“Did you say Princess zzlen’s blood type is CS-UR?”
A familiar voice echoed behind , making slowly turn my head.
“…Yes?”
“It’s a relief that she’s still alive. Prepare the blood transfusion spell imdiately.”
“…Professor Harold? Are you planning to use the blood transfusion spell yourself?”
“I just heard there are only two hours left. Do we have the luxury of confirming my identity right now?”
“I-I’m sorry! I’ll prepare things right away…”
With Harold’s sudden appearance, the church infirmary beca bustling. While I stood there in a daze, trying to process what was happening, I felt Ethan’s hand gently pulling back.
“…Lillith, let’s step out for now. They said only the person performing the transfusion should stay.”
“…Alright.”
Even as we exited Princess zzlen’s room, I couldn’t help but glance back, seeing Harold quietly preparing the transfusion spell and Saintess Serista assisting him. My mind was still a whirl of confusion, unable to sort through my thoughts. I was half-dragged out of the room.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
Two hours had passed since Harold’s unexpected offer to perform the blood transfusion spell. I was no longer in zzlen’s room, but I still hadn’t been able to untangle my thoughts. I paced nervously outside her door, unable to quiet my mind.
I was worried about Princess zzlen’s condition, but more than that, Harold’s willingness to use the spell baffled . Yet, the most troubling thing was the lingering thought that had word its way into my mind.
‘Saving Lizzie at the masquerade… ended up putting zzlen’s life at risk.’
On one side, there was Lizzie, Karaham, and the entire Auguste family. On the other, Princess zzlen. If I had to choose which life to save, the wiser decision would be…
Probably the forr.
Both Lizzie and zzlen are important to , but the lives of the entire Auguste family are also at stake. But then… what if I didn’t act? If the Auguste family was slaughtered, but I could push a button to save them at the cost of one life...
And if that one life was Princess zzlen, would I be able to push that button?
“…”
I didn’t know.
Even though I understood what was right, and who was more valuable, I couldn’t bring myself to decide. I had already interfered with the original story’s events, and if I kept doing so, soone who wasn’t ant to die would inevitably be killed because of . Maybe it had already happened. And next ti, the one in danger could be soone even closer to than Princess zzlen.
Ethan? Sure, I had already saved him once, and it was more like redemption in his case. But what if soone else—Agnes, Natalie, or even Isabel—were to face death because of my past actions? Could I forgive myself? If soday, saving soone’s life ant sacrificing another, or if my choices caused such a situation, what would I do then?
‘I’m not even the protagonist of Luminor Academy, so why am I wrestling with these kinds of thoughts…?’
One thing was clear: when zzlen almost died, it felt like my heart had stopped. Even though, by all accounts, we weren’t that close.
There was no guarantee that the danger zzlen faced wouldn’t reach Agnes or Isabel. Or Ethan.
As I sat there, trying to make sense of my thoughts, the door quietly opened, and an exhausted-looking Serista stepped out.
Creak -
“Haa, haa…”
Thud -
“Serista!”
“Saintess Serista!”
Before I could react, the hero caught Serista as she collapsed from exhaustion. Words of concern escaped my mouth as I rushed toward her.
For a mont, I wondered if it was right to ask about zzlen’s condition when Serista herself looked like a patient. But fortunately, Serista spoke first.
“…Princess… zzlen is… safe for now…”
“For now?”
“It was lucky… that Professor Harold had the sa blood type… Any later, and it would have been impossible to perform the transfusion spell… How could there have been such a coincidence…”
“…”
“We can only pray for her recovery now. Her body received so much divine power today that we can’t use any more healing spells for the ti being…”
“Serista?!”
Thump -
“She must have been extrely fatigued from treating the Princess.”
“She’s had a hard day, that’s for sure.”
With those words, the hero gently lifted Serista’s legs into his arms, cradling her as he stood.
“I’ll make sure Serista gets so rest. I know where her room is.”
“…Alright, take care of her.”
“Lillith… you should relax too. The Princess is safe for now, so there’s no need to look so troubled.”
“…Thank you, Hero.”
…Perhaps he understood why I looked so distressed. After all, even he must know that in the original story, there was no route where zzlen died.
My mind was still tangled, but at least the anxiety that had been gnawing at my heart eased. At least now, I wouldn’t have to witness Princess zzlen die because of .
Creak -
“You’ve been waiting out here?”
“How… did the transfusion go?”
“Nothing serious. I’m just a little stiff. I’ll have to do a few more sessions, so I’ll be staying in the room next to zzlen for the ti being.”
“Are you sure you’ll be alright? The new sester starts in two days…”
“I’ll cancel the first two weeks and make up for it at the end of the term. My class schedule isn’t sothing you need to worry about, Lillith.”
“…I’m sorry, Professor Harold.”
“…”
I couldn’t help but feel that Professor Harold having to adjust his schedule was sohow my fault. After all, he had no idea why I was so attached to Princess zzlen’s survival…
“You.”
“…Yes?”
“From the way you’re acting, it seems like you know why Princess zzlen ended up in this situation.”
“…What?”
“Did you have a hand in her kidnapping? Or perhaps you helped the culprit?”
“…?!”
Shake shake -
“N-no! I only wanted Princess zzlen to be safe!”
“…Then why do you keep looking at with such guilt in your eyes? When you were crying by zzlen’s side earlier, it was as if you were mourning a terrible mistake.”
“…No, that’s not…”
Harold’s eyes bore into as though he already knew all my secrets. His gaze felt like a sword, ready to strike at the smallest move. I stood frozen in place, like a frog facing a snake.
“Stop, Father.”
“…”
“…Master Ethan?”
“Lillith has done nothing but pray for Princess zzlen’s recovery. How can you accuse her of being involved in the kidnapping, Father?”
Ethan stepped between us, defending against Harold’s accusations.
While I remained unsure of how to respond, Ethan continued speaking in my defense.
“It was Lillith who played the most crucial role in rescuing Princess zzlen. She was the first to find where the Princess was hidden, the one who carried her from the underground to here, and the one shouting for help, trying to find soone with the right blood type. Lillith waited here for two hours, worrying non-stop while the Princess was treated.”
“I’ve heard the story from Serista during the transfusion. But even so, there’s still guilt in her eyes that I can’t overlook.”
“You’re basing your suspicions on her eyes alone? Lillith has been working as a maid for the Blackwood family for nearly ten years now…”
“Lillith. Look in the eye and answer. Did you kidnap Princess zzlen?”
“Father!!”
“…No, I did not.”
“Then, did you assist in the kidnapping, or help the kidnappers in any way?”
“…No.”
“Do you want Princess zzlen to recover? Or would you prefer she never wakes up?”
“I want her to recover.”
“…”
“Even if it ans I must die in her place.”
“Father, that’s enough!!”
“…”
Harold stared at in silence for a long mont before turning away. With a warning tone, he left with one final piece of advice.
“If you haven’t done anything wrong, then carry yourself with pride. Don’t act like a criminal when you’re not one.”
“…Yes, Professor Harold.”
“…I apologize for suspecting you, even for a mont. Forgive .”
“…No need to apologize, Professor.”
With that, Harold left the room, but the weight of his words and my unresolved emotions lingered. I remained frozen in place, unable to shake the knot of guilt in my chest.
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