187: A Library and Being Confused (3)
Although Anastasia had been vigorously shaking her head, her body, which had been frozen while she held her head, began to tremble.
This was no time to be thinking about such things.
Grace also came over to help, but there was no decision on where to let Anastasia rest.
What should I do? If possible, I’d like to bring her to my room to rest, but that would be difficult. In that case…
She was more concerned about Anastasia than about her identity being exposed.
What should she do?
The first thing Avril thought of to help was to take Anastasia to Emilia.
Her Highness Emilia seems to know that Lady Anastasia is here to recuperate. As the princess, she should be able to arrange for a skilled doctor.
Having quickly come to a conclusion, Avril said to Anastasia, “Excuse me,” and brought her arm over her shoulder. This was a posture where she supported Anastasia’s body weight.
“?! Lady Avril, what are…?”
“This may be uncomfortable, but please bear with me for a moment. I’ll take you to the doctor right away.”
“No, that’s… I’m sorry.”
“By my name as a villainess, I’ll definitely see you safely brought to Her Highness Emilia, so please be rest assured.”
With a gentle smile, the strength drained from Anastasia’s body as she stopped resisting, almost as if she had surrendered. Avril realized that she must be feeling quite unwell. Grace, too, silently stepped in on the other side to help.
Avril had often done physical labor when she resided in the Count of Allingham house. While she couldn’t carry Anastasia smoothly or effortlessly, transporting her alone wasn’t impossible.
It wasn’t easy, but she could carry Anastasia by herself.
Princess Emilia’s room is a bit of a distance away, but I can manage.
Thus, she began to walk slowly while supporting Anastasia and coordinating her movements with Grace. That was when a passing young lady called out to them.
“Is something the matter? Shall I fetch a gentleman for you?”
Heaven-sent help.
Surely, Anastasia would find receiving assistance from this young lady to be much more reassuring than being guided around the palace by Avril who was unfamiliar with it.
Thank goodness.
Looking over, Avril could see that the young lady who had called out to her had radiant blond hair and stood with a dignified air. Her well-maintained, beautiful hair, and emerald-green eyes were so clear, she felt as though they could see through anything.
Somehow, her elegant yet intelligent demeanor was reminiscent of Alexanda, leading Avril to lower her guard.
“Thank you very much. This lady here doesn’t seem to be feeling well, so I’d like for her to be seen by a doctor.”
“If that’s the case, my father works at the royal palace, so I believe I can arrange for an examination right away. Please wait just a moment. …Is this lady… your older sister?”
The young lady’s gaze went back and forth between Avril and Alexandra, then stopped abruptly at Avril’s eyes. Then there were the unexpected words, “My father works at the royal palace.” Avril’s villainess switch had flipped.
This is no good. I need to cover this up.
She was desperate, she had to play the role of a villainess, but at the same time she was worried about Anastasia.
“She is not my elder sister or anything of the sort. Surely, such a refined, kind, and lovely person could never be my sister, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Eh?”
The young lady’s dignified aura disappeared at Avril’s deliberate display of arrogance befitting a villainess. On the contrary, she began to blink in surprise, but Avril continued without pause
“I was looking for someone to foist this person onto.”
“Hah?”
“I called out because she seemed to be feeling unwell, but I was truly at a loss… You happened to arrive at just the right moment, and I’m truly grateful. I want to foist her to someone else and quickly… re-return home.”
Unintentionally, she turned into a villainess who wanted to go home quickly, but she somehow managed to push through by sheer force of will. However, the young lady seemed to be even more bewildered.
Avril could tell that something was felt wrong but playing the Corinna-style villainess while helping someone wasn’t a compatible act. She wished the lady wouldn’t pry too much, and above all, she wanted Anastasia to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
After a few moments of confusion by Avril’s words, the young lady again blinked a few times, then for some reason asked, almost as if testing her, “…Then why don’t you lay her on the floor?”
“”⁉︎ Th-that’s completely out of the question! M-more importantly, could you please fetch a gentleman right away? Until then, I will support her myself.”
“…Very well then. I shall call someone right away, so please wait.”
The young lady looked as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t have, turned around, and left the library.
Read more than 10 chapters ahead and support American Faux on Patreon for only $3~
Leave a Reply