Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 30

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(…Huh?)

My mind is hazy.

The surroundings are faintly bright, and I slowly open my heavy eyelids.

The first thing I see is an unfamiliar ceiling.

No—it’s the ceiling I saw a few days ago. As I slowly shift my gaze, I realize this is a guest room in Count Rolt’s border castle.

(Why am I in this room…?)

I should have been at the encampment.

We went to subdue the Demon Beast King and were ambushed.

Vetta, Cherid, and Lord Landrick protected me.

(Gah, Lord Landrick!)

My thoughts rush back all at once.

What happened to him?

I leap up from the bed, but the moment I try to get down, my knees buckle and I can’t stand.

A maid, noticing the noise, comes running into the room.

“Lady Lupina, are you awake?”

Confused by the kindness in her voice, I reply.

The maid who enters the room rushes over to me, pale-faced as I sit on the floor.

“I’m sorry, for some reason I can’t muster any strength.”

“Please don’t push yourself. You’ve been asleep for a whole week, Lady Lupina.”

“Huh?”

A whole week?

“But—Lord Landrick!”

“It’s alright, everyone is safe. They’re all grateful, saying it’s thanks to you. Now, please lie back down in bed. You healed them until your magic was completely depleted.”

Persuaded by her caring voice, I lie back down in bed.

And then, I notice.

(The veil… it’s gone…)

My face drains of color all at once.

“Um, my veil…”

This is bad.

Without it, they’ll find out I’ve switched places with Lupina, my sister-in-law.

People who haven’t met my sister-in-law might not notice.

But Lord Landrick is here.

If he sees me, it’ll be all over.

“In that case, it’s over here. But if you’re going to sleep, you don’t need it, do you?”

I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the veil stored in the closet.

“No, I’m a nun. It’s a rule that I must always wear my veil.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll hand it over to you.”

I take the neatly cleaned veil, put it on, and bow my head to the departing maid.

(When did my veil come off?)

Did Lord Landrick see me?

Even if he did, maybe he didn’t notice?

The battle was so intense back then.

I regret that I was so desperately focused on healing that I stopped being aware of the veil altogether partway through.

My sister-in-law Lupina and I look so much alike, like twins.

The only differences are that my eye color is slightly lighter than hers, and my hair color.

Unless we’re standing side-by-side for comparison, no one should be able to tell us apart unless they know us well.

(Lord Landrick is someone who knows Lupina well…)

I’m glad he’s safe.

That I was able to save him.

But if our switch is discovered, it’ll be all over.

Knock knock—a knocking sound echoes.

I flinch, my shoulders jumping.

“Lupina. I heard you’re awake. May I come in?”

The reserved, concerned voice belongs to Lord Landrick.

(What should I do…?)

For a moment, the thought crosses my mind that I should pretend to be asleep and avoid this.

But that would only delay the inevitable.

I gulp, my throat tight with tension.

“…I am awake, but I still can’t get out of bed. I haven’t been able to tidy myself up either…”

I clutch my clothes tightly.

I’ve been told I was asleep for a week, but my body seems very clean. Probably, someone used purification magic on me.

At the clinic, we used purification magic to clean the bodies of patients who couldn’t bathe.

So I’m certainly not disheveled, but receiving Lord Landrick while still propped up in bed is far too disrespectful.

(No, that’s not it. It’s because I want to delay the outcome, even a little…)

I shake my head slightly.

I just thought that running away won’t solve anything.

“Even so, may I have your permission?”

“Gah—ah, of course. I’m coming in.”

Lord Landrick enters the room.

Tears well up at the sight of him safe and sound.

“Hey, Lupina, are you still in pain somewhere?”

He strides over to the bed and grabs my shoulders.

His expression is filled with nothing but concern for me, and my heart aches at the deception.

“No, that’s not it… I’m just so glad that Lord Landrick is safe.”

“It’s because you healed me with your life on the line. Do you remember? You gave all your magic to heal me.”

“All…”

Yes, I remember.

I didn’t want Lord Landrick to die, so I healed him desperately.

And then, stroking my cheek, Lord Landrick shared his own magic with me.

Lord Landrick kneels beside the bed and takes my hand.

“Yes, all of it. You saved my life. By giving everything. So I, too, will give you everything… Lupina. Please, spend your life with me. I don’t care who you are (……). Let me protect you.”

Through the veil, I see Lord Landrick’s earnest eyes.

(Me? My whole life? That’s…)

“B-but I’m a sinner. I have to spend my life in the convent…”

“In this subjugation, you healed every single knight. You even protected that Forthner Rolt with your life. The crime of insulting Mimiera Rolt should be more than repaid by now. I’ll persuade the Count of Rolt. So, answer me. Do you hate me?”

There’s no way I could hate him.

Our first meeting was on the stairs.

Carrying water while feverish was hard, and I missed a step.

Lord Landrick was the one who saved me when I should have fallen.

The next time we met, as my sister-in-law Lupina, he directed his hatred at me.

But it was also Lord Landrick who saved me in the back alleys of the royal capital.

Even though he must have thought I was the hateful Lupina.

When I ran out of magic at the clinic, he unsparingly shared his magic with me.

When I was nearly falsely accused by Lord Griffe, he believed in me and protected me.

And here in this border territory, Lord Landrick has protected me over and over and over again.

How could I possibly hate someone like that?

I shake my head.

In that instant, he stands up and hugs me tightly.

I feel my heart racing and my face turning red.

“Lord Landrick…”

“I like you. I love you.”

“I-I do too… gah…”

Held even tighter, I end up crying again, out of happiness.