Chapter 9
At first, I thought it was Barak's reaction I was observing, but it was actually Alan who had reacted.
An era where the act of healing was monopolized meant that it was unacceptable for anyone other than a priest to perform such a task.
Moreover, if a woman possessed divine power, it was uncertain how the temple might react.
Unlike before, when she had secretly used divine power, the reason she brought it up now was because her opponent was Barak.
“There’s no way I’d ever do that...! I’m asking you to look after my sister.”
Indeed. April's condition must not reach the temple’s ears.
“You think I’d come to this secluded place, away from the temple, to ask a favor without it being something the temple shouldn’t know?”
“Your words are rather excessive, considering your position.”
Alan, who had remained silent until now, interjected.
With eyes glaring sharply and a displeased expression, Barak bit his lip and pulled something from his cloak, throwing it to me.
I frowned at the elaborate bracelet adorned with multiple gems. It looked expensive at a glance, and I let out a nonchalant sound.
What I wanted wasn’t money.
“What is this?”
“A restraint bracelet.”
I was expecting him to say it was a valuable item, but the unexpected term made my eyes widen.
He then took the bracelet from another compartment and fastened it around his wrist.
The bracelet, embedded with sunset-colored gems, resembled a pair of handcuffs more than a bracelet.
“If you don’t believe me, you might believe it if I’m wearing a restraint bracelet.”
As I held the bracelet, Barak approached and fastened it on me, looking straight into my eyes.
My breath grew ragged with urgency.
“The more you tighten it, the tighter it will become around your wrist. If activated, it could even sever a wrist.”
“...”
“So, please, just once, look after my sister.”
He seemed willing to beg on his knees if necessary.
So this was the extent of his determination. I swallowed back a sneer threatening to escape.
“Please.”
April’s condition seemed to be quite serious.
The price for using divine power seemed exceedingly high.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have acted this way...
“If you had pushed April away, even cutting off a wrist wouldn’t be enough compensation.”
“Since I’m considering the time spent, don’t ever show your face here again. Next time, I won’t be so lenient.”
I recalled Barak using magic to break my wrist when I was expelled from the ducal house.
“It’s not bad.”
“Miss.”
Alan, who had been quietly listening, called out, his tone reflecting genuine concern.
He must find it odd since such actions were out of character for me.
Smiling warmly at Barak, I said, “Not having a wrist won’t stop me from living.”
“A wrist won’t be a hindrance to living.”
That was what Barak had said when he threatened to sever my wrist with magic.
He didn’t seem to recognize me from his past actions and words.
Indeed, after so much time, he must have forgotten all his previous actions and words.
To him, I was nothing more than a speck of dust in the wind, a mere impurity of the ducal house.
“Alright then, let’s proceed with the payment.”
Given Barak’s proficiency in alchemy and magic, losing a wrist would likely be manageable for him.
Now, it was my turn to urge him.
He would not regret this action.
“Then let’s proceed. After drawing up the contract, we’ll go see your sister, Alan.”
At my call, Alan sighed and brought two sheets of paper.
After sitting down, I quickly signed the contract. The terms were straightforward.
The events of today are to remain confidential. Any consequences of disclosing this secret are the responsibility of the parties involved.
In his haste, Barak signed the contract without reading its contents.
I addressed him while he handed over the hastily scrawled contract.
“Shall we go to where Lady April is?”
“...Yes.”
“Is your sister far from here? I can’t be away for long.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
Soon? How? When I looked at him questioningly, he chuckled softly.
What does he think I am?
Soon, an orange light spread out from beneath Barak’s feet.
“Let’s go then.”
He grabbed Alan’s arm, pulling him along.
“Come with us, Alan.”
I needed Alan’s assistance for the plans ahead.
* * *
“Wake up.”
At the cold voice next to me, I slowly opened my eyes.
It wasn’t as dark as when going to the store, perhaps because dawn was just beginning.
I needed to return to the ducal house before full daylight. My anxiety grew slightly.
“Follow me.”
Barak gestured briefly with his head.
The place we arrived at via magic was familiar to me. It was the villa the ducal house used for summer vacations.
It was minimalistic but now adorned lavishly, unlike before.
It resembled the ducal hall, with numerous statues and paintings, though they did not seem to suit the place.
The villa was excessively decorated.
Familiar yet altered significantly from my last visit five years ago.
Although it was a villa used frequently before I turned nineteen, I hadn’t been here since searching for April.
The summers after finding April naturally excluded me.
“Welcome, young master.”
The villa’s caretaker bowed deeply to Barak and then glanced at me with a questioning look.
“Where is April?”
“She is in her room.”
“Has she had her meals?”
“She requested no one enter... last night’s dinner...”
The caretaker’s apprehensive words darkened Barak’s expression.
“I instructed that meals be provided regularly.”
“We intended to, but...”
The caretaker, biting his lip in apparent distress, bowed again.
“I’m sorry. We will ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
I can imagine. Even if meals were brought, they likely weren’t accepted due to his temper.
Why can’t he see that behaving so poorly only drains his own energy? Even with such behavior, he remains silent before himself and expects lifelong care from others.
During my absence, April seemed to have become an imperious ducal lady.
“Prepare another meal.”
“Yes, young master.”
The caretaker hurriedly went into the dining area.
The villa’s opulent but gloomy atmosphere seemed to reflect April’s condition.
How bad must it be?
Briefly pondering, I went up to the second floor of the villa.
Standing before the room I had used in the past, Barak took a deep breath and raised his hand.
His stiffened shoulders indicated his level of tension.
“April, I’m coming in.”
Despite no response, Barak gently opened the door.
While the villa’s atmosphere was eerie, April’s room was darkness itself.
“April, haven’t you eaten yet?”
“...Go away. I don’t want to see you.”
“Please, get up. There’s someone here to help you.”
“Are you talking about those incompetent priests with no divine power?”
April, wrapped tightly in her blanket, responded sharply with a frazzled voice.
It seemed she hadn’t received proper treatment since her injury.
With the number of those born with divine power dwindling, and those with such power being kept in the capital’s temple, meeting one was rare.
“I’ve brought someone with divine power.”
The blanket stirred.
“They are here to help you. For your brother’s sake, at least show your face. Please?”
Seeing Barak’s overly gentle tone, I almost laughed.
The blanket slowly slipped away.
“Is it really...?”
In the darkness, April’s appearance was a mess.
Her hair was tangled and disheveled, her eyes swollen from crying.
Her clothing was also disheveled, a far cry from the April who had scorned me just before being cast out.
If anyone saw her like this, no one would believe she was the daughter of the ducal house.
“Well then.”
“...A woman?”
April looked at me, astonished.
Alan stopped, startled by April’s unmasked face, and turned to me with wide eyes.
He seemed surprised by the lack of artifacts, as if seeing my real face was shocking.
Although his gaze was a mix of surprise and confusion, I ignored it and greeted April naturally.
“I’m Burnis.”
“A woman, with divine power?”
“It seems so.”
The temple’s constant assertions that only men could possess divine power made this surprising.
“May I examine your injuries?”
April, still hesitant, was prodded by Barak’s soothing voice.
“April.”
April slowly lowered her blanket.
As the curtain was about to be pulled aside in the dim light, she shouted, “Don’t open the curtain!”
Her sharp scream made my hand flinch in the air.
“Just, just look as it is.”
In her overly hysterical state, Alan ignored her and opened the curtain.
“Didn’t I tell you not to open it...!”
Amid the sharp voice and the dim light, what I saw was April’s completely ruined leg.
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