"Cerulean, hurry back to the castle. I have received word that your brother and his party will be returning by the end of the day."
Cerulean was my incognito name. I always used this name when I went out into the city so that people around me didn't notice my true disguise.
"I see, it seems that it went well, coming back in just one month as originally planned. As expected of Savis." (Laurence)
Saying that, I turned to Colette.
"Colette, I'm sorry, but can we stop our trip to the city here and return to the royal castle? I don't want to tire you out too much... argh!" (Laurence)
However, when I turned towards Colette, I turned my body too quickly and ended up my upper arm hit the wall.
Colette frowned involuntarily and tilted her head.
"Cerulean, are you hurt?" (Colette)
"Huh, no..." (Laurence)
Colette stared at me intently, so I quickly hid my arm behind my back, but my movement aroused suspicion.
I made a mistake. Normally I didn't groan just because I bumped into a wall a little, and I didn't hide my arms just because I looked suspicious. It seemed I was in a hurry and started behaving suspiciously.
As Colette continued to stare at me, I finally gave up and held out my arm, and I rolled up my sleeve. Then I revealed my swollen upper arm, injured during sword training.
"Well, it looks bad, but the actual injuries aren't that bad..." (Laurence)
"Cerulean, I am a Saint. May I heal you?" (Colette)
"……yes, please" (Laurence)
It seemed like Colette's condition worsened every time she used her saintly powers, so I would prefer not to be cured, but doing so might be perceived as denying her status as a saint. Thinking that, I offered my arm as requested.
"Colette, swordsmanship training is a set of getting hit and feeling the pain. It's important to know the sensation of 'If I receive an attack of this magnitude, I'll be hurt to this extent.' So, it's better not to be healed too much..." (Laurence)
Not wanting to give up, I tried to interject some words to help Colette use less magical power, but she didn't seem to hear me and just placed her both hands over my injury and chanted a healing spell. Then, little by little, the redness of the swollen area subsided and the throbbing pain subsided.
After a few minutes, my arm was back to normal, with only a slight redness remaining.
"Thank you, Colette! You're amazing." (Laurence)
As a saint, Colette could heal injuries using only the magical power within her body. Thinking that, Colette was amazing after all, I looked at her with admiration, and she smiled sweetly with joy.
"I'm glad your injuries have healed, Cerulean." (Colette)
The smile on Colette's face was the same as usual, but I noticed that her face had turned as white as paper.
"Colette?" (Laurence)
Suspicious, I called her name, and sweat began to trickle down her forehead.
"Huh!" (Laurence)
By the time she realized it, it was already too late, and she stumbled back and forth as if unable to stand.
So when I opened my arms wide and held her in my arms, she collapsed and coughed, spitting up blood.
"Wha-!!"
"Colette!?"
As Lloyd and I looked on in a panic, Colette began coughing up blood one after another.
Lloyd signaled to the escorting knights who were standing a short distance away and gave the order to turn the carriage around. Perhaps our desperation was conveyed, as the order was carried out swiftly, and Lloyd, Colette and I climbed into the carriage and headed straight for the royal castle.
As soon as I got off the carriage, I picked up the unconscious Colette and ran down the corridors of the royal castle.
"Where's mother?!" (Laurence)
I called out as I ran, and one of the knights guarding the corridor replied, "Her private room!" So, despite the pain, I ran as fast as I could to my mother's room, and sure enough, she was there. It seemed she was in the middle of a conversation with my mother's brother-in-law, Count Peiz, who had recently inherited a title.
"Mother!" (Laurence)
With that said, I collapsed onto the floor in front of the sofa where my mother was sitting, still holding Colette. I had run from the entrance of the castle to this room with Colette in my arms, my legs and lungs were all at limit.
I carefully laid Colette on the carpet so my mother could see, and then I looked up at her. She could only breathe heavily and was unable to speak right away, but she thought that anyone would be able to see the terrible state of Colette's body, her dress stained with her own blood, without having to explain. She needed help right now.
However, when my mother saw Colette, her expression didn't change, and she just looked down at me silently without saying a word. It was as if she had no intention of doing anything unless I said something.
So, while I was trying to quickly explain the situation and trying to calm my heavy breathing, Lloyd came running in next to me and let out a shriek-like voice.
"Colette spat out blood! So much so that nearly half of her dress was stained with blood! If this continues, she will die!" (Lloyd)
Perhaps hearing Lloyd's voice, Colette opened her eyes slightly and tried to sit up. However, at that moment, she coughed again and spat out fresh blood. At the same time, a wound as if caused by a sword suddenly appeared on her face and arms, and blood began to spurt from those wounds.
"Colette!?" (Lloyd)
Lloyd shouted, stretching out his arms and embracing Colette.
"Oh no, no! Please stop the bleeding!" (Lloyd)
Lloyd pleaded desperately, but it seemed unlikely that his wish would be granted.
Colette collapsed and lost consciousness again, and new blood continued to flow from his cheeks and arms in Lloyd's arms. When Lloyd saw that, he turned pale and looked at my mother as if clinging to her.
"Your Majesty, please save my sister! I don't want anything else! If you tell me to retreat to my territory, I will stay with my sister for the rest of my life! If necessary, I will offer you all the assets of my dukedom! So please save my sister!" (Lloyd)
My breathing had returned to normal a little, and I was finally able to speak again, so I pleaded desperately next to Lloyd.
"Mother, I beg you too! I don't want anything else, so please save Colette!" (Laurence)
Then my mother brushed her hair back as if thinking.
"Isn't Colette your future wife? The one who becomes the queen should be the most holy woman in the country. Whatever wounds she has, she should heal them herself and show everyone her power as a holy woman."