~Chapter 92~
“But.”
Harry tilted his head. I smiled softly at him.
He had said there wasn’t much he could do to help me… but there was one thing he didn’t know.
“Harry, you and Pin have already done everything you could for my treatment.”
“…What?”
Harry frowned slightly, not understanding. I continued.
“You two are the ones who made me want to live.”
“…Ah.”
“So you’ve already played your part. And it was a very big part.”
I had wanted to say it at least once. To let him know.
That the biggest reason I wanted to live… was thanks to them.
When I looked at Harry, I always felt like I wanted to take care of him.
When I looked at Pin, he reminded me of my own painful past life, so I could never push him away. I always cherished him.
In the end, I even begged the divine beast to save him.
Because, truthfully, I was seeing my own life reflected in theirs.
I remembered his words from before:
[The truth is… Milady wanted to live.]
[That’s why you saved Pin. Because you wanted to live.]
[You didn’t want him to die, because deep down, you didn’t want to die either.]
That day, Harry had seen right through me.
Not words that entered the ears—but pierced the heart.
He had explained feelings that even I hadn’t realized myself.
That I really did long for life. That I, too, wanted to enjoy precious things and live happily.
So, Harry was my lifesaver. The one who had revived my dead heart.
“Thank you, Harry. Truly. This time… I’m the one who owes you.”
I wanted to sincerely thank him for recognizing it.
Harry looked a little stunned by my sudden words, then slowly smiled and nodded.
“No, Milady. I should be the one thanking you… really, thank you.”
“….”
“To think someone as insignificant as me could be of such great help to you—it’s an honor.”
Then, as if making up his mind, Harry clenched his fist and looked at me firmly.
“Still, I want to help you more. If there’s ever anything you need, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”
“Alright. I’ll be sure to. And from now on… I’ll be counting on you, Harry.”
His determined gaze was so endearing that I laughed softly.
Feeling a little shy after saying such heartfelt words, I reached out my hand for a handshake.
Harry looked at my hand for a moment, then gently held it in both of his.
“Me too. I’ll be counting on you as well, Milady.”
And so, one more person had joined the “Save Irene Project.”
“Hmmm…”
Eric Hedderson leaned against the headboard of his bed, glasses on.
Half lying down with his legs stretched out, he fiddled with something in his large hand, looking serious.
“Do it. Don’t do it.”
Each time he spoke, a leaf fell from the branch he was holding.
“Do it. Don’t do it.”
Pluck. Pluck.
“Do it… don’t do it.”
Pluck… pluck.
Finally, he pulled off the last leaf with a grave expression.
“…Do it.”
Silence filled the room.
Eric stared quietly at the leaf in his hand.
How much time passed?
With a sigh, he set it down and turned his head.
He picked up something lying on the blanket.
If you’re going to do it, do it. If not, then don’t. Heartless bastard.
It was a letter, bearing the imperial seal, but written in a surprisingly blunt tone.
“Hmmm…”
He shifted his gaze again and saw another object on the bed.
A small bear-shaped ornament.
A gift Irene had once bought him during their trip to Sinks.
Since that day, it had always hung from his sacred sword. Her gift.
[Eric. Should I buy this for you? I really want to.]
“…Sigh.”
Recalling Irene’s voice, Eric let out a long breath.
Albert, that idiot.
He wasn’t hesitating because he was heartless. Not really.
It was more like… something else.
Thinking for a moment, Eric finally stood as if he had made up his mind.
He pulled out a quill and paper, sat at the table in his room, and began writing.
Scratch, scratch. Soon, the sound of his pen filled the room.
“Hah… hah…”
The sky looked yellow. I stopped, panting heavily.
Leaning forward, I held my knees. Breaths poured out from deep inside my lungs.
“Milady, here’s some water. Please drink.”
As I gasped, Sophie hurried over and handed me a cup.
“Thanks, Sophie.”
I gulped it down. The cool water slid down my throat like life itself.
Sophie watched me, sweating and breathless, with worried eyes.
Ahh… refreshing…
Only after I finished drinking and returned the cup did the clear sky come back into view.
Sophie sighed.
“Milady, maybe you should rest for today? I think you’re pushing too hard. Even if you need to build stamina, isn’t this training a bit too harsh for a noblewoman?”
Her gaze fell on my sweat-soaked clothes and neck.
Yes.
I was wearing riding-like exercise clothes, running through the Duke’s garden.
After the recent nosebleed, I had realized I truly needed to strengthen my body.
The best way to build stamina was cardio!
Since the weather was nice and the scenery lovely, I had decided to run in the garden every day.
I didn’t realize Irene’s body was this weak…
Compared to my past life, Irene’s body was hopelessly fragile.
In my previous life, I’d never really felt weak—even though I had worked part-time and run around constantly. But Irene… she was like a goldfish out of water.
When I first started, I couldn’t even last ten seconds before my heart pounded wildly, forcing me to stop.
Well, she was a noble lady. She’d never had to run before.
Still, compared to then, I was improving quickly.
“Phew. But today I feel okay. I’ll try just one more lap.”
“Yes, Milady… but please be careful! If it feels like a mana surge, you must call Sir Fabian right away.”
“Got it!”
I nodded strongly and began running again.
At least exercise had one good effect—it cleared my head.
It made my thoughts simpler, less tangled.
Even while undergoing treatment, my mind sometimes grew chaotic, but when running, I could focus on just the present.
Of course, it also helped that relationships had become simpler.
Fabian, Albert, Harry—everyone was focused on saving me now.
Little by little, personal feelings had been pushed aside, replaced by one common goal.
…Wait. Come to think of it.
What about Sir Eric Hedderson these days?
Everyone else had joined my treatment project, but Eric alone hadn’t shown himself.
He was my favorite male lead, after all. I couldn’t help but wonder how he was doing.
“…Huh?”
Just then, something caught my eye.
I slowed my steps, confusion rising inside me.
Was I imagining things?
At the far end, Eric was entering through the Duke’s gates.
“Eric?”
At the sound of my voice, he turned to me. With a bright grin, he waved.
“Milady.”
“…Eh?”
My eyes went wide. It wasn’t an illusion. It was really Eric.
