Time Healer Ceres

“What was that mark?”

As soon as they returned to the Grand Duke’s residence, Kainel asked the question. He was certain Ceres had discovered something about the epidemic while she was in Eto Village.

“There was an epidemic a long time ago.”

“Epidemics happen all the time.”

“No, no. Not an ordinary epidemic.”

“Then what was it?”

“Hmm... I suppose you really don’t remember.”

It couldn’t be helped. Around the time that epidemic swept through the empire, Kainel had experienced the symptoms for the first time. It was the rare disease that afflicted only the Persia family, causing their bodies to grow cold as ice and freeze solid.

That disease was why members of the Persia family died young, with no one being spared. The symptoms manifested four times before the age of forty, and the final onset always ended in death.

When Kainel first developed the symptoms, he naturally couldn’t leave the Principality of Persia. It wasn’t until the epidemic was over that he was able to leave and be seen again.

So of course, he wouldn’t know what happened back then.

He might have heard a little about it, though.

“Many people died. All their bodies had one thing in common.”

“The mark?”

“That’s right.”

A small, red flower-shaped mark. At first, Ceres thought it might have been a coincidence, but after finding the mark on every corpse, she realized it was a telltale sign of the epidemic.

“But we only found out the truth after countless people had died.”

Only then did they discover why no medicinal herb could stop the disease from progressing, or why they couldn’t create a cure.

“That this wasn’t an epidemic.”

“.......”

“It was something someone had caused on purpose.”

Kainel’s eyes widened slightly, but Ceres paid him no mind and went back over the report he had recently received. If her theory was correct...

Among the many reports, one detail caught Ceres’s attention.

⟨December 3: Epidemic reported in Eto Village... December 5: Saintess Yuness visits the village. Patients treated.⟩

⟨December 4: Epidemic reported in Ilis Village... December 6: Saintess Yuness visits the village. 50 patients treated. 15 deaths...⟩

⟨December 6: Epidemic reported in Zebs Village... December 9: Saintess Yuness visits the village. 70 patients treated. 20 deaths...⟩

The reports all followed the same pattern. An epidemic would break out, and a few days later, Saintess Yuness would arrive in the village and treat the patients.

It was the same back then.

Whenever an epidemic broke out in a village or city, the Saintess would appear a few days later without fail. She would save people, and her name would spread even further.

Everyone was shocked when they eventually discovered that the Saintess herself had been the one spreading the epidemic. No one could believe it. How could someone who had committed a crime like that possess divine power that could save lives?

While she was imprisoned, everyone asked her the same questions. Why had she done it? Was the power she used to save people really divine power?

But in the end, we never found out.

Why?

...Because she died.

She had taken her own life in prison. That was why they never learned why she had spread the epidemic or what power she had used to heal people.

And now, the same situation was unfolding before Ceres’s eyes.

Of course, the epidemic isn’t spreading on the same scale as it did back then.

For now, the epidemic wasn’t spreading any further. Unlike the countless people who had lost their lives back then, the current death toll was only a little over a hundred.

The situation is the same, though.

That didn’t mean she had any solid proof. No one would believe her if she told them she had gone through this three hundred years ago.

I wonder if it was recorded.

It had been quite a major incident, so there should be records of it somewhere. Once she returned to the Empire, she would have to look into it properly.

“Are you done?”

“Yeah.”

Kainel had been waiting quietly while Ceres gathered her thoughts. He asked,

“So, what’s the conclusion?”

“We wait and see?”

For now, that seemed like the right choice. There was no point going to Yuness without any proof and asking if she was the one who had spread the epidemic. They would only think Ceres was crazy. The best thing was to keep watching until Yuness gave them some reason to suspect her.

“......”

Kainel nodded and sank deeper into his chair.

“You’re not going to ask?”

“Ask what?”

“What I’m planning to watch.”

At Ceres’s question, Kainel’s expression grew even more relaxed, as if he wasn’t particularly curious.

“You’ll tell me once you figure it out, won’t you?”

“Well, yeah.”

Ceres nodded and set the report down on the table.

“Just keep checking whether the epidemic spreads any further.”

“Of course.”

The epidemic, which had spread rapidly from Eto Village to the surrounding areas, now stopped.

Ceres couldn’t help wondering if this time, she would finally be able to uncover the Saintess’s secret that had eluded her three hundred years ago.

***

“I was really surprised.”

“Me too!”

“I’ve never seen anyone treat His Excellency so casually.”

Several servants had gathered at the end of the hallway, quietly chatting among themselves. Lately, they had only one thing to talk about: Ceres, the woman who had recently arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence.

“When His Excellency was working without eating, she went straight in and dragged him out... No, no! I mean, she escorted him out. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

“That’s not all. He actually finished every last bit of the food she made. I’ve worked in the kitchen for years, and I’ve never seen His Excellency eat so much.”

Ever since Ceres arrived at the residence, one strange thing after another had happened. The hot water suddenly coming from the well was one thing, but what amazed them most was the way the Grand Duke acted around her.

“What are you all talking about?”

“Oh, Lady Yuness.”

The servants turned at the familiar voice. Yuness stood nearby, practically bouncing on her feet as she waited to join the conversation. She looked so endearing that smiles spread across their faces.

“I made these. Please, have some.”

“Oh my.”

“Thank you. We’ll enjoy them.”

The basket Yuness held out was filled with colorful cookies. The servants accepted it with warm smiles, their fondness for Yuness plain on their faces.

After Grand Duke Persia returned to the residence, all the restrictions on Yuness had been lifted. There was nowhere she wasn’t allowed to go anymore.

She even got that room.

Everyone was stunned when they were ordered to give Yuness the central room on the west side, which was normally opened only for distinguished guests.

So the rumors really are true.

They say she’s the reincarnation of someone who died a long time ago...

With all these strange things happening, a peculiar rumor had spread throughout the residence. People were saying that Yuness was the reincarnation of someone close to Grand Duke Persia who had died. Otherwise, none of this made any sense.

“Kai.”

She even occasionally called the Grand Duke by his nickname in front of everyone. More surprisingly, he never stopped her.

Seeing him respond to the nickname as naturally as if it were nothing only made the rumor spread even faster.

“But what were you talking about?”

Yuness asked again, still curious about their conversation.

“Ah, well...”

Woooooo—

“—!”

Everyone fell silent at the strange cry echoing from somewhere in the distance.

“What was that...?”

The oldest maid among them stared toward the sound, her face turning pale. Beyond the residence, they could see a forest covered in snow. That was where the cry was coming from.

The Forest of Ice Trees. It was a place where countless monsters gathered, and where humans were never allowed to venture. Every now and then, someone would enter in search of rare monsters and the valuable mana stones, but few ever returned alive.

“W-what was that sound?”

A maid who had only recently joined the household rubbed her arms, visibly shaken. They often heard monsters howling from the Forest of Ice Trees, but she never heard anything so loud or strange before.

“The Master of the Forest.”

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