Fated to Be Loved by Villains

 EP - 032.2 - Please

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a white ceiling.

It was a familiar sight. After all, Elnore was forced to visit this place not long ago due to Conrad's 'insistence'. 

“…”

This was Elfante's infirmary. She's inside the campus, not in the outskirts where she fainted. 

Then. 

‘What about Dowd?’

What happened to him? 

This was the first thing that came to her mind and she hurriedly stood up.

“…!”

But it was a decision she immediately regretted.

Her body was so battered that she couldn't even speak, much less bear a sudden movement.

At the same time, she let out a silent scream from the ensuing agony—

“…Eum?”

Elnore's eyes slightly widened as she looked down at her body.

It didn't hurt as much.

Of course, it was still painful. But compared to the injuries she sustained, this level of pain was a breeze.

‘Has my recovery... become faster?’

As the daughter of a renowned swordsman, she had a certain level of physical prowess.

However, even considering that, this recovery speed was abnormal.

“…”

Come to think of it, the sinister aura that's always raging in her heart, feels much calmer than usual.

Recalling her last bits of memory, it felt like something had devoured her entire body from within before she lost consciousness.

‘Something has changed.’

As she looked down at her body, Elnore tilted her head.

It felt as though the composition of her body had completely changed.

As if the energy that had only been within her heart had affected her entire body.

“Hwa, the patient has regained consciousness! Call the doctor!”

While she was lost in thoughts, one of the nurses suddenly exclaimed in surprise upon seeing her awake. 

It seemed that she’s not the only one with the impression that there's no way she could've recovered so quickly.

Also, as soon as the nurse said that, the door forcefully opened.

Before she could even form the impression that the doctor had arrived, the curtain beside her bed was violently pulled back. 

“Hey, are you okay?!”

Beatrix, whose face was stained with urgency, vehemently bombarded her with questions.

“You can remember, right? Can you move? How, how properly…!”

“…Calm down.”

Elnore sighed and calmed her down.

“I'm healthy. And I have my memories.”

Beatrix breathed a sigh of relief as she scrutinised Elnore up and down.

Indeed, she looked perfectly fine. Both in terms of speech and appearance.

“Really? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

As soon as Elnore said that, Beatrix’s palm exploded on her back.

“…”

With her civil background, Beatrix's smack didn't inflict much damage.

Then with tears threatening to flow out, Beatrix continued. 

“You’re worrying me, really! Ah! I really, ya, I really thought you were going to die this time…!”

“…Was it that serious?”

“As soon as I saw you, I thought you were going straight to the morgue!”

“…”

Well, she did probably looked like one hell of a mess.

“Rather, what about Dowd Campbell? Where is he right now?”

Her main concern right now wasn't her condition, but this.

As Elnore asked that with urgency, Beatrix looked at her incredulously.

“You almost died, and you're worried about that? If he died, it'll a big disaster-“

Beatrix suddenly stopped talking.

Because as soon as those words left her mouth, the radiance in Elnore's eyes vanished.

A chilling sensation ran down Beatrix's spine in that instant, thinking that she might have misunderstood. 

“No! He's not dead! He's not dead, so calm down!”

“…How is he?”

“He's fine! He's in much better shape than you!”

Seeing the light return to Elnore's eyes upon hearing those words, Beatrix let out a sigh of relief.

“…Anyway. It's a mess, a complete mess. The amount of trouble with very little time-“

Beatrix paused again.

This time it was because Elnore's brow wrinkled when she heard those words.

No, it wasn't that she was visibly upset by Beatrix's words.

It was a different type of feeling that made her shut up.

Elnore was contemplating her previous statement.

“…Hey?”

“…”

“Why are you suddenly quiet? It's scary.”

“No, someone said something like that before.”

Elnore answered with narrowed eyes.

“Two people saying something, wouldn’t it just be a coincidence?”

“…”

No.

Isn't that just a coincidence? 

Elnore is just interpreting it the way she likes.

‘Isn’t it strange?’

Like, it really is.

She knew Elnore cared a lot about Dowd before, but it’s a bit strange that this was what came to her mind as soon as she woke up. 

There were signs of it before, but this is... She doesn't know.

‘…It feels like her obsession is getting worse?’

Is there any reason? It's worrying. 

Beatrix thought so, but then she shook her head.

Although it is concerning, there was something that needed to be conveyed immediately. 

“Unnecessary thoughts aside, it's been hard these days.”

“It must have been tough while I was absent.”

“It wasn’t just tough, it was very difficult. People are barging in.”

“… People are barging in?”

Beatrix sighed.

“Two people. They say there will be two big names coming.”

Elnore tilted her head.

Beatrix is the secretary of the Student Council and is used to mingling with high status.

Who could make her struggle so much?

“First is the Saintess. She will be coming next week. The Holy Land pushed the idea so strongly that the empire had no choice but to comply.”

“Did you hear the reason?”

“There is something they must investigate. And the Saintess would probably lead it.”

“…”

“The commotion between you and Dowd Campbell. It seems that the Heretic Inquisition is also keeping an eye on it. Everyone's in an uproar.”

Seeing Elnore's furrowed expression and silence, Beatrix let out a sigh.

Indeed, it's not a trivial matter.

The Holy Land's Saintess is a renowned figure known throughout the continent.

As a representative of God, she may not possess substantial power like the Pope or the Archbishop, but in terms of symbolic significance, she is the most legitimate figure on the continent.

I don’t think there’s anyone who would be happy to see someone like that come in saying ‘there’s something to investigate’.

That's why Beatrix hesitated before revealing the following news.

“And this is something I was planning to tell you later, but since we're on the subject, I'll let you know now.”

“What is it?”

“Your father is coming to the academy. Sir Gideon.”

Sparks flew from Elnore’s eyes.