How to Save a Time-Limited Heroine

<89 days left until the blossoming of Magic Flower Actrias>

Deltain grasped Agnes’s wrist.

As he did so, he flowed mana into her body.

‘No special changes.’

The growth of the magic flower was still within normal range.

The roots were spreading at the same rate as before, and the bud had not yet sprouted.

‘… I need to do something before the bud sprouts.’

The real threat started from then.

Once the magic flower sprouted, its growth accelerated.

In other words, the amount of life force it absorbed increased.

From that point, Agnes would start to complain of serious pain.

Even Deltain, who was not fond of her, didn’t want to witness that.

“It’s roughly done. This should keep you safe for this week.”

As Deltain released her wrist and said this, Agnes responded with a smile.

“What? Oh, are you satisfied for this week because you touched me this much?”

“… I was talking about the magic flower. Why ask when you know?”

“Well, your touch was so lecherous.”

Deltain held back a curse that rose to the tip of his throat.

Agnes, seemingly pleased with his reaction, shook her shoulders as she laughed.

“Heh… really. Tickling with your thumb, caressing my breast with your index finger. And your serious face made you look like a pervert.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I was shifting my position to flow mana in. Finding the path to the heart is not so easy….”

“Not easy, huh? Sure, let’s go with that.”

“It’s not about going with anything…!”

Deltain barely restrained himself from shouting.

His face was turning as red as his hair.

‘Hold it in, hold it in…!’

There was never a more frustrating moment when he had to remind himself that the other person was a patient.

Deltain even thought that he might die from a stroke before Agnes died from the magic flower.

“Just wait until you get better. Just wait….”

“What are you planning to do with my healthy body? Are you going to claim a reward? Somehow, your gaze looks lecherous.”

“I plan to punch you in the philtrum once. Then follow up with two hits to the solar plexus, and then slap you five times.”

“You’ll pretend to punch my philtrum but touch my lips instead, right? Two hits to the solar plexus because there are two breasts? Ah, the five slaps are your taste? How perverted.”

“Do you have nothing but that kind of stuff in your head? Staying holed up in your room all the time makes you live in such delusions. Live in reality.”

“I’m not in a condition to live in reality.”

“….”

Deltain took a deep breath.

When she used her condition as a weapon like that, even Deltain was at a loss for words.

Agnes watched the trembling Deltain with a giggle, then reached out and grabbed his wrist.

“Are you mad?”

“No.”

“You seem mad.”

“Well, if I am, it’s because of you.”

“Calm down.”

Agnes said, gently stroking the inside of Deltain’s wrist with her index finger.

A shiver ran through him.

Her temperature was slightly cooler than normal, and the thin fingers tickling his wrist made him flinch.

Agnes’s eyes curved into crescent shapes.

“Feeling better?”

“Crazy….”

“Feeling better, huh? Ah, your wrist got warm.”

Just as Agnes said, Deltain’s body temperature had risen considerably.

Embarrassed, Deltain shook her hand off and flung his arm.

Agnes pouted.

“Ah, it was warm and nice.”

“Warm, my foot. This room is warm enough; why would you need more warmth?”

“Body warmth is different. People need the warmth of other people.”

“For someone who needs warmth, your tongue sure is sharp.”

“The way you say sounds very dirty.”

“….”

Deltain let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

Agnes savored his expression, then stuck her tongue out slightly between her lips.

The bright red mass of flesh caught Deltain’s gaze.

Just like a boneless creature, her tongue moved smoothly and licked her lips, making Deltain swallow unconsciously.

Agnes’s eyes narrowed.

“… idiot.”

Deltain clenched his fist tightly.

He had fallen into her pace again.

“… I’m leaving.”

He said, standing up.

Agnes, apparently satisfied with teasing him enough, didn’t stop him and waved her hand.

“See you tomorrow.”

“I’m not coming tomorrow.”

“Come.”

“I said I’m not coming, why do you….”

“I want to see you.”

Stop.

Deltain’s body froze.

Agnes, no longer with her playful smile, wore a wistful expression as she repeated.

“I want to see you. Every day.”

Deltain’s fingertips trembled.

He couldn’t figure out what she meant by that.

Was it her usual joke, or was it the regret of someone nearing the end of their life?

Whatever it was, it was certainly a disconcerting remark.

“What the heck….”

“Ah, you turned red again.”

Suddenly, Agnes burst into laughter.

Deltain realized he had been tricked again and glared at her with his golden eyes wide open.

Then he turned around and slammed the door as he left the room.

Only Agnes’s laughter echoed in the room.

*

Deltain leaned against the door, his face bright red.

‘Crazy….’

She was truly a madwoman.

Deltain began to wonder if that woman harbored some kind of grudge against him.

