The messenger was gasping for breath, still trying to say something, but half of his words failed to register in my mind.
He bowed once more and retreated from the room.
—Big Sister Therese.
Lina must have sensed my anxiety, because she silently gripped my sleeve.
"Lord Rein. For now, let us await the Marquis's instructions," Mira said. Her voice was taut.
I sat back in my chair. The wooden back felt unnervingly hard against my spine.
After a short while, another servant arrived at the room.
"The Saint has been moved to the inner chambers. Marquis Ahrens is waiting in the private study. I shall guide you there."
With that, the servant stepped back into the hallway and waited beside the door.
◇◇◇
I took Mira and Lina with me, following the servant down the corridor.
The hallway was quieter than usual. The number of servants we passed had visibly dwindled. I couldn't tell if the Marquis had ordered a clearing of the halls or if everyone was simply away on urgent business.
The servant stopped before the study door and ushered us inside.
Marquis Ahrens and the Marchioness were standing in the center of the room.
The Marquis’s expression was grim, and the Marchioness’s face was completely drained of color. Even before the conversation began, I sensed that the situation was dire.
"Please, have a seat," the Marquis urged.
I was the only one who sat; Mira stood diagonally behind me, with Lina positioned at her side. The Marquis clasped his hands on the table, lowered his gaze for a moment, and then began to speak.
"Over the past few days, a strange disease has been spreading through the city's slums. It is an ailment where the fingertips, the toes, the tip of the nose—the body's extremities—stain black. It is said that most who develop symptoms lose their lives within a few days. Entire households are reportedly falling one after another."
The Marquis took a heavy breath and let it out slowly.
"Our physicians have little information and cannot be certain, but they suspect it is 'Black Finger Disease'."
I caught my breath. I had read that name in a book. As far as the records went, it was the worst contagious disease in history…!
"In the past, this plague has devastated entire cities. Even within Farden, records from several centuries ago show that a certain territory was completely wiped out, the lord's family included. Therefore, custom dictates that once an outbreak is confirmed, the armies of neighboring territories surround and blockade the city. That said, there hasn't been an occurrence for over a hundred years. For some reason, it has broken out here, in the territorial capital."
The Marquis let out a faint sigh.
"It seems the merchants are already fleeing. I expect our capital will be surrounded and blockaded before long."
The air in the room grew even heavier.
"The Church's recovery practitioners administered Recovery Magic to those who collapsed in the city, but it reportedly had no effect. They have judged that the disease cannot be cured with magic. They say there is no recourse but isolation and nursing."
The Marquis looked me straight in the eye for the first time.
"And... the Saint’s symptoms are said to be identical to the early stages of the disease they are seeing in the city."
For a moment, my mind went blank.
"We have assigned the house's own slaves to nurse the Saint. I must ask that none of you go near her," the Marchioness spoke up for the first time. "Clarissa—my daughter's scars were finally about to vanish thanks to your power... Why? Why must this happen now...?"
"Tonight, we have blockaded the slums," the Marquis continued. "I have dispatched a fast horse to the County of Werl. The messenger has strict orders to avoid the highways and cut off all contact with people along the way. In the unlikely event that symptoms appear, he is to sequester himself in the mountains. And... there is one more thing I must tell you all."
He paused, his voice low.
"The rumors have surely spread outside by now. The lords of the surrounding territories will have grasped the situation. There is a high probability that the highways are already blockaded. Unfortunately, I believe it will be difficult for you to return to the County of Werl. Therefore, I must ask that you do not step outside of this mansion."
"Please remain in your guest rooms. I will have food and water delivered by someone I trust. We will continue the Saint's care. There is a possibility that you all, having been in contact with the Saint, as well as myself, my wife, and my daughter, are already infected. Please spend your time in isolation as much as possible. This happened in my territory after I invited you here. My house will bear the responsibility until the end."
"I ask your forgiveness for imposing such restrictions on you. This is the best I can do right now."
The Marquis remained bowed, unmoving.
—We were being sealed inside these walls.
"...I understand."
Considering the situation, there was no other answer I could give. My voice felt hollow, devoid of emotion.
◇◇◇
On the walk back to our quarters, neither Mira nor Lina uttered a single word.
Once we were inside the guest room and the door was shut, a heavy silence lingered.
Mira suddenly straightened her posture.
"Lord Rein. I could not say this in front of Marquis Ahrens."
The look in Mira’s eyes was one I had seen before—dark and deep, like the bottom of a well that threatened to swallow everything.
"I want you to escape. To me, Lord Rein’s life is more important than anything else in this world."
"But... the highways..."
"A carriage with everyone inside would never break through, it's true." Mira stepped closer. "However, on horseback, one can avoid the highways and slip through the mountain trails, just as the messengers do. If it is only the two of us, we will not stand out. I will make certain that we escape safely."
Mira’s gaze was locked onto mine, unyielding.
"If we do that, then what about Lina...?"
"We might be able to entrust her to the knights here. But every person we add increases the risk of discovery."
At that, Lina spoke up with a look of fierce determination.
"...Please leave me behind."
"I don't want to be a burden. If it means Lord Rein can get away—"
"No."
I cut them both off.
"I won't leave Big Sister Therese or Lina behind."
"I'm staying here. Just as Marquis Ahrens requested. We'll all return to the County of Werl together."
Whichever path I chose, there was danger. If that was the case, I wanted to bet on the possibility of everyone being saved.
Mira’s shoulders trembled for a fleeting second, and then she bowed her head deeply.
"......I... understand."
Her voice was clipped, as if she were forcing herself to swallow her own protests.
—Was this truly the right choice? Was there really nothing I could do?
The night deepened, but sleep refused to come.