Chapter 31. Mage Favion
Belladonna stared up at him, her mouth open in shock.
That shameless man…!
Her lips—and both cheeks—felt burning hot where they’d touched.
“Lord! Madam! We’ve arrived. Can I open the door?”
Just then, Wolf’s voice called out from outside.
Escallion shrugged at Belladonna, who was still glaring at him, then turned away.
He boldly opened the carriage door, jumped down, and reached out his hand to her.
“Welcome to my villa, Bella.”
“Wow! Madam, look at this tree! Why is the end so wide?”
Cindy ran ahead, calling out.
“There are fruit hanging here too! They’re huge!”
For Cindy, who was born in Griblata and rarely left, the south was a new and amazing place.
Belladonna watched Cindy running around the garden like a happy foal, her eyes warm.
It really is warm here…
Sirlennia was even further south than Astanya, where Belladonna had lived.
The climate felt much milder than Astanya, and Belladonna’s whole body felt as if it was relaxing.
The warm sunshine felt wonderful!
“But still, the lord went straight to his study after arriving. Don’t you think he pushed himself too hard, coming all the way here?”
“……”
“We all got to come because of him, but… I feel a little sorry.”
What are you sorry for? He’s the one who insisted on coming! Belladonna scoffed inwardly as she walked.
Even so, she felt a little sorry for Escallion—her husband never seemed to have time for a relaxed walk with his wife.
Maybe after dinner, he’ll have some time. The paths here are beautiful… Even a short walk together would be nice…
“Oh? It’s the mage! Is he leaving now?”
At that moment, Cindy pointed ahead.
Turning at the mention of “mage,” Belladonna saw Favion, dressed in a navy robe, packing a small bag the size of his own face.
His face was hidden under a deep hood, but the long white beard below made it obvious who he was.
“I saw the lord seemed unhappy with him earlier… Guess he won’t ask him to make a return portal.” Cindy mumbled, clicking her tongue.
Belladonna swallowed nervously as she recognized Favion.
The strange tension from earlier swept over her again.
Isn’t this odd… Are you really the Saintess?
The mage’s thin, certain voice echoed in her ears. How did he know…?
“Madam! Are you all right?”
Cindy’s shadow suddenly fell over Belladonna, who was frowning without realizing it.
Cindy raised her palm to block the sun.
“Is it too bright? Wait here, I’ll get your hat!”
Huh? Oh, it’s not the sun, I was just lost in thought!
But before Belladonna could say anything, Cindy rushed off toward the house.
“….”
Left alone, Belladonna awkwardly turned away from Favion.
For some reason, being with this strange old mage made her uncomfortable.
“Could you spare a moment, Madam?”
Suddenly, Favion’s thin voice was close to her ear.
Startled, she turned. Favion had somehow come right up to her.
So close! When did he get here?
Favion stared at Belladonna with round eyes, then spoke again.
“It’s something that may help you.”
B-but… Belladonna glanced around quickly, but there was no one nearby.
“If you refuse, I won’t force you. But I know how frustrated you must feel. I want to help.”
Help…?
“I already know the one inside you is not really the Saintess Belladonna.”
“…!”
Belladonna frowned before she could stop herself.
He really does know I’m not the real Saintess! What am I supposed to do in front of him?
Belladonna, confused and a little afraid, began to slowly back away.
Favion had figured out right away she wasn’t the real Saintess Belladonna.
Seeing her reaction, Favion was the one to panic. He raised both hands.
“Ah! I’m sorry for startling you. But I have no intention of revealing your secret or using it against you. Please don’t be afraid.”
Belladonna still looked at him warily. Favion quickly rummaged in his little bag, took out a small notebook and a pen, and offered them to her.
“If you have anything you want to say, please use these.”
Belladonna hesitantly took them, glancing down.
[You keep saying strange things. What do you mean, who is inside me?]
She wrote quickly, so her handwriting was a shaky mess.
It almost matched her shaken feelings.
Favion looked down at the writing, then slowly raised his head to look at her.
What? Why are you looking at me like that?
“I’m 108 years old.”
Yes, you look it!
Belladonna continued to watch him warily.
“Maybe it’s all the years I spent with magic, but I can sense things others can’t. I don’t know how to put it, but the first time I saw you, I knew you weren’t the same Saintess as before.”
“……”
“Also, if you were truly the Saintess, you wouldn’t react to me this way. We aren’t strangers, after all.”
Wait… So he knew the real Saintess?
Belladonna bit her lower lip. She had no memory of this man, of course.
“I heard the Saintess married a Griblata knight, so I took the job just to see her face again after so long… but I met someone else instead. It was a shock for me too.”
Belladonna swallowed and looked him up and down.
Is this real?
He doesn’t seem like a scammer, but he did figure out my secret so easily. Who is this mage?
“You still don’t trust me, do you?”
Favion gave a short sigh, then rummaged in his bag and pulled out a short staff.
“When the Saintess first got her powers, I was one of the many mages the Pope called to the Vatican.”
Belladonna remembered how doctors and mages had visited the Vatican to try to heal the Saintess’s voice. Was Favion one of them…?
“Thanks to that, I visited the Vatican often, and naturally got to know the Saintess. May I use some magic in front of you?”
At the mention of magic, Belladonna flinched.
In her previous life, she’d been just a common farmer—she’d never met a mage before.
She had no idea what kind of magic they could do or how it worked.
Favion noticed her hesitation and spoke again.
“Ah, it’s not dangerous. I just want to show you some of my memories.”
That made Belladonna even more nervous, but Favion waved his hands.
“Really, it’s not dangerous at all. I won’t touch you. I’ll use this crystal orb instead.”
He rummaged in his little bag again and took out a crystal ball that fit in his palm.
How does he have so much stuff in that tiny bag?
“Here, look closely.”
Favion pointed his staff at the crystal, then muttered words in a strange language.
His voice faded, as if caught by the wind, and soon an image appeared in the dark crystal.
What is that…?
Belladonna squinted at the crystal.
She saw doll-like people inside—on closer look, it was the Saintess as a child.
The scenes moved quickly, showing the Saintess as a little girl, a little older, then finally grown up.
This must be Favion’s memories.
Scenes flashed by like pages in a book—times he’d spent with the Saintess.
They seemed to have met often.
The Saintess smiled at Favion during treatments, and they sometimes talked.
Of course, the Saintess could only listen, not speak.
At last, the short video ended and Belladonna looked up.
What is this?
“I projected my memories into the crystal,” Favion explained.
So these were Favion’s memories? He put the crystal and staff back in his bag.
“That’s all I can do to prove myself. It’s up to you to believe me. Will you talk with me?”
“….”
Belladonna still kept her mouth closed.
Even if Favion really did know the Saintess, that didn’t mean she could trust him.
That memory could have been faked!
…Still, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to talk?
She swallowed, then picked up the pen with determination.
[I’ve met so many people, I can’t really remember you. What do you want to say—]
“Madam!!”
Before she could finish writing, Cindy’s loud voice called from behind.
Belladonna turned in surprise. Cindy was running toward them, waving a hat over her head.
Unlock soon!~