My party, “Princess Harem,” finally crossed the old border and entered the territory of the former Wahl Imperial Kingdom, the final destination of our second expedition trip.
The former Wahl Imperial Kingdom territory, also the homeland of Ly and Tirna, was packed with planned events.
We stopped by the Adventurer Guild to get the latest information. While on our way to the next city, Ribidoon, we took a shortcut. Suddenly, a black carriage ahead of us had one of its wheels stuck in a ditch. Shera and I helped pull the carriage back onto the road.
The carriage contained Miss Mamiya Yarai von Ranklaila, a former Viscount’s Daughter, her attendant Silaram Yakka, and the mercenary Doriga Doran, who was acting as the coachman.
In return for our help, Mamiya treated us to tea and sweets. Ly became quite interested in Mamiya.
Mamiya had been bedridden due to a serious illness suffered in her childhood. She had been disowned by her father, Viscount Ranklaila, and was known as a “Discarded Daughter.”
Her noble status was revoked, and she was confined to St. Freud Monastery in Ribidoon, where she was to live a life of poverty until death.
Ly asked me if I could help heal Mamiya.
We returned to Elgerblard Castle, where we had departed earlier, to examine and treat Mamiya.
I was currently riding in a one-horse carriage with Mamiya, with Doriga holding the reins.
Since the carriage was only for two people, Silaram, Mamiya’s attendant, rode in one of “Princess Harem’s” two-horse carriages.
Incidentally, Silaram was strongly against Mamiya and I riding alone in the carriage, but Mamiya insisted.
Silaram’s argument was that it was unacceptable for an unmarried noble lady and a grubby adventurer like myself to be in the same carriage!
However, I had my reasons for needing to know more about Mamiya, whom I had just met, to provide her with the best possible treatment.
“Hey, Hal, are you really heading to Elgerblard Castle? I think we can get through with this carriage, as it belongs to the Ranklaila Viscount family, but what about your carriage? Won’t the gatekeepers stop you?”
“Let’s just go until we get stopped by the gatekeepers.”
“Fine, fine. Don’t blame me if you get arrested for disrespect.”
After passing through a side street in the residential area, we reached the main road.
Our original plan was to head to the Imperial Capital Ashurai, so we were supposed to be going to the next city, Ribidoon. However, the carriage was now heading in the opposite direction.
“Lord Hal, are you sure about this? I have already been stripped of my noble status and am only being allowed to ride in the Ranklaila Viscount family’s carriage out of kindness. They are the Count Elgerblard Family, who are of a higher rank. My family’s influence won’t reach them.”
“It’s alright, Mamiya. Please trust me.”
A little while after Mamiya and I started chatting, the carriage stopped.
It seemed we had arrived in front of the gate of Elgerblard Castle.
“Who are you, and for what purpose have you come to Elgerblard Castle?”
Doriga, who was driving, was immediately questioned by the gatekeeper in a stern tone.
Since it was clearly a noble’s carriage, the gatekeeper’s tone was polite.
Meanwhile, the two “Princess Harem” carriages had stopped a short distance away, observing the situation, seemingly finding it amusing.
“Excuse me, I instructed him to proceed. Could you please ask Provisional Count Elgerblard if we could borrow a guest room?”
Seeing Doriga’s hesitation, I leaned out of the carriage window and asked the gatekeeper.
“Oh! Isn’t that Lord Raymond! No, that won’t be necessary. If Lord Raymond is here, we have been ordered to let you pass unconditionally.”
“Open the gate! They are associates of Raymond, a First-Class Quasi-Noble. They also wish to borrow a guest room, so someone go ahead and inform them.”
“Understood. I will go now.”
To our surprise, the heavily guarded gate of Elgerblard Castle opened.
It turns out my title, First-Class Quasi-Noble, had become quite well-known.
Well, Ly and Liliana couldn’t reveal their identities to commoners, and even though Alicia is a Viscountess, she couldn’t let on that she was the plenipotentiary ambassador of “Beth-chan” by imperial decree.
As the castle gate opened, the two following carriages arrived.
“Lord Hal… you were appointed a First-Class Quasi-Noble, weren’t you?”
Turning back to Mamiya, she looked very surprised.
“A while ago, I saved Princess Elizabeth’s life for a certain reason. In recognition of that achievement, Emperor Henry bestowed this honorary peerage upon me.”
“M-my! Princess Elizabeth’s life!”
“Speaking of which, I heard that many noblewomen in the Espana Imperial Kingdom are now wearing wigs because of ‘Beth-chan.’ Could it be that you are also wearing a wig, Mamiya?”
“My hair is my own. Since my legs are impaired, I haven’t even had my debut in society…”
“Oh, I’m sorry. That was a rude question.”
“No, I burst out laughing when I heard about the wigs too.”
“That must have been a terrible ordeal. A noblewoman’s beautiful hair is like a symbol of her ladyhood.”
“Yes, it truly is…”
We then entered the grounds of Elgerblard Castle, passed through a garden with geometric flowerbeds blooming with beautiful flowers, and arrived at the entrance of Elgerblard Castle.
