Chapter 72
I glared at the doctor for no particular reason.
At that moment, Claude, who had been standing quietly, approached me.
“First, we should take Estelle back to the mansion.”
“To the Xenophasia Mansion?”
“We don’t know when she’ll wake up. She can’t stay here indefinitely.”
That made sense.
This place was a ward, yes, but it only provided simple medical checkups for academy students—it wasn’t a hospital for treating serious illnesses.
I lightly nodded and spoke.
“That’s true. Then I’ll go home. I can’t impose on you, Claude.”
“No. We’ll go to the mansion.”
Claude firmly shook his head at my words.
“If you’re alone with a sick person, won’t you have more to worry about? And it would be difficult to respond immediately if something happens.”
“Still…”
“Imagine if Estelle’s condition suddenly worsened while the two of you were alone. It would be hard to call a doctor quickly.”
That was true.
We still didn’t know the exact cause of Estelle’s collapse.
And if her condition suddenly deteriorated in the early hours of the morning, it would be serious.
Since this world didn’t have an emergency room, I would have to find a doctor myself.
How could I leave a sick Estelle alone?
At least if she were at the Xenophasia Mansion, someone could watch over her or call a doctor if needed.
‘Ah.’
I knew it was rude, but I hesitated.
I lowered my gaze and bit my lip.
“I may have entrusted Estelle to you, but I also have a duty to care for her. So don’t think you’re doing me a favor. And you too…”
While I hesitated, a shadow fell over my head.
I instinctively lifted my gaze.
“……”
“……”
The shadow belonged to Claude.
He was reaching his hand over my head.
But Claude’s hand didn’t touch me.
The moment our eyes met, he clenched his fist and lowered his hand.
He drew in a small breath and then turned around.
“So we’ll go to the mansion.”
And then he spoke something different from what he had originally intended, in his usual calm voice.
By now, it was December 31st.
The last day of the year had arrived.
And Estelle…
“Haah…”
Even now, ten days after collapsing, she still hadn’t awakened.
“Estelle…”
Sitting in a chair, I let out a small sigh as I looked at her.
Estelle lay quietly on the bed with her eyes closed.
If it weren’t for the rising and falling of her chest with each breath, or the flushed redness of her face from the fever…
She could have been mistaken for a corpse.
I reached out and carefully stroked Estelle’s head.
Since Estelle had collapsed, I had been diligently moving around, trying to find the cause.
And this morning, I finally discovered the reason.
“Spot manifestation.”
It was the manifestation of the mark that only direct members of the royal family could have.
In the game, this never happened.
She spent her days normally, doing part-time work or attending academy classes.
And then, when the year changed, a notification appeared that the mark had manifested.
So I hadn’t known.
I hadn’t known that when the mark manifested, it caused high fever and loss of consciousness.
“Did I selfishly push my luck?”
I knew the truth.
Even without becoming emperor, Estelle could lead a happy life.
Like in the countless endings I’d seen in the game, Estelle’s future was limitless.
But I couldn’t help wanting to see the emperor ending I had never witnessed before. Had I caused her hardship unnecessarily? Had I pushed her down a thorny path?
I felt regret.
“…Ina…”
“Estelle?”
It was then.
For the first time since collapsing, Estelle’s voice reached me.
I sprang up from the chair and leaned closer to her.
“…Re…ina…”
Was she dreaming?
Estelle’s face was tightly scrunched, and her voice was muffled.
“Where… are you?”
Estelle raised her hand, as if searching for someone, waving it in the air.
At the same time, a single tear slid down from the corner of her eye.
Seeing that, I urgently grabbed her hand.
“I’m here.”
I spoke gently, so she could feel reassured.
“Haah…”
Estelle exhaled in relief, her previously scrunched face relaxing.
Holding her hand seemed to have helped.
“….”
Seeing Estelle’s calm face, I thought:
I had called it my selfishness, a thorny path, but it was right for Estelle to become emperor.
She needed to regain her warmth…
To meet a family who would stay by her side and give unconditional love so she wouldn’t be lonely.
I was certain.
A few hours later, as I was wiping Estelle’s face with a damp cloth, there was a knock at the door.
Knock, knock.
“It’s me. May I come in?”
Claude’s voice reached me.
“Just a moment!”
I put down the cloth I was holding and hurried to open the door.
“Please come in… huh?”
I was startled by someone standing next to Claude.
As always, he wore a white priest’s robe, a gentle smile on his face.
It was Welfion.
“Long time no see, Sister Reina.”
“How did you… get here?”
“The viscount told me that Sister Estelle was unwell. I asked if I could come and see her. Perhaps I can be of help.”
Welfion glanced at the bed.
His gaze was filled with concern and care.
“Thank you for being so thoughtful.”
“It is only natural, as a servant of God.”
Turning his gaze back to me, Welfion shook his head.
“I’ll take a look.”
He walked past me and slowly approached the bed, observing Estelle closely.
“You said the test results couldn’t determine why she collapsed?”
“That’s right. Both the academy ward and the family physician said the same.”
“I see. There was likely no other way to explain it.”
“Have you discovered anything?”
Claude asked Welfion urgently.
“Something is blocking Estelle’s energy, as if trying to hold back overflowing water.”
“Then…”
“Don’t worry. I think I can help.”
Welfion turned to look at Claude and me, smiling slightly to reassure us.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
He refocused on Estelle, straightened his posture, and placed his hand on her forehead, muttering some unknown words softly.
Then…
“Ah!”
Estelle’s body suddenly began to glow brightly.
The light was so intense that it made me squint automatically.
But the light quickly faded.
And…
“This is…”
When I opened my eyes, I heard Claude’s startled voice and saw Welfion’s surprised expression.
‘Ah, finally.’
A mark had appeared on Estelle’s shoulder.
‘It has finally manifested.’
A symbol representing the royal heir.
The moment the mark appeared on Estelle’s shoulder.
“This mark is…”
Claude’s eyes widened, and a small, low voice escaped his lips.
It was a serious voice, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Welfion’s reaction was the same.
He held his breath, bit his lip, and then nodded as if understanding what Claude hadn’t finished saying.
“Yes. It’s exactly what the viscount thinks it is.”
I was puzzled watching the two of them.
There was no joy on their faces.
Rather, they seemed troubled.
‘Of course, it’s surprising to suddenly see the heir of the royal family…’
Still, this is someone who will lead the empire’s future.
Why would they be troubled instead of happy?
However, as a commoner, I couldn’t claim to know anything about the mark on Estelle’s shoulder.
I put on an expression of ignorance, looking at them as if to ask if there was a problem.
Welfion sighed and muttered,
“I knew through a prophecy… but I didn’t expect to be this close.”
“A prophecy?”
A prophecy? What prophecy?
Could it be related to Estelle’s mark?
Is that why their expressions were like that?
I tilted my head and looked at Welfion.
“Ah, it seems Sister Reina hasn’t been informed yet.”
“No. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“A short while ago, precisely on the day Sister Estelle collapsed, a prophecy was revealed.”
Welfion turned slightly to face me directly.
With a more serious expression than ever, he spoke.
“‘The small sun, hidden by darkness in the past, will appear again upon this land.’”
