Bright red eyes trembling violently. Cold sweat running down the forehead.
“Professor… what did you say?”
And that voice, unbefitting of a festival. The voice, trembling without mercy, escapes from her lips.
“Um… Miss Laura. Please lower your voice.”
“Moritz, why do you keep asking me to lower my voice since earlier?”
“Because it is a conversation Miss Rina must not hear.”
“……. ”
She felt dissatisfied. Laura’s expression was twisted in discontent. Yet, it was a blessing that her beauty remained intact.
It was still something that mattered to Laura at present.
“Alright. Moritz, since you are Rina’s primary physician, I’ll assume you have a plausible reason.”
“Thank you.”
“But it better be a genuinely appropriate reason. One that I can understand right away. A plausible reason.”
“…….”
Moritz’s expression was complex. That alone bothered Laura. No, to be precise…
“I’m worried… and it’s frustrating.”
It bothered her. Moritz, who had taken on Rina as a new patient a few months ago, was undoubtedly an outstanding physician.
Though not widely recognized as a renowned doctor, at least among those who knew him, he was whispered about as a hidden talent. A doctor who intentionally conceals his abilities, operating an old clinic, treating truly desperate patients.
The fact that the Duke of Adelheid sought him out was purely coincidental. When the previous physician who had been Rina’s doctor retired to return to his hometown, he was discovered while urgently looking for an outstanding physician in the city.
Yes, he was certainly a doctor who had entered the realm of renowned physicians. Although not many were aware of him, and only a few who received consistent treatment knew him well, even if he denied it when referred to as such, his name as a renowned physician was well-deserved.
Even that man couldn’t do anything about Rina’s physical defect. He merely alleviated her symptoms.
In truth, that alone was quite an achievement. Among those who had visited the Duke of Adelheid, claiming to be renowned doctors, how many had been turned away with no results?
Just, well.
Though it was the tail end of summer, it was a season that felt particularly long in the city where both summer and winter stretched out. Even healthy people could easily catch colds or fall ill.
So it was entirely possible for Rina, who was gradually recovering her health, to end up lying down. However…
“Why does everyone, including my father and Moritz, want to keep this a secret?”
But, because of that. It didn’t make sense for Rina to be up and about at this time.
And the person who created this absurd situation, Professor Lucio Antorelli, was…
By now, he must be in pain. He might be hiding somewhere, groaning in solitude, unable to bear the excruciating pain.
“Answer me, Moritz.”
“…Miss.”
“Or else… I don’t know what I might do.”
“…….”
Moritz let out a small, shallow sigh. Laura was at a loss for words. At this moment, it shouldn’t be her who was sighing.
“Then, I will speak. Miss.”
“Okay. Since, as Moritz said, it’s a conversation that can’t be overheard by Rina… please explain quickly. I reiterate, it needs to be something I can comprehend.”
“…It is true that Rina has gotten up from her sickbed due to Professor Antorelli’s divine power.”
“Indeed…!”
Laura became confident. But that confidence made her feel even more uncomfortable.
“Moritz, didn’t you say you take care of Professor Antorelli’s medical treatment?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then, why…!”
If anyone was treating Professor Antorelli, they would surely know his condition very well. Better than anyone else, perhaps even better than Professor Antorelli himself.
So, why?
“That is….”
“I will answer that for you, Miss Laura.”
Next to Laura, Priest Luciana approached with a frown on her face. Her complexion did not look very good.
And Laura could easily guess the reason.
“Luciana….”
“Yes, Miss.”
“You too, together with the professor… assisted Rina to get up?”
“That’s true, Miss Laura.”
“Then why…!”
Laura turned her head towards Priest Luciana and couldn’t help but flare up. Her fiery red eyes met the calm gray eyes of the priest.
“Why… did you leave the professor alone…?”
“I’ll ask in return, Miss Laura.”
“…Luciana Risekova, are you in a position to ask me something? As for the questions I’m asking….”
“Then, do you mean to say that it would have been better if Professor Antorelli hadn’t used his divine power and that Miss Rina should not be here?”
Laura’s mouth closed. Her instinct was to shout, “Of course!” but her lips wouldn’t easily part.
Let’s assume Professor Antorelli didn’t use his divine power. He would have left Rina von Adelheit in the mansion, taking no action whatsoever.
Rina would naturally miss attending the Fall Festival. The image of her happily chatting with her mother ahead would surely not be seen.
She would simply be holed up in her room as usual.
Loving her older sister, and yearning for the day she could show off her magical talents and enroll in the Academy, she’d be lying in a room decorated as closely as possible to her sister’s. Lying on the bed.
Staring up at the ceiling, gazing at the glow-in-the-dark star stickers they had played with long ago. Making an effort to fall asleep, reading a novel that wouldn’t capture her interest, or idly gazing out the window.
Eventually, when her sister returned from enjoying the festival, she would greet her with a genuinely happy smile and playfully ask her not to stay away.
That, that…
“Do you think that would have been better…?”
Is that even a question? Of course not. Laura shook her head vigorously.
“Absolutely not. Never.”
“That is the case, Miss Laura.”
