On the night of the day we descended the mountain and reached our first inn, after I finally regained consciousness, I received a terrible scolding.
We didn't go to the dining hall. Instead, meals for everyone had been brought up to the table in our four-person room. Sitting across that table, directly in front of me, were Big Sister Therese, Mira, Lina, and Katia.
Those who didn't have chairs sat along the edge of the bed.
Anton and Mr. Lutz remained standing near the door.
Not a single person had touched their food.
"Rein. You, grabbing red-hot iron with your bare hands! Just because it can be healed doesn't make it all right, you know?!"
Big Sister Therese was furious, wearing an expression I had never seen on her face before.
"Yes."
"As a healer, taking human pain so lightly is something I absolutely cannot tolerate!"
"I'm sorry."
"Lord Rein. Before our departure, were you not told, 'Do not step ahead of us,' and 'Fall back when told to fall back'?"
Mira took over. Sitting upright with immaculate posture, the pressure radiating from her was immense.
"...Yes."
"Why did you break those rules?"
"Um... I thought that if I just endured it for a little bit, we could somehow manage..."
"That was 'a little bit'?"
Terrifying. Mira was scarier than she had ever been.
"How many times do you think everyone tried to stop you?"
"Four times."
"If you were counting, then listen to them!"
"No, well, I just kind of thought I could pull it off..."
"Haaah?!"
Katia slammed both hands on the table with a loud crack. It looked ready to splinter.
"Lord Rein..."
Lina said only that. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I'm sorry to you too, Lina..."
I had no words to defend myself. Even I knew that I was the one at fault.
"Now, now, Milady. At least let the kid eat his food."
Mr. Lutz cut in from the side, glancing over at me.
Perhaps catching on to my slight relief at being spared, the women's glares sharpened instantly. Whether he didn't notice or was merely pretending not to, Mr. Lutz continued in his usual easygoing tone.
"It's fine to listen while you eat. This is about what we do from here on out."
"Okay."
I finally reached for the bread. To be honest, I hadn't been able to eat lunch either, so I was starving.
"We have to send word out. To Ahrens, to Soest, to Beckum. To the entire region."
"Because they were on high alert?"
"That's right. But we'd like all the reports to be sent under our name."
"The ones doing most of the fighting were the knights of House Laufen, so I think that makes sense, but why?"
"If House Werl files the report, people might start asking, 'What on earth was House Laufen doing when they're the ones guarding the border?' There's no reason to hand over ammunition for the Central to bash us with."
Big Sister Therese broke into the conversation.
"How do you intend to report regarding the Saint and the White Angel?"
"We suffered two casualties on our side this time, you see..."
At those words, Big Sister Therese offered her condolences.
"...I will offer prayers for the two of them on our end."
"No, it's certainly a shame, but it was an expected risk. Considering the enemy's numbers and the state of the fortress, it's practically a miracle, and thankfully, every single wounded man has fully recovered. If we cover up the involvement of the Saint and the 'White Angel,' the report will just sound even more suspicious, so we'd like to include it."
"From the Church's perspective, it will raise our renown, so I have no objection. Though I do worry the fame of the 'White Angel' might grow a bit too great..."
I decided to answer.
"Isn't that fine? Once I return to the County of Werl, the 'White Angel' will disappear anyway. That's fine, right, Anton?"
"Well, the fame of the 'White Angel' is already well established at this point. I believe there will be no issue."
Mr. Lutz wrapped up the matter.
"Then we'll send out the notices from our end. Since our numbers will drop accordingly, from here on out, only Milady, myself, and a handful of knights will accompany you. I'll leave getting your knights' stories straight to you, all right?"
Anton nodded.
◇◇◇
Surprisingly, the scolding only lasted that single night.
Starting the very next day, everyone became gentle. Or rather than gentle, they became overprotective.
I had zero time to myself; someone would follow along even if I just went to relieve myself.
"Mira. We're inside an inn, you know."
"Yes."
"I can go by myself."
"Yes."
Mira waited out in the hallway. Naturally, she didn't come inside the room. But the moment I stepped out, there she was.
Apparently, the four of them had set a rotation, taking turns among Lina, Big Sister Therese, and even Katia, who was staying at the same inn.
I decided not to say anything. I was the one who had made them worry. Things would probably return to normal before long.
◇◇◇
At long last, we returned to the County of Werl. The overprotectiveness never faded, and by that time, having someone constantly by my side had become second nature.
We passed through the gates of the manor. Having gone through so much, it felt like ages since I had last been here.
"I'll stay the night before heading home."
"Is that all right? You usually stay at an inn in town, Katia."
I didn't know the reason, but Lord Georg apparently forbade her from staying over at our place.
"It's fine. Even if my return is pushed back a day, he'll never find out."
"You think so?"
"Besides, we've already been sleeping under the same roof at the inns for days. It's a bit late to worry about that now."
Saying so, Katia walked through the gates alongside us as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Well, that's practically like His Excellency's personal illness anyway, and booking an inn this late would be a pain, so I'll just keep my mouth shut..."
Mr. Lutz muttered behind us.
In front of the manor, my family was waiting. Come to think of it, a messenger knight had been sent ahead before our arrival in town.
Father, Mother Roswitha, and Mother Sophie. Elder Brother and Elder Sister Heide. Plus, Liese and Rose.
The first to come running were the twins.
"Elder Brother Rein!"
