Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 10

◇◇◇◇◇◇

(They’ve multiplied quite a bit, haven’t they?)

I nodded as I looked at the potted plants in my room.

Mona had prepared two wide, shallow pots for me with delicate white lattice patterns – I wonder where she found them. Apparently, they were previously used by a wealthy merchant’s daughter, but she kept planting flowers that would immediately wither, so she stopped using them.

Perhaps because they’re indoors, the Sennagi grass has multiplied faster than expected, nearly overflowing from both pots. Since I’ve collected some leaves to grind into powder, I think it’s about time to consult with the Head Sister.

(After all, there’s a different cold going around now, not the Zeka cold.)

Just as Mona had been concerned, even several weeks later the number of patients with coughs hasn’t decreased. More patients are complaining of sore throats. Since it’s effective even in small amounts, the sooner the better.

Knock knock – the sound of rapping echoed.

“Miss Lupina, are you in?”

That voice belongs to Arno, the Head Sister’s attendant. Having been at this convent for quite some time now, I can recognize people by their voices even if we haven’t seen each other.

“Yes?”

Arno’s voice sounded somewhat heavy.

“This is difficult to say, but could you please try not to leave your room too much this morning?”

Ah, I see.

“Lord Landrick is visiting again, isn’t he?”

Before Arno, I inadvertently let out a sigh.

Lord Landrick, as the Third Prince, should be busy with political affairs every day, yet he shows up at this convent almost weekly.

He’s probably keeping watch to ensure that I, as the wicked woman, am not mistreating the other nuns. While he no longer yells at me outright like he did initially, he’s still not someone I want to be around.

“He’s not specifically asking for you, but he always stops you, doesn’t he? That’s why I thought I should let you know.”

“Thank you. Yes, I’d like to avoid meeting him as much as possible, so this helps.”

Lord Landrick has it in for Sister Lupina.

While I’m endlessly grateful that he helped me in that back alley, I get nervous that too much contact might lead him to discover I’m not actually Sister Lupina.

(Ah, but…)

I glanced at the handkerchief placed beside my desk.

Thanks to Mona, I now have free time, so during my shopping trips to town I purchased some fabric scraps.

They’re for the bazaar the convent holds. I’m allowed to keep some of these fabric scraps for myself, and I’ve taken a few.

And I embroidered one to give to Lord Landrick, but…

(My sister would absolutely never give him anything…)

Lord Landrick is scary.

I’m not comfortable around him.

Whenever he stops me at the convent, his face is always stiff.

The questions he asks are always the same – whether I’m causing trouble for the other nuns, whether I’m slacking off in my work, whether I’ve reformed enough to use healing magic on commoners occasionally.

It’s always things like that, and even the knight guards accompanying him look at me coldly.

But I still haven’t thanked him for saving me in that back alley. If he hadn’t been there, neither I nor little Meina would have been safe.

(If I say I made an extra embroidered handkerchief for the convent bazaar, that wouldn’t be too strange of an excuse, would it?)

Sister Lupina would never give anything to someone she dislikes, even as thanks. But she used to give embroidered handkerchiefs to people she liked.

Since my sister was bad at embroidery, I did the embroidery for her many times instead. Even for the ones she gave to her fiancé, Lord Dangard.

It’s been quite some time since I came to this convent as my sister’s substitute, so even if my personality has changed a bit, it shouldn’t be suspicious.

I’ve been getting along well with everyone at the convent.

(If it’s just giving him a handkerchief, I won’t get scolded, right…?)

From this room’s window, I can clearly see the pathway connecting the treatment center and the convent.

Since Lord Landrick always stops by the treatment center when he visits the convent, I could time it to give him the handkerchief then.

Although he visits the convent weekly, his visits are very brief. Some days it’s barely an hour.

I have work at the treatment center in the afternoon.

He probably won’t keep me, someone who uses healing magic, detained for long.

——But this prediction would be easily proven wrong.