CH 42

The work progresses steadily.

When we concentrate, the three of us reduce our conversation, and only the activation sound of the Transmutation Circle and the sound of materials and tools are heard.

Depending on our position, the sound of the clock’s needle moving can also be heard.

“Oh, Princess.”

“What’s up, Fusa-kun?”

“Isn’t it time for you to go back soon? Look at the clock.”

“Oh, huh! That’s right!”

Irina-chan raises her voice in surprise.

Her voice leads to some noise in the workshop.

“I’m sorry, Onee-sama! I have to go back soon for my next lesson. I’m still in the middle of it…”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll do my best in my work, and Irina-chan should do her best as a princess too.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

After carefully arranging the materials we were working on, Irina-chan heads toward the exit door.

She turns around energetically and says with a smile, “See you later! I’ll come back if I finish early!”

“Yes. Take care.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard~.”

“Okay!”

Irina-chan waved cutely and ran towards the royal palace through the garden.

Fusaki-kun and I saw her off until she was out of sight.

“It’s great to see she’s feeling better. It’s hard to imagine her running around like that, considering how she used to be.”

Fusaki-kun knew her from when she was battling illness.

As I looked at his expression, it seemed nostalgic as he thought of those times.

He turned to me and said, “Didn’t Nee-san make a potion for her?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“I know I’ve said it many times, but let me thank you too. Thank you for helping the princess and making her better,” Fusaki-kun bowed deeply.

He was usually playful, but he expressed his appreciation with a serious face and voice.

He must have been genuinely worried about Irina-chan.

I only found out recently that she was sick.

With the potion I made, she regained her strength.

I want it to be of use to many people.

I’m really glad that what I made saved her life.

“Hey, Fusaki-kun, what was Irina-chan like in the past?”

“Huh? Do you mean when she was sick?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you curious?”

I am curious.

I want to know how people suffering from illness feel.

In other words, it’s out of character, but everyone else knows except me.

“Is it okay to ask?”

“It’s fine. There’s no need to hide it.”

“Thank you. Can I listen while we work?”

“Of course. If we slack off, the Princess will get angry with us.”

We return to the workshop.

Fusaki-kun washes out the empty potion bottles, and I work in front of the Transmutation Circle.

“It’s about the princess’s past, but for the most part, she was the same as she is now.”

“Huh? Is that so?”

“Yes. Oh, but when I first started as her escort, she was so quiet. She would read books on her bed, with a bored expression on her face. She really seemed like a captive princess.”

“A captive princess…”

I can’t imagine her being like that now.

He continues his story.

From several years ago up until today, the story between the princess and her guard.

◇◇◇

Irina Salem.

The young princess of the Salem Kingdom.

Since birth, she has had a weak body, caused by a disease called Congenital Mana Circulation Disorder.

Despite being an old disease, no cure had been found yet for this difficult illness.

Mana is another name for the life energy that resides in the body.

It could be said that it is life itself.

The disease she carries rapidly consumes mana, which is a terrifying thing.

Even if she eats, it doesn’t provide nutrition, and even if she moves, her muscles do not develop.

The more she pushes herself, the more she weakens and deteriorates.

That’s why she couldn’t leave her room properly.

On the contrary, it was so hard for her to even get out of bed.

The wind blew, turning the pages of her book.

The window was open, and she could see the blue sky outside.

Although it was a very pleasant day outside, she couldn’t go out.

“…Is this the way it’s going to be?”

Will she continue to live her life without being able to do anything?

He suddenly appeared in front of her, just as she was feeling that loneliness.

“You look so bored~.”

“Huh?”

He appeared from the window as if he were a prince coming to rescue a trapped princess.

He spoke with an innocent smile.

“If reading a book is boring, let me tell you an interesting story!”

That was how they met.

At the time, she didn’t know that Fusaki had become her escort.

He didn’t say it deliberately and treated her like a friend.

It was his consideration so that she, as a princess, could have someone to talk to without any reservations.

“Hey Fusa-kun! What happened after that?”

“It was terrible. I fell into the sea and got completely soaked.”

His brightness had a positive effect, and Irina gradually regained her vitality.

She wanted to someday cure her illness and see the outside world.

She wanted to run around the garden.

Fusaki’s presence may have played a big role in making her think that way.

“When that time comes, will you guide me, Fusa-kun?”

“Of course! I’ll take you anywhere in the world!”

He had seen her fight against her illness.

He was close to her, closer than any blood relative.

And then, six months ago.

Princess Irina was freed from her illness.

It was thanks to the potion created by a Transmutation Master from a neighboring country.