WNAIY 01

Chapter – 01

What I Can Do For You

“Yes, it’s all right now. But your wound has only just closed, so please don’t overdo it.”

“Ooh, Lucia’s healing really is something else. Forget about Cecilio—why not quit him and marry me instead!”

“Thank you, Ivan. I’ll be sure to pass that along to Cecilio.”

*Oh no! I’m going to get killed!* Ivan’s panicked outburst drew a wave of laughter from everyone.

Today, only patients with minor injuries were in, so the atmosphere was light and relaxed.

—

I’m Lucia. A medical mage.

The Ortis baronial family has produced many who excel in life magic for generations, and I too was drawn to life magic from a young age, choosing this path.

I obtained my physician’s license, pharmacology license, and healing magic license, and finally became a certified medical mage at eighteen. I’ve been working at this healing institute for three years now. Before I knew it, I had turned twenty-one. My work is fulfilling, but as a woman, I’ve reached the age often referred to as “left on the shelf.”

“Marriage, huh.”

“Oh, Lucia—has your date finally been set?”

“Yeah. Princess Claudia’s wedding procession is next month, right? We’ve been told we can marry once that settles down.”

“Her Highness’s personal knight must have his hands full.”

“Well, he caught His Majesty the King’s eye. It’s an honor.”

My lover, Cecilio, belongs to the Royal Guard and currently serves as Princess Claudia’s personal escort knight.

Cecilio is a magic swordsman, skilled in defense and barriers. After His Majesty saw him in the sword tournament, he personally bestowed upon him the honor of serving as the princess’s guard knight.

It’s a great honor, but… with a new duty like that, he couldn’t very well hold a wedding right away, so our marriage was postponed. After that, the princess’s marriage to the Crown Prince of Eldia was decided, and I was asked to wait until after her wedding procession—three years ago. I know it couldn’t be helped, but it’s been a long time. I’ve even worried my parents.

Cecilio is the third son of the Count Crus family. Since he’ll eventually have to leave the count’s household, he’s been working hard every day to earn a knight’s title of his own.

“I wouldn’t mind if he were a commoner, honestly.”

“No way!”

“He’s a Royal Guard, and I’m a medical mage, right? With both our incomes, we could live decently enough. I can handle most housework too, so I don’t think we’d struggle that much. Besides, even if we don’t rush now, it’s still possible he’ll receive a knighthood in the future, isn’t it?”

“Well, that’s true. And you’re excellent at your work—I hear the director wants to make you head medical mage someday.”

“Ugh… I hate being in charge. I’m just a baron’s daughter and a woman, after all. People will definitely complain. What a pain.”

—

No matter how good the pay, I don’t want to get tangled up in troublesome affairs. Skill as a mage and the ability to manage people are two different things.

“But I’ve heard Eldia’s relations with Grases have been worsening lately—do you think it’ll be okay?”

The Kingdom of Grases. Its territory is smaller than our country, Ultard, and Eldia, and its history is shorter. But it’s aggressive for that very reason. It’s been eyeing neighboring Eldia covetously, and skirmishes have broken out several times, though a peace treaty is currently in place. However, since the king passed away a year ago and a new monarch ascended, tensions are apparently rising again.

“Who knows.… But there’s no point in us worrying about it. Alright, break’s over! Just a little more—let’s do our best.”

“Okay!”

“Lucia, your beloved is here to pick you up!”

Cecilio? That’s rare.

He used to come meet me when he finished work early, but ever since he became the princess’s personal guard, he’d stopped completely.

…Could something have happened?

It’s sad that I can’t simply be happy about this. And—

“Lucia, good work today. Can I have a moment?”

It seems my hunch was right.

“I have to go to Eldia for one year.”

*One. Year.* …Is that really such a short time?

But you know, I’ve already waited three years to marry you. That would make it four years now. And you call that *just* one year?

“You’re summarizing it too briefly. Explain properly.”

“…Do you know about the situation with Grases?”

“Well, only what’s in the papers.”

“Lady Claudia has become genuinely frightened. His Majesty asked me to continue as her guard knight for one more year. But here’s the amazing part—once that’s over, I’ve been promised a title!”

Frightened? What does that mean? A future queen crying to her father because she’s afraid of war?

“And they’ve allowed you to accompany me too. So don’t worry, alright?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m sorry for making you wait so long. I told Lady Claudia that I couldn’t bear to be apart from you for another year. And she said that since a medical mage would be useful, I should bring you along.”

*Useful*? So I’m just a conveniently handy tool?

I chose this profession as my life’s work—and that’s all it amounts to in your eyes?

“Why are you making decisions about me on your own?”

“Ah, sorry. But we’re getting married anyway.”

“We haven’t yet. And even if we were married, am I supposed to obey you in everything? I have my own work. I’ve built something up through all my effort. And yet, I have to throw all of that away *for you*?”

“…So you’re saying you won’t live *for me*?”

That was a first.

Tell me, why? Why am I the only one—

“I want to live *with* you. That’s why we’re getting married, isn’t it? But I don’t exist solely *for* you.”

Those two things shouldn’t be the same.

“That’s not it! I didn’t mean it like that—I just don’t want to be apart from you!

…I’m sorry. I thought you’d be happy.”

That I would give up what’s precious to me *for you*? You couldn’t give up your work for me.

“Go home for today. I’m not confident I can talk calmly right now.”

“…Understood. Let’s talk again tomorrow. Can you make time in the evening?”

“Yes, fine.”

I watched his retreating back.

*”When I win the sword tournament, I’ll propose to you!”*

That innocent smile from back then feels so distant now. I was simply overjoyed and dreamed of our future together.

I wonder what will become of us now.