Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 34

“Rosalina. Hurry and get ready. This is Lupina’s special day—what are you dawdling for!”

I flinched at the Countess of Ivor’s voice, thick with irritation, my shoulders shaking.

(Today is the engagement ceremony of Lord Landrick and Lady Lupina…)

I didn’t want to go at all.

But by royal decree, the entire family was required to attend.

Why, when it wasn’t even a wedding? And even if it were, I’d want to run away.

(Lord Landrick…)

Ever since that day I switched places with Lady Lupina again, I’ve been confined to the detached quarters.

The Countess of Ivor seemed to know about the switch, too—when I returned by carriage, I was brought not to my own room but to this separate building.

After sending me off to the convent, it seems Lady Lupina lived here in the detached quarters as Rosalina. That’s why the maids assigned to me call me Rosalina, not Lupina.

The two of us are bound by a contract spell, unable to speak a word about what happens in this house. The maids who served Lady Lupina naturally knew her personality well. So, it seems they couldn’t assign me maids accustomed to her, since I’m living here as Rosalina.

Though their hands are unskilled, the two of them did their very best to dress me up.

“Miss Didillira, Miss Ober. Thank you.”

The me in the mirror is more dazzling than I’ve ever seen before. But not overly so—they’ve styled me with elegance.

My silver-white hair, which had been left down, is intricately braided and half-up, held in place with a hair ornament.

The dress, a dark navy so deep it’s nearly black, has delicate flowers embroidered in thread just a shade lighter than the fabric. It’s a beautiful dress with white accents, but Lady Lupina called it plain and hated it, never once putting it on.

I had no plans to attend evening parties, so I never had dresses like this made for me.

So, this dress belongs to Lady Lupina.

There wasn’t enough time to prepare one in a hurry, so the Countess of Ivor provided this dress, which Lady Lupina had never worn.

The near-black fabric and white accents remind me of a nun’s habit.

(Everyone…)

I wonder how Lady Lupina is doing at the convent right now.

Will Mona realize it’s not me?

And if she does, will she keep quiet?

If the switch were discovered, the House of Ivor would be finished.

And Lady Lupina would never allow that.

She wouldn’t hesitate to take Bennett’s life.

As soon as I returned to this house, I wanted to look into Bennett’s mother. I only found out she was safe because the two maids assigned to me managed to investigate for me.

Bennett’s mother no longer works at this count’s house.

So, I think she’s escaped Lady Lupina’s grasp.

If Bennett or I were to betray her, that might change, but otherwise, she probably wouldn’t go out of her way to punish a commoner herself.

“Rosalina! Don’t make me call you again!”

The Countess’s irritated voice snaps me out of it.

I don’t want to think about it, so my mind wanders to other things.

But I have to go.

The luxurious figure in the mirror wore a pitiful face, looking ready to cry at any moment.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

In the grand cathedral within the palace, it seems many nobles have already gathered.

As Lady Lupina’s family, we’ve been given seats close to the royal family, and my stomach churns. And are we drawing more attention than usual, or is it just my imagination?

I catch scattered voices comparing Lady Lupina and me.

—Is that not Lady Lupina over there?

—I heard she has a stepsister. This is my first time seeing her.

—They don’t look like twins at all, do they?

—Even if they resemble each other, if she lacks the healing ability, she’s useless.

Some focus on appearances, others on the healing ability, some mistake me for Lady Lupina…

All sorts of whispers reach my ears, and I want to hide my face.

Amidst it all, I feel an especially intense gaze and startle.

(Mona…!)

The nuns have also been invited to the cathedral. They all hide their faces with veils, just as they do at the convent. From their builds, I can tell Bennett is among them. Nothing makes me happier than knowing she’s safe. A nun with unfamiliar light blue hair—perhaps she’s new?

The one staring at me is Mona.

Even through the veil, I can feel it—her worried gaze.

(Please, say nothing…)

She must have realized.

But if she were to speak of it, I wouldn’t know what to do.

I switched places with Lady Lupina and lived as a nun. How terrifying it would be to defy a royal decree. What would happen to Lady Lupina?

I press a hand gently to my chest, and Mona nods.

Did she understand?

I don’t know.

But even without a way to be sure, I trusted that Mona wouldn’t put me in a difficult position.

The priest’s voice echoes through the murmuring cathedral.

The music played by the court musicians resounds.

The heavy double doors slowly swing open.

Lady Lupina, her radiant beauty adorned in a lavish dress, a smile playing on her lips, emanates a divine aura worthy of being called a saint.

And Lord Landrick offers his hand to Lady Lupina, escorting her with reverence.

(Lord Landrick…)

I look away from Lord Landrick as he escorts Lady Lupina.

My chest feels tight.

Even though I know if the switch were discovered, everything would be over, how wretched am I?

Even now, I still cling to these feelings.

Over and over.

He kept helping me.

Even though he should have been my enemy, he reached out and saved me.

…Even though he’s someone from a world forever out of reach, I dreamed I could take his hand.

Lady Lupina glances at me for a moment and scoffs softly.

I’m inferior to Lady Lupina in every way, and I want to run away from here right now.

The priest’s words pass through my ears.

“Now, the two of you will renew your vows of engagement before everyone. The engagement rings, please.”

The priest’s words startle me.

A nun with light blue hair appears, holding a stand with two rings.

The rings, one set with a red stone and the other with a blue, match the eye colors of Lord Landrick and Lady Lupina.

Lord Landrick picks up the red ring.

But then he doesn’t move.

“What’s the matter?”

Lady Lupina tilts her head quizzically.

“Are you nervous? Come now, please place it on my finger quickly.”

She smiles and offers her left hand, but Lord Landrick doesn’t budge an inch.

“Landrick Lutoire does not accept Lupina Ivor as his fiancée.”