Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 0

I thought I had grown quite accustomed to it, but carrying the water-filled bucket up to the second floor felt heavy today. Though it wasn’t that long of a distance, for some reason I was out of breath.

My arm throbbed with pain, and because of that, even my usual familiar tasks were becoming difficult.

(Lady Lupina is capricious…)

Yesterday she declared she disliked my voice and struck me with her whip.

As usual.

As long as I remain Rosalina, the fact that I was born as an illegitimate child of the Count Ivor family will never change.

When I look down, the brown hair—completely different from Lady Lupina’s—catches the corner of my eye.

Though born from a commoner mother, my appearance resembles Lady Lupina’s with silver hair, and my blue eyes are quite similar to Count Ivor’s. My features too. If I had to point out a difference, perhaps my coloring is slightly lighter than Lady Lupina’s.

My silver hair is closer to white, and my blue eyes are a bit brighter.

That often provokes Lady Lupina’s anger.

“How insulting to be compared to a bastard like you. Your hair isn’t silver. Unlike my radiant silver hair, yours is an ugly white like an old woman’s.”

So, though I can’t change my eye color, I dye my hair brown and braid it into a single bun to be as inconspicuous as possible. But yesterday, I nearly had my hair cut off.

“If you cut her hair, she’ll lose her value as a noble lady. What would Count Ivor think?”

If the maid Bennett hadn’t stopped her, my hair would have been mercilessly chopped off at the roots of the braid by now.

Even though I’m an illegitimate child, I am Count Ivor’s daughter. So, while treated like a servant, I also receive the minimum education expected of a lady.

That’s because Count Ivor, who took me in after my mother’s death, intends to marry me off to some noble family later. I’m already sixteen.

It wouldn’t be strange if I were soon married off for political reasons. My own wishes won’t be considered. But if my hair were short, I’d be useless.

“What noble lady? You have lowly blood flowing through you! You’re not the same as her!”

And instead of having my hair cut, I was struck harshly on the arm with the whip.

I know that “her” refers to the woman Lady Lupina has come to despise most recently.

Lady Haruhina.

Lately, Lady Lupina has been constantly badmouthing her. Lady Haruhina, a Viscount’s illegitimate daughter like me, has recently become a librarian at the royal palace library and is often seen near Lady Lupina’s fiancé, the Second Prince Dangard Lutoire.

The Second Prince Dangard is fond of reading, and whenever he has free time from his duties, he’s almost always at the library.

For Lady Lupina, who dislikes studying and has no interest in reading, the library is the last place she wants to go.

She can’t stand that an illegitimate child she doesn’t want to acknowledge as a noble is working as a royal librarian and staying close to the Prince.

But even Lady Lupina can’t torment her in front of the Prince, so her frustration has been building.

I am not Lady Haruhina.

But for Lady Lupina, I must have been a convenient target to vent her anger.

My arm, throbbing with pain, screamed under the weight of the bucket.

I endured and hurried up the stairs. If I didn’t finish cleaning quickly, I’d be whipped again.

“Ah…!”

My foot slipped on the step.

(If I dirty the floor, I’ll be punished again…!)

I tried not to let go of the bucket, but it was no use—both the bucket and I went flying.

In an instant, my body was firmly caught, and the bucket that had nearly slipped from my hand remained in my grasp.

When I looked back, I met a pair of red eyes.

Lustrous black hair like the darkness of night.

A sharp-featured face now wore a worried expression as he held me.

“Are you all right?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Flustered, I averted my eyes, pulled away, and apologized.

Had he seen my face?

I hide my resemblance to Lady Lupina with glasses. Because Lady Lupina hates my face too.

I’d never seen this man before, but from his attire, I could tell he was a noble. I couldn’t let him realize I was her sister. If it became known outside that I, who closely resemble Lady Lupina, was working like a servant in maid’s clothing, it would damage the Count’s reputation.

“Thank you.”

I kept my head down, avoiding looking at him, and tried to leave.

“Wait.”

But he grabbed my arm.

“Eek…!”

“Ah, sorry! You’ve been unsteady and looked quite unwell since earlier. Are you injured?”

I hadn’t noticed, but it seemed he had been watching me even before I almost fell.

“…I fell yesterday too.”

“I see… Stay still for a moment.”

The man took a magic stone from his pocket and pressed it against my arm.

Emitting a soft yellow-green light, it gradually erased the pain in my arm.

“You mustn’t! This contains healing magic, doesn’t it? Such precious magic shouldn’t be used on a mere servant!”

Healing magic is extremely valuable. High-level healing mages are granted the title of Saintess by the royal family and can even cure illnesses that doctors cannot.

Lady Lupina is one.

The Ivor family has a lineage prone to producing healing mages, and Lady Lupina boasts the greatest ability among them. Her power is so great she can even neutralize poisons.

That’s why, despite being from a Count’s family, she became engaged to the Second Prince.

“Didn’t you notice? It’s not just your injury. You have a fever too. Your body is hot. This magic stone only contains low-level healing magic, so let me treat you without worry.”

Now that he mentioned it, I had felt unwell since morning. I thought it was due to the pain in my arm, but I hadn’t realized I had a fever too.

“Thank you for everything.”

Thanks to the healing magic, not only was the pain in my arm gone, but all the discomfort in my body had vanished. My fever must have subsided too. For low-level magic to have such power… The ability of Lady Lupina, who holds the highest title of Saintess, is immeasurable.

“It must be tough serving in this house. Well, take care.”

With a gentle look in his red eyes, the man left.

Watching his retreating back, I resumed cleaning.

The bucket had barely spilled any water.

(I have to hurry…)

If I didn’t, not only Lady Lupina but also the Countess Ivor would surely reprimand me.