The girl entered Princess Kanabi’s hospital room safely.
The knight seemed surprised upon confirming her presence, indicating that she was someone unexpected to appear here.
“How is the young lady?”
“She was sent safely to her guardian.”
“So she has a guardian, huh? That’s a relief.”
In a temple clinic where all sorts of incidents happen, the girl’s unusual behavior became a topic of conversation.
Her actions, bold and unrestrained, contrasted with her delicate and pretty appearance, which left the priests mesmerized.
When they heard that the girl had found her guardian without incident, everyone felt relieved.
‘At least everyone is kind.’
They didn’t seem offended by her rude behavior, even though they might not have known her identity.
‘I wonder if the princess will be alright.’
Fortunately, it hadn’t been long since I treated the princess, so I was able to find and bring the girl here.
As someone from the royal family, she would likely be reluctant to show any weakness, even in front of her family.
Even if it were her younger sibling who suddenly appeared.
“Thank you for your hard work, priest!”
“Good job.”
“Well done!!”
It was after working hours.
Everyone finished their tasks and was heading home in a good mood. I, too, went to Princess Kanabi’s room to complete my last duty for the day.
“Is she still inside?”
I asked the knight guarding the door, and he nodded.
“Yes.”
“Should I come back later?”
“No, the princess said to come in when you arrive.”
I wasn’t thrilled about that, but…
I had no choice but to enter the room at the knight’s words.
As soon as I stepped inside, the familiar girl saw me and widened her eyes.
“Isn’t that the one who’s treating my sister?”
“Yes. It seems she’s here to treat you.”
The girl spoke with a dissatisfied expression.
“Can’t you get treatment from someone else?”
She had been rude before, asking why I couldn’t treat her sister, and it seemed she still held that grudge.
“Stop saying such things. The reason I’m still alive is all thanks to this priest.”
“!!”
At the princess’s words, the girl, shocked, spoke with an agitated voice.
“You said it wasn’t that serious!”
Ah, it seems the princess lied, and now she’s caught.
It was unlike the princess to make such a mistake, but it showed that the girl was someone the princess could trust.
“It means I stopped hurting because of the priest’s efforts.”
“Liar! Do you think I’m still the naive little child I used to be? I know everything now! You always lie, saying it’s for my sake!”
The girl suddenly acted out.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, then stood up abruptly and left the room.
“Oh no, did I make a mistake? Follow her. Who knows what trouble she’ll cause?”
The princess spoke to the knight, who was visible through the open door.
“Yes!”
The knight, ordered by the princess, quickly followed the girl, leaving only the princess and me alone.
A heavy silence settled between us.
Just as I was about to speak to break the silence, Princess Kanabi spoke first.
It was about the girl.
“You must have guessed, but she’s my sister.”
“I could tell immediately because she looks so much like you.”
“We’re quite unique sisters, so we’re very close. She must have been startled when she heard about me and rushed here. I wanted to reassure her and send her back, but it all went terribly wrong.”
I understood that their sisterly bond was strong, and she didn’t want to worry her. But it was also natural for the girl to feel hurt.
“She must be going through a tough time since she’s so sensitive right now.”
“Tough? The one who’s having a hard time is that girl, having someone as inadequate as me as her older sister.”
Every word she spoke was full of affection.
“She’s the reason I’ve been able to endure. If I weren’t here, how could she bear the royal family on her own? That can never happen.”
“I see now that the reason you’ve held on so well is because of her.”
The responsibility of not leaving her younger sibling alone in a dangerous palace.
“So, I’d like to ask for your help in ensuring she doesn’t act impulsively.”
I could guess what kind of impulsive actions she might mean.
“We’ll need to ensure she doesn’t learn anything about Haeju.”
“Well, I’m not sure if we can keep it from her. She’s the kind of child who’s relentless when she sets her mind on something.”
Princess Kanabi seemed to think there was a high chance her younger sibling would find out, knowing her personality well.
“I’m exhausted. Could you begin the treatment now?”
“Yes, understood.”
Princess Kanabi, rubbing her forehead and sighing, couldn’t hide her weariness. I willingly proceeded with the treatment.
Not wanting her sibling to see her in pain, I infused her body with divine power and left the room.
‘Now, all that’s left is evening prayers.’
Having used a significant amount of divine power at the end, my body felt heavy.
As a priest, it’s always a joy when the time comes to rest after work.
Thud!
