Meanwhile, at the same time, a little girl peeked out and looked at Leticia and the wings inside the room. Her curious gaze fell on Kailas, who was kneeling in front of Leticia. The little girl smiled brightly as she looked at her thick, wavy, navy-blue hair.
“It’s sister! Sister is here! I have to tell Dad!”
The little girl’s name was Irene. She was the daughter of the doctor whom Kailas had saved before. Irene ran to the doctor as if she were flying and flung the door open.
“Dad! Daaad!”
“Gasp.”
The doctor, who had been planning to escape the mansion away from Ahwin’s eyes, was startled. He reflexively crumpled the paper and closed the door. He lifted his glasses with sweat dripping down.
“Irene, what’s the matter? Why did you run so fast? Did someone bully you? Did the wings bother you after all?”
“Nooo.”
Irene wrinkled her nose.
“Dad, why do you keep asking that? Why would sister and brothers bully me?”
“Haha, well, you see.”
“They all play with me so much. The Saintess is really nice to me too.”
“Shh! Dad told you not to call her the Saintess carelessly. If it becomes a habit, it will be a big problem!”
Even though there was no one listening, the doctor constantly looked around.
“Irene, promise me. For now, never use the title Saintess! We must be cautious until we are certain who the true Saintess is. Especially outside the mansion!”
The doctor had finally decided to leave the mansion. In fact, life in the mansion was surprisingly comfortable. The worries he had when he first came here were unfounded. Especially since Irene got along very well with the wings.
Despite that, the doctor felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
It was because he couldn’t be sure of Leticia’s victory.
It wasn’t that he doubted Leticia’s power.
The world he lived in was like that.
Justice didn’t always win.
Bad people thrived instead.
They deceived and exploited others.
The trash that abused the trust of good people did better.
In such a dog-eat-dog world, the doctor had only one way to survive.
To live quietly. To raise his daughter without drawing attention.
Using the title Saintess could wait until the victor was certain.
Unaware of her father’s feelings, the little daughter spoke excitedly.
“Dad, I just saw that sister. She was with the Saintess!”
“That sister?”
“The sister who saved you, the one who looked like the night sky! She was so cool then, and now she’s here!”
“The one who saved me? The one who cut the villain’s tongue? She’s here?”
The doctor asked, turning pale at the thought of that terrifying person being here.
“Irene, tell me more. Please?”
Regardless, Irene excitedly recounted what she had seen.
“Dad, I want to go to sister. I have to tell her that I’m here!”
“Haha, Irene. That wing has probably forgotten you. Let’s stay quietly in the room and let the high people greet each other. Don’t go outside for a while…. Irene! Where are you going! I’m not done talking yet!”
* * *
Unfortunately for the doctor, Kailas remembered Irene exactly. Kailas was very glad to see Irene after such a long time. When Irene asked if she remembered her name, she smiled and nodded.
“Of course, I remember. Irene. It was a very beautiful name.”
Maybe it was because she had pledged her loyalty to her true master. Her emotional amplitude was much greater than usual. Kailas affectionately patted Irene’s head.
“Wow, the new sister has such a unique charm. She punched Brother in the chest earlier, but she’s so kind to the child. It feels like she’s a different person.”
Banessa’s boisterous voice broke the moment. Kailas’ gaze turned cold. She brought the still cheerful Irene back to the doctor and then glared at Banessa.
“Who are you?”
“You mean my name? I think I introduced myself earlier, but I’ll tell you once more especially for you, Sister. If you’re talking about me…”
Banessa grinned. Noel quickly stepped in and covered Banessa’s mouth.
“His name is Banessa. He’s the third wing, but his mouth is the problem. If you can hit him, go ahead. It’s even better if you hit his mouth. He’s not a bad person. He’s really funny when he’s drunk.”
“Hey, Sister! Why are you bringing up last night again!”
“Sister? Noel, did that person just call you Sister?”
“Yes, that’s right. It just happened. I was annoyed at first too, but he’s not your average crazy guy. Eventually, I gave up on the title. Even Ahwin probably gave up on it.”
Noel laughed as she offered a teacup. Steam rose from the warm tea.
“Congratulations on becoming a wing, Kailas. I’m glad you’ll be with us.”
“…Thank you, Noel.”
Kailas looked down at the teacup. A sweet aroma rose from the brown tea. The warmth and the sweet fragrance seemed to tell her that she no longer needed to feel lonely or struggle. Her nose tingled.
“…Thank you so much.”
Finally, she could fully accept it. This was the place she belonged. Next to Leticia and the wings was her home.
* * *
“The healing power works a bit differently from holy power. It’s the same in that you lay your hands on the patient, though.”
There was something Kailas needed to start immediately in her new home. It was to help Leticia, who had awakened to the power of healing.
“Think about when you used the power of another wing. Close your eyes and focus on the energy flowing next to your heart. You use that power to purify the bad energy in the patient. Would you like to try?”
