TSBSFVW 65

Chapter 65
Bread Eleven. Just admit it, you won’t die (1)

The healer said,

“You’re healed, but you mustn’t overdo it yet. Rest for a while.”

“I’m completely healed — do I still need convalescence?”

“…….”

The imperial healer of the Yan Empire stared at Ellie for a moment with a baffled expression. Ellie met his gaze unabashedly. Not knowing something wasn’t a sin, and it wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

You’d only know by meeting a healer. Ellie had suffered many burns, but all she ever had done was get ointment put on. Because of that, scars remained along her forearms and the backs of her hands.

“Just because someone looks fully healed doesn’t mean the injury never happened, miss.”

“Please just call me Ellie.”

“The basic principle of healing — whether it’s magic or divine power — is drawing out and using the person’s own life force to mend wounds. The difference is only whether the medium is divine power or mana. In your case, you had a deep cut on your palm, four fingers where bone was exposed, a dislocated right shoulder, a fracture in the left arm bone, and a hairline crack in the right ankle….”

“…….”

“All those burdens were shared across your whole body, so the sensible course is to let it rest for a while, don’t you think?”

“Y-yes, I see. I was badly injured, then… Thank you. It healed so cleanly I didn’t realize.”

“As for the fingers, His Highness Demian specifically ordered that every finger be made whole no matter what, so we paid special attention to them.”

My fingers — the bones showed, huh….

Ellie got goosebumps and unconsciously clenched and unclenched her fist. She’d been so excited at the time that she hadn’t felt the pain. It wasn’t an exaggeration.

‘From now on I must never act recklessly.’

She thanked the healer once more. He smiled faintly and said,

“I was only following His Highness Demian’s orders. Now rest.”

“Yes!”

After the healer left, Ellie fell into thought about what she should do next.

‘What exactly does “convalesce” mean? Can I work? Can I ride in a carriage?’

You’d only know by trying to rest.

She wanted, above all, to go back to Rayad immediately.

She’d taken a week’s leave, and then a few hectic days had passed — she’d already been away from the shop for nearly two weeks.

While she was on leave she’d asked Maurice about how things were in Rayad sometimes, but he kept replying, “When you’re resting you shouldn’t think about work,” and wouldn’t tell her anything. He said they’d contact her if anything came up and that she should relax.

But, looking back, that was the start of the mistake.

Ellie owned the business; it was absurd not to know what was happening. Leaving on a holiday that was basically a kidnapping and not arranging a separate way to contact Malina had been an error. She didn’t distrust Maurice, but working with him and having things happen without her knowing were completely different matters.

At that moment, Ban knocked and came in.

“Ellie, is the treatment over?”

“Yes. He said I’m healed.”

Ban was holding a large tray with one hand. The steam rose from a hot fish soup and roasted meat. The delicious smell made her appetite surge.

The dishes, using spices Ellie hadn’t tasted back in Rayad, perfectly suited her palate.

Of course, the kitchen staff were skilled as well. They said they were paying extra attention to the meal selections as a show of respect for Ellie, who’d shared the recipes, and told her to ask for anything she wanted to eat more of.

Ellie believed that anyone who brought food was a good person.

Not always, but for the most part, probably.

Ellie reached for the tray, but Ban lifted it higher and stared at her.

“Ellie, did you really only say you were healed?”

“……He said I should rest for the time being.”

“When did you get so good at lying?”

“I said I was healed too. That’s not really a lie.”

“Eat a lot and rest, okay? Now, you must finish your food. The kitchen staff said they’ll check to make sure you ate it all.”

“They’ll inspect it…?”

“They made it into a nourishing restorative dish. Everyone’s been worried about you. You’re popular.”

“I had some part in that.”

That was mostly because she’d generously handed out recipes, but Ellie didn’t add that explanation — she only accepted the conclusion. The attention felt burdensome but not unpleasant. Who would dislike being liked?

Ellie shot Ban a look that begged him to put the tray down, and he obediently set the food before her.