“What do you mean…?”
Once again, there was an incomprehensible response. Laura sought clarification as if arguing. No, she tried to inquire.
“Miss Laura, Professor Antorelli used his divine power on his own accord for Miss Rina.”
“…I know as much.”
Yes, Laura knew that much. After all, it was Professor Antorelli who first mentioned having a “method” to allow Rina to enjoy the festival.
It was well understood that using divine power to lift Rina from her sickbed was a decision made by Professor Antorelli himself.
At that time, he had merely said, “There’s a method,” adamantly refusing to disclose what that method was, making it difficult to realize.
“If I had noticed that back then, I would have stopped the professor long ago. To make it so Rina could move around healthily for just one day at the expense of the professor’s body is… that’s too….”
Too cruel.
Laura’s words went unspoken. Because the cold hand of Priest Luciana gently wrapped around hers.
“Miss Laura, if you could only see Miss Rina healthy, you had often said you would do anything for that…”
“…That’s true. But why suddenly….”
“I will say it once more, Miss Laura.”
Priest Luciana briefly fell silent. Biting her lower lip, her hesitance gave way to the words that emerged.
“That is the case, Miss Laura.”
“So, what is….”
“The reason why Professor Antorelli used his divine power on Miss Rina.”
“…Th-Then explain….”
“If Miss Rina remained bedridden, unable to fulfill the tasks you requested, ultimately… it could become the worst day for Miss Rina.”
Laura’s mouth closed. She wasn’t a fool.
Until just now, she had stubbornly denied the thought of ‘surely not…’, but at this point, she had no choice but to understand. She had to accept it. No further objections could be made.
“Professor Antorelli did not wish for that future.”
“…….”
“That is the case, Miss Laura.”
“…What do you mean?”
Laura’s voice trembled violently. She bit her lip tightly for a moment. Even her lips began to tremble uncontrollably.
“Wha-What do you mean…?”
“….Miss.”
“The professor… then… has he hidden this fact from Rina…?”
Ultimately, it was something that no one would understand.
Of course, Priest Luciana and Moritz knew. On top of that, her father and mother were also aware.
And now, Laura too joined that group late.
Yet, despite all that…
“But the professor… has sacrificed both body and heart…”
“……”
“And for what, ultimately…what good is it for the professor…?”
There are no benefits. Five people already know the truth of this matter.
But does that change anything?
“In the end, nothing….”
Nothing changes. Rina is merely a Cinderella who can wander freely outside for this one day, and the cost of the small miracle is only the tortured body of Professor Antorelli, already shattered.
That hurts Laura. A pain that feels like her heart is being ripped apart, bittersweet and lingering in her chest.
While Laura weeps, there was nothing that Moritz and Priest Luciana could do. Yes, nothing.
But Laura could not sit idle.
“…Where is he?”
“Miss.”
Laura’s heart, her pounding heart, and her burning head would not allow her to remain idle. It would not permit her to muddle in distant thoughts of “Thank you,” a telepathy that would not reach anyone.
“Where is the professor?”
“…Miss, can’t you just enjoy the festival with Miss Rina?”
Laura glared fiercely at Priest Luciana. Luciana did not back down.
Because that was surely what Professor Antorelli truly desired.
Priest Luciana had never seen a more dedicated man than Professor Antorelli. Among regular people, and certainly among those clergy who claim “dedication.”
Her wish was to protect that noble intent, to guide the conversation as he desired.
“Don’t say something unreasonable. Luciana.”
“…….”
But Laura did not allow even that. With fiery eyes, Laura glared at Priest Luciana.
“…Though I was given the information to share locations in case Professor Antorelli’s condition worsens before the dispersal….”
Ultimately, it was Moritz who spoke up. Laura’s face lit up immediately.
“Where, where is it? Where exactly?”
“…I heard it’s the club booth of the Occult Research Club in the annex courtyard.”
“…The haunted house.”
The haunted house. A place meant to scare visitors.
And a location that Rina, with her delicate constitution, must never approach.
That foolish man has thought of even this.
“I’m going there immediately.”
“Ah, Miss.”
“Tell my father and mother… yes, just say I briefly stepped away for some club-related matters. Luciana.”
Just as Laura was about to leave.
“Miss.”
Moritz’s words held her back. Laura was now at the brink of anger.
“…Moritz, I’ll warn you. Don’t stop me any further.”
“That’s not it.”
“Then….”
“If you plan to go to Professor Antorelli, then take this….”
What Moritz offered was a transparent case the size of two palms joined together. No, it would be better characterized as a very small bag.
Inside were a small disposable syringe, pristine medical gloves, and… a tiny vial of clear medicine.
“You might need this soon.”
“…Thank you.”
With that muttered acknowledgment, Laura turned her body again. Her steps were taken without hesitation.
Perhaps it was a stroke of misfortune that Laura knew the exact way to the haunted house.
She had been contemplating the idea of visiting Professor Antorelli.
“Professor…!”
That thought tightened Laura’s chest even further.
Her steps began to quicken. She wanted to see Professor Antorelli right now.
Right now.
