Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 5

From the depths of the alley came a clattering sound.

(No way…!)

I rushed toward the alley where the noise had come from.

There stood a man, gagging a child and attempting to abduct them!

“What are you doing? Release that child at once!”

“Huh? This is my kid, though.”

The moment he saw me, the man grinned and said such a thing.

Impossible.

The child was desperately shaking their head, trying to break free from the man’s grasp.

Our eyes met.

(Huh? Meina-chan?!)

I hadn’t seen clearly because the large man’s hand was covering her mouth, but it was Aunt Chel’s only daughter. She was absolutely not this man’s child.

“That girl is the only daughter of an acquaintance. Where do you intend to take her?”

“…I ain’t got no obligation to answer that, do I?”

“That’s…!”

The moment I stepped forward to rescue Meina-chan, someone grabbed me from behind in a full nelson and covered my mouth.

“Mmmph—! Ugh—!”

Twisting my neck to look behind me, I saw an unfamiliar man restraining me. When had he gotten so close? I hadn’t noticed at all.

“Stop struggling! Stay still!”

My arm was twisted sharply, bringing tears to my eyes. If my mouth hadn’t been covered, I would have screamed.

“A bit unexpected, but let’s take this one too.”

“Got it.”

Where were these smirking men planning to take me and Meina-chan?

I tried to twist my body and break free from the restraint, but the arm gripping me tightly didn’t budge an inch.

“I said stop struggling, damn it!”

Smack! He slapped my cheek with all his might. I tried to scream, but pain and fear stole my voice.

Looking at Meina-chan, she had gone limp. Had she lost consciousness?

(I have to save her…!)

Though I thought that, my trembling body wouldn’t obey.

“…Should we just finish this one off here?”

What?

The moment I thought it, my habit was grabbed.

(Huh? Is he going to tear it?!)

As I braced myself, the man went flying simultaneously.

A kick.

Someone had suddenly kicked the man.

My legs were too shaky to stand, and I collapsed on the spot.

“What are you doing here?”

While keeping his gaze fixed on the men, Lord Landrick addressed me.

Why was he here?

As I looked up, unable to answer, he snorted.

“You bastard! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

The kicked man lunged to punch him, but Lord Landrick easily dodged and drew the sword at his hip.

“Choose: die here or die in a cell.”

“Don’t fuck with me!”

With a sigh, Lord Landrick cut down the man who leaped at him.

Then, without hesitation, he didn’t let the other man escape either, who had been cautiously backing away, trying to flee.

“I’ll give back the kid! Just let me go!”

“Save your nonsense for when you’re asleep.”

Ignoring the plea for mercy, Lord Landrick cornered the man.

“T-this brat, no matter what happens to her… Ugh!”

“Eyesore.”

Without giving him a chance to speak, he slashed the arm of the man holding Meina-chan.

Before she could hit the ground, Lord Landrick caught Meina-chan.

At the same time, with hurried, clattering footsteps, what appeared to be guard knights rushed into the alley.

“Lord Landrick, what is this…?”

“You’re late. Attempted kidnapping and attempted assault. I avoided vital spots, so make him spill who hired him in the dungeon.”

“Yes, sir!”

Snapping a crisp salute, the guard knights followed Lord Landrick’s orders.

With practiced movements, they stopped the men’s bleeding, tied them up, and carried them to what must have been a waiting carriage.

Seeing Meina-chan safe in Lord Landrick’s arms, I felt relieved. She seemed to have only lost consciousness, with no apparent injuries.

I didn’t know why he was here, but thanks to him, we were saved.

As I tried to stand up, he offered me a hand.

“Thank you for saving us…”

I expressed my gratitude and placed my hand in his. His red eyes widened in surprise, and he pulled my hand closer.

“Um…?”

“This hand…”

Lord Landrick murmured as if in a daze, gripping my hand, and furrowed his brow.

There was nothing wrong with my hand.

My rough, chapped hands from years of water work were as usual. I hadn’t sustained any particular injury.

“Could you let go…?”

Since I was standing now, I no longer needed support.

“Ah, yeah…”

I tilted my head at his clearly unsettled tone—was it because I’d thanked him?

I realized that if it were Sister Lupina, she’d likely be hurling insults rather than thanks.

“Ugh… mmph…”

“Meina-chan, you’re awake?”

In Lord Landrick’s arms, Meina-chan slightly opened her eyes.

“Ah! Wah! Let go let go let go—!”

“Hey now, stop struggling! It’s dangerous!”

Skillfully adjusting his hold, Lord Landrick wrapped his arms around her small frame to keep her from falling as she flailed and punched him wildly.

“No no no! Where are you trying to take me? Let go!”

“It’s a misunderstanding! I’m not taking you anywhere; you were about to be kidnapped!”

“Huh?”

Stopping her struggling, Meina-chan looked up at Lord Landrick in confusion.

“You changed from a grimy old man to a pretty old man!”

“Old man…? Hey now, I’m only eighteen.”

Utterly deflated, Lord Landrick sighed.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Lord Landrick looked at me again with a puzzled expression.

(Ah, I shouldn’t have. Sister Lupina would never laugh at a time like this.)

It’s fine since no one at the convent knows about my sister, but Lord Landrick is the third prince—the younger brother of Lord Dangard, Sister Lupina’s former fiancé. Since he knows my sister well, I must be careful not to let him notice the switch.

But there’s no way I could act as haughtily as Sister Lupina.

All I can do is put as much distance between Lord Landrick and myself as quickly as possible.

“Meina-chan, can you walk? Does anything hurt?”

Given how violently she’d been struggling, she probably didn’t have any major injuries. Still, it would be best to apply healing magic.

Stroking Meina-chan’s head as she was still being held, I quietly cast a healing spell. Enveloping her small body entirely, it seemed she indeed had no serious wounds.

But since there were scrapes and bruises, I secretly treated them.

“Yeah, somehow nothing hurts! Thank you, old man!”

Addressing the first half to me and the second to Lord Landrick, Meina-chan tried to squirm out of his arms.

“Ah, well, if you’re fine, then…”

Looking somewhat bewildered, Lord Landrick gently set Meina-chan down on the ground.

Holding Meina-chan’s hand, I thanked Lord Landrick once more and made my way out of the alley.

I could feel his gaze on my back the entire time, but I pretended not to notice and left.