“Can I leave right after this?”

“We were just talking about convalescence.”

“I can sleep in the carriage….”

“Do you think riding in a jolting carriage for more than eight hours is really convalescence?”

“……You’ve gotten more eloquent lately, haven’t you?”

“You say nonsense so persistently.”

“But I want to return to Rayad quickly. I’m concerned about the shop. Maybe ask Edmund?”

“Long-distance teleporting is more taxing than traveling by carriage. Even a healthy person gets nauseous over a short teleport.”

“But I still want to go. I’m really fine. If we rest every two hours, can’t we make it?”

Saying she wanted to return out loud made her want it even more.

Words had power.

Once spoken, the vague wish became a clear shape.

“No, it’ll be fine. Alright, let’s go but take it easy.”

“You decide everything again on your own.”

Ban sighed softly.

Ellie felt a twinge and glanced at him.

She didn’t need Ban’s permission. If he’d said no, she would have bristled. But Ban was speaking out of worry for her; she shouldn’t ignore that.

“It’s not a final decision….”

Seeing her hesitate, Ban smiled a little.

“Ellie. You’ve started to like me a bit, haven’t you?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden….”

“If you were the Ellie who said she disliked me, you’d have taken off on your own — I’d probably have gone too, and we’d both be gone in a hurry.”

“…….”

“Well, it can’t be helped. Since I’m pleased, we’ll leave tomorrow. But you must rest for thirty minutes every two hours.”

Ban said this with mock sternness.

He wasn’t really scary, and Ellie nodded.

“I’ll tell Eddie, too.”

“Eddie doesn’t have any luggage to worry about.”

“Still. Maurice might not be able to come.”

“We don’t need him — just the two of us will do.”

“Then that’ll be fine. He must be busy.”

Edmund and Ban came to fetch Ellie right away, and even Demian came by to see her, but Maurice still hadn’t been found.

‘He must have hurt his arm — is he alright…?’

She guessed he was busy handling the aftermath of events and tried not to dwell on it.

Still, having woken up last night, met Demian this morning, and now it was nearly lunchtime with no sign of Maurice made her a little resentful.

‘No, is that something to be resentful about? He could be busy.’

Ellie frowned and looked down.

It wasn’t anything major. She knew his reputation: cold-blooded moneylender, miserly with money. Yet the persistent uneasy feeling came from the face she’d seen right before she fainted — the intensity of that look.

That face.

The arms that had clung desperately.

That gaze.

Her head felt tangled and her chest tight.

“Ellie. Eat up.”

“I’m not full yet.”

“You’ve put your spoon down.”

“I will finish it….”

Ellie alternated between meat and soup, chewing industriously.

Edmund lay sprawled on the sofa, giving Maurice a sideways glare.

Maurice, reading his piled-up reports, rubbed his cheek where Edmund’s gaze had been fixed and said,

“Something on your face?”

“No.”

“Then why do you stare like that? Your look’s distracting me.”

“You’re lying. You can ignore someone for days if you want.”

“You’re not someone I’d ignore, Eddie.”

Edmund snorted.

“You talk big. If I weren’t the tower lord, you wouldn’t even speak to me.”

“You’d have still spoken. You’re someone to scout.”

“Hmph.”

Despite Edmund’s pointed attitude, Maurice only chuckled.

Anyway, that was the situation.

Edmund thought Maurice was a fairly comfortable friend, but didn’t really know him well. He only knew parts. Ban showed sincerity, but Maurice never had.

‘They don’t pry into the uncomfortable things, so being together is easy…’

From a past of slavery to clawing up to the top ranks, what connected them was a thin sense of shared familiarity.

Maurice said little about himself, and Edmund likewise didn’t talk much, so Edmund didn’t resent that. But this time he couldn’t help asking.

“I never thought you’d be the type to risk getting hurt to save someone.”

He definitely wasn’t that type.

“Do you like Ellie?”