Didn’t she?

He was her only hope of regaining her life.

And he had always expressed his discontent with her behavior.

Any person with common sense, regardless of manners, should not act like this towards him.

Grinding his teeth, Deltain rubbed his face with his hand.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

In the midst of this.

“… Count?”

A woman’s voice called out.

It was Agnes’s personal maid, Anya.

“Oh… I’m just a bit tired.”

Deltain straightened his posture, suppressing his rising shame.

The next thing was always the same report of any peculiarities.

“Absolutely no food containing mana. Her digestive system is likely under strain, so feed her only soft foods. Lukewarm water, and she can have as many sweets as she wants.”

“Yes.”

“Then, take care.”

Deltain patted her shoulder and started to leave the hallway.

Suddenly, Anya stopped him.

“Ah, wait a moment…”

“Huh?”

Deltain turned to look at Anya.

Hesitantly, she pulled out a neatly wrapped cookie from her pocket and handed it to him.

“Thank you for always working hard for the lady. This is a token of appreciation…”

Deltain looked alternately at the cookie and Anya in front of him.

Her face blushed above her freckles; her eyes cast downward.

Brown hair and brown eyes.

Deltain felt quite at ease with her very typical reaction, in stark contrast to Agnes’ torment.

So, he gladly accepted the token.

“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”

He unwrapped the cookie on the spot, popped one into his mouth, and shook the remaining cookies, jingling them.

“Delicious.”

With that, he left.

Anya’s cheeks flushed a little more.

*

Several hours later, someone knocked on Agnes’ door.

“Come in.”

Entering through the open door was her personal maid, Anya.

With a small smile on her face, Anya brought a tray to the bed.

“It’s time for your meal. Following Count Hebron’s instructions, I’ve prepared gruel. Since no spices containing mana can be used, it might be bland.”

Agnes looked at the tray of gruel with dismay.

Anya chuckled, trying to comfort Agnes.

“Instead, you’re allowed to eat as many cookies as you want. I brought some, so you can have them after your meal.”

“… that’s a relief.”

Agnes sighed deeply.

She watched as Anya set the food on the table in the corner of the room.

It would probably take another five minutes to finish.

Bored, Agnes suddenly thought of something and asked Anya.

“Oh, by the way, Deltain.”

“Count Hebron?”

“Yeah, how was he right after he left my room?”

Anya’s fingertips trembled momentarily.

Fortunately, Agnes, who was lying down, couldn’t see the movement.

Anya, facing away from Agnes, whispered.

“… he was frowning as he left.”

She wasn’t lying.

His face indeed bore a frown.

Of course, the fact that he always wore a frown was a separate matter.

“Really, I see.”

Agnes chuckled cheerfully.

As Anya finished setting it up, she spoke.

“All done. You can eat now.”

When Anya stepped back, Agnes finally got up from bed and approached the table.

After briefly wrinkling her brow at the tasteless gruel, she started stirring it with a spoon.

Only then did she notice Anya’s expression and tilted her head.

“Did something good happen?”

“Pardon?”

“You look like something good happened. Don’t lie; you know I can tell when you do.”

Anya was smiling faintly, her face unusually red.

Agnes, who had spent most of her life with Anya, knew such expressions were rare for her maid.

Anya hesitated a bit, then blushed even more and spoke up.

“Well… I made cookies for you, but there were too many, so I gave some to the Count too.”

Pause.

Agnes’ hand froze.

But Anya, with her head down, didn’t notice.

“… really?”

“Yes, he ate them on the spot and said they were delicious… I guess I got a bit excited.”

Anya lowered her head even further.

Agnes, with a peculiar expression, pondered for a moment before smiling softly.

“You must have been very pleased.”

“Oh, not that much…!”

Anya waved her hands in embarrassment.

Agnes continued softly.

“Deltain. Yes, he is quite impressive, isn’t he?”

“Isn’t he…?”

He was the seventh Arch Mage recorded in the continent’s history.

Not only that, but he was also a hero who slaughtered demons and elevated continental civilization tenfold.

Considering he achieved all this as the son of a fallen noble without a title, he was indeed a great man.

“What do you think, Anya? Do you like Deltain?”

“Oh, no! How could I…!”

Anya’s face turned beet red.

Despite her words, her feelings were already leaking out.

“Why not? You have a lot in common. You both like books, come from fallen noble families, and even have similar tastes in food. Aren’t you a perfect match?”

Agnes stirred her gruel as she spoke.

Anya’s face grew even redder with embarrassment.

Agnes chuckled softly.

But it was a smile that would have made Deltain tilt his head in confusion if he had seen it.

He would have described her smile as missing its usual sparkle.

“Interesting.”

Murmuring to herself, Agnes began her meal.