FLBE Chapter 7 Part 3

What exactly was wrong with him? Did he have a chronic illness? Haaa…

 

Liena sighed repeatedly, worried about Roan. Then, pouting, she grumbled.

 

“If you were in pain, you should have told me. I could have healed you. Don’t you trust my abilities yet?”

 

After all, her skills were still lacking to heal such a great man, being no more than a novice. Yet, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed. It felt like she finally understood his true feelings, as he had always praised her but didn’t seem to trust her.

 

Liena, feeling utterly dejected, tucked her chin onto her knees she had drawn close and sighed deeply. Her feelings of being slighted and worried did not fade easily.

 

“Anyway, I’ll go ask tomorrow. If he’s fine, I’ll have to confront him. Hmph.”

 

At that moment, Emma entered with a bright smile.

 

“Your Holiness, you’re going to eat now right?”

 

“Emma!”

 

Perhaps it was because of her feelings of being let down by Roan. Liena ran to Emma and hugged her warmly. Despite Liena’s increasingly whimsical behavior lately, Emma hugged her back, accustomed to her actions.

 

Having heard that Liena had lived alone without parents or family, Emma felt an immense pity for her. It was heartbreaking for her to carry such a great mission on her delicate shoulders.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Just… feeling sorrowful.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It feels like I’ve been abandoned by someone I trusted.”

 

“Who would dare do that to our Saintess?”

 

Emma’s voice turned cold in an instant. Liena knew very well how terrifying Emma could be when angry, though she was infinitely kind to her. She had seen Emma get fiercely angry at maids who made mistakes or behaved rudely towards her.

 

But today, Emma’s stern voice sounded infinitely warm. It felt like she was blindly taking her side, just like a mother would. That’s why Liena often sought comfort in Emma’s arms, as she was the one who best soothed her emptiness.

 

“Your Holiness, please eat first.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Finally stepping out of Emma’s embrace, Liena wiped away the tears that had formed and smiled sheepishly. Emma, looking at her with concern, reached out to wipe the rest of her tears when Liena suddenly grabbed her hand.

 

“Emma! Why are you hurt?”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a small cut.”

 

Seeing the long cut on Emma’s finger, Liena frowned. It was clear to her that Emma must have hurt herself while preparing her food. She knew well that Emma personally took care of her meals, more than anything else.

 

“Oh dear! This is upsetting. How can you be hurt while I, the Saintess is by your side, really!”

 

“It’s okay. Just applying some ointment will do―”

 

“Ssshh!”

 

Liena firmly held Emma’s hand that was trying to withdraw and glared at her as if to say, “Stay still.” Emma, looking a bit troubled, finally let her hand be. Liena then placed her hand over Emma’s injured finger and murmured as if conversing with it, as usual.

 

“It’s okay. I’ll make the wound heal. Did it hurt a lot? It’ll get better soon.”

 

At the same time, a white light emanated from her small hand, and soon, Emma’s hand was healed. Liena looked at Emma proudly, her earlier gloominess replaced by a smile. However, Emma’s face was filled with regret and worry.

 

“You shouldn’t waste your energy on someone like me.”

 

“What do you mean, ‘someone like you’? Emma, you are precious to me more than anyone else. Ah, after my friends though….”

 

Even as she said that Liena elongated her words as if feeling guilty. Emma smiled bitterly, knowing how much Liena missed her friends, with whom she had lived and relied upon like family.

 

“Thank you, Your Holiness. You are very precious to me too.”

 

Liena’s face brightened up once more.

 

“Here’s your meal.”

 

Just then, a maid entered with a trolley, and Emma guided Liena to the dining table. She made sure to place Liena’s favorite dishes closest to her.

 

The sadness from Roan’s actions was alleviated a bit thanks to Emma. Liena smiled as she looked at the food before her.

 

“I’ll enjoy the meal!”

 

Seeing the food made her realize how hungry she was. Liena started to eat, then casually asked,

 

“What about His Majesty?”

 

She noticed that Rhetrik, who usually dined with her, was absent.

 

“He said he’d be away from the palace today.”

 

“Is there something wrong?”

 

“Nothing serious.”

 

No matter how affectionate Emma was, she always held back her words about Rhetrik. Whether it was out of concern for herself or loyalty to Rhetrik, Liena had come to accept it as it was.

 

At least with him away, she felt she could sleep more comfortably tonight. The thought of sleeping alone for the first time in a while made her body relax in anticipation.

 

After finishing her meal and shower, Liena was about to change into her pajamas when a man dressed in priestly attire urgently came looking for the Saintess. A bad feeling washed over her, and Roan suddenly flashed through her mind.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Saintess, we need to go to the temple―”

 

“That’s not possible.”

 

Emma suddenly intervened, firmly blocking the way. Liena was surprised; she was always polite to priests, and this reaction was unexpected.

 

“Step aside. I was in the middle of discussing something with the Saintess!”

 

“Shall I speak to His Majesty? Surely he won’t be pleased?”

 

“That! Ah…”

 

Emma’s sharp tone indicated her anger. However, Liena didn’t understand why Emma was acting this way.

 

“Emma, let’s just hear what they have to say.”

 

“Your Holiness, you should rest tonight.”

 

“I know. But I can still listen to what they have to say.”

 

“….Fine, speak briefly. But taking her to the temple is out of the question.”

 

Emma stepped back but still shot the priest a cold glare. Liena finally got a good look at the priest and felt her heart racing. The sight of the priest, sweating profusely from rushing over, suggested that Roan’s condition was severe.

 

“What’s happening?”

 

“Well, the thing is…”