Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 8

(“The medicine supply is running low again.”)

Checking the medicine cabinet inventory every day makes it clear which medications are used most frequently.

Perhaps because it’s attached to the clinic, topical ointments are used at an exceptionally high rate.

When I lived with Mother, cough medicine was in higher demand than ointments.

The cough remedy Mother personally developed by mixing in Sennagi grass was particularly popular since it also soothed throat pain. However, Sennagi grass isn’t cultivated in this monastery. Perhaps it’s because it’s an herb that grows better indoors than in gardens.

On my way to the herb garden to gather herbs needed for compounding, I ran into Mona.

“Lupina! I finished the laundry. How’s the compounding going?”

Mona says this as if it’s the most natural thing, never minding water work.

Ever since that day I broke down crying, Mona has taken the initiative to help with my work.

Especially after seeing my chapped hands, no matter how much I insist on doing water work myself, she absolutely forbids it – “No water work until those hands heal properly!” – and won’t let me help at all.

Her kindness reminds me of Bennett, the only maid who was kind to me at the earl household.

“Thank you, Mona. The medicine inventory shows topical ointments are running out quickly as expected. And cough medicine usage is increasing too.”

“Ah, figured as much. We’ve had more patients coughing lately. It’s too early for the winter Zeka flu though, hmm?”

“Is it more than usual for this time of year?”

“Hard to say. The ointments are always like this, but the increased cough medicine is probably because of the winter Zeka flu. It’s not unheard of at this time of year either.”

Spring has ended, and the weather is becoming what could be called early summer, but winter is still far off. The Zeka flu starts with just a cough in its early stages, but if left untreated and worsens, it becomes a troublesome illness causing suffering from high fever. Children and elderly with weak constitutions can even die if unlucky.

(…Perhaps I should compound some cough medicine and oral medication for throat inflammation too.)

Since Mona started proactively helping with my work, the other nuns have gradually become less harsh toward me. Thanks to that, I’ve even gained some personal time.

When I reached the herb garden in the backyard, Griffe and the others were already there.

“Oh my, oh dear me? I thought the former saint could heal with recovery magic without relying on medicine?”

Giggling, Rizel and Lute, who are always with Griffe, laughed maliciously.

(These are the only ones I still haven’t reconciled with…)

Especially Griffe absolutely refuses to forgive me. I have no idea why I’m so hated, but I’ve given up trying to understand.

“You three were supposed to be shopping today, weren’t you? Instead of loafing around here, why don’t you get going? Or can you actually compound medicines now, Griffe? The same Griffe who clumsily spilled all the ingredients last time?”

“Wha-! I never told Mona about that! And that time was only because she was watching and distracted me!”

“Her,” of course, meant me.

Medicine compounding often involves using fire.

That time, Griffe had been simmering herbs with Mona, but she looked terribly unwell so I was concerned.

The bubbling herbs showed no particular abnormality, but Griffe slipped and dropped all the additional ingredients into the small pot. Fortunately, since we could just add more herbs, we could make the medicine without changing the formula, so nothing was wasted.

Seeing the herb broth turn brown as it reduced, I think Griffe turned pale. I couldn’t see her expression through the veil, but the way the herbs dissolved as they simmered could be unsettling, so it couldn’t be helped.

“Ah, you lot, let’s go!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Unable to retort against Mona, a furious Griffe led Rizel and Lute away.

“Honestly, those girls never learn. As long as I’m with Lupina, I won’t let them bully you anymore.”

Mona snorted, and she seems to be quite intimidating to them.

“Speaking of which, Lupina, didn’t you bring any maids from home?”

“…Given my criminal status.”

Actually, my maid Bennett had offered to come with me.

She was the only one at the count’s household who protected me, though she pretended to be cold like everyone else on the surface. But in private, she always took care of me, bringing me food secretly when my meals were withheld.

I think my life would have been much more miserable without Bennett.

The family she treasures most is her mother, her only remaining family.

The reason she cares for me so much is because I secretly healed her mother with recovery magic.

If she came to the monastery with me, she wouldn’t be able to care for her mother, so I refused her offer.

Her mother’s illness is cured now, and though she works somewhere other than the earl’s household, I think she’d worry about leaving her elderly mother.