Seijo ni Narunode Nidoume no Jinsei wa Katte ni Sasetemoraimasu ~Outaihi wa, Zensei de Watashi wo Fu

     “Healing magic and medicine……Is it?”

     Emilia was confused. She doesn’t know how this connects to her going to the temple. But once she thought back to Liz, she surely remembered what she had to do.

     The duke closed the curtains behind, “I must ask you something important.How far can you go to get the crown princess status?”

     “…What do you mean?”

     “You have to listen to one important thing.. How much can you do to get the crown princess status?

     “For instance, changing the name,Emilia Kafen—oh, excuse me, the Kafen family no longer exists—can you get rid of the name?”

     “Yes, of course,” she nodded strongly and eagerly. She doesn’t have any lingering affection for her name. As what the duke had said, the Kafens are gone. She felt a little hurt but she doesn’t need parents who don’t have the power to save their daughter from the monastery.

     “And your face? Can you get rid of it too?”

     Emilia frowned. She doesn’t understand what the duke meant. Did he mean to burn and lose her face? She shivered in fear, but she thought again. It’d be impossible for her to be chosen as the crown princess with a face full of burn scars.

     “To change your face to look like someone else. I know a man who can do that. You will live as a completely different person, with a different face and name—are you prepared to do so?”

     What he had said sounded like a joke, but she knew that it was not. Her back went cold, but still she agreed.

     “Of course.” she said with dignity. There’s no other way. She doesn’t want her life to end in such a dirty, rural monastery. She wants to be in a position where people would look at her with envy. She’ll do anything for that.

     The duke smiled, pleased.

     The next day the person whom the duke had called came. He was a grumpy old man who spoke quietly without as much moving his mouth.

     Emilia flattered herself on how smart she is, she’s proud that she’s now no worse than her former self. She had the will to learn rather than die. Still, it is impossible for an ignorant amateur to learn all the medicinal herbs of the whole country in Astoria in such a short time. It seems that even the doctor knew what she was thinking, “You needn’t worry. Duke Igner says that it’s alright to only know how to use herbs that live mainly in eastern Astoria and around the Colorado region.”

     “…Why the Colorado region?”

     It’s not a strange place but it’s not quite far from where Emilia lived.

     At Emilia’s question the doctor shook his head in response. She  didn’t question about it nor was she skeptical. Emilia knew this and just struck herself on the head to focus on learning—habitats, collection times, treatment & processing methods, efficacy, and side effects.

     Few people visit the secluded mansion in the mountains of the Zac region. There are only a minimum number of servants around. The duke ordered them to take care of her. None of them tried to get close to her nor talk to her. The duke would occasionally visit to see Emilia from time to time and he would nod in satisfaction at Emilia’s good memory.

     The duke, at first glance, is very friendly. He is calm and refined, and he never stops smiling. However, she can’t see through his true feelings. He may be smiling softly, but he may probably be thinking about something completely different. Emilia asked him why the Colorado region but,

     “It’s still a secret,” he said.

     A magician came up. Surprisingly, it was a young woman, her body was completely hidden by her robe, it was up until her feet. It seems that there’s not much difference with her in age with Emilia. Emilia was quite surprised.

     “…Have you changed your face?”

     Your own face.

     “Yes, that’s right.” when the girl answered, the voice sounded young but it also seemed a little hoarse.

     She was first taught healing magic. Healing magic, of course, is not universal. There’s a limit on what can be cured. It’s sort of like a so-called self-healing power where she can just lower heat or stop blood flow. She can’t heal wounds or injuries that can’t be cured by medical techniques. 

     Such miracles can only be done by someone of great sacred power and that is the saint.

     Still, it’s not like memorizing the herbs around. Although Emilia can use magic, it’s difficult for her to use healing magic since she had never used nor reached such a level.

     “Well, if you want, I’ll make you use healing magic. It’s a bit of a burden in the body, but it’s not a big deal.”

     “…Why is it that you, who have power, live so quietly?” Emilia asked. 

     Of course, she can change her face but it’s not at the level of magic where she can use healing magic. It’s level is higher than a well-known magician or a priest in the highest rank. It’s at the level of a saint.

