Only with Your Heart

As the hot water was brought in, Estabelle wiped the area around the wound in a proficient manner.

Arde took over the role of soaking the cloth in hot water, squeezing it out, and keeping it beside the bucket as perEstabellesinstructions.

Throughout this time, Chizuru just laid there helplessly, occasionally trembling in pain and letting out a sob when her wounds were touched. Each time she made a move or a sound, Lukrov would comfort her with his overly gentle voice.

I dont think any of the vital organsgotdamaged, and the large blood vessels seem to be intact, but it took you a long time to get the arrow out,right? Were there any enemies around?

While still treating the wound, Estabelle asked Lukrov again.

This time he was kneeling next to the bucket on the floor so Ardecouldglance at Lukrovs profile.

His eyes seemed to be burning with anger and sadness, his lips were dry and chapped, and his chin and cheeks had dark shadows from not having shaved for days.

Yes, but thats not all.

His hand was squeezing Chizurus thin fingers.

A delicate gold ringsaton Chizurus ring finger.

Roan walked into the room with loud footsteps and the sound of clattering armor breaking the heavy atmosphere. He hadthrown off his upper body armor, but from the knees down, he was still wearing his iron armor and chainmail. His bright red hair looked gray with dust and stood upside down like a lions.

Damn Lukrov! Chizuru! How is Chizuru!

Roansbreath was ragged, perhaps because he had been running very fast to get here.

Nadal and Arde looked back in surprise, but Lukrov did not flinch. Only Estabelle turned around slowly and calmly in an out-of-place manner, raising one eyebrow andglaredat the red-haired knight.

Shut up, young boy! If you want to help her, youd better get out and get some more hot water, salt, garlic, and a bottle of herbs. The herbs are in my treatment room.

With that, Estabelle took another wet cloth from Arde.

You too, young lady. Take that annoying boy over there and show him where my room is.

For a moment, Roan seemed amused at being called a young boy, but when he saw Lukrovs frozen back and Chizurus wounds,his face stiffened. Hequietly followed Estabelles instructions and left the room.

Nadal, Arde, and Roan gathered in the hallway.They all staredat the closed door of Chizurus room with dark expressions.

After a few moments of silence, Roan put his hand on Nadals shoulder, shaking his head.

Youre Nadal, right? Good, go bring more hot water. What else did she say green onions?

I think it was garlic, sir. Salt, and garlic.

Nadal replied stoutly.

Then all three of them distorted their faces at the same time as if they,themselves,had been rubbed with salt.

Estabelles decision wasmost likelythe right one, but applying this mixture to an open wound would be quite painful.

Arde felt suffocated at the thought of Chizuru, and Lukrov, whohadto watch her suffer.

However, there was no time for sympathy.

Do exactly as youre told. Get as much as you can, as quickly as possible. Make sure its clean.

Yes, yes.

Nadal straightened his back, bowed respectfully, and left the hallway at the speed of lightning. As he watched the boy walk away, Roan looked back at Arde.

And it looks like youll have to lead me to that doctors room. Was it a bottle of herbs?

Arde nodded.

I went into that room about a year ago to get some fever reducers for my daughter who had a high fever. There were bottles of herbs that had been prepared in various ways and displayed with silver labels.

We should go now. We must hurry.

The red-haired knight and Arde walked down the stairs as fast aspossibleand made their way down the long corridor.

They were both silents for a while, partly because they were in a hurry, but as they passed through the main tower and approached the remote tower where Estabelles room was, Arde couldnt help but ask.

Duke Roan, what happened to Chizuru-sama and Lukrov-sama? What were those injuries ?

Roan did not look back at Arde.

He kept his lips tightly pursed as he stared straight ahead.

She thought he might be annoyed that a mere servant had asked him such an intrusive question, but he just seemed to be at a loss as to how to explain it.