Chapter 20
Fortunately, Ena regained consciousness. The pain that had made her claw at her chest also seemed to have eased.
Gondor was seen taking something out of his clothes and feeding it to Ena a little late.
‘Did my holy power work?’
She still hadn’t fully mastered how to use holy power, and it certainly wasn’t a cure-all. Still, whether temporary or not, seeing Ena recover like this made it seem unlikely that it was a serious illness.
And Gondor had just given her something that looked like medicine.
No matter what, he probably knew better than Ritia herself.
“…Brother?”
“I told you not to leave the house again.”
“Hehe. The kids were waiting.”
Ena looked about ten years old at most, maybe even younger, and the age gap between them was obvious. Did he have a younger sister? Ritia, who had nearly collapsed herself, dusted off her clothes and stood up.
It was a good thing she hadn’t come wearing a dress with volunteering in mind. Just imagining what would have happened if she had worn one was terrifying.
Either way, Ritia had ended up standing there awkwardly, like a useless sack of barley.
To be honest, she had wanted to grab Gondor’s shoulders and turn him around to explain that she hadn’t been trying to harm his sister but help her. But seeing him frantically checking Ena’s face, body, and condition, she decided to leave it be.
“…It looks like things are mostly settled. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Feeling somewhat drained, Ritia spoke to Emilia, brushed off her pants, and turned away.
“May I ask why the Lady is here?”
It was Gondor.
His voice was sharp, as if filled with suspicion.
Ritia, who had been holding back the entire time, stopped mid-step. She raised one eyebrow slightly, then turned back around.
She had tried to be nice, nice enough to recruit him into Temes, but still.
Shouldn’t the first thing he say be an apology to someone who had practically collapsed trying to help? Still, since he asked, she would answer.
Ritia smiled lightly.
“I was volunteering. I had no intention of harming anyone. I was trying to help the child. I wondered if my power might help. For now, her pain seems to have eased, so it would be best to take her to the hospital before it’s too late. Goodbye.”
Ritia turned away again.
“Brother, that big sister helped me….”
At Ena’s voice, Gondor’s eyes trembled.
“Let’s go home right away.”
“Yes, Miss. I’ll close the door.”
“Lady Mont!”
Gondor rushed over and grabbed the carriage door just as it was closing.
“What do you think you’re doing to the Lady?”
Seri snapped sharply.
Ritia raised her hand to stop Seri and looked at Gondor.
“…Please speak, Sir Gondor.”
At the same time, Gondor bent his waist at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
Ritia flinched in surprise.
“No, wait—!”
“I apologize for my rudeness earlier. My sister sometimes has seizures, and I believe I lost my composure. I am deeply sorry.”
At his clean, straightforward apology, Ritia awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck.
She had indeed been hurt earlier, but once he apologized, there was no reason to stay angry.
And hearing that he had panicked because his sister was sick made it awkward to say he had gone too far.
She knew that feeling better than anyone, having been sick herself.
“It’s alright. I’m glad the misunderstanding was cleared up. I’ll accept your apology.”
“….”
“If it still weighs on your mind, then please consider becoming my Temes.”
At those words, Gondor straightened and looked at Ritia.
Ritia smiled and told Seri to get going. When Gondor stepped aside, the carriage door closed.
Only after the carriage started moving did Ritia finally relax the tension gripping her body.
“…That was exhausting, trying to look cool.”
“Are you really going to take that knight as your Temes?”
Emilia asked from beside her.
Seeing Seri glance at her too, it seemed Seri was curious as well.
“Yes. I have to.”
“But he’s rude, lacks manners, and seems hot-tempered. What if he causes trouble for you the entire pilgrimage? There are so many better knights!”
Emilia looked angrier than Ritia, pounding her knee with her fist as she tried to stop her.
“I saw Sir Gondor’s ability.”
“When? You’ve seen it?”
“Well, um… I heard about it quietly from the priest. That’s why.”
“Oh, I see… Still, I don’t think he’s the right one. But since it’s your decision, I’ll support it. Still, if he’s rude to you again, I won’t stay quiet.”
Emilia clenched both fists as if ready to punch Gondor at any moment.
