Homecoming

Inside the city, she was greeted by a cacophony of smells and sounds that were foreign to her, yet at the same time familiar. Fragments of memories from the old Connie mixed with her own, causing a strange emotion to well up inside her.

Illumca shrunk even further into herself, as she was unused to the city.

"We'll head to Connie's house – I mean, my house. Yes, my house."

"?"

The two walked further in, dodging the carts and citizens walking about their business.

Illumca glanced this way and that from under her hood. Whether she like to or not, this scene was something she had never experienced.

"There will be time for that, Illumca," Connie commented as she continued to walk.

Soon they were past the business district and into the Noble's District. The people were distinctly scarce and more well-dressed. They stared at them as if they were sideshows.

Finally, she stopped.

"We're here."

In front of them was something that could no longer pass as a mere house.

The sick girl could not believe her eyes. Her savior lives in a mansion. It was three stories high with a well-cared for garden. It was partly made of wood and stone. Guarding the entrance was a fat man with lopsided mustache.

"Milady! You're back! What happened to you? Your clothes!"

The fat man came to her with a worried face. His ill-fitting armor clanking as he moved.

"You…recognize me?"

"This Bertus could recognize you even if you were wearing a rag, milady. I've been your father's loyal guard ever since before he married Lady Marie, bless her soul."

He quickly opened the gate and offered to take hold of Illumca but was taken aback by the foul smell that radiated from her body. "Milady, who is she?! She is very sick!!"

"I owe her my life," she said curtly. "Tell the maids to prepare a big tub of hot water and take it to the guest room. Bring up some food to my room. Perhaps some warm soup or porridge. Nothing strong tasting. Also a pile of clean cloth."

"At once, milady. Should I - ? "

"No. I'll handle her. Just do what I ask."

Bertus ran to the back to do her bidding.

"I-I can walk…now." The raspy voice of Illumca said as she struggled to get off.

"It's just a few more steps," Connie said calmly.

She opened the wooden door and entered. The door creaked as she did.

The maid that was concentrating on cleaning a vase was so surprised that she knocked it down, but with an impressive feat of athletic Connie stopped it from falling using her left foot.

"Lady Cornelia!"

"Surprised to see me?"

"N-no, milady. I'm sorry."

"Enough with the sorry," she said, holding her hand up to stop her from speaking. "Is it just you?"

"Yes, milady. Your mother just fired three people yesterday."

The living room was mainly made of wood, with furniture that looked pricy and well made. There was supposed to be a picture of her and her real family hanging on the wall by the fire, but it had been replaced by the picture of a gaudy woman with a slightly obese child standing by her side.

"Well. Seems like she's making headway in playing with my property."

"Milady?"

"Nothing."

"Yes, milady. Er…" she eyed the figure behind her.

"I will be taking her to the guest room," she said as she ascended the stairs, ignoring the hesitant maid.

She walked to the second floor of the East Wing and found the guest room. It was a beautiful room decorated with many fine vases. Each one could feed a poor family for a full 2 years. There was also a bed from which she unceremoniously swiped the cover and covered Illumca with it.

Illumca groaned as she felt a bit offended.

Knock, knock.

"Milady? I brought what you asked for."

Connie opened the door and let three maids in, each bearing the items she asked for. Their faces changed when they noticed the rank smell in the room.

"Put the cloth on the bed, the tub on the floor, and the food on the table," she ordered. "And speak nothing of this."

The three maids were surprised by her action. The Connie they knew was a brave and kind girl, but the girl standing in front of her was cold and decisive with the aura of a ruler. Her blue eyes seemed as if they were desolate tundras, watching them as a king would his subjects.

As they were about to leave Connie caught the arm of one of them, a mischievous looking young maid.

"M-milady?"

Connie sniffed her palm and licked it. The maid let out a small yelp from the cold and rough sensation.

"What's your name?"

"M-my name is M-Mary, milady."

"Hmm…" Connie tasted the lingering flavour from her hand. "Very well. Ah, yes. Send another big tub of hot water and a towel to my room. I wish to clean myself later."

"Yes, milady."

She closed the door behind them as they scurried away, locking it two times.

"Let's begin. I will clean your body first so we can reduce any chance of further infection."

