Holy Maiden Hina’s Handshake Event (1)

That day was a refreshing clear autumn sky without a single cloud. Combined with the gentle sunlight and crisp temperature, it could be called perfect healing-gathering weather.

The palace plaza visible from the window was packed with people, just like Cordelia’s healing gathering. The difference was that today everyone had come to be treated by Holy Maiden Hina.

“Wow… seeing it again, that’s an incredible crowd. Healing all those people alone — milady, you really are amazing!”

“Not alone, Lily. For minor cases that were approved, the healers treated them. And His Highness Isaac helped as well.”

Speaking casually, Cordelia took a sip of tea. They had shifted schedules to avoid overlapping with Hina’s gathering, so today she was free all day. Thinking about it, it had been a while since she could relax like this.

(So she truly held a healing gathering… that means Hina learned to use Holy Magic too.)

Previously, when Fenrir rampaged and Isaac was injured, Hina could not use Holy Magic. But since then she must have worked hard. Holding a healing gathering was proof enough.

(I must work harder as well. Now that Hina can use Holy Magic too, I need another way to differentiate myself…)

She was supposed to relax, yet before she knew it she had pulled out pen and paper and begun groaning in thought again. As she and Lily discussed differentiation strategies, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Then, with barely a knock, a breathless Jean burst in. His rudeness was normal, but his unusually panicked face made both Cordelia and Lily widen their eyes.

“Hey, Holy Maiden. A request from His Highness. Change into your Holy Maiden outfit and come to the healing gathering immediately.”

“Wait, what is this all of a sudden? Explain properly—”

“Holy Maiden Hina ran away from the healing gathering. At this rate things will fall apart, so you take over treatment.”

““What!?””

Cordelia and Lily cried out together.

“…I’ll change immediately. Lily, prepare quickly.”

“Y-yes!”

(What in the world happened!?)

The room instantly erupted into chaos.

Amid maids rushing about, Cordelia quickly changed into her Holy Maiden attire and left the room. Jean, waiting in the hallway with a grim face, strode forward, and they hurried to keep up.

“Jean, what do you mean? Hina ran away?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Things felt off from the beginning of the gathering, but just after the serious cases were treated, she said she was going to wash up and disappeared.”

“…She wasn’t abducted, was she!?”

At Cordelia’s words, Lily turned pale.

“No, a maid found her locked in her room. His Highness is persuading her now, but she refuses to come out. This will become a disaster, so I came to get you.”

Relieved it was not a crime, Cordelia instead sighed.

(Abandoning the healing gathering — what is she thinking… She must understand how bad this could become.)

Hina, who had once worked as a company celebrity in her previous life, should understand that risk better than anyone — yet she fled.

(I may have to go talk to her…)

It would be fine if only Cordelia suffered the burden. But many people were involved in the gathering — those who prepared the venue for Hina, those who came to see her, and of course those suffering serious conditions. To irresponsibly abandon them was unacceptable for a Holy Maiden.

“Everyone, I will handle treatment from now on. I apologize to those who wished to meet Hina.”

After steadying her breathing and putting on a Holy Maiden smile, Cordelia immediately took her seat.