“Yes, I will.”
Following Kailas’ lead, Leticia placed her hand on Ahwin’s arm. She focused on the unfamiliar energy flowing within her. Something warm flowed gently into Ahwin’s body. Ahwin smiled softly.
“I can clearly feel the healing power, different from holy power. It’s fascinating. It seems that healing power has its own character. The power Kailas used earlier was much stronger than the one Lady Leticia is using now.”
“I’ve been using the healing power for a long time. Lady Leticia, you’ll get used to it soon. Since you’re the source of my power, you’ll become much stronger than I am.”
“Thank you for your encouragement.”
Kailas’ face turned red at Leticia’s gratitude. Leticia, who was looking at Kailas warmly, asked Ahwin.
“But Ahwin, did Kailas use her healing power on you? When? Where were you hurt?”
The little kitten, Kailas, who only wanted to be seen favorably by Leticia, stiffened. Ahwin, noticing this, suppressed his laughter. Seeing Kailas’ anxious look, Ahwin thought he should help her at least once.
“Oh, it’s fine now. I just had a little bump with Kailas.”
* * *
Since arriving here, Kailas had been constantly happy. It was a bit awkward, but she was glad to have comrades, and she was delighted to see Irene again after such a long time. She also felt a real sense of satisfaction when she taught Leticia about the healing power.
Happiness didn’t last long. After leaving Leticia’s room, Ahwin revealed Leticia’s curse to Kailas. Kailas doubted her ears and asked again.
“A curse? Did you just say a curse? Did Josephina curse Lady Leticia with a short life?”
“Yes.”
Kailas’ expression changed as she stared blankly at Ahwin. Her gaze was like lava about to erupt. Ahwin gave a bitter smile.
“Don’t show any signs in front of Lady Leticia. She’s not particularly worried about the curse.”
“Not worried? You said it’s a curse that shortens her life! She has only a few months left!”
“The goddess has given an oracle. She said Lady Leticia will definitely overcome the curse.”
Kailas looked at Ahwin with a face full of disbelief.
“We don’t know if the oracle will come true! And you’re smiling because of a mere oracle? She could die in a few months, is that really true?”
“…Yes.”
Not believing in the oracle was undoubtedly a blasphemous thought for the wings of the goddess. But for them, Leticia, who was right beside them, was more important than the distant goddess like the stars in the night sky.
“Does Lady Leticia know the way to break the curse? Is that why she’s at ease?”
“She knows the way, but she won’t use it.”
Ahwin calmly recounted his experiences. The conditions of the curse, Leticia returning from the past, and what she had told Ahwin.
“Lady Leticia said that the life of Crown Prince Dietrian is her life. It means we have to protect both of them together.”
“Hah.”
Kailas slumped into a chair. Just when she was enjoying the happiness of meeting her true master, she learned about her master’s curse. It felt like someone was toying with her fate. After a moment, Kailas spoke with a choke in her voice.
“I understand why Lady Leticia can smile. She accepted the curse because it’s one that can save her loved one.”
Even if there was an oracle, a human could not completely overcome the fear of death. However, since she decided to live, she would live her best.
“Because there may not be much time left. Because not a single moment can be wasted. That’s why she decided to smile.”
“…Yes, probably.”
Ahwin sighed and closed his eyes. It felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on his chest. Although they didn’t show it, the other wings felt the same. They were trembling with the fear of possibly losing Leticia.
Each had their own way of overcoming fear. Callisto had been obsessively clinging to ancient texts lately like a madman. Noel would suddenly disappear even though she seemed fine, and when she reappeared, her eyes were red.
Ahwin also felt the pressure, though he was better at controlling his emotions than the other wings. That was why he was the one helping Leticia most closely these days.
“His Highness the Prince is looking for another way to break the curse. We’ll leave the curse to him for now, and we should do what we can do right now.”
Even with that determination, he worried about how to handle it when the symptoms of the curse began to show.
After revealing her curse, Leticia explained what would happen in the future.
She said there would be more instances of coughing up blood, seizures, and prolonged pain.
She explained those unbelievable, unwanted events so calmly.
[Just in case, I’m explaining. Don’t take it too much to heart, Ahwin.]
Remembering that moment, Ahwin felt troubled, while Kailas remained silent for a long time.
Understanding her shock, Ahwin waited until she composed herself.
“Ahwin, is it true that ancient magic is mixed into Lady Leticia’s curse?”
“Yes. According to His Highness the Prince, it’s a very wicked magic.”
“Of course. It’s a curse that can only be broken by killing another person, so it must be a particularly evil power. Therefore, I must examine it myself.”
Kailas’ eyes gleamed strangely. Ahwin, who had been leaning against the wall, stood up straight.
“I’m the wing of healing. With the power to purify all darkness, I’m sure I can find some answers.”
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