“Hey, wait a second!”
That said, I wasn’t thrilled to encounter an unwelcome visitor on my way home.
A small girl stood in front of me, blocking my path—Princess Kanabi’s younger sister.
“Do you have something to say to me, Princess?”
Suppressing my fatigue and irritation, I forced a smile and asked.
Though still young, she was royalty and couldn’t be treated casually.
“Keep your voice down! People might overhear. Let’s call me Lady Janna instead.”
“…Understood, Lady Janna.”
Changing her name and title wasn’t going to change anything.
If she truly didn’t want to reveal her royal status, she should have altered her speech patterns first. But she didn’t seem to realize this.
“Ahem, I called you because I have some questions.”
Before Lady Janna could say more, I preemptively spoke.
“I cannot divulge private information about someone unless they permit it.”
“I’m her sister! Her full-blooded sibling! It makes no sense for me not to know.”
Unfortunately, Princess Kanabi had narrowly survived an assassination attempt by a family member just days ago.
Moreover, she had explicitly expressed her desire for her sibling not to know the details of her condition.
As her physician, I couldn’t ignore her request.
“She has not given her consent, and she didn’t foresee this situation, so I have no authorization to disclose anything.”
“She said no, huh?”
Lady Janna pouted in frustration, muttering under her breath.
“Then at least tell me one thing—there is a way to cure her, right?”
There was indeed a way to cure Princess Kanabi. However, it was a highly difficult solution, as the optimal time to resolve it had passed.
Seeing that Lady Janna looked like she was about to burst into tears, I had no choice but to answer.
“There is a way.”
“!!”
“So, please don’t worry too much and return for now. The princess is very concerned about you.”
“It’s fine for her to worry about me, but why can’t I worry about her?”
“I’m sorry. Until she gives her permission, I cannot say anything further.”
“I see. My sister wouldn’t entrust just anyone to be her priest.”
Lady Janna’s eyes gleamed intensely.
“I’ll get her permission. Definitely. Once I do, you’ll tell me, won’t you?”
“Yes, if I receive her permission, I have no reason to hide anything.”
It didn’t seem like Princess Kanabi’s sibling would back down easily.
‘But there’s no way the princess will tell her.’
The solution lay in labyrinth, and there was no way Princess Kanabi would reveal the truth to a sibling at such an impulsive age.
What if she heard it and caused trouble?
‘Looks like the hospital wing will get noisy for a while.’
It felt like her headaches were transferring to me, as I, too, felt a headache coming on.
Lady Janna had declared her intentions boldly and left.
But surprisingly, she didn’t come looking for me in the days that followed.
If she had been in front of me, I could at least prepare myself for whatever she might try. But not seeing her made me uneasy.
A few days later, she came to me with a grim expression.
The moment I saw her face, I knew.
She had learned everything.
“I’ve heard it all.”
“…What?”
“The reason my sister is sick and how to cure her—I know everything.”
There was no way Princess Kanabi had told her.
I was curious where she’d learned it, but knowing wouldn’t change anything, so I stayed silent.
Unexpectedly, she offered an explanation I hadn’t asked for.
“I tracked down the people who knew why she was sick and threatened them. Those cowards who fled from the monster that cursed her were loose-lipped.”
Ah—those people.
It seemed they had already earned Lady Janna’s disdain for running from a monster, but I hadn’t expected them to also spill secrets.
I couldn’t imagine how they planned to deal with the consequences of revealing such forbidden knowledge.
Princess Kanabi cherished her sister deeply, but now that she had access to dangerous information, there was no way things would end peacefully.
“You figured it out, huh? I thought you’d come to me demanding answers, but this is unexpected.”
“It was obvious you wouldn’t go against my sister’s wishes. I’m not as good as she is, but I’m decent at reading people.”
“Now that you know everything, what do you plan to do?”
“I understand why she didn’t want to tell me. But I can’t sit still. I’m going to do what she was worried about. Before that, I came to confirm something with you—is it true that the only way to save her is to enter the labyrinth and kill the monster?”
Since she already knew, it seemed pointless to deny it, so I answered honestly.
“Yes, that’s the only solution for now.”
“Is it because you’re incompetent?”
“There’s a chance that’s true.”
“Hmph, at least you’re honest. I know you’re the most capable priest here!”
Did she investigate me as well?
As expected of a troublemaker. No wonder Princess Kanabi worried so much.
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