.
I prepared my heart to carefully listen to what he had to say.
He began by reminding me of my position.
“Calidora Ignicia. You are the second heir of Ignitus.”
“Yes.”
“You must have heard countless times from your relatives and my aides that you are destined to bear Ignitus’ responsibility. We believe that compared to other children your age who went through Ignitus before, you understand this fact much better.”
His tone was stern, yet surprisingly, it was praise.
‘He thinks I’m doing well…!’
But he didn’t call me just to praise me. I calmed my excited heart.
“However, there is one thing you may be overlooking: you are still a child. As a young one, you cannot take responsibility for actions taken under the name of Ignitus. Rather, Ignitus and I, as his head, bear responsibility for your actions.”
“…Yes.”
“Therefore, Calidora, you should have come to me and asked before acting.”
I bowed my head in embarrassment.
“Your intentions were excellent. The results were not bad. But in the world, even one mistake can occur in either. Differences in insight due to years of life experience cannot be overcome by cleverness alone. You must wait for the right time.”
“…Yes.”
“Since I haven’t told you this before, I will not scold you this time. But in the future, trust your family and explain your intentions before acting.”
I lifted my head and looked Lord Gaju in the eyes, showing my determination not to disappoint him again.
“I’m sorry, Lord Gaju. I promise. From now on, I will always ask the adults before acting.”
“Good.”
Fortunately, he seemed satisfied with my response.
I bowed and then rose from my seat.
Feeling much lighter, I wandered around the mansion.
‘I thought I’d be scolded a lot. But he may look intimidating, yet he is kind-hearted.’
Walking along the corridor near my room, I heard someone groaning behind a pillar.
“Oh… my back.”
It was Fadia, taking a short break while moving my clothes.
‘Right, I forgot Fadia was sick.’
I ran to her and picked up the fallen clothes.
“Fadia, does it hurt a lot?”
“Oh, milady. Not at all. I’m fine.”
Fadia had cared for me from the moment I first came to the mansion.
But now, seeing her in pain was much harder to bear than parting with anyone.
I took the basket she was carrying.
“Fadia, you need to rest now. Don’t work. I’ll tell Lord Gaju.”
“Milady…”
Normally, Fadia would have refused, but this time, she just looked at me sadly.
She realized her limits had come.
I sighed deeply with concern and informed Gordio.
Luckily, he said they could quickly find a new maid.
Unlike before, I had no secrets, so as long as they found a reasonably competent person, they could immediately serve as my maid.
And the new maid Ignitus assigned me was…
“Milady!! It’s me!!”
It was Io.
I rubbed my eyes, seeing Io running down Ardeo Mountain without even taking off her priestess robe.
“I’m so happy to serve you, milady!”
“Io? But you became a priestess of the goddess Vesta?”
“I was only a trainee priestess. I could come down anytime, actually.”
“But becoming a healer…”
“Lord Gaju said I could be Ignitus’ dedicated healer!”
Good thinking. That way, her family couldn’t make any claims to her.
I looked at the aides standing in a corner of the hall.
They were smiling in satisfaction.
After all, from Ignitus’ perspective, paying a maid’s salary for a valuable healer was a huge gain.
“But Io, you’re from a high-ranking family. You can’t just serve as a maid…”
“Before manifesting my powers, I farmed the fields and took care of children in my hometown, milady. I’m from a fallen noble family…”
Io answered shyly.
“Io, I can’t treat you as a maid.”
I said firmly.
“Of course, if you insist on being a maid, I’ll give you plenty of money!”
“Yes!”
“You’ll have a pretty room and delicious food!”
“Yes!”
“And if you find someone you like in this house, I’ll support you! I’ll introduce you to other nobles if you start socializing!”
“That’s great!”
‘Hmm? Actually, that’s a pretty good offer.’
“Io, let’s talk alone for a moment. I need to tell you something that others shouldn’t hear.”
I pulled Io to a quiet place to deliver the final, serious condition.
“If you want to stay with me, you must remember this.”
“What is it, milady!”
“No matter how ridiculous a trouble I cause, you will follow my words, not the elders of your family.”
Io, who had been slightly nervous, relaxed her expression.
“Of course, milady! Leave it to me!”
“Some days your backside might burn… Are you okay with that?”
“Anytime!”
“Good, Io. From now on, you are my maid.”
When I declared it, Io jumped up and down with joy.
‘I want a better word for it…’
I thought of Lord Gaju’s loyal servant, Gordio. Among the aides, he wasn’t called a servant but an aide.
“Forget what I just said. Io, from now on, you’re my aide.”
“Whoaaaaa!”
Io was overwhelmed with emotion, almost gasping.
“Me… in such an important position…!”
I chuckled.
She’ll be very useful for secret movements.