     He did not answer, he just smiled. She couldn’t read anything under that smile. Her appearance looks a little bit older than Emilia, but in reality she is really quite old.

     Why does she need medical knowledge and healing magic to go to the temple? What kind of face does she need to look like for it to be changed to begin with?

     The answer to those questions came when Emilia enlisted the help of a magician to blossom her magic of healing, also to absorb the knowledge of medicinal herbs.

     “After a while, a dispute will arise in Eastern Colorado. It’s a rivalry between nations.”

     “…what?”

     She was dumbfounded. What are they talking about? Colorado is a region that’s home to several ethnic minorities. Still, even Emilia knows that it is a peaceful area, where there is a peace agreement between the people.  There has been no conflict for hundreds of years.

     “Wait a minute. What do you mean?”

     “It is true. There’s a conflict there now, Miss Emilia.” The duke gave out a small dry laugh.

     Emilia held her breath. That is to say, the duke will cause a fuss in the Colorado region.

     “How —”

     “As long as different people gather and live together, it’s impossible that they aren’t discontented nor do they have any complaints. They’re just superficially getting along. They’re just hiding their smoldering dissatisfaction in their stomach while they just smile amicably on the outside. It’s as if it’s going from the capital to the frontier. If you put a fire in there, it will burn and spread easily.”

     It was horrific. She was appalled by his calm tone.

     The duke continued, “There, you devotedly care for the injured using your healing magic and the knowledge of medicinal herbs. People will thank you. It’s just like an angel who descended to the battlefield, a saint. “

     You did? Emilia serving and caring for a commoner? It’s like a funny story.

     ―But she realized that it was no laughing matter, it was something that she had to do from now on.

     “The temple is now in the process of selecting the next saint. They are more vigilant than usual. It will take a lot of preparation to get there and in order to have Prince Keefa attention, you would have to be in a special position.”

     She knows that. But―

     “Did you hear what I said?”

      Emilia looked at the Duke with a smile. If it’s the way to go to the temple, she would have no objection. No matter how many people die, it has nothing to do with her nor does it concern her.

     The duke laughed happily, as if he knew what Emilia was thinking. “It was right that I chose you.”

     That’s right.

     And finally, time has come to change Emilia’s face.

     “I’ll tell you that once the face changes, it will never change back for a lifetime, it’s irreversible.Your life as Emilia Kafen ends today. From tomorrow and onwards, you will live as a whole different person.”

     She nodded deeply at the magician’s words. She’s ready.

     “This is forbidden. There are even a very few people that know that this exists and the number of people who can use this magic is even more limited. Let’s get started. Your face as I said before… Your body—well, it’s all right. A bit too good, it shows that it has been given so much love and respect into it. I’m sure His Highness will love it more than that poor body. ――Is your mind ready?”

     Who was she being compared to? The moment that question came to her mind, Emilia  became unconscious. When she awoke, the sun was already up high, there was no sight of the magician. She felt  no pain or discomfort at all on her face. Still, she jumped out of bed and looked into the mirror.

     “What is this?” she screamed loudly.

     Her face looked very plain, it’s not particularly distinctive nor does it have any special features. Rather, it looks so bland and poor. Emilia’s original face is ten times more beautiful than this. Prince Keefa would never like such a non-gorgeous looking face.

     Hearing Emilia’s scream, the duke entered the room.

     “What is this!?” Emilia rushed to him. Her voice sounded so different since the shape of her jaw and mouth had changed. It was not her voice, it sounded poor and vulgar for her. 

     “Don’t mess with me, I was ready to be the Crown Princess!” There was rage and resentment in her voice, but the duke did not even change his countenance.

     “Well, this is not what the world calls a beauty. However, Prince Keefa likes this face. That is certain.You must like it.” The duke had a confident expression, so convincing that it seemed as if it had crept eerily up from the bottom of the earth.

     Emilia swallowed up her following complaints.

     “You have a new identity. From now on, you are Sheena Blyde.”

Sorry for not updating these few weeks, I’ve been quite preoccupied. Also whenever I’d edit or translate, the internet wouldn’t properly cooperate which makes me less motivated to do anything.

If you like my translations, please consider supporting me through ko-fi