I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend

 

But it was Jeron whose life took a turn for the worse.

 

Sure enough, Kassar, who had been standing behind me only moments before, was now standing in my way. With his sword pointed at Jeron’s throat.

 

I yelped in frustration,

“What are you doing!” 

The problem was that I’d gotten so used to being with Kassar that I’d forgotten about him. Or, more precisely, his nasty personality.

 

He’d been wary of what Rudrick had told him before we left.

 

Even though I’d told him I was meeting someone here, the sight of him unsheathing his sword made my head spin.

 

However, I knew that if I stayed put, the pale Jeron would faint, so I hurried forward.

 “Wait, wait, wait! Put the sword away, he’s one of ours.” “…” “I told you when we arrived, there’s an assistant of mine who’s already here.” “That’s him?” “This guy?” 

Jeron was about to say something, but I was faster. I gave Jeron a warning glare and spoke quickly.

 “Are you sure you know what you’re doing? You’re here to escort me, not to imprison me?” “…” “Or you’re just jealous that someone else is touching me.” Wham! 

Instantly, a disgusted Kassar sheathed his sword, but he crossed his arms and scowled at Jeron, who was still just as nasty as ever.

 

Jeron crossed his arms and glared at him. He looked fed up with the mess that was coming out of my throat and asked me surreptitiously.

 “What is it, that bastard?” 

I chuckled vaguely.

 

It’s true in the original, it’s true in real life. Being hated by everyone really was an ability.

 

Even he, with his better-than-normal hearing, seemed to have caught the whole thing, but I sidestepped his rising glare.

 

Instead, I tugged on Jeron’s arm and said,

“This is the escort Rudrick gave me.” “An escort? Not a rogue?” “The bastard said it all…” “That’s not important right now, just keep talking. What does a princess have to do with anything?” 

Jeron glanced uneasily at the man following us with a grim expression, then looked back in my direction and continued.

 “Literally, it seems to have taken a turn for the worse.” “Worse? By how much?” “It’s…” 

Jeron glanced around for a moment, then realized we were in the middle of the square and gestured with his hand.

 “Let’s go talk to him.” 

Leading the way, he went ahead of me.

 

His destination was the top of the Averine I had introduced him to earlier.

 

The people who had been notified of our arrival had skillfully greeted us. I unpacked my things and went straight up to Jeron’s room.

 

Although I went to the trouble of stopping Kassar, who naturally wanted to follow me.

 

It was only when we agreed that he should stand in the doorway instead that we could get down to business.

 

Jeron spoke up quickly,

“The princess’s life is in danger.” “That’s not the first time.” “No, this time is different. She’s been in a coma ever since she fell unconscious, and there are even rumors that she’s already dead.” 

With that, I swallowed dryly.

 

Of course, it wasn’t the first time the princess had been close to death, she’d been slowly dying since she was in the womb.

 

But there was something odd about falling into a coma.

 

At least the princess was alive until O’Neill showed up. Although she was lying helplessly in bed, she greeted her with wide-open eyes.

 

‘Is the future changing?’

 

Like before, when the war happened years earlier.

 

If the princess’ death was hastened because I was changing the future…

 

I pursed my lips in thought, then snapped up at the strange words I’d heard.

 “Then what’s with the rumors of her death? Hasn’t anyone seen her?” 

Jeron sighed heavily, as if troubled. 

 “That’s…” “It’s just that things aren’t looking good.” “What?” “Even if the princess is on the verge of death, as long as she has the medicine, there’s no problem, but the problem is that they won’t even let us deliver the medicine, so…” 

I frowned at what I heard next.

 “Because the king won’t let the princess see anyone.” 

Jeron’s words were roughly this.

 

In truth, there had been countless attempts to cure the princess of her illness before me.

 

It was a given. With so many people vying for Beloa’s business, there would be many people trying to win the king’s favor, and the best way to do that was to heal his youngest daughter.

 

But no one could even figure out what the disease was, let alone how to cure it. As the days went by, the king’s heartache grew.

 “I once went into the royal palace through my connections, and I could smell the medicine in the air, and there were all sorts of strange people there.” 

But the king didn’t give up and kept trying.

 

He gathered all the precious medicines from the continent, and if there was a famous physician, he would bring him over.

 

He even summoned several expensive priests to pour their divine power into the princess.

 

Still, the princess’s illness grew worse rather than better, and the king must have grown restless.

 “Lately, she’s even started calling in a sorcerer.” “A sorcerer?” “To grasp at straws, to see if perhaps she’s under some kind of black magic or a curse.” 

I clicked my tongue slightly, but Jeron wasn’t finished.

 “There was an accident that happened there.” 

Ever since a sorcerer had visited, the princess’s illness had begun to deteriorate rapidly.

 

Rumor has it that she even wandered off into a coma. After days and weeks of drifting around unconscious, she soon fell into a deep sleep and has been in a coma ever since.

