Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 12

I rushed over and caught Lupina as she collapsed before my eyes.

“Lord Landrick?! The Zeka flu is rampant here—it’s dangerous! Please leave that woman be!”

A woman with bright wheat-colored hair shouted. I believe her name was Griffe.

Ignoring her, I asked Mona, who was nearby, to come with me and took Lupina to her room.

I’d like to speak with that nun later about whatever she was still saying behind me, but right now, letting Lupina rest takes priority.

“Thank you. I wouldn’t have been able to carry Lupina myself.”

“No, it’s fine. More importantly, is the Zeka flu really that widespread?”

When I visited the other day, it wasn’t this bad.

“Yes. But unlike the winter Zeka flu, the throat swelling seems much worse.”

“Throat swelling…?”

The symptoms of Zeka flu are coughing and fever. If treated early, it’s not a problem, but if left untreated, sufferers endure high fevers, and children or the elderly with weak constitutions can die. But there’s no throat swelling.

(Is it really the Zeka flu…?)

The season bothers me too.

Zeka flu spreads every winter. It shouldn’t be a disease that spreads in the peak of summer like now.

“Thanks to the medicinal tea Lupina brewed for us, we’re much better off than usual, though.”

“She can make her own medicine?”

“Yes. I heard that before coming to the convent, her mother had a friend who was an apothecary. She apparently learned from them.”

…A friend of Countess Iven was an apothecary?

That seems impossible.

I’ve met her a few times—while not as extreme as Lupina, she’s a lady with a strong sense of elitism.

Would she really be close with someone in a commoner’s profession like an apothecary? A healing mage, I could understand.

And even if she were, would she really let her daughter Lupina handle medicinal herbs? Lupina herself seems like she’d scream, “Don’t bring such weeds before me!”

Though perplexed, I reached Lupina’s room and gently laid her on the bed.

“I pushed her too hard…”

Mona’s voice sounded tearful.

Lately, she’s been with Lupina constantly, avoiding reliance on Lupina’s healing magic and managing with medicine as much as possible.

I thought she might have been forced into doing chores by Lupina and was concerned.

But she didn’t seem coerced; it appeared she was helping voluntarily. Even so, were the patients’ conditions so severe that she had to rely on Lupina’s healing magic?

“Are that many patients suddenly increasing?”

“Yes. The patients just keep multiplying. Some come only after their throat swelling gets bad.”

“…We should isolate the patients. Right now.”

“Huh?”

I hope my suspicion is wrong.

But this might not be the Zeka flu.

It resembles a disease that spread in a neighboring country before. I think it was called Kuzen disease.

The early symptoms are similar to Zeka flu, but it involves violent coughing, full-body pain, severe throat swelling leading to breathing difficulties. If the throat pain can be stopped, breathing difficulties can be avoided, but left untreated, suffocation and death occur.

I hope it’s an unfounded fear. But there’s always a chance.

Lupina in the bed twisted uncomfortably. Her limp body seemed feverish too.

Was she using healing magic in this state?

That’s reckless.

“But…”

Mona hesitated to leave her seat.

She glanced briefly at me and Lupina.

Ah, I see.

“I can’t very well nurse Lupina myself. Mona, please watch over her. I’ll advise the abbess about isolation.”

“Th-thank you!”

Mona bowed her head so deeply I thought her veil might flip. I smiled wryly at the force of it.

Even with the room door open, I couldn’t leave an unmarried woman alone with a man who wasn’t even her fiancé. My guard knight is waiting outside the room, but he’s male too.

As I stepped back from the bedside, Mona immediately adjusted Lupina’s veil slightly and gave her some medicinal broth.

(So, it really is Lupina…)

That mouth is definitely Lupina’s.

The wicked woman who tormented everyone she disliked using her power.

For some reason, she’s been quiet at the convent lately, but it’s unmistakably Lupina.

Why am I so concerned about this villain who made Bejular cry?

Heading to speak with the abbess, Griffe, who had spoken to me earlier, came running up.

“Um, that girl is slacking off again!”

“That girl?”

“Lupina!”

“What do you mean, ‘again’?”

“I told you the other day, didn’t I? Lupina was out playing in town and missed curfew. She cuts corners in treatments too—everyone’s fed up!”

The two nuns who came with Griffe nodded.

Cutting corners?

She was attending to patients until she collapsed with fever. I just left her room where she’s unconscious.

I know exactly what happened in town the other day. She was late for curfew only because she saved a child from nearly being kidnapped by ruffians. And yet they claim she was out playing.

Come to think of it, the reason I went to town was because this one lied to me, saying Lupina had gone out to play. I sighed lightly and asked again.

“Everyone?”

“Huh?”

“Who exactly is ‘everyone’? No one else’s complaints have reached my ears but yours.”

“Everyone is… everyone…”

“I said give me names.”

Ignoring her flustered voice, audible even through the veil, I pressed further.

She stammered, and the two behind her exchanged glances and looked down.

What are these people doing?

“If Lupina is neglecting her treatments, what are you all doing here now? The other nuns seem to be constantly with patients.”

“Ah, no, um…”

“And there’s something I want to ask you. I believe I entrusted you with some ointment the other day. Where is it now?”

“Eek!”

Griffe’s shoulders jerked.

When I visited the convent the other day, Lupina was absent, so I couldn’t give it to her directly.

Since Griffe was attending to me, I asked her to pass it on.

But Lupina seemed unaware of it.

Griffe trembling uncontrollably already gave me the answer; I sighed.

(I should have just donated a decent amount to the convent instead of bringing only Lupina’s portion.)

Her chapped hands were so severe I only brought enough for Lupina. It’s an ointment used in the royal palace—of course it’s highly effective. A moment of folly.

“If it’s lost, then it’s lost. I’ll donate a proper quantity to the convent another day. You should return to your posts now.”

“Ah, th-thank you! Excuse us!”

The three hurried away.

(I really have no business caring at all…)

Whether the villainous Lupina is being framed or her hands are terribly chapped, it’s none of my concern. In fact, considering Bejular, it’s only natural.

(Just because a villain does one slightly good thing, it doesn’t erase all her past deeds.)

Let her be oppressed, hurt, and repent for her actions.

…And yet, I can’t help being concerned about her as she is now.

Lupina, who was treating patients despite having a fever herself, until she collapsed.

I shook my head to refocus.

Right now, I need to concentrate on isolating patients who might have Kuzen disease.

Forcing thoughts of Lupina from my mind, I hurried to the abbess’s office.