“Good morning, Helian.”

  As usual, she didn’t respond to my greeting. It was still worth trying.

  To my surprise, unlike the good-for-nothing priestesses in the capital, the residents of this temple rose early in the morning. By the time I woke the next day, I could already hear the sounds of cooking and cleaning, and I saw people rushing back and forth through the courtyard when I looked out the window.

  Helian was still sleeping peacefully. I pulled the curtains shut and – after ensuring the entrance to the room remained locked – filled a basin with water so I could bathe her.

  While I’d gotten used to the routine by now, it was still difficult. I had assistance with this back at the estate, but I couldn’t exactly trust a random priestess to be in close proximity to Helian, and if she ever found out I’d asked Ernest for help with this matter, she’d definitely kill me. And then she’d be executed, which wasn’t acceptable. So, I did my best on my own.

  As I finished, I felt a weight outside the door. Ernest had arrived, presumably to take over for the knight that had taken the evening duty. While I was a bit disappointed that he surpassed his colleagues to this extent, it was no surprise given his pedigree. And if the worst were to occur, perhaps I could rely on his strength.

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  Two gentle knocks came from the door shortly after. I stood, straightened my clothes, and unlocked the door. “Come in, Ernest.”

  He slowly opened the door, then bowed to me as he entered, closing it behind him. “Did you sleep well?”

  I nodded. “I was fine. It was quiet, so thanks again for selecting an ideal pair of rooms for us.”

  He glanced over at Helian. “Is she doing alright?”

  “Yes, she seems to be adjusting to the new environment fair enough, and she’s still in good health. As good as possible given the circumstances, at least.”

  He frowned. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened? She doesn’t look sick. Was it some sort of poison, or the work of a mage?”

  “No, nothing like that. She’s just… been under a lot of stress, for a very long time. It seems to have taken its toll. This is the second time, though she woke up quickly when it first happened. The physicians said there wasn’t anything wrong, so we had hoped it wouldn’t repeat.”

  “Ah… if it’s stress, I can understand why you were reluctant to travel all the way to the temple. I’ll try to make this place as relaxing as possible for her. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

  I smiled. “Thank you, Ernest. It’s good to have someone to rely on here.”

  His expression clouded over for a moment. “I’m honored to hear that. In any case, if you’re ready, the revered mother is on her way to the dining room down the hall for breakfast. You can lock the room with this key, and I’ll be here standing guard until you return.”

  I nodded and accepted the key, then followed him out of the room and locked the door securely. See you soon, Helian.