CH 99

“…This doesn’t seem like it’ll work.”

When I asked Milia to go alone, Aria protested.

But even those movements didn’t have their usual energy.

She herself must have realized that it wasn’t possible.

“There’s no point even if you force yourself here. Let’s leave things to Milia for now.”

I spoke as if to admonish her.

I’m sure not wanting to burden Milia is one of the reasons why she wanted to go.

To begin with, talking to Margravine-sama about various things was Aria’s role.

Now that she’s awake, I understand her wanting to fulfill her responsibilities.

But her heading out in this state would burden Milia even more.

Most likely, it will be left to Milia to follow up for Aria, who was unable to reply anymore.

After locking eyes with me for a few seconds, Aria looked towards Milia.

“It’s alright. Please leave it to me.”

Milia gently smiled at Aria.

“I’ll just have a chat with Margravine-sama, that’s all.”

Milia says as if it’s nothing.

There’s no way meeting someone that senior to you could be easy.

She must have said that to soothe Aria.

“…I’m sorry.”

Aria regretfully apologises.

Milia approaches Aria, who could start crying any moment now.

As I step back, she gently embraces her.

“It’s alright. You’ve worked so hard till now, please take a little rest.”

“…”

Milia lays Aria down on the bed.

“It’s just as Milia said. This isn’t the time to push yourself. Both she and I are here after all.”

I gently stroked Aria’s head.

I’m sure she was anxious about various things right now.

She had been rejected everywhere she went, ever since she came to the capital.

Maybe that’s why she wanted to do something.

However, now was the time to rest and recuperate.

Once her health has recovered, her heart would recover a bit as well.

“Sleep, for the time being. You’re still tired, right?”

“…Okay.”

Aria closed her eyes after saying that.

A few moments pass, and Aria begins sleeping once more.

Her body must’ve been desperate for rest.

“I’ll be leaving then, Lain. I’ll report Aria’s condition as well, so I don’t think it’ll take long.”

“Ou. Come back soon.”

Confirming that Aria was asleep, Milia leaves the room.

Once she left, silence returned to the room.

Aria was still grabbing on to my clothes from before.

As a result, I was left bound to her.

Even if that wasn’t so, it wouldn’t be correct to leave her alone right now.

“I’m, sorry.”

Aria continued apologizing even in her sleep.

I continued stroking her head.

“You really did your best till now.”

After a while, Aria began breathing peacefully.

Could it be, that I have to keep stroking her the entire time?

I’d be happy if Milia would come back and take my place, before my arm got tired.

“Still, a mental illness…”

I look at Aria’s face.

She was sleeping peacefully right now, but that face was pale not too long ago.

Anyone could have figured out she was not well.

“I can’t do anything with magic either.”

There wasn’t any convenient magic that healed the mind.

Or there may be, but I can’t use it.

I hadn’t seen any technical books like medical books till now.

It might be possible that it existed, but got destroyed in a book burning during the latter half of the ancient magician civilization.

The remaining books were all about magic and magic tools.

I’ll have to leave this problem to Aria herself.

I continued stroking her head while regretting my own powerlessness.