Saving a Simple and Kind Viscountess Whose Engagement Was Broken and Sentenced to the Labyrinth Pris

“Sniffle… I apologize; I’m fine now…”

Nadia eventually regained her composure and bowed her head.

“I’m a classmate of yours—so you don’t have to apologize as much, okay?”

“Y-Yes, I’m sorry…”

“Look, you apologized again.”

“Ah…fufu.”

Nadia finally laughed after I pointed it out in a playful and intentional manner.

Yeah… As expected, she looks best when she smiles.

“Would you please wait a moment.”

I searched the infirmary for something to cool her left cheek and eyelid and found a clean medical cloth nearby.

I soak it in cold water, wring it out, and then drain it.

“Please take this.”

“T-Thank you very much…”

She presses a cold cloth against her left cheek and eyelid.

“Oh, come to think of it, Nadia-san, have you decided which class to take?”

“Yes, I have. I think I will choose the magic class. That way, I can be of assistance to…”

I tried to change the subject to make her feel better, but it ended up reminding her of the Hymes family and her parents’ house. I suppose I failed a little…

But, her expression isn’t as bleak, and that’s important, so let’s continue the conversation.

“Magic… Please excuse me, Nadia-san, but do you practice magic?”

“Yes, I do. But It’s really just simple magic. But it’s better than swordsmanship, which I’m not good at.”

“Hmm…”

Her words make me ponder.

Unfortunately, I also know that Nadia lacks talent in magic, though not as much as she does in swordsmanship.

So… how am I going to get her there?

“By the way, Nadia-san, do you like animals?”

“Yes! In fact, I’ve been caring for our horses since I was a kid!”

Nadia’s indigo eyes brightened, and she responded quickly.

Yes, I knew she was fond of animals.

“Then, for example, how about learning summoning art?”

“Summoning art…?”

“Yes.”

She inquires, and I smile and nod.

In my dream, she tried out the summoning art and was able to summon a magical beast with ease.

She quickly improved, and she was able to summon intermediate level magical beasts in no time.

If she had only spent the three years before being thrown into the labyrinth learning the summoning art properly, then…

“After all, learning something you enjoy will help you improve faster than learning something out of duty or mission, right? Among them are some adorable magical beasts…”

“I-I see!”

Good! Nadia has agreed!

Even in my dreams, she summons cute and fluffy magical beasts and heals them to her heart’s content!

“Moreover, the summoning art has many applications and few practitioners, so I believe it will be very useful if you can master it.”

“Y-Yes…!

The summoning art appears to have moved Nadia.

Just one more push.

“If Nadia-san decides to use the summoning art, I will learn it alongside her—Let us grow stronger together!”

“I feel encouraged if… if Ivan-sama is with me…”

Nadia’s cheeks are flushed as she looks at me.

I believe she will learn the summoning art at this point.

Then

“Ara? What’s the matter? “

Finally, the doctor from the infirmary arrives.

When she arrived, it was convenient for me.

“Actually, she has an injury on her left cheek—we’re cooling her down as first aid, but can you take care of her from here?”

“Yes, okay.”

The doctor in the infirmary smiled and nodded.

“Then, Nadia-san, I will also submit your elective classes to the doctor.”

“Y-Yes. Ivan-sama… I am grateful for everything you have done for me. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to thank you for your generosity.”

Nadia bows deeply and places her hand on her chest.

Hmm… “Anything,” you say?

“In that case, I have a request for Nadia-san, Is that all right?”

“Y-Yes! Anything!”

She leaned in closer to hear what I was going to say.

“Well, we’re classmates in the same class, and we don’t have much in common in terms of family status.”

“Y-Yes…”

“So I’d appreciate it if you’d address me as “Ivan” from now on.”

“T- That’s…!”

“I used to live in the countryside, so I don’t like to address my friends with honorific titles, nor do I like to be addressed by them—so please, by all means.”

I approach her with caution and insist that she do so.

I want to spend more time with her and get to know her better.

That is, as friends, because she’s still engaged to Donato.

Nadia thinks about it for a moment, then slowly opens her mouth.

“T-Then, Ivan-sama, please don’t address me as ‘san.’ If you agree, I will make an effort… I’ll do my best…”

“Really? Yes!”

Nadia was embarrassed, and I clenched my fists in joy.

“fufu…”

Nadia then beamed at me, just as she had in my dream.

“I appreciate it very much. Let’s see… “Nadia”

“Yes, I-I mean “Ivan”

It’s nice to have Nadia call me that in real life rather than in my dreams.

My heart is overflowing with joy.

“Well, I’m going back to class—Doctor, please look after her for me.”

“Yes, I’ll look after her.”

“Thank you so much, Ivan!”

I say goodbye to Nadia with a big smile and return to my classroom…

But…

“I’ve been expecting you.”

…Donato was standing in front of the classroom, waiting for me.