Why is that?
Alio’s attitude had become a bit stickier.
I had treated his subordinates, and some time had passed since.
Even after that, Alio continued to visit me regularly, but her attitude had definitely changed.
“Ceres, it’s a gift.”
Alio came to find me lying on my bed and handed me something.
Until now, when she visited, the gifts were relatively trivial items.
But the quality had definitely improved.
“Ceres, this is a coat made from the skin of a white wolf that only lives in the snowy north.”
“Wasn’t that expensive? They don’t sell them outside easily over there.”
“It’s okay. I could afford it without any burden. Oh, and this is also a snowflower that only grows in the north.”
“Aren’t snowflowers the symbol of the family that rules that area? I heard they don’t sell them.”
“This was sent as a gift from our family, but I’ll give it to you, Ceres. This pure white color suits you better than anyone.”
She spoke in a cheesy manner as she presented the snowflower, and I almost shouted, “Are you crazy?”
Why would she give me a gift that was exchanged between families?!
I remember the snowflower because it appeared in the original work.
In the original, Ceres received it as a gift, but it was noted that the family who originally owned it was very displeased.
However, in the original, it was another male lead who gave the gift impulsively.
Could it be that those idiots are thinking alike?
Anyway.
Every time she visited like this, she gave me burdensome gifts, but I couldn’t understand the reason.
It wasn’t like in the original where he had healed him.
I treated his subordinates, but instead, I took out my frustrations.
So why does she act like her feelings have deepened?
At some point, she had started calling me by name in a friendly manner.
She looked at me as if I were truly lovable while calling my name. I was looking at him, bewildered.
“Please stop!”
“Leave now!”
Suddenly, the outside became noisy.
“What’s going on?”
“Wait, don’t walk alone!”
As I tried to stand up to assess the situation, Alio hastily supported me.
I really hated it, but what could I do?
Relying on her, I went outside and saw unfamiliar people kneeling in the front yard.
“Count, please, just help us once.”
“I told you it’s not possible!”
“We desperately need your help. Please, let us at least meet with Ceres!”
“These people…”
The strangers were pleading with Ares, who looked at them with an irritated expression.
“What’s going on?”
The moment I appeared, everyone’s gaze shifted toward me.
“Ceres, stay inside.”
Ares hurriedly tried to send me back, but the strangers approached me even faster.
“Your appearance!”
“Just as the rumors say, you’re beautiful.”
“So you’re Ceres, the most beautiful in the Empire!”
They acted as if they had seen a savior, despite never having seen me before.
Wait, could it be?
“Ceres, I’ve heard of you.”
“They say you have incredible divine power like a legendary saint. Please, use that power to help us!”
Ah, I remember now.
In the original, Ceres used her divine power to heal Alio without thinking, and it became public knowledge.
Even though Ares tried to keep it quiet, many people saw it—Alio’s knights and the servants of the Hyperion family.
The word spread because there were so many witnesses.
Now, people who had heard the rumors came asking for help with their healing, but…
Why are there three of them?
I remember there being only one in the original, but now there are three.
Did the number of people I healed grow, and that’s why more people came to ask for help?
“Enough. Stop forcing it.”
While I was thinking there was a change in the situation, Ares shouted.
“Why are you asking my son to heal you when you should go to the priests?”
“My daughter’s injuries are so severe that ordinary priests can’t heal them.”
“Then, call a high-ranking priest.”
“That’s impossible. How could commoners like us call a high-ranking priest?”
“Then, does it make sense to ask for healing from the only heir of the Count’s family?”
Ares mocked the commoners who had come for help with cold eyes.
“You thought Ceres would help just because you asked nicely? As long as I’m here, that won’t happen.”
“I’ve heard that Ceres is a kind person. Please, Count, have mercy!”
“What are you doing? Throw them out right now!”
Ares called the servants to expel the commoners from the estate.
But then…
“No!!!”
I reflexively shouted, like a scream.
Everyone turned to look at me as I suddenly raised my voice.
Even Ares, who had been wearing a cold expression, looked shocked.
“Ceres?”
“Cough, cough! Th-those people, d-don’t kick them out!”
I spoke while trying to hold back a cough that almost came out from my sudden loud shout.
Because if those people are kicked out now, they’ll spread the rumor that I’m a witch!
In the original, Ares harshly told the commoners to leave, despite Ceres wanting to help.
Ceres just watched because she couldn’t move, and the commoners, who were upset, spread rumors that Ceres was a witch.
They said that she had the power to heal but refused to help, so she must have an evil heart.
They spread the rumor that a witch had tricked people with magic, not a saint!
Because of this, one of the male leads, working in the temple, came to check on her.
Later, when Ceres was suspected of being a false saint, a commoner appeared again as a witness and spread more lies.
It sounds ridiculous, but it makes sense in this world, which seems designed to undermine Ceres!
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”
Now, it’s not just one person, but three.
If things go badly, it could be three times worse than the original situation.
I need to stop this before anything happens.
“Oooh, Ceres, really? You’re not just beautiful but also have a heart that shines as brilliantly as your appearance!”
“Where are the people who need healing? Please guide us.”
The commoners eagerly started moving to guide me.
“Ceres, are you out of your mind?”
As I tried to follow them, Ares quickly stopped me.
“If you want to heal them, you should tell them to come to you.”
“Count, my daughter can’t even move right now.”
“My son is the same!”
Ares glared fiercely at one of the commoners who had spoken, silencing them. Then he placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You can’t go anywhere in your condition. The outside world is dangerous.”
“Then I’ll go with someone I trust.”
I glanced at Alio, still supporting me.
“Come with me.”
“Gladly.”
I knew it. I had a feeling I’d end up using her.
“If she’s the Empire’s top knight, there shouldn’t be a problem with her accompanying me.”
“You really want to go.”
“Yes.”
“…Take the servants too.”
When I spoke firmly, Ares reluctantly agreed and sent us off.
“Come this way.”
I followed the commoners with Alio and the servants.
These people are from a territory ruled by the Hyperion Count family.
It wasn’t that far from our territory, but for me, it felt like a long march.
“Ceres, is there anywhere that feels uncomfortable?”
“Being held in your arms is uncomfortable enough.”
I grumbled while being carried like a princess in Alio’s arms.
She had picked me up because she couldn’t let me walk on my own since I was sick.
“This is it.”
“Put me down.”
But I couldn’t stay in this embarrassing situation in someone else’s house.
When we arrived at one house, I quickly got out of Alio’s arms.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m just standing up for a moment during treatment.”
I said, suppressing my pain, as they all looked at me with concern.
“This is my daughter.”
After entering the house, I confirmed that the person who needed treatment was indeed in a serious condition.
She was lying on the bed, wrapped in bandages, with one leg missing.
“My daughter is a hunter. She went out hunting and encountered a beast, suffering this injury. She hasn’t even regained consciousness!”
In this world, where gender roles are different, the father of the daughter, who was acting as her nurse, took my hand and spoke.
“Please, have mercy.”
“I already have.”
“W-what?”
I had already finished healing her. The father looked at me in a daze.
Her missing leg had been regenerated, and her body had fully recovered. The daughter opened her eyes and started looking around.
Divine power is a troublesome thing, but its effects are undeniable.
“Where’s the next house?”
I urged the next person to go, as the situation had been resolved so quickly that the onlookers were frozen in place.
At that moment.
“Ah!”
“Ceres!”
My legs finally gave out, and I was about to fall when Alio quickly caught me from behind.
“Thank you…”
I was about to express my gratitude when goosebumps covered my entire body.
“Phew.”
Alio, holding me, buried her face in my hair and took a deep breath.
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