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Chapter 24
– Do I Look Pretty?
“Treat those marked with black scars first, but if anyone loses consciousness, report it immediately.”
Sabbas divided the injured by severity. Thanks to him, the physicians were able to act swiftly. Once order was established, the once-chaotic relief shelter gradually settled down.
“How should we set priorities?”
“You’re not ready to classify them yet. When we return to the Imperial Palace, I’ll give you a medical text. Study it thoroughly.”
After following him for days, Rose concluded she had much to learn. Sabbas’s fairy blessing of Regeneration showed her the proper way to apply her powers. Since both of them approached healing from a medical standpoint, he even took it upon himself to act as her teacher.
He was a cantankerous old man, but she couldn’t help but feel awe. The idea of applying Paralysis to medicine was surprisingly modern.
“In this era, wouldn’t most people think of poisonings or assassinations first?”
Once, Sabbas had spoken to her about how one should view fairy blessings.
“No matter how wicked a power may seem, how you use it changes everything. If you truly intend to use it for good, then even ‘Paralysis’ or a ‘Curse’ becomes a noble blessing.”
Rose knew exactly who he meant by “Curse.”
“Are you saying Grand Duke Ludwig’s power is also a noble blessing?”
“I hope so.”
He answered with a voice carrying hope. Rose, however, thought the chance of that was slim. While she was lost in thought, Sabbas smacked her hard.
“You should worry about yourself first! No matter how splendid a power may look, if it’s used with vanity, it’s nothing more than a curse!”
She was exhausted just keeping up with this spry old man.
“If not for the eyes of the healed patients, I’d have quit long ago.”
Those who regained their health looked at Sabbas and Rose with deep respect and gave thanks again and again. Soon, they even began helping the apprentices around the shelter. Considering how wary they had been at first because she was royalty, the change was remarkable. After several nights working side by side, Rose even grew fond of them.
She gathered sheets and blankets into a pile. Laundry was an unending daily task.
“Ugh. Smells awful. Guess I’ll have to do it myself.”
She grimaced at her sticky body. None of her clothes were intact anymore. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her shoes were caked with some unidentifiable black sludge.
“God, I miss bathing.”
Since possessing this body, every time she tried to enter a bathtub she had to brace herself.
Touching water was bearable, but anything deep enough to submerge her head sent her into panic.
“I never had this problem before I died.”
Even the sound of rain made her melancholy—her fear of water was worse than she thought. Looking at the laundry she was trying to lift, Lance came over to help.
“You’re taking this to the wash area, right?”
“Yes. Let’s hurry while the rain has let up.”
After she collapsed once, Sabbas must have worried, because he stopped holding her to every chore and let Lance share the burden. That gave her a little breathing room.
Just as she headed toward the wash place near the shelter, she spotted Arsen talking with Gawain. Startled at the thought of meeting him in her disheveled state, she quickly turned back.
“Your Highness, the wash area is that way.”
“I’ll go around!”
But suddenly, someone grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. It was Arsen—though he’d been at the far end of the corridor, he was now right beside her. Fixing his gaze on her, he gave Lance a curt nod.
“You may return. I’ll accompany Her Highness.”
“Eh? But the laundry—”
“Leave it. I’ll take care of it.”
Taking the laundry pile from Lance, Arsen addressed Rose, who stood frozen.
“Come along. It’ll pour again soon.”
Even without bathing in the same rough environment, he still looked pristine and dignified. Worried he might smell her stench, Rose hid her face behind the laundry bundle.
The wash area wasn’t far. They passed the corridor, crossed a stone path covered in puddles, and came to the well, where apprentices were hauling buckets. Rose handed them the laundry and wiped the sweat from her brow.
“Please use this handkerchief.”
Arsen held out a tiny, delicate handkerchief. Its soft fabric and dainty embroidery didn’t seem like his at all.
“Where did you get this? Doesn’t look like yours.”
“It’s yours, Your Highness.”
He looked away awkwardly.
“Suspicious…”
She glared, but he wasn’t going to explain. Still, wiping her face left her feeling refreshed.
“Whew, that’s better.”
“Is Master Sabbas not too harsh with you?”
“What choice do I have? At least I’m helping. I’m learning too.”
“Make sure to rest. If you collapse again, I’ll escort you back to the palace immediately.”