She dampened the clean cloths in hot water, squeezed out the excess, then began cleaning her body meticulously. She changed the cloth each time they were too dirty from the pus. Illumca had never been treated so gently that she unexpectedly began to relax. She felt warm and safe, something that she had never experienced before.

After she was finished, all the cloths that had been used were thrown carelessly into a pile. "Hmm. Good. The pus has stopped leaking out. Stay still, tell me if something hurts."

Connie placed her finger on the side of the tumors, bumps, and scars, humphing and raising eyebrows each time. She was examining her closely even though the stench of her body was still so strong.

"Oho, this is a very powerful slow acting poison. Someone must have hated you a lot to make this happen."

"...Can you do…anything?"

"…I need to think about this before I can make a comprehensive plan. For now, drink the soup to get your energy up, then get some sleep. You can use the bed."

She unlocked the door and left the key by her side. "Make sure to keep the door locked and don't let anyone but me in."

Illumca drew herself up, looking strangely forlorn. "Where are you…going?"

Connie grinned. "Oh, out and about. I want to see the city and buy some ingredients."

"Ingredients?"

"Exactly. Ingredients. Go on. Have some rest. I will see you when I get back."

Connie closed the door and walked over to her own room in the West Wing, near the library. It was a very feminine room, laden heavily with frills and light pink. The light fragrance of a flower permeated the room with a calming scent. It was a strange combination with the expensive looking set of armor of feminine persuasion on the cupboard.

Cornelia Asterium Steelheart was a lover of literature and kept a good amount of book in a private bookshelf. The old monster took out one of the book in passing and skimmed it. The writing system was similar to a western country in his old world.

Most of the books were about heroes and romance. Books written by people who must have never seen a true battlefield. Especially not the type of battle field where mountains exploded and seas parted while dragons flung great balls of fire from the sky, decimating kingdoms like they were roadside garbage.

"Well, let's get cleaned up and get started. The sun is already high in the sky."

After wiping herself clean and chose something of the less frilly type of dress in her collection, she felt much better. She was not used to not be wearing what she was wearing now, so she wore the dress over the stolen trousers. Pulling the hem up to her thighs so it could not be seen. She then took a sensible pair of boots set nearby. At least Corneila had the sense to wear boots instead of those dainty shoes I saw the nobles wear.

When she looked at herself in the mirror she could not help but be awed with her own reflections. "Heavens. I look absolutely beautiful!" She felt no embarrassment from that sentence, as she was only speaking the truth. Though she was definitely a girl, her visage resembled more of a scholarly beautiful young man. The sense of androgyny did not escape her notice.

Shame that the breasts were not developed enough, she cupped hers with a wrinkled brow. "Suppose it would be bothersome in a fight."

After that brief bout of narcissism, she took out a purse hidden under her bed filled with gold coins. It was hidden there for emergency purposes only.

"This is an emergency, I think. I could not be bothered with fighting using those kind of things," she eyed the armor and made a note to sell the useless thing.

"Isn't that right, Yao-er?" she said as she found the little critter popping out from under her hair. "Get back in, little friend. I'll get you your favorite leaves for later."

With everything ready, she walked out of the mansion and into the garden, where she was greeted by Bertus.

"Oh, milady. Out and about so soon? Wouldn't a good rest be better?"

"I have some urgent things to do, Bertus," she paused. "Also, out of curiosity. Do you know where I have been these days?"

Bertus raised an eyebrow. "The Duchess said that you were out on a trip with Lady Henrietta. It is a good thing, I could not bear to see you be so gloomy," he signed. "That's why I was surprised that you returned in such a bad condition. Must have been quite a trip, eh?"

Bertus, even in her memories the loyal man is a fool. So easy to trust, so easy to fool.

Connie sighed. At least he still possessed the ability to do simple things. "Bertus. I want you to do something for me."

"Anything, milady."

"I want you to keep an eye on my guest in the guest room. Do not let anyone in or out of her room. Is that understood? No one."

The man nodded hurriedly. "E-even the Duchess?"

"Yes. Especially her."

"Understood, milady," he saluted promptly. "I will call for the carriage."

"No. I am in the mood to have a leisurely walk today. Good day, Bertus."

"Good day, milady."

Bertus twisted his lopsided moustache while watching her walk away. "I have never seen her so cheerful. Something happy must have happened."