Two weeks have passed since the last infected patient was treated.
After that, there were no new infections.
If there is no infected person in two weeks, the end will be decided and we can return to the Tenar Kingdom.
“I have a story for Lilith.”
Gresis-sama, who has already returned to human form and has fully recovered, came to visit the room.
Perhaps it isn’t a very good story, Gresis-sama sighed and sat down on the sofa.
For some reason, I sat next to Gresis-sama, stroking his back.
“The request for support other than Lilith and Crane has been lifted. Three days from now, we, the Knights, must return home soon.”
Now that there were no new patients, the Knights were free.
Even if there are patients in the future, the number of people should be small, so it will be possible to respond well with the local knights.
However, only we can do the treatment.
“It’s difficult to return home together, isn’t it?”
It doesn’t mean that there won’t be any new infections in the next two weeks.
If there is an infected person, there is a possibility that the beast person involved is infected.
It takes about a month for symptoms to appear.
So I have to stay for another month just in case.
I’m worried if I’ll really be able to go home.
“We have written a letter in advance to make it clear that everyone will return home together. Tomorrow, I have a meeting with Harence and Curtance about returning home. I’m going to discuss it until I get a good reply.”
Gresis-sama held my hand.
“I will let you take a walk in the garden during the meeting, but I will definitely take you back home together. So I want you to wait for me.”
Gresis-sama always gives me the words I want and moves to get rid of my anxiety.
“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”
I was so happy that I held his hand.
The next day, around 1 p.m.
While Gresis-sama was having a meeting, I went to the garden.
The absorption of natural energy is satisfying both mentally and physically.
Even in the Kingdom of Howl, walking in the garden has become a daily routine.
December. Before I noticed, the season has turned to winter, and it’s especially cold in the morning and evening.
After the treatment was over, I usually took a walk at a warm time after lunch.
When I was taking a walk in the garden with Agar, the exclusive escort of the day, I met a familiar face.
“Oh, Martis, long time no see.”
“It’s been a long time. Are you going for a walk?”
“Yes.”
Martis was a knight who came to help.
As a wolf beast man, he is tall and has a trained body.
Dark brown hair, amber eyes, and a well-groomed and warm face.
He was popular and conspicuous among female patients.
“If you don’t mind, I can guide you to a recommended place. Because this place is like a garden.”
He was gentlemanly as usual.
“But the knights are busy, aren’t they?”
Although Agar was there, I was hesitant to take a walk with a man I didn’t know, so I gently refused.
“It’s okay. We don’t have any patients, so I’m free. And I also have something to say to Her Royal Highness.”
Agar, who was wary of the knight Martis, who was too friendly and forceful to a married woman of the royal family, stood in front of Martis with his back on me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I hid it for a reason, but I’m actually the third prince. There is evidence, too.”
He turned over the back of the collar and showed the wolf embroidery, which is only allowed to be used by the royal family of the Kingdom of Howl.
It seems to be true that he is a member of the royal family.
“So don’t be so wary. I just want to thank you for the treatment, so I’m just inviting you to a tea party. Of course, Mr. Crane will also be there. Nell is actually the fourth prince, and he’s going to invite Lord Crane right now. I heard that Princess Lilith is in the garden, so I came to call her. Why don’t you join us until Gresis’s meeting is over?”
Prince Martis’s language suddenly became familiar.
Maybe he relaxed his mind because he revealed his true identity.
Even though the prince himself went out of his way for me, it’s rude to refuse.
“It’s an honor to be invited by you directly, Your Highness. I will definitely participate.”
Going to the place where the tea party is held is a pleasure. So I walked in the garden for a while.
On the way, he showed me the highlights and we had a good time.
“Princess Lilith, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but it smells very good. Is it potpourri?”
Prince Martis said as if he suddenly remembered.
“Yes, it’s a rose potpourri made by the gardener.”
“It’s a very unusual scent. If you don’t mind, could you lend me a little? I want to show it to my country’s gardener.”
“Yes, please.”
When I took out a rose potpourri from my pocket and offered it to Prince Martis, Prince Martis called out to the man who was by his side.
