Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 25

This was my first experience camping.

There was a perfectly sheltered spot behind some rocks, with a river flowing just a short distance ahead. We would be spending the night here.

Several tents were being set up, with both Lord Landrick’s party and the Frontier Knights working efficiently. They must be used to this.

“Lady Lupina, you should rest.”

“No, I’m fine. I did learn to cook at the convent, after all.”

Rather than helping with the tents, I was preparing dinner.

Cherid seemed concerned, likely because he couldn’t stop me from being struck earlier. Even though I’d been healed with recovery magic and there was no need to worry anymore.

“But you’ve been walking nonstop since then.”

On Lord Forthner’s orders, I walked alongside everyone without being allowed to ride a horse.

However, Vetta had secretly used body enhancement magic on me.

So that wasn’t a problem either.

“Cherid. That’s been taken care of. Besides, there are people watching. I don’t think it would look good if only Lady Lupina were resting.”

Speaking quietly to Cherid, Vetta glanced toward the Frontier Knights.

Lord Forthner was some distance away, but several Frontier Knights were setting up tents quite close by. If I had been resting, word would have reached Lord Forthner immediately.

“…Isn’t their attitude toward Lady Lupina a bit much?”

“I know how you feel, but endure it. Besides, it was the Royal Knights who harmed Lady Lupina. A lamentable situation indeed.”

I smiled at Cherid through my veil as he pursed his lips in frustration. Even though he couldn’t see my face, he seemed to sense my presence and looked at me in surprise.

“Mr. Cherid. The fact that you care means a lot to me. Please, don’t trouble yourself over it.”

“Lady Lupina…”

“See, she says so herself. Stop standing around and help chop these ingredients. Even though we’re a small elite group, combined with the Frontier Knights there are about fifty people. Two large pots won’t even be enough.”

“Alright, I’ll focus. I’ll chop as many ingredients as needed!”

With a slightly desperate air, Cherid rolled up his sleeves and began chopping the large pile of vegetables from the basket.

The firewood Vetta had lit crackled as it burned, but the flames never spread too widely.

“Are you adjusting the heat with magic, perhaps?”

“Oh, you noticed? Yes, with relatively simple mana control, I can regulate the fire. No need to worry about burning anything, right?”

I couldn’t help but laugh as Vetta winked with a snap.

It seemed we could make a delicious soup.

By the time the soup had simmered considerably and the main meat dish was nicely cooked, the sun had completely set.

The torchlights placed around the campsite and the light from the cooking fire brightly illuminated the surroundings.

“…For a former saint to engage in cooking and such, how very common.”

It was Lord Forthner who spoke with a thorny tone and a sneer.

The word “common” carried weight because it was what Lupina, my sister-in-law, had used to disparage Mimiera Rolt, the daughter of the Frontier Count.

My sister-in-law had put it more insultingly, saying something like, “It seems commoners have slipped in.”

“I’ve told you repeatedly that she devotedly participated in activities at the convent as well?”

And Lord Landrick made no attempt to hide his displeasure with Lord Forthner.

(What should I do? If the Rolt Frontier Count’s family and the royal family grow even more estranged, it will disrupt the peace of the royal capital—no, the entire country.)

Thanks to the Rolt Frontier County regularly exterminating the monsters of the Demon Forest, demon beasts don’t spread to the royal capital.

But that’s not all.

Bordering a neighboring country, the Rolt Frontier County also keeps a constant watch against invasion from that side. Although peace is maintained now, the neighboring country is not an ally. If we show weakness, they could invade at any time. Yes, the threat isn’t just from monsters.

“Hmph, I wonder about that. Even now, you mostly had others do it, didn’t you?”

“What were you looking at? She took the lead in chopping ingredients and stirred the pot the entire time.”

“Having multiple people do work that one could manage alone is quite indulgent.”

“You want her to tend to this large pot alone? You insult her for cooking by calling it common, then pick a fight for not doing it alone—what do you want?”

“What do I want? I’m merely stating what I see. Ah yes, just as the former saint stated what she saw about my sister.”

“Guh, regarding that, I believe an apology was already offered.”

“Indeed, it was. So, as long as you apologize, anything goes! Did you all hear that? The former saint says anything is forgiven with an apology. From now on, feel free to express your gratitude to her as you please.”

With a nasty chuckle, Lord Forthner walked away.

(Because of me, everyone is suffering…)

If I could leave, I would.

But until the Demon Beast King is defeated, even that isn’t permitted.

“Lupina, don’t mind him. Your work is thorough, and there are those who see it.”

“Thank you…”

Lord Forthner’s attitude is painful, but I can still endure it.

Having Lord Landrick, Cherid, and Vetta by my side is truly reassuring.

“Just to be safe, I’ll handle serving. At this rate, if Lupina served the food, they’d probably just throw it right back.”

