Time Healer Ceres

Here’s how it works...

Ceres approached the well and ran her hand over a spot on the right side. A stone smoothly slid upward. She could feel the maids staring at her in surprise, but she paid them no mind.

Once she removed the stone, a small hole was revealed underneath. Ceres slipped something into it. Nothing special, just a small mana stone commonly sold in the market.

When Ceres {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} had first seen the well, she had quietly opened her subspace and took out a mana stone she had lying around. She slipped it into the hole, then put the stone she had removed from the well back in place.

Then...

Vrrrrm...

A low hum reverberated from the well.

“Oh my!”

“S-Steam?”

The maids stared in shock as white vapor rose from the well. Ceres tossed the bucket into the hot water and pulled it back up. It was filled to the brim, wisps curling from its surface.

“Does anyone need some warm water?”

“.....”

“.....”

At Ceres’s question, the two maids could only stare in a daze, their mouths hanging open.

***

“Did you know about the well too, Your Excellency?”

Del gave Kainel a mildly reproachful look.

“That it gives hot water.”

“So?”

Kainel’s indifferent reply drew a long sigh from Del.

The Grand Duke’s residence was in an uproar. The cause was the well that had suddenly gushed hot water the day before.

“You could’ve told me about it sooner.”

A well that gushed hot water in this frigid northern land was a blessing. Del couldn’t understand why Kainel had left it unused for so long.

Others might not have known, but His Excellency certainly did.

Del always prided himself on knowing the residence inside and out, yet he never suspected that such a secret was hidden in the well.

There was no way the Grand Duke himself was unaware. Even so, he had kept it to himself all these years.

That’s just like His Excellency.

He never volunteered anything unless someone asked.

Still, he really went too far this time. He must have understood how useful the well could be.

“It was made for Grace.”

“...G-Grace?”

Del, who was giving him a slightly resentful look, froze at the name that left Kainel’s lips.

“Once she was gone, I saw no reason to use it anymore.”

Didn’t Artia say so himself? The well was made for Grace, not for Kainel. With her gone, there was no reason to keep using it.

“Ah...”

Del’s eyes wavered. He immediately regretted bringing it up. How could he have known the well was connected to Grace? If he had known, he never would’ve pressed Kainel about it.

I hope the well doesn’t get shut down again.

Del quickly added one more thing.

“M-Miss Ceres.”

Sorry, Miss Ceres. With a silent apology, Del quickly continued.

“Miss Ceres was the one who got the well running.”

He had no choice. From what Del had seen, Kainel always backed down when it came to Ceres.

“.....”

Just as Del expected, Kainel chuckled a bit and said nothing more about the well.

Everyone, I think I saved the well!

Del had been terrified that the well might be shut down again because of him. Now, he could finally sigh in relief.

“But how did Miss Ceres know how to get the well running?”

Even he and the butler, who had worked here for years, didn’t know it.

“Who knows...”

“You decide.”

...What was Kainel supposed to decide? That seemed like something that was already settled long ago.

A faint smile touched Kainel’s lips before fading away.

.

.

.

Chapter 45: Epidemic

“This way.”

Guided by Yuness, Ceres and Kainel entered Eto Village, where the epidemic had begun.

“Ah!”

“Saintess Yuness!”

“The Saintess is here!”

The village instantly erupted into a commotion at her arrival. The villagers hurried toward Yuness, their faces filled with joy and reverence.

“Oh, come on. How many times have I told you not to call me that?”

Yuness blushed at the title. Her shy reaction only made the villagers smile.

She was clearly worthy of being called a saintess, but she always seemed so bashful and uncomfortable whenever they did. It only made her more endearing.

“Saintess, come this way. I managed to get some very special tea. I saved it just for you.”

“Oh, really?”

Yuness glanced back awkwardly. Kainel, the ruler of the principality, was standing right there, yet everyone was fussing over her instead.

“.....”

With his gray robe pulled low over his face, Kaniel simply gave a small nod as if to tell her it was fine. Yuness smiled, then let the villagers lead her away.

“She really is a saintess.”

Ceres chuckled as she watched Yuness. She still didn’t know much about her, but the villagers’ faith in her seemed stronger than anything she had seen directed toward another cleric. Even the Pope would have a hard time competing with this Saintess.

“It’s more peaceful than I expected.”

An epidemic had broken out here, claiming countless lives. But despite having only just emerged from such a crisis, the villagers looked surprisingly cheerful. The atmosphere was peaceful too.

“I think we have Lady Yuness to thank for that.”

Ceres agreed with Del. The mere presence of a Saintess was enough to give people hope. The relief of having survived with her help, along with their faith in her, must have eased some of the heaviness that had settled over the village.

“Where are the bodies?”

At Kainel’s question, Del led the way.

“They’re over there.”

Following Del, Ceres and Kainel headed toward the place where the victims of the epidemic had been gathered. In an empty field some distance from the village, ten bodies lay in a row.

“Are you sure this is all right? They died from the epidemic...”

Del’s expression grew more serious as they approached.

The bodies of those who had died from an epidemic weren’t supposed to be handled or approached. Normally, they would’ve been burned immediately. But since the Imperial Court had sent people to investigate, the bodies were kept here for the time being. Now, Ceres and Kainel were going to examine them.

“We’re only taking a quick look. Don’t worry.”

As long as they were careful about breathing and skin contact, there was little risk of infection.

Ceres had dealt with situations like this before. She calmly approached the bodies. Del could only let out a long sigh as he watched her.

“Hmm.”

Thanks to the cold weather in the Principality of Persia, the bodies were still well preserved despite the time that had passed. Ceres examined the nearest one. It was a man who looked to be in his late thirties. She slowly examined his body until her gaze suddenly stopped at his instep.

“That...”

Ceres hurriedly checked the other bodies. The same marks appeared on their hands and feet.

Red spots shaped like flowers.

“.....”

Ceres’s expression hardened as she stared at them.

“That’s a strange-looking mark.”

Kainel stepped closer and examined the red spots himself. Then, he noticed Ceres’s reaction and quietly studied her. Was there something unusual about them?

But Ceres barely noticed his gaze. She remained fixed on the body, her thoughts sinking deeper and deeper.

It really is the same.

The feeling she had when she first read the report was now certain.

When she was Grace, an epidemic like this had broken out once before. No one knew what caused it. The symptoms were exactly the same: high fever and coughing up blood.

More than three thousand people had died back then. Fear had gripped the people, and everyone had done everything they could to stop the spread. As the head of the Ellesia family, she was at the forefront of the effort as well.

Back then...

...The Saintess had appeared.

A soft laugh reached Ceres’s ears. She looked up and saw Yuness approaching with her arms full of various things, apparently gifts from the villagers.

“Look at these! The villagers gave them to me!”

Yuness kept her distance from the bodies, as though she had no intention of coming any closer, but she was smiling brightly.

Ceres stared at her for a long moment, unable to look away.

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