His pitying gaze made her laugh bitterly. She really must look awful.
Rumble—thunder rolled. Heavy rain followed.
“What fickle weather.”
The thought of being soaked again drained her energy.
“Let’s shelter over there.”
Arsen pointed at a pavilion and tugged her along. Even with one hand, his grip engulfed her shoulder. Glancing up, Rose was reminded of their stark difference in size.
They dashed into the round-roofed pavilion.
“Doesn’t look like it’ll stop soon.”
Arsen tested the rain with his hand. Rose panted for breath, water trickling from her chin down her neck. Her drenched clothes clung heavily.
Sheets of rain blurred the world. An uneasy chill shook her body—not just from cold. Her throat burned as she swallowed, her hands pale as a corpse’s.
“Your Highness.”
Arsen looked down at her intently, then seated her on a bench and clasped her icy hands in his. Gradually, warmth seeped back. A stray raindrop fell on their joined hands before vanishing. Meeting his steady eyes calmed her.
“Congratulations on safely manifesting your noble power.”
His sudden words left her blank.
“…What?”
“I mean your fairy blessing. I don’t think I properly said it at the Sacred Rite.”
“It’s been two months. About time.”
“Even if late, I had to say it.”
Rose gave a helpless laugh. He was ever so upright.
“So? Your impression?”
She tucked damp hair behind her ear. His gaze followed her hand.
“Now that I’ve awakened my fairy power—do I look pretty?”
Arsen’s lips twitched. As their eyes met, the rain drummed louder, streams pouring from the eaves. When he finally answered, his voice was as deep as thunder.
“You have always been beautiful.”
Her eyes widened.
“Whoa. You startled me, saying it like that.”
Flustered, she looked away. But his next words froze her.
“Awakening your blessing changes nothing. Before and now, Your Highness is the royal I vowed to serve.”
“That almost sounds like you follow me only because I’m royalty.”
“It is a vow of absolute loyalty.”
It was the answer of a soldier to a sovereign. Nothing could be firmer. Yet Rose couldn’t hide her disappointment.
“Why am I disappointed? He said he’s loyal. That means I won’t die anytime soon.”
Still, staring at his strong hands clasping hers, she felt something unfamiliar stir. The warmth seeping into her seemed to reach her heart.
“Help! Somebody help!”
Arsen jumped up defensively. A child came sprinting through the rain into the shelter. Alarmed, Rose said quickly:
“We need to go back.”
“Yes. Something’s happened.”
Back at the shelter, the boy collapsed into Sabbas’s arms.
“Where have you been!”
Sabbas stripped the child’s soaked shirt and called Rose over.
“Good heavens, feel that fever. Tai was frail to begin with…”
Priestess Aer murmured anxiously.
“Fetch warm water, towels, and dry clothes! Rose, come closer.”
The physicians bustled. Sabbas grabbed her hand and pressed it to the boy’s chest.
“Listen well. You’re going to use Regeneration.”
“What? All of a sudden?”
He had told her not to use it, but now he demanded she heal with her blessing.
“Just a very small amount. His immunity has collapsed. All you need to do is restore enough strength for recovery. Then we let nature heal.”
“But I don’t know how to control it properly.”
“That’s why I’m here. I’ll guide you step by step.”
He placed his withered palm over her hand. Trusting him, Rose released her power. A fierce light burst forth. Sabbas spoke gently, like instructing a child.
“Stay calm. Like opening a side stream from a river—slowly.”
As she slowed the flow, the once-blinding light softened. White radiance leaked only faintly between her fingers. She began to sense finer control. Following the glow, she felt a pathway: a tiny heart beating rapidly through warm veins.
“There it is!”
She poured Regeneration there. Gradually, the boy’s color returned.
“Well done.”
Checking his pulse, Sabbas withdrew his hand. Soon the boy’s eyes fluttered open.
“Did I really do it perfectly just now?”
Rose stared at her hand, dazed, until the priestess rushed over.
“Tai! Are you alright?”
Sabbas helped the boy into a shirt and asked,
“Do you know this child?”
“Yes, he’s one of the orphans the monastery cares for.”
“Lady Aer, it’s terrible…”
With a hoarse voice, the boy clutched her robe.
“The priests…”
“What about them? What happened?”
His next words plunged the room into chaos.
“It’s the plague. The plague!”
