A bounty of one hundred million mani had been placed on “Faceless No-Face,” and a week had passed since I decided to restrain my street-healing activities.
“The royal princesses, Christina and Victoria, are coming today.”
“Why?”
“I don't know. The notice from the capital only arrived this morning.”
Could it be that they found out I'm “No-Face”?
Oh no, what should I do?
I even tried to act cool in front of the princess and said, “I am the faceless one, No-Face.” That's so embarrassing!
“Father and Mother are away on a diplomatic trip, so I'll greet Their Highnesses as the acting lord. It's a good opportunity to get acquainted with royalty, so you'll stay by my side.”
“Sounds troublesome. I'll pass.”
“Don't be selfish. Don't make Onee-chan's life difficult.”
“No.”
I tried to run away after that, but my sister tied me up and forced me to join the reception for the twin princesses.
If I wanted, I could've easily snapped the ropes and escaped, but I was curious about how the twin princesses were doing.
It's not like I stopped running because my sister's demon face scared me or anything. Nope, not at all.
Still, did she really have to tie me up in a shibari pattern? People are totally going to think we're a pair of weirdos. She could've picked a less kinky way to restrain me!
Afternoon came.
A carriage bearing the royal crest stopped in front of the Medicus estate.
“…Huge.”
“Nee-san, they can hear you.”
When the twin princesses stepped out of the carriage, my sister muttered under her breath.
“Medicus-sama, thank you for receiving us on such short notice.”
“Please don't mention it. I'm truly delighted to hear of Your Highnesses Christina and Victoria's recovery.”
“We're deeply grateful. Um, by the way…”
“Yes?”
“The person tied up beside you is…?”
“My brother. He tried to run away when I told him to attend, so I caught him.”
“I… I see.”
See? Even the princesses are freaked out.
“Jii.” (stare)
“…What is it?”
“Jii.”
The younger twin, Victoria, kept staring at me without moving a muscle.
She kind of looked like a shoebill. Cute, actually.
“Princess Victoria, did my brother do something improper?”
“Jii.”
“Um, at me too?”
“I'm sorry, Medicus-sama. Victoria's just shy with strangers…”
“I… I see. Please, come inside.”
My sister led the princesses to the parlor, and the maid brought warm tea and sweets.
My recommendation? The cookies. Crispy and super tasty.
“So, what brings Your Highnesses to the Medicus territory today?”
“Soon, a celebration will be held for my and Victoria's recovery. I would be honored if Medicus-sama would attend.”
“…You want me to attend a party?”
A twitch ran across my sister's cheek.
After living fifteen years with her since my reincarnation, I could tell—she was smiling politely, but she was definitely in a bad mood.
“With all due respect, I was unable to cure Your Highnesses' illness. I don't believe I'm qualified to attend.”
“I still remember the time when my body began to rot and fall apart from disease.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Those who once called us the ‘Golden Princess' and the ‘Silver Princess' turned on us. Even my fiancé, who once swore eternal love, called me disgusting. The maid I trusted the most said I made her sick.”
Whoa, that got dark fast.
“But Medicus-sama, you were different. You took my decayed hand without fear and said with a smile, ‘I'll cure you, so please trust me.'”
“I did say that… but I wasn't the one who actually cured you.”
“Please, won't you come?”
Christina looked up at my sister with tearful eyes.
Even my usually heartless sister couldn't resist that.
With a reluctant sigh, she nodded.
“…Very well. I'll attend your recovery celebration.”
“Thank you!! Medicus-sama, may I call you Fran, if that's alright?”
“E–Eh? I don't mind… though I'm not sure what's so ‘special' about that.”
“I'm so happy, Fran!”
As expected of a princess—her social skills were terrifying.
Even I'd never seen my sister this flustered before.
“Princess Christina, calm down. I still have questions for Medicus-sama.”
The one who spoke was Victoria, who'd been quietly munching on cookies the whole time.
Christina gasped.
“R–Right, we had one more thing to ask.”
“Something else?”
“Yes, it's about ‘No-Face.'”
My sister's cheek twitched even harder.
She viewed “No-Face,” the person who cured the disease she couldn't, as her rival.
This was going to end badly.
Also, did the princess realize she'd just stomped right on my sister's landmine?
“Our knights investigated, and it seems ‘No-Face' was traveling toward Medicus territory while healing the sick and injured.”
Ah, makes sense.
So they traced my sightings back here. Smart move, princess.
What? You're saying I'm the idiot here? I'll hit you.
“So ‘No-Face' is in Medicus territory…”
“Do you know anything about that?”
“…For the past decade or so, there's been a rumor of a masked man—wearing a crow-like mask—who heals the sick while screaming strangely. People call him the ‘Mysterious Heal Man.'”
“A crow-like mask!? That's him!!”
Crap.
If this keeps up, they'll think the cool and composed “No-Face” and the screaming “Mysterious Heal Man” are the same person.
Well, they are—but still!
I'd rather they think they're two different people. Time to intervene.
“Princess Christina, pardon the interruption.”
“Oh? And you are…?”
“I'm Ask Medicus, the eldest son of the Medicus family.”
I kept the introduction brief and got to the point.
“Forgive my boldness, but I believe ‘No-Face' and the ‘Mysterious Heal Man' are two different people.”
“…Why do you think so?”
“The ‘Mysterious Heal Man' heals people while screaming like a lunatic. When ‘No-Face' treated you two, was he screaming?”
“N–No, he was very gentlemanly. Even when he saw us in… well, a state of undress, he didn't show a hint of emotion—very mature.”
A state of undress? Oh right, they were naked then.
I wasn't calm at all, actually. The mask just hid it. I was super excited.
But I guess that misunderstanding works in my favor.
“Then they're clearly different people.”
“I… see. That's unfortunate.”
As Christina sighed in disappointment, Victoria patted her shoulder.
“Eat a cookie, Christina. It'll make you feel better.”
“Thank you, Victoria.”
“Oh, that was the last one.”
“…Ask, I'll untie you. Go get more cookies.”
FREEDOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!
[Third person PoV]
After Ask left to fetch cookies—
“…Still, they looked alike.”
“Princess Victoria?”
“Your brother and ‘Faceless No-Face.' Same build. Same voice.”
Fran denied it without hesitation.
“That's impossible. His healing magic is mediocre at best—barely enough to fix a hangnail.”
“Really?”
“I would never lie to Your Highness. With his current ability, curing your illness would've been utterly impossible. Though he does have talent, and he's kind to patients… he'll probably reach my level someday.”
“Jii.”
Victoria stared silently at Fran again.
Then she nodded.
“I see. Must've been my imagination. Now that I think about it, that man kept staring at our breasts. He couldn't have been ‘No-Face.'”
“My brother was staring at your ch*sts… huh. I'll deal with him later. Anyway, about ‘No-Face'—did he say anything about the disease you two had? It could help future patients.”
“The disease? Oh yes, he said that the ‘The Disease That Rots Away All Flesh' was just a case of magic overflow gone wrong.”
Fran froze for a moment.
“…What did you say?”
“Um… he said it was just magic overflow gone wrong. Is something the matter?”
“…No, nothing. My apologies.”
After that, they exchanged small talk, and the twin princesses departed for the capital.
Later, Fran called for Ask—
“You're ‘No-Face,' aren't you, Ask?”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Look me in the eye and say that.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Fran slammed a hand against the wall, cornering him.