Doriga, who had parked the carriage, brought out a wheelchair he had brought and carried Mamiya to it.
Silaram, who had been in the following carriage, rushed over and steadied the wheelchair.
“Miss, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine, Silaram.”
Silaram’s concern for Mamiya showed their deep bond, creating a very warm atmosphere.
“Lord Raymond, has something happened?”
“Provisional Count Hamilton, actually…”
As I watched Mamiya and Silaram, Provisional Count Hamilton and Eringye appeared at the entrance.
Seizing the opportunity, I explained Mamiya’s situation.
“I apologize for the sudden intrusion today. My name is Mamiya Yarai von Ranklaila. I look forward to your acquaintance.”
“I am Christopher Bartley Dela Elgerblard, who has temporarily inherited the title of Count. This is my fiancée, Eringye Lumie Dela Einback. Please get acquainted.”
“It is my pleasure to be introduced. I am Eringye Lumie Dela Einback. Miss Mamiya Yarai von Ranklaila, I look forward to your acquaintance. Lord Raymond, the First-Class Quasi-Noble, is a very reliable person. I am sure he will overcome any misfortune you may face.”
Mamiya and I were then shown to the guest room where I was staying.
Doriga, our escort, went to the reception room for retainers, and the “Princess Harem” party members also headed to their respective guest rooms.
Currently, it was just the three of us in the guest room: myself, Mamiya, and Silaram.
I looked at Mamiya and Silaram again.
Mamiya, seated in her wheelchair, had beautiful green hair, alabaster skin, and intelligent blue eyes. She was a beautiful girl.
The dress she wore, though slightly out of fashion, was a grass-green long dress adorned with plenty of frills and lace.
Looking at her again, she appeared to be a proper noblewoman.
Her appearance was excellent, and if she were healthy, she would have been a prize catch for a high-ranking noble family.
She was only 14 years old, not yet an adult, so Viscount Ranklaila must have tried to cure her until the very last moment.
Meanwhile, Silaram, who was gripping the handles of the wheelchair, had her brown hair cut to shoulder length.
Her sharp black eyes showed genuine concern for Mamiya.
Her neatly worn maid’s uniform seemed to reflect her serious disposition.
“Silaram, would you mind leaving us for a moment?”
“I have been entrusted with your care by your father, Miss. If anything were to happen in my absence, I would never forgive myself.”
“In order for me to examine Mamiya, she will need to undress. Also, I will need to perform a physical examination, so I imagine she will be quite embarrassed?”
“Y-you intend to have Miss undress! I cannot allow such a shameless act! Even regular doctors do not directly examine or touch the skin. I cannot allow you to do that to Miss!”
“As a healer, I am telling you it is necessary. Mamiya, what do you want to do? We can stop the examination and head to St. Freud Monastery if you prefer.”
“I wish to receive Hal-sama’s examination. Silaram, please go to the maid’s quarters now.”
“Miss, your precious skin has never been exposed to any man before! I am so frustrated!”
“Silaram, I know your loyalty. However, I wish to entrust my body to Hal-sama. After all, once I enter St. Freud Monastery, I will never be able to return to the secular world… Please grant this as my final wish.”
“If Miss feels that strongly… Lord Raymond, please take the utmost care of Miss.”
“Yes, understood, Silaram.”
Silaram, who had been initially resistant, reluctantly left after being persuaded by Mamiya.
Then, only Mamiya and I remained in the guest room.
“Then, I will begin the examination. First, I will examine areas where her skin is visible, such as her face and limbs.”
“Yes, Hal-sama.”
I brought my face closer and examined Mamiya’s face.
I carefully examined the condition of her skin, her eyeballs, eyelids, and the swelling in her mouth.
As expected, Mamiya, who had no experience with the opposite sex, blushed a deep red.
“Are you embarrassed, Mamiya?”
“Yes. As Silaram said earlier, this is the first time a gentleman has touched me during an examination. Also, the doctor who examined me before was a woman…”
“Looking at your face, there seems to be no particular abnormality. Now, I will examine your arms and legs.”
“Yes, Hal-sama.”
I examined the palm of her outstretched hand, then removed her shoes and socks to examine her legs.
Her palms were so slender it looked like her wrists could break, perhaps due to malnutrition. But for a pampered noble daughter, this might be normal.
However, her legs were unnaturally thin, and she had no pain sensation.
While her palms were warm, her feet were cold, like those of a corpse.
It’s a pity, but it seems I will have to have her undress and examine her further.
“Next, I will have you remove your clothes. I will lift you up and move you to the bed.”
“Aaaah… You really have to undress me. Kya! …I’m so embarrassed!”
As I lifted Mamiya from her wheelchair, she let out a cute cry.
She was indeed abnormally light.
Still, Mamiya, hugging my back and biting my shoulder, was adorable.
It would be a tremendous waste to let such a beautiful girl wither away in a moldy monastery.
I vowed in my heart to heal Mamiya at all costs.
Thank you for reading.
episode45-4 [Will the ‘Discarded Daughter’ Drench from a Physical Examination?] ② △ is scheduled for July 27th at midnight.