“If you show this potpourri to the gardener, please return it as soon as possible.”
“Yes.”
When the man received the potpourri from Prince Martis, he left.
I didn’t realize that you were by his side, but I’m sure it’s Prince Martis’s escort. Because the royal family should always have an escort.
When we walked further, we came to a casual place.
“This is a secret spot. You can enter the royal palace from here. Sometimes, guard, you don’t need that arrow anymore, do you?”
Prince Martis turned his eyes to Agar.
“No, our unit still needs to be wary of insanity.”
Prince Martis looked troubled by Agar’s argument.
“I’m grateful that you’re enthusiastic about your work, but there are also nobles and guests in the main residence. I don’t want to incite anxiety that there could be an infection in vain. Can I keep it for a while?”
“. . . Understood.”
Prince Martis also has a point.
When Agar handed the quiver to Prince Martis, Prince Martis showed interest in the arrow.
“How effective is the sleep arrow? I helped with the assistance, but I didn’t go to the site where people were stuck with it.”
“They’ll fall asleep in a few minutes, and if you leave it as it is, they’ll wake up in about four hours, and if you pull out the arrow, they’ll wake up in about 30 minutes. The medicine painted on the arrow only lasts 30 minutes, but there is also medicine in the arrow, so if the arrow is stuck in the body, the effect will last.”
Prince Martis, who heard Agar’s explanation, takes the arrow out of the quiver and stares at the tip seriously.
“Is there medicine inside? I see. If you look closely, there is a small hole. It’s amazing even though the tip is so small. Thank you for the easy-to-understand explanation.”
“It’s nothing.”
Prince Martis happily put his hand on agar’s slightly bowing shoulder, tapped it, and thrust the arrow in the opposite hand into Agar’s chest.
“Ugh. . . !”
Agar shook off Prince Martis’s hand and stepped back, pulled out the arrow thrust into his chest on his own, and threw it to the ground.
“Huh? Your Highness? Kyaah!”
For some unknown reason, His Highness Martis pulled me by the arm and went behind me.
Agar is hesitant to pull out his sword.
It’s because I’m being used as a shield.
“Agar, I believe in you, so pull out your sword.”
“. . . .As you say.”
Agar clutched the handle of his sword with a determined expression.
“Escort-dono, if you move, the princess will experience something ugly. Is that okay?”
Agar stopped at the words of Prince Martis behind me.
I’m being held hostage. . .
“What is your purpose?”
As if the medicine had started taking effect, Agar staggered and stared at Prince Martis while kneeling on the ground.
“Uh. . . Aaah!”
I felt an impact and pain on the back of my right shoulder, and I couldn’t help but let out a voice.
“Your Highness!”
His Highness Martis laughs at the pale Agar.
“Oh, it’s because the escort moved. Poor thing.”
I heard the sound of something being thrown on the ground.
Every time it throbs, I feel like my body loses strength and gets heavier.
Suddenly, when I saw two arrows with blood rolling on the ground, I realized that I had been stabbed by a sleep arrow.
“Oh, that’s right, the purpose. It’s definitely tea, isn’t it? That’s what I said. Right, Lilith?”
Prince Martis smiles with a gentle expression as if he were a lover, holding me up when my legs are out of strength.
With that expression, I turned my face to Agar.
“It’s just that the guard was in the way.”
“. . . . I won’t forgive you.”
Agar is on his knees, pulling out his sword and somehow keeping consciousness.
Even if you pull out the arrow right away, you will fall asleep for 30 minutes because of the medicine applied to the arrowhead.
I’m sure he is approaching his limit.
Prince Martis spoke to someone.
“Get rid of it.”
“Yes.”
I can’t believe someone was still waiting.
Agar will be killed.
While fighting against sleepiness, I desperately appealed to Prince Martis.
“Please. . . don’t kill Agar. . .”
My body is too heavy to keep my eyes open any longer.
I lost consciousness. . .
Lilith has been kidnapped! Why?! There are so many possible reasons going through my head that I just don’t know!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!
