Awkward Pure Love

"If you leave this abbey, you might... be killed? In that case, I think it would be better if you hid here for a while."

Ludiger probably wasn't much older than Diane. Though she had opportunities to meet boys from nearby villages, he seemed somewhat more slender compared to them.

Besides, with injuries like these, they couldn't just throw him out without treatment. This place was safe—though she couldn't let him know about the abbey's hidden side right now.

"I might be killed, true—but danger comes with war, right? I'm prepared for at least that much."

She couldn't let this boy leave.

A voice in her head whispered this to her. Why she felt this way, even Diane herself didn't understand.

"Please, stay here for a while. I can at least manage to get you medicine and food."

"You're planning to hide me?"

"Well, your injuries are quite severe, aren't they? Haven't you soldiers heard that the medicine from this abbey is very effective?"

His injuries were visible all over, but the worst was his leg wound. The abbey had a clinic for treating illnesses and injuries of nearby residents. Having occasionally helped the medically trained nuns, she had some idea of what medicine Ludiger would need.

"I'll bring you medicine later. So please, stay here. Don't worry, I'll figure something out."

"But—"

"Please. I want you to stay here... It might not be very comfortable since it's a storage room, but it's better than sleeping outside. Besides, Surliton soldiers won't force their way into the abbey, so it's safer than going out now."

Lamartine Abbey was located near the border between the Kingdom of Sevran and the Kingdom of Surliton.

Recently, word had spread throughout the area that the Kingdom of Surliton had begun invading the Kingdom of Sevran.

Mother Superior Clara had strengthened the abbey's security, and Diane knew that some nuns had gone outside.

Being careful not to be noticed by anyone, Diane led the way with Ludiger sneaking along behind her.

"No one will see you in this corner—I'll bring blankets and food later. For medicine, wait a bit."

The storage room was cluttered with various items. In the back were unused farming tools and furniture, and toward the front were bottles of medicine made from herbs grown by the nuns.

From the front, you could barely see the very back of the storage room. Even when nuns came to get medicine, they only accessed the front area.

The medicines stored here were frequently used ones that were relatively easy to make, with the same medicines also kept behind the kitchen. Medicines with severe side effects were kept locked away in another location.

"You know this place well."

"It's my hiding place. You can stay here as long as you like."

Though she knew it was impossible, she said it anyway.

"That wouldn't be right. I'll leave as soon as my leg heals."

"...Yes, I suppose so."

Though all the nuns at Lamartine Abbey were kind to Diane, they weren't—friends. She felt disappointed that Ludiger, who might have become a friend, couldn't stay.

"This is medicine for wounds. And this is for bruises. Do you have bandages?"

"How would I have those?"

"Then... use this."

She pulled a handkerchief from inside her clothes and pressed it into Ludiger's hands.

Since he was much bigger than Diane, one piece of bread wouldn't be enough.

"...Ah, Giselle is calling. Don't disappear on your own, okay? I'll bring bread later, so stay quiet."

Giselle's voice could be heard calling for Diane again from outside the storage room. Checking behind her as she left, she saw Ludiger curling up to sleep.

Just before going to bed that night, she snuck out again to bring Ludiger bread and water. She also secretly brought bandages from the abbey's infirmary.

She had worried he might be gone, but he had obediently waited.

"Is it alright for you to come here?"

"Yes, it's fine... No one pays attention to me... at least not now."

It was prayer time now. If she wasn't back in her room and in bed by the end of prayers, there would be a commotion.

So after giving him what she needed to give, she quickly retreated to her room.

The next day, and the day after that.

She kept visiting the storage shed when the nuns weren't looking, always bringing food and drink.

By the fourth day, Ludiger's injuries had healed considerably. He seemed able to walk without difficulty now.

"I'll leave tomorrow. Sorry. Thanks for all this. You really helped me."

Diane silently shook her head.

Surely the food she had brought wasn't nearly enough for Ludiger. He seemed a bit thinner than when they first met.

She understood she couldn't keep him here forever.

—And yet.

The thought of him leaving made her chest feel tight.

"—So that's what's happening."

A sudden voice from the storage room entrance made both Diane and Ludiger jump. There stood the Mother Superior.

"Um, this is..."

"This is a women's abbey, isn't it?"

The Mother Superior's eyes were frightening as she stood with her hands on her hips.

No nun ever defied her. Mother Superior Clara of Lamartine Abbey. She had been assigned to this abbey on the orders of Diane's mother, Blanche. She was also Giselle's grandmother.

"You there, boy, come out. I'll count to three. If you don't come out—I'll have to punish you."

"What... what should we do..."

She had thought they could manage until he was ready to leave. Diane clutched Ludiger's sleeve.

Ludiger took Diane's hand and limped out before the Mother Superior, dragging his injured leg.

"My, you're younger than I expected."

Despite calling him "boy," she apparently hadn't expected Ludiger to be so young. She crossed her arms and looked down at him sternly.

"I'll leave. That's fine, right? I'm sorry for taking refuge in a women's abbey."

"No, Ludiger... don't go. You're not fully recovered yet."

Not wanting Ludiger to leave, Diane clung to his waist.

"Be quiet."

Mother Superior Clara's sharp command made them both jump again.

"Really now. I thought something was odd with the princess sneaking around. To think you were hiding a man. Ludiger, was it? That medicine you used isn't free, you know?"

"That, well..."

The medicine made by the nuns of Lamartine Abbey was said to be remarkably effective. Knights and soldiers sought it eagerly before going to war.

Though they tried to provide it as cheaply as possible, the donations they received beyond the cost were an important source of income for the abbey.

"And the bread isn't free either."

"But that was my portion..."

"Princess, you be quiet too. You were taking leftovers from the kitchen, weren't you? We need proper compensation for that."

Since it was true that she had been secretly taking food and medicine from the kitchen, Diane could only fall silent.