Why was this happening?
Alios's attitude had become somewhat clingier.
Some time had passed since I treated her subordinates.
Since then, Alios had consistently visited me, and her attitude had definitely changed.
"Ceres, a gift for you."
Alios came to find me lying on my bed in my room and gave me something.
Until now, the gifts she brought during her visits had been relatively trivial items.
But the quality had drastically increased.
"Ceres, this is clothing made from the pelt of a white wolf that lives only in the snowy north."
"Isn't that expensive? I heard they don't readily sell those pelts outside their region."
"It's alright. Someone like me can afford it without trouble. Ah, and this is also a Snow Flower, which only grows in the north.”
"Isn't the Snow Flower the symbol of the family that rules that region? I heard it's not something they sell.”
"It was sent as a gift to my family, but I'll give it to you, Ceres. This pure white color suits you better than anyone else.”
As she offered me the Snow Flower with those sappy words, I nearly screamed, 'Are you crazy?!'
Why give me a gift exchanged between families?!
I remember the Snow Flower because it appeared in the original novel.
In the original, Ceres also received it as a gift, and it was mentioned that the original owner, the head of a rather influential family, was very dishappy.
However, in the original, it was a different male lead who arbitrarily gifted it.
Are these damned characters thinking alike, regardless of world?
She kept giving me burdensome gifts like this every time she visited, and I couldn't figure out why.
It's not like I healed her myself, as happened in the original novel.
I did treat her subordinates, but I also took out my frustration on her unnecessarily.
So why is she acting like her affection has deepened?
At some point, she started calling me by my name familiarly.
She'd say my name and look at me as if I were truly lovable. As I was watching her with puzzlement...
“Don't do this!”
“Please return now!”
Suddenly, it became noisy outside.
“What's going on?”
"Wait, don't walk alone!"
As I stood up to check the situation, Alios quickly supported me.
I really hate it, but I have no choice.
Leaning on her, I went outside and saw unfamiliar people kneeling in the front yard.
“Countess, please help us just once.”
“Didn't I say no!”
“We desperately need help. At the very least, please let us meet Young Master Ceres!”
“These people, really!”
As the strangers pleaded with Ares, Ares faced them with an annoyed expression.
“What's going on?”
The moment I appeared, everyone's gaze focused on me.
“Ceres, stay inside.”
Ares hurriedly tried to send me away, but the people approached me faster.
“That appearance!”
“Beautiful, just like the rumors.”
“You must be Young Master Ceres, the greatest beauty in the Empire!”
These were people I'd clearly never seen before, yet they acted as if I were some kind of savior.
Could this be...?
“Young Master Ceres, we heard the rumors about you.”
"That you possess incredible holy power, like a legendary saint. Please bestow that power upon us!"
Ah, I remember this.
In the original, when Ceres inadvertently used her divine power to heal Alios, rumors spread.
Even though Ares ordered silence, too many people saw it – the knights Alios brought, the Whiperion family servants, etc. – so it eventually leaked outside.
Then, people who heard the rumors came asking for healing with that power... but why are there three of them?
I remember it being only one person in the original. Did the number of people seeking help increase because I treated more individuals this time?
“Enough. Don't push your luck.”
While I was wondering if some variable had changed, Ares shouted.
"Why don't you go find a priest? Why ask my son to heal you?"
“The wound my daughter sustained is too severe for an ordinary priest to heal.”
“Then summon a high priest.”
“That's impossible. How could commoners like us possibly summon a high priest?”
"Then does asking the only son of the Count's family to heal you make sense?"
Ares sneered at the commoners seeking help with cold eyes.
“You probably thought Ceres looks soft-hearted and would agree if you asked. But as long as I'm here, that won't happen.”
“We heard Young Master Ceres is a kind person. Countess, please show mercy!”
“What are you standing around for? Drag these people out immediately!”
Ares called the servants to drive the commoners out of the mansion.
Then,
“No!!!”
I shouted reflexively, almost screaming.
As I suddenly yelled, everyone looked at me. Even Ares, who had worn a cold expression, changed to a surprised look.