 “No one knows for sure, since no one witnessed it, but… the problem is, the king blames it on a sorcerer, and for a while the country was upended trying to catch the sorcerer.” “So did they catch it?” “No. Somehow, he disappeared like a ghost. Honestly, I’m not even sure it was the sorcerer anymore.” 

Well, it didn’t have to be the sorcerer, as the king did everything he could to keep the princess alive.

 

Or maybe the princess’s illness just got worse.

 “And eventually locked the doors?” “Yes. After that, the king began to be suspicious of everyone, not just the sorcerers, lest they harm the princess.”Jeron sighed profusely. “That’s what makes it even worse. It wasn’t so strict to get into the palace before, but now the guards are so tight, I can barely get in, and I can’t even see the princess’s toes.” 

Clearly, the king’s heightened vigilance was not a good thing.

 

Especially now that I had the ‘real’ cure, they wouldn’t even let an outsider in.

 “And the same goes for everyone else?” “Of course. Even that Reveaubel bastard, who’s close to the prince, can’t do anything about it.” “Then…” 

Mulling something over, I interrupted him.

 “Did they kick out all the physicians in there too?” 

Jeron gave me a quizzical look, but then, as if contemplating the question seriously, he shook his head.

 “Well, I think they did drive some of them out… but not all of them, because there’s a saying that a very few stayed behind to guard the princess.” “So the king hasn’t given up on the princess’s treatment after all?” “Uh, I guess… yes?” “That’s enough.” “Enough for what?” 

Looking at him in bewilderment, I snickered.

 “If we can’t get in, we’ll have to make them come to us.”  

As I told Jeron, I was pretty confident.

 

For I held two cards in my hand.  A real medicine that could cure the princess, and…

 

‘Hestia.’

 

Though I’d asked Jeron, just in case, if he’d kicked out any of the physicians, I was fairly confident.

 

‘Surely he wouldn’t have given up on her treatment.’

 

The king’s love for his youngest princess was always extraordinary.

 

He had spent almost half of his life trying to keep her alive, and now he had to watch her die.

 

She may be in a coma, but she’s not dead.

 

Now, instead of trying to cure her of her illness, he just wants to make sure she opens her eyes.

 

‘But there’s no guarantee it won’t happen again.’

 

However, he couldn’t just blindly accept a random person like he did last time.

 

Even now, the princess stands on death’s doorstep, and if things get out of hand, something truly irreparable could happen.

 

The king would be more cautious and desperate than ever. He’s probably still trying to figure out a way to save the day.

 

‘That’s when we throw in the bait.’

 

Rumors of a ‘genius healer’ who could cure any ailment.

 “You’re really using me to your advantage.” 

Hestia laughed heartily when she heard my plan. I offered her an apologetic smile and continued.

 “I know it must have been hard for you to make the medicine, and I’m deeply sorry. Just this once, but please, do me a favor.” “But you said you had to set up a clinic and take care of patients for a few days.” “It’s just that it’s better for me to do that than just spread the word.” “But still! Do you have any idea how annoying and tiring it is to take care of patients? I’d rather do research all day, and if they never show up after all that trouble…” 

Hestia, who would do anything for me, was surprisingly displeased.

 

If she hates it so much, I wonder how she ever thought of setting up a healing center before.  

 

With tearful eyes, I clasped her hands in mine.

 “Hestia.” “You can call me that, but I don’t think I can…” “We should make a name for ourselves?” “What?” 

Without pausing, I said,

“If this one goes well, we can build clinics all over the Empire in your name. ‘The Hestia Clinic’. We’ll put your chosen healers in there, and all you have to do is manage them, and of course all the ripe…” 

Hestia’s eyes fluttered wildly. I gestured to her.

 “It’s yours.” “Because I’m freakishly talented at one other healing thing.” 

Seeing Hestia’s hands immediately grasp mine, I grinned. Gosh, I truly liked Hestia.

 

As soon as I had Hestia’s consent, I plowed ahead.

 

I didn’t even have time to find a place and set up a healing center. The princess would still be lying there, dying.

 

In haste, I rented the bottom floor of the building above Averine and turned it into a healing center.

 

The clinic was modestly equipped.

 

We bought the necessary materials as they became available, and we started receiving patients as soon as we could.

 

‘We rushed to prepare, but will this work?’

 

But despite my worries, Hestia’s performance was dazzling.

 

Hestia, the future boss of the company, was as enthusiastic as ever.

 

The first people to see her were impressed by her skill and doubly impressed by her diligence, and they fervently spread the word.

 

It didn’t take long for her name to spread through the streets of Beloa.

 

With just a little spice to the rumor, she was soon dubbed the

‘Hand of God’.

 

It wasn’t long before the clinic was booming, and she was soon being approached by mysterious people.

 “Do you take traveling arrangements?”