“Did you say Princess Mezzlen’s blood type is CS-UR?”
A familiar voice echoed behind me, making me slowly turn my head.
“...Yes?”
“It’s a relief that she’s still alive. Prepare the blood transfusion spell immediately.”
“...Professor Harold? Are you planning to use the blood transfusion spell yourself?”
“I just heard there are only two hours left. Do we have the luxury of confirming my identity right now?”
“I-I’m sorry! I’ll prepare things right away...”
With Harold’s sudden appearance, the church infirmary became bustling. While I stood there in a daze, trying to process what was happening, I felt Ethan’s hand gently pulling me back.
“...Lillith, let’s step out for now. They said only the person performing the transfusion should stay.”
“...Alright.”
Even as we exited Princess Mezzlen’s room, I couldn’t help but glance back, seeing Harold quietly preparing the transfusion spell and Saintess Serista assisting him. My mind was still a whirl of confusion, unable to sort through my thoughts. I was half-dragged out of the room.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
Two hours had passed since Harold’s unexpected offer to perform the blood transfusion spell. I was no longer in Mezzlen’s room, but I still hadn’t been able to untangle my thoughts. I paced nervously outside her door, unable to quiet my mind.
I was worried about Princess Mezzlen’s condition, but more than that, Harold’s willingness to use the spell baffled me. Yet, the most troubling thing was the lingering thought that had wormed its way into my mind.
‘Saving Lizzie at the masquerade... ended up putting Mezzlen’s life at risk.’
On one side, there was Lizzie, Karaham, and the entire Auguste family. On the other, Princess Mezzlen. If I had to choose which life to save, the wiser decision would be...
Probably the former.
Both Lizzie and Mezzlen are important to me, but the lives of the entire Auguste family are also at stake. But then... what if I didn’t act? If the Auguste family was slaughtered, but I could push a button to save them at the cost of one life...
And if that one life was Princess Mezzlen, would I be able to push that button?
“...”
I didn’t know.
Even though I understood what was right, and who was more valuable, I couldn’t bring myself to decide. I had already interfered with the original story’s events, and if I kept doing so, someone who wasn’t meant to die would inevitably be killed because of me. Maybe it had already happened. And next time, the one in danger could be someone even closer to me than Princess Mezzlen.
Ethan? Sure, I had already saved him once, and it was more like redemption in his case. But what if someone else—Agnes, Natalie, or even Isabel—were to face death because of my past actions? Could I forgive myself? If someday, saving someone’s life meant sacrificing another, or if my choices caused such a situation, what would I do then?
‘I’m not even the protagonist of Luminor Academy, so why am I wrestling with these kinds of thoughts...?’
One thing was clear: when Mezzlen almost died, it felt like my heart had stopped. Even though, by all accounts, we weren’t that close.
There was no guarantee that the danger Mezzlen faced wouldn’t reach Agnes or Isabel. Or Ethan.
As I sat there, trying to make sense of my thoughts, the door quietly opened, and an exhausted-looking Serista stepped out.
“Haa, haa...”
“Serista!”
“Saintess Serista!”
Before I could react, the hero caught Serista as she collapsed from exhaustion. Words of concern escaped my mouth as I rushed toward her.
For a moment, I wondered if it was right to ask about Mezzlen’s condition when Serista herself looked like a patient. But fortunately, Serista spoke first.
“...Princess... Mezzlen is... safe for now...”
“For now?”
“It was lucky... that Professor Harold had the same blood type... Any later, and it would have been impossible to perform the transfusion spell... How could there have been such a coincidence...”
“...”
“We can only pray for her recovery now. Her body received so much divine power today that we can’t use any more healing spells for the time being...”
“Serista?!”
“She must have been extremely fatigued from treating the Princess.”
“She’s had a hard day, that’s for sure.”
With those words, the hero gently lifted Serista’s legs into his arms, cradling her as he stood.
“I’ll make sure Serista gets some rest. I know where her room is.”
“...Alright, take care of her.”
“Lillith... you should relax too. The Princess is safe for now, so there’s no need to look so troubled.”
“...Thank you, Hero.”
...Perhaps he understood why I looked so distressed. After all, even he must know that in the original story, there was no route where Mezzlen died.
My mind was still tangled, but at least the anxiety that had been gnawing at my heart eased. At least now, I wouldn’t have to witness Princess Mezzlen die because of me.
“You’ve been waiting out here?”
“How... did the transfusion go?”
“Nothing serious. I’m just a little stiff. I’ll have to do a few more sessions, so I’ll be staying in the room next to Mezzlen for the time being.”
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“Are you sure you’ll be alright? The new semester starts in two days...”
“I’ll cancel the first two weeks and make up for it at the end of the term. My class schedule isn’t something you need to worry about, Lillith.”
“...I’m sorry, Professor Harold.”
“...”
I couldn’t help but feel that Professor Harold having to adjust his schedule was somehow my fault. After all, he had no idea why I was so attached to Princess Mezzlen’s survival...
“You.”
“...Yes?”
“From the way you’re acting, it seems like you know why Princess Mezzlen ended up in this situation.”
“...What?”
“Did you have a hand in her kidnapping? Or perhaps you helped the culprit?”
“...?!”
“N-no! I only wanted Princess Mezzlen to be safe!”
“...Then why do you keep looking at me with such guilt in your eyes? When you were crying by Mezzlen’s side earlier, it was as if you were mourning a terrible mistake.”
“...No, that’s not...”
Harold’s eyes bore into me as though he already knew all my secrets. His gaze felt like a sword, ready to strike at the smallest move. I stood frozen in place, like a frog facing a snake.
“Stop, Father.”
“...”
“...Master Ethan?”
“Lillith has done nothing but pray for Princess Mezzlen’s recovery. How can you accuse her of being involved in the kidnapping, Father?”
Ethan stepped between us, defending me against Harold’s accusations.
While I remained unsure of how to respond, Ethan continued speaking in my defense.
“It was Lillith who played the most crucial role in rescuing Princess Mezzlen. She was the first to find where the Princess was hidden, the one who carried her from the underground to here, and the one shouting for help, trying to find someone with the right blood type. Lillith waited here for two hours, worrying non-stop while the Princess was treated.”
“I’ve heard the story from Serista during the transfusion. But even so, there’s still guilt in her eyes that I can’t overlook.”
“You’re basing your suspicions on her eyes alone? Lillith has been working as a maid for the Blackwood family for nearly ten years now...”
“Lillith. Look me in the eye and answer. Did you kidnap Princess Mezzlen?”
“Father!!”
“...No, I did not.”
“Then, did you assist in the kidnapping, or help the kidnappers in any way?”
“...No.”
“Do you want Princess Mezzlen to recover? Or would you prefer she never wakes up?”
“I want her to recover.”
“...”
“Even if it means I must die in her place.”
“Father, that’s enough!!”
“...”
Harold stared at me in silence for a long moment before turning away. With a warning tone, he left me with one final piece of advice.
“If you haven’t done anything wrong, then carry yourself with pride. Don’t act like a criminal when you’re not one.”
“...Yes, Professor Harold.”
“...I apologize for suspecting you, even for a moment. Forgive me.”
“...No need to apologize, Professor.”
With that, Harold left the room, but the weight of his words and my unresolved emotions lingered. I remained frozen in place, unable to shake the knot of guilt in my chest.