It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 34
Among them, a countess who had been enduring pain for her family’s sake turned out to require high-tier divine healing.
In the language of my past life, she was basically a terminal cancer patient.
“Why did you let it get this bad…? If you ever experience similar symptoms again, please visit the temple immediately.”
“I will. I finally feel alive again. Thank you, truly.”
Seeing her once pallid face light up with relief filled me with a rare sense of satisfaction.
However, after completely draining my divine power to the last drop, I ended up collapsing to the ground with a nosebleed the moment I finished.
I hadn’t believed Vivian when she said it would be fun, but still—what the hell was this…?
“Oh dear, what should we do…! Priestess, are you alright?”
The countess hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief and placed it in my hand.
Vivian, who had been chatting with Marchioness Hillis, was just as startled and rushed over.
“Sasha…! Are you feeling unwell?”
It had been a long time since I last experienced both dizziness and nausea at once. I had always been confident in my divine power, convinced it would never run dry.
“What’s going on, Vivian?”
Then, a man’s voice suddenly broke in.
“Ardin!”
Ardin…? Don’t tell me, Ardin Silias?
The two exchanged a light embrace, their faces bright with cheerful smiles.
“When did you arrive? You said you were too busy to come.”
“Just a moment ago. But since I own this gallery, I thought I should at least stop by to check if everything was running smoothly.”
I blinked several times, trying to clear my blurry vision, and lifted my gaze toward the man standing in front of Vivian.
A strikingly handsome man stood there, his golden hair shining like woven sunlight and his emerald eyes exuding warmth.
It seemed I hadn’t misheard.
The man who had just appeared was Ardin Silias, one of the three male leads in ‘A Night of Entwined Serpents.’
“I see. It truly is a wonderful event. The cause is noble, and the execution was seamless.”
“I’m glad you think so. But… that young lady over there—your maid?”
Ardin’s gaze flicked toward me, still sitting on the floor with a handkerchief pressed against my nose, and he turned to Vivian with curiosity.
“No, Ardin. Sasha is a healing priestess staying at our estate as my brother’s guest.”
“Ah, so this is the priestess!”
I saw it clearly—the subtle contempt that had been in his green eyes just moments ago had vanished, replaced by wide-eyed interest.
Then, with smooth movements, he turned toward me and extended a hand, his voice steeped in kindness.
“Priestess, are you alright? If you need to rest, I can guide you to a more comfortable place.”
A man whose demeanor shifts based on usefulness.
‘So this is all an act.’
It was anything but pleasant.
Ardin Silias had known Vivian since childhood, but the two had only grown closer after she was formally recognized as a Luanax.
In other words, Ardin had approached her from the start with the intent of extracting information about House Luanax.
A man who assigned a price tag to his own kindness would never offer even the smallest favor without ensuring the recipient felt indebted.
A new breed of loan shark, truly.
“I apologize that I showed such an unsightly display.”
I ignored his outstretched hand and resolutely got to my feet on my own.
Even though dizziness still clouded my vision and nausea churned in my stomach, this was better.
“Countess Garnel, may I return the handkerchief to you later?”
“Oh, there’s no need to return it. I just feel bad that you overexerted yourself because of me….”
“No, I believe the Lord simply sent me here because He wished for your recovery.”
I had no regrets about healing her.
She must have suffered through unbearable pain yet endured it for the sake of her family. That reminded me too much of my own father.
Until the day before my family fell, they never once showed me a hint of struggle.
Now, as the youngest daughter, the only things I could do for them were send letters and money.
I could only hope they were living well—unharmed, unburdened by sickness or injury.
And if they were suffering… I wished for someone to appear miraculously and help them, just as I had done for Countess Garnel.
“Lady Vivian, I’ll return to the carriage first.”
“Ah….”
Vivian hesitated, looking between me and Ardin, then let out a soft sigh.
“I’m sorry, Sasha. I feel like I put you in a difficult situation.”
I didn’t even want to lie and say it was fine.
Instead, I simply inclined my head in a silent bow before turning away.
‘Once I return to the estate, I should propose revising the terms of my contract with Lionel.’
I needed a clear excuse to refuse Vivian’s summons from now on.
I had intended to look after her, the poor reverse-harem heroine doomed to suffer at the hands of three men—but I changed my mind.
If someone has the power to ruin my life at any moment, it’s best to keep my distance.
