Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 4

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A week had passed since Lord Landrick’s visit.

(There’s even more laundry than usual today)

I found myself thinking this as I looked up at the clear sky.

Though it was spring, the water was still cold, but I briskly washed the dirty sheets.

Even though I washed them every single day, the sheets, bandages, and towels never seemed to decrease. Perhaps because the treatment center was attached, there were always many soiled garments.

It was always a lot, but today felt about twenty percent more than usual.

Today I not only had patient treatments but also shopping duty, so I needed to hurry.

(If only I could use wind magic)

With wind magic, I could blow away the excess moisture and dry the laundry quickly. But the only magic I could perform was healing magic. I had no choice but to diligently scrub each piece and hang them up one by one.

I managed to finish washing, put the laundry in the basket, and lifted it.

“Oh my, even though she’s the Saintess, she’s doing the laundry by hand!”

“Don’t say that. She’s the ‘former’ Saintess, after all!”

Giggling, the nuns passed by behind me.

“Ah!”

Thump—an impact struck my back, and I fell along with the basket I was holding.

The nuns thoroughly trampled the laundry that had spilled out and scattered from the basket.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry? You suddenly threw it in front of me, so I stepped on it.”

“How awful to throw such important laundry!”

“You’d better wash it all over again, you know!”

With shrill, cackling laughter, they ran off from the spot.

Haaah—I let out a sigh.

(If it’s only this much, I can wash it again right away)

Their harassment wasn’t anything new.

At first, I couldn’t tell the nuns apart because of their veils, but I was gradually learning to distinguish them.

Those three had been picking on me one way or another since they first came to the convent.

They were similar in build, but the one with a black ribbon tying up her brown hair was Sister Rizel.

The one with chest-length, dark brown frizzy hair was Sister Lute.

And the one who pushed me was Sister Griffe, with her light wheat-colored hair.

Their harassment was no different from what I had endured at the Earl Ivor household. In fact, I even thought it was somewhat conscientious of them since they didn’t trample and tear the laundry after I’d hung it up to dry.

After rewashing the soiled sheets, I decided to hurry out to do the shopping.

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The town below the castle was always bustling with people.

Energetic calls could be heard from here and there, and the vibrant, lively scenery naturally lifted my spirits.

Before being taken in by the Earl Ivor family, I had lived with my mother in a corner of this town. We weren’t wealthy, but our life together, just mother and child, was happy and full of joy every day.

I had never met my father, the Count Ivor, while my mother was alive.

My mother had told me that my father was dead, and since she worked at the local apothecary, there was no sign that she received financial support from anyone.

So, when my mother died, I was terribly surprised by the sudden appearance of the man who called himself my father, the Count Ivor.

The first time I met the count, his face closely resembled mine. If I were male and aged, I would surely look just like the count.

I had never heard any memories about my father from my mother. If anything, it felt like a topic I shouldn’t ask about. At the very least, I never sensed any affection from my mother toward Count Ivor.

I also didn’t really understand why the Count Ivor, who had neglected me until then, suddenly came to take me in.

Was it because of my face?

Of course, I closely resembled the count, but even more than that, I closely resembled my sister-in-law, Lupina.

While walking through town lost in such thoughts, a familiar voice called out to me.

“Lupina dear, we got some rare dried river fish in today. I’ll give you a discount, so why not buy some? Chef Banda should be able to handle it.”

It was Aunt Chel of the Ouryuu Fish Shop.

She never failed to correctly identify us veiled nuns. The royal capital’s church had always bought fish from her shop, and even though she must have heard the rumors about Lupina, she was one of the few people who was kind to me as well.

“If you recommend it, Aunt Chel, I’d like to buy some. And also, the usual dried gia fish and three otsuka fish. Could I get a bag of seaweed too?”

“You got it! Thanks as always. You going shopping elsewhere too?”

“Yes, I need to pick up treatment gowns and bandages.”

Treatment gowns were clothes for hospitalized patients to wear. They were easy to put on and take off, and convenient for treatment.

“I see. That’d be the Ten Clothing Shop, right? In that case, I’ll hold onto these fish for now. Come back after you pick up the treatment gowns. It’s quite a ways from here.”

As Aunt Chel said, the Ten Clothing Shop was far away.

I had brought a bag with preservation magic, but if she could hold onto them for me, that would be a big help.

(We’re supposed to go shopping in pairs, but there’s no nun who will come with me…)

So, normally, nuns would go separately to the Ten Clothing Shop and the Ouryuu Fish Shop, which were practically on opposite sides. But on my duty days, without fail, the nun paired with me would suddenly have something come up, leaving me to do the shopping alone.

Once I realized this was also part of the harassment, I started finishing my other tasks early so I could complete the shopping alone before curfew.

If I didn’t return to the convent by curfew, no matter the reason, I would miss dinner.

At the earl’s household, dinner was often skipped for one reason or another, so I was used to going without, but even if you’re accustomed to hunger, it’s still painful.

Today, the laundry had taken extra time too.

I hurried to the Ten Clothing Shop, and by the time I returned to the Ouryuu Fish Shop, the sun had already sunk quite low.

(But at this time, I should still make it with plenty of time)

There were only a few treatment gowns, and while there were many bandages, they weren’t particularly heavy.

――――pant――――pant

(…?)

I thought I heard a voice from somewhere.