“Ceres?”
“Cough, cough! Th-those people, y-you can't send them away!”
I suppressed the cough threatening to erupt from the sudden shout and spoke.
Because if those people are sent away like this, they'll spread rumors that I'm a witch!
In the original Ceres of Heaven, Ares eventually spoke firmly and drove away the commoner who requested help.
Ceres wanted to help, but her father was adamant, and she herself wasn't in a condition to go anywhere, so she just watched.
But surprisingly, the expelled commoner held a grudge and spread rumors that Ceres was a witch.
That she had the power to heal people but didn't, proving her nature was wicked.
That she wasn't a saintess, but clearly a witch deceiving people with magic!
Because of these rumors, the male lead working at the temple even came to investigate.
Later, when Ceres was suspected of being a fake saintess, that commoner reappeared as a witness and spouted some damn nonsense.
It might seem like a nonsensical development, but this world basically exists to screw Ceres over, so it makes sense!
“Don't worry. I'll heal you.”
And now there are three of them, not just one.
If I'm unlucky, things could blow up three times worse than in the original.
I have to block this possibility entirely.
"Ooh, Lord Ceres. Is that truly so? As expected, not only your appearance but also your heart shines brilliantly!"
“Where is the person who needs healing? Please guide me.”
“Follow us!”
The commoners moved quickly, intending to guide me.
"Ceres, are you out of your mind?"
As I tried to follow them, Ares came over in alarm and blocked my way.
“If you want to heal them, tell them to come here instead.”
“Countess, my daughter is not in a state where she can be moved right now.”
“The same goes for my son!”
Ares glared fiercely at the one who retorted, silencing him, then placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Where do you think you're going when you can't even move on your own? It's dangerous outside.”
“Then I can just go with someone trustworthy.”
I glanced sideways at Alios, who was still supporting me.
“Follow me.”
"Gladly."
Right, I knew it. Since it's come to this, I might as well make use of her.
"The Empire's Greatest Knight should be an acceptable escort, right?"
“So you're determined to go.”
“Yes.”
“...Take the servants with you too.”
When I spoke firmly, Ares let me go with an air of extreme reluctance.
“This way, please.”
I followed the commoners, taking Alios and the servants with me.
These people were from the territory ruled by the Whiperion County.
Although our territory wasn't that far, for me, it was like an arduous march.
“Ceres, are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
“This whole situation of being carried in your arms is uncomfortable.”
I grumbled while being carried like a princess in Alios's arms. She had insisted she couldn't let my sick body move on its own and just scooped me up.
“We're here.”
“Put me down.”
But I couldn't stay in such an unsightly state inside someone else's house.
As soon as we arrived at one person's home, I got down from Alios's arms.
“Will you be okay?”
“I'm fine. I just need to stand for a moment while healing.”
I stubbornly endured the pain in front of her and the servants who watched with concern.
“This is my daughter.”
Entering the house, I checked who needed treatment, and her condition was indeed severe.
She lay on the bed as if dead, wrapped in bandages here and there, and one leg was missing.
“My daughter is a huntress. She went out hunting and met a beast, suffering this misfortune. She hasn't even regained consciousness!”
Because it's a world with different gender roles, the daughter's father was nursing her instead of the mother. He grabbed my hand and spoke.
“Please, show mercy.”
“I already have.”
“What?”
The father stared blankly at me; I had already finished the healing by touching his daughter with my free hand.
“Wh-where am I?”
The daughter, her severed leg regenerated and her body fully recovered, opened her eyes and looked around.
This divine power is a source of trouble, but its effectiveness is undeniable.
“Where's the next house?”
Perhaps because it ended so quickly, I urged the frozen onlookers for the next turn.
At that moment.
"Ah!"
“Ceres!”
My trembling legs couldn't hold out any longer. Just as I was about to fall, Alios caught me from behind.
"Thank..."
I started to thank her, but goosebumps erupted all over my body.
"Huuu."
Because Alios, holding me, buried her face in my hair and sniffed its scent.