Only then did Ritia look down at her own hands.
‘I still can’t control it perfectly.’
She had thought meeting him would solve everything, but it hadn’t completely.
It was as if something was mocking her, daring her to cut ties if she could.
At the same time, it almost felt like something was deliberately trying to stop her from becoming Tenia. Maybe she was overthinking it.
At least, she hoped it wasn’t the latter.
“Greetings. I am Pelluga, who will become the Lady’s Temes.”
“Please call me Marmati. I look forward to serving you, Lady.”
“…I am Gondor.”
Ritia blinked.
She had hurried over after receiving word from the temple, and now three large knights stood before her.
The priest who brought them asked if anything else was needed, then stepped back to let them greet each other.
“Ah, nice to meet you. It must not have been an easy decision. Thank you.”
Ritia began by thanking them.
Then she looked at the three, each overflowing with individuality and presence.
Gondor had dark brown eyes and dark skin, a large build and thick, solid lines—he looked like a knight with overwhelming offense and defense.
In contrast, Pelluga had sharp yet gentle features, almost better suited to a priest than a knight. He smiled softly, looking just as intrigued by Ritia as she was by him.
Silver hair and blue eyes gave him an unknowingly cold impression.
And—
“May I ask why you chose us, Lady?”
The playful-looking knight who had introduced himself as Marmati spoke up.
His wavy blond hair framed his ears, and his green eyes sparkled.
He looked like the youngest of the three, and only then did Ritia realize she had seen his name in the original story as well.
There had been no direct description, but he had been mentioned several times as being close to Gondor and Pelluga.
“Well….”
“Just because?”
“Because I thought the three of you would suit me well. Um, I also heard from the priest that you were all impressive people….”
She tried to make something up, but the words didn’t come easily.
Ritia cleared her throat awkwardly.
It didn’t seem like a bad answer, as Marmati added that it was surprising she had chosen them instead of picking from the other Temes candidates.
Honestly, she had expected it to take more time. Even with what happened in the slums yesterday, she hadn’t thought they would decide so quickly.
Especially Pelluga, whose name she had only left uncertainly, and Marmati, whom she was meeting for the first time.
The positions had filled instantly.
And she hadn’t even pressured them.
Though the final decision was still Ritia’s, the priest said the three had come first thing in the morning, asking to become her Temes.
Outwardly calm, Ritia felt an indescribable joy inside.
Yet Gondor had been staring at her without saying much.
Whether he was displeased or had agreed out of obligation because of yesterday, he didn’t look happy at all.
As she was about to say she looked forward to working together again, Gondor spoke first.
“Thank you again for what you did yesterday. Thanks to the blessing you bestowed, Ena’s condition has improved greatly.”
“Oh, really? That’s a relief. But what exactly is your sister’s illness?”
Gondor’s expression darkened.
“It’s an illness of unknown cause. The medicine from the temple reduces the seizures somewhat, but… regardless, please forgive my rudeness yesterday.”
“The apology you gave yesterday is enough. Not knowing the cause must have been heavy on your heart… Thank you for making this decision anyway. If there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me. Not just you, Sir Gondor, but both of you as well.”
At that, the three knights exchanged looks. They stared at Ritia with surprised expressions.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Well…”
As Marmati tried to speak, Pelluga nudged his side with an elbow.
“Well?”
“Ahem. It’s just that you’re very different from the rumors. And above all, it’s rare for someone considered a strong candidate for Tenia to speak to their Temes like that.”
“That’s because you gathered here for my sake. You’re people who will protect me. It’s better if we can rely on each other.”
Their expressions became even stranger.
Ritia, feeling awkward, extended her hand to each of them in turn.
“Then I look forward to working with you.”
Gondor was the first to take her white hand.
After a brief handshake, Pelluga and then Marmati followed, finishing the greetings.
“We look forward to serving you, Lady.”
“Please take care of us, Lady Mont.”
“I will do my utmost.”
Only now did it feel like she had finally stepped onto the starting line others had already crossed.
She could do it. She would do well. That was why this chance had been given to her.
Somehow, it felt like a good beginning.
Chapter 3: Facing Him