Vetta said this, ladle in hand.

“Quite possible.”

“Eh, surely not to that extent…”

“Can we say it’s impossible?”

As Lord Landrick and Cherid nodded, I couldn’t help but wryly smile.

We took our seats at the makeshift chairs and tables, and Vetta began ladling soup into bowls and distributing them.

I ended up seated between Lord Landrick and Cherid.

I would have liked to hand out cloth napkins at least, but Lord Forthner’s gaze was too severe.

He genuinely carried a tense aura that made it seem like anything served to him would be thrown back.

(When we left Rolt Frontier County’s castle, was the atmosphere this hostile…?)

Thanks to Lord Landrick’s consideration, I had minimal contact and avoided meeting the Frontier Count’s family as much as possible.

But before leaving the castle, even though I was met with hateful glares, it didn’t feel this intense.

I have no idea why the atmosphere has worsened.

I shook my head slightly to change my mood.

Although we’re camping, it’s only about two days from the castle to the Demon Forest, so the ingredients are divided between those that keep well and those to be eaten immediately.

The bread we were served wasn’t as good as what we ate in the castle, but it was soft, fluffy, and easy to eat. I’d heard that during camping, hard bread is dipped in soup to soften it, so this was a bit unexpected.

“………Somehow, I feel sick………”

One of the Rolt Frontier Knights muttered quietly.

What’s wrong?

On his plate, like everyone else, were bread, soup, grilled fish, and sautéed mushrooms.

(…Something red?)

Mixed with the sautéed mushrooms accompanying his grilled fish was something red that wasn’t on anyone else’s plate.

Covering his mouth, the knight stood up from his seat.

I moved to his spot to check the food.

(Gah, I knew it!)

My bad feeling was right.

“Wait, please! Drink an antidote right now!”

At my call, he stopped, covering his mouth and looking even more nauseated.

“An antidote? You, did you poison the food?!”

Lord Forthner surged forward toward me.

But Lord Landrick grabbed Forthner’s hand as he tried to seize me, stopping him.

“Let go!”

“No, I won’t. Don’t interfere with her. This is likely a matter of life and death.”

Given the signal to proceed with a glance, I retrieved the antidote I had packed in my bag.

“Ah… eh, you…”

I sat the Frontier Knight, whose focus was already blurring and speech becoming slurred, down right there and poured the antidote into his mouth.

I had brought a generous supply mainly for Dark Serpents, but I was glad I’d also packed several other types for immediate use.

“What are you making him drink, damn it, let go! Don’t do anything unnecessary to my subordinate!”

Lord Forthner tried to break free from Lord Landrick, but Landrick didn’t budge.

He held him firmly in place.

“How are you feeling now?”

I asked the Frontier Knight, whose gaze was gradually focusing.

“Ah, um, I think I’m okay…”

“The antidote is taking effect, so the nausea should subside soon. But why did you eat a poisonous mushroom?”

“Eh, a poisonous mushroom…?”

“Yes. Your dish had a red mushroom mixed in. It might look beautiful, and I hear it tastes delicious, but it’s poisonous.”

Apparently, poisons can have a flavor that makes you want to eat them unconsciously, that makes you want to swallow them once they’re in your mouth. I’ve never tried it, nor do I want to, but a patient who accidentally drank poison once told me so.

“No, I didn’t mix in anything like that…”

Although the knight before me was recovering from the poison, he didn’t seem to know about the poisonous mushroom.

It was the kind that wouldn’t kill you, just cause several days of hallucinations and nausea, but in some cases, it could leave aftereffects.

It’s hard to believe the red mushroom got mixed in by accident; he probably didn’t add it himself.

“As I thought. Just as the rumors say.”

Lord Forthner, who had stopped struggling, said something incomprehensible.

“The rumor about the former saint was that she only heals handsome men or those of high status. Just now, she could have easily cured the poison with magic, but she cut corners and used an antidote instead.”

“Lord Forthner. Will you stop this? We explained beforehand that Lupina can’t perform detoxification magic due to the environmental change!”

“Environmental change, you say. How many months has it been since this woman entered the convent from the castle? A month or so might be one thing, but it’s about time she should have adjusted. Remaining unable to perform detoxification without any sign of adaptation seems rather lazy, doesn’t it?”

“Lupina has more than made up for it by compounding herbs herself and creating numerous antidotes. The medicine used to treat him just now was also made by Lupina herself. Don’t you understand how rare it is for a Count’s daughter and former saint to handle herbs personally?”

“Most likely, she had the other nuns do it.”

“This is pointless. I have no obligation to entertain baseless accusations made with preconceived conclusions. Lupina, let’s go.”

Lord Landrick released his hold on Lord Forthner and offered me his hand.

I took it and left the spot, led by Lord Landrick.