A Villainess pulled out the Sword instead of the Hero.

 

Arthur, who had remained still at her command, raised his head after a long moment.

 

His face was still gaunt, but she felt a little sorry for the man who would have looked like this at the mention of a sick person.

 

Morgana spoke without hesitation,

“Arthur’s family. Can you let me see them?” 

Arthur’s mouth gaped open and closed in embarrassment.

 

If he had to use the word family to describe them, he would never show them to Morgana.

 

Morgana continued with deliberate ignorance.

 “I know a thing or two about herbalism, haven’t tried anything since I was a kid.” 

Arthur’s eyes flickered slightly with hesitation.

 

Unsure if he would be suspicious of her sudden offer of help, she added quickly.

 “I need an escort, and I want you to focus on that, but it’s hard, and I can’t help it.” “Why do you want me so badly?” “Because you’re handsome.” 

Well, I wouldn’t say I’m trying to look good because I fear he might cut my throat later.

 

Morgana held her head high, trying to sound defiant.

 

He blurted out what could have been an embarrassing answer.

 “…I’m afraid I could only deliver the herbs to him. It might be unpleasant for the lady to see them herself.” 

It was a modestly worded refusal. When you’re around someone who’s sick, you want to hold on to the tiniest bit of hope.

 

And yet, he held back from offering to show her.

 

But she couldn’t use her powers without seeing. Morgana had to think hard to get the answer she wanted.

 

‘Sir Ector was one of Uther Pendragon’s knights.’

 

Among the nobility, there could be quite a few people who knew his face.

 

But Morgana had grown up in the slums of Britain.

 

An unlikely place for aristocracy.

 “I grew up in the slums, so I don’t know what Arthur’s family is like, and I can’t diagnose it until I see it.” 

She subtly emphasizes the fact that she grew up in the slums.

 

‘See, I’m so harmless!’

 

I was tempted to write it on my forehead, but instead I just stretched my mouth into a friendly smile.

 

Arthur looked thoughtful, and that’s when Morgana struck.

 “I don’t know how I’d ever eat all those herbs, I just picked it up while trying to make a living, which is how I ended up with the money I have now.” 

She let slip that she had mastered herbalism and was good enough to get paid for it.

 

She wasn’t lying. Herbs and tea leaves and all that.

 

After a long moment of silence, Arthur finally nodded.

 “I apologize for the inconvenience, my lady. I beg you, if you can cure my family, I will not forget this favor.”  

Arthur’s house was located in a secluded spot, far from the bustling streets of Britain.

 

There was no mistaking it, just a single house in an open field.

 

From the carriage, it was visible to the naked eye, but the unobstructed view made it seem relatively close, and it took longer than it should have.

 

‘Mountains all around. The air is good.’

 

The air, which always makes my nose tingle, wasn’t too bad. The house was actually bigger and nicer up close than I expected.

 

Instead of a garden, the entrance resembled a scenery studio.

 

The surroundings and even the interior of the house didn’t feel inhabited at all.

 “I apologize for the inconvenience, but we don’t have any servants, so please excuse us while we bring you in.” 

Arthur made her sit in the room, which seemed to be rarely used, and then disappeared to fetch his patient.

 

‘I can see how you are living.’

 

No luxuries to pay for treatment, no visitors because he lives in hiding.

 

It was literally just a place to sleep.

 

As a result, a sense of desolation pervaded the mansion. Even worse, from what Raon could tell, he slept on the second floor of the inn.

 

Morgana shivered a little and rubbed the hem of her dress lightly with both hands.

 

Arthur had said he’d be back soon, but it took longer than she expected.

 

After a few moments, a well-built but slightly thin man entered the room.

 

Despite his graying hair, he was otherwise robust and well-built, suggesting that he had once wielded a sword.

 

The two men looked awkward, as if they had fought. The one who appeared to be Sir Ector tried his best to look unfazed.

 “I apologize for the wait, my lady.” 

The knight’s tone was distinctly kind. Morgana rose and gestured to the sofa across from them.

 “No. Would you mind sitting down, father?” 

The man’s shoulders stiffened for a moment at the word father.

 

He didn’t know what else to call him, except the word Father, which, given his age and Arthur’s use of the word family, he didn’t know what else to call him.

 

How could he call him anything less if he didn’t even give him a name? 

 

It was a choice he had to make because he knew it was Sir Ector, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

 

Morgana’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

 “Aren’t you Arthur’s father?” “Ugh, Ahem. Oh, no, that’s right.” 

Sir Ector coughed in embarrassment and sat down across from her.

 

Morgana opened the pouch she’d brought from the manor.

 

Inside was a container of herbs she had taken with her when she fled from Duke Fay.

 

She lined the bottles up on the table in the reception room and asked.

 “What are your usual symptoms?” “The temple says that half of my heart is hardened.” 

Morgana suddenly realized why he had been trembling. It was her first time seeing a sick person in person.

 

A slight sense of responsibility mixed with nervousness.

 “When did the symptoms start to appear?” “Probably after I slept outdoors after my mercenary work, I guess.” 

She reached out and took his pulse as if she’d seen it before.

 

Fumbling, as if she couldn’t hear, she touched it, sending a trickle of healing energy through it.

 

A faint warmth flowed from her fingertips, but Sir Ector, whose skin had become numb with age, seemed unaware of it.

 

Morgana tilted her head deliberately and swallowed hard.

 “Mmm…” 

Arthur’s senses were heightened by her every move.

 “I’ll step aside for a moment.” 

Morgana rose from her seat and sat down beside Sir Ector, placing a hand beside his ear.

 

Deliberately stabilizing him, she placed her hands on his shoulders and near his chest.

 

A quick stream of healing energy flowed between them.

 

‘That’s enough for today.’

 

It’s bad when a dying man wakes up suddenly. A week at most. If he was better in that time, Arthur would trust her.

 

Morgana spoke up, forming a plan in her head.

 “As you said, you’re pretty stiff, so I’m going to give you some herbs to get your circulation going and loosen up the stiffness in your system. Take them slowly and as often as you can with hot water.” 

If you drink a lot of it, you’ll feel better a little faster.

 

The warm water would help you feel more relaxed.

 

Morgana picked up one of the vials of herbs and placed it on the table in front of Sir Ector.

 

It wouldn’t actually heal his heart, but it would help, since it was good for the body anyway.

 

Morgana continued in a familiar tone.

 “It’s also a good idea to keep your feet in hot water for a few minutes occasionally, since they’re the farthest from your heart.” 

Morgana squeezed Sir Ector’s cold, callused hand.

 

Just by looking at it, he could tell it had suffered a lot.

 

After a while, his hand seemed to warm up a little. Morgana turned to Arthur, who was listening intently beside him.

 “Arthur. Can you get me a glass of hot water, and I’ll show you how to use the medicine?” “Yes, I understand.” 

Arthur replied as quickly as she had ever seen him, and brought the hot water in a flash.

 

Morgana steeped the herbs and made Sir Ector drink them.

 

His complexion relaxed as the healing properties took effect. Of course, he seemed to believe that the herbs had indeed done their job.

 

After a long moment of silence, Sir Ector spoke,

“You are a capable young lady.”