"Elder Brother Rein, welcome home!"
With the two of them leaping at me from both sides, I stumbled back.
Mother Roswitha walked over. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace.
"...When I heard it was an epidemic, I was truly worried."
Elder Brother Albrecht grabbed my head and ruffled my hair roughly.
"You worried us far too much. Stay home for a while."
At his words, everyone else nodded in firm agreement.
◇◇◇
That very day, everyone gathered in the grand conference room.
All of my family except the twins were inside, while on our side sat Big Sister Therese, Anton, and Mira. Katia and Mr. Lutz joined as well. Standing behind Father was Mr. Klaus. The twins had been locked out and were grumbling in protest on the other side of the door.
Anton began his report while remaining on his feet. Perhaps nervous, his voice sounded considerably stiffer than usual.
Everything that had happened since we departed the County of Werl was laid out in chronological order.
Lady Clarissa's treatment. The outbreak of illness in Ahrensberg and the quarantine of the slums. The revelation that it wasn't an illness, but poison. The start of detoxification efforts at the clinic and the lifting of the quarantine. How, in the process of treating the sick, I had come to be called the 'White Angel.' The appearance of the same poison in neighboring Soest, prompting us to redirect our course there. Searching for the source of the poison and taking a detour on our journey home.
Even though I had lived through every bit of it, hearing it laid out in sequence made it sound like a tale about someone else entirely.
Regarding the poison's production base, he reported that it had burned down, that we had incinerated the contaminated rye, and that we had confirmed it was all the work of Seltheim.
During the report, Big Sister Therese also disclosed that the Second Prince had brought forward a concubinage proposal and that the 'White Angel' had been ambushed. Even though they had been sworn to secrecy, she insisted they couldn't properly protect me if they were kept in the dark. The fact that I had lifted the red-hot iron portcullis during the assault on the base was brought up as well.
The air in the room grew visibly heavy.
Anton spoke up as if steeling his resolve.
"Regarding Lord Rein lifting the portcullis, I failed to restrain him. I am deeply sorry. I will accept whatever punishment is deemed appropriate."
That was my mistake. I couldn't let Anton take the blame for it.
"That's not true. I acted on my own. I refused to listen even when they tried to stop me."
Father wore a troubled expression, lost in thought.
Big Sister Therese stepped closer to Father's side. Her voice wasn't loud, but the room was so quiet that her words carried clearly.
"...I believe it would be best not to let Rein outside for the time being. That boy tends to neglect his own well-being. There are also the rumors of the White Angel. With his appearance, it would be all too easy for him to be recognized."
"For a while, house arrest—...no, a period of confinement."
"...Surely, that is a bit extreme."
"Is this not the direct result of letting him go outside?"
"Lord Wilhelm. If I may interject."
From behind Father, Mr. Klaus spoke up.
"Rumors of the 'White Angel' have already reached this territorial capital. While his true identity remains unknown—allowing Lord Rein out in public is indeed far too great a risk."
"I agree as well."
"Me too."
"We maids share the exact same sentiment."
Following Katia, Elder Sister Heide and Mira voiced their agreement. Lina gave a firm nod of her own.
"Indeed, that should be more than enough. This child has worked far too hard."
"That's right. Taking it easy for a while won't bring down divine retribution."
Mother Roswitha and Mother Sophie agreed in turn.
Father looked at me and spoke.
"Rein."
"You are placed under confinement for the time being. You are not permitted to leave the estate grounds."
"I understand..."
I nodded. It couldn't be helped. I was the one in the wrong. Still, I wondered vaguely in the back of my mind: just how long would this last?
◇◇◇
Dinner was astonishingly lively.
Elder Brother and Elder Sister were there, the twins were there, Big Sister Therese was there, and even Katia was sitting among them. This was probably the very first time Katia had ever joined our family dining table. Mira and Lina were standing on standby near the wall, as usual.
"Elder Brother Rein, make that thing! The white, fluffy one!"
"Liese, that's not fair! Rose was going to ask first!"
"Tomorrow, okay?"
"He said tomorrow! Did everyone hear that?!"
"Even though Rein is finally back, it's such a pain that we have to return to the Academy so soon."
"On this matter alone, I completely agree with Elder Brother Albrecht. Just when Rein is finally here with us."
As Elder Brother Albrecht and Elder Sister Heide complained, Big Sister Therese happily chimed in.
"Even if Rein cannot attend the Academy, this big sister will teach him all about recovery magic, you know."
"It's a bit beyond me to teach academics, though..."
As Katia looked downcast, Mira, who was serving the food, inquired politely.
"Lord Rein is quite advanced in his studies already, is he not?"
"Probably. I've never attended the Academy, so I wouldn't really know."
Lina was gazing at me with eyes full of deep respect.
Someone tugged on my sleeve.
"Elder Brother Rein."
Beside me, Rose looked up at me while clutching my sleeve tightly.
"You won't go away anywhere anymore, right?"
There was a single beat of silence. Then, Big Sister Therese, Katia, Mira, and Lina all answered in unison.
"Yes. He won't be going anywhere anymore."
"I won't let him go."
"We shall remain by his side forever."
"...He will not go."
Though slightly bewildered, I smiled and nodded.
Liese and Rose let out synchronized sighs of relief.
Noisy, warm, and surrounded by everyone.
Starting tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to step outside this manor.
Right now, I didn't think that was such a bad thing at all.