Once the decision was made to hear the details, everyone was escorted to the conference room.

Even after taking her seat in the conference room where they were led, Ester couldn't take her eyes off Christophe, her gaze warm and moist.

Christophe was at his wits' end.

That's because Sylvia was giving him a stern look for some reason. Her intense gaze, befitting an S-rank adventurer, was darting between Christophe and Ester.

It was clear from the slight puffiness of her cheeks that Sylvia was displeased.

Soon, it was Sylvia who broke the ice.

"So...? Ester-san, Christophe-san, I'd like you to explain in detail what exactly is going on."

Sylvia's words carried a stronger pressure than before. Christophe was completely baffled as to why he was in this interrogation-like situation, and could only look bewildered.

Then, Ester glared sharply at Sylvia and said,

"That's what we'd like to know as well, Sylvia. Why is Christophe-sama here?"

"Because of the favour."

"...You ask?"

"Yes, that's right. I owed him a debt of gratitude for helping me in the past. That's why I promised to welcome him into our clan as a healer. That's why he's here."

"..."

Ester's eyes widened in disbelief. Then, she turns to Christophe, her face crumpling.

"Christophe-sama... No... That can't be... Someday, when I establish my own clan and it becomes famous, I promised that day that I would definitely welcome Christophe-sama with the best treatment possible..."

"No, that's, I'm sorry. I just thought of that kind of language as something from when I was a child..."

Christophe was remembering the time he treated Ester in Greenbear Village a few years ago. He did recall that she seemed to be talking enthusiastically about something after she recovered, but to Christophe, it was just a charming little story, like a neighborhood child saying, "When I grow up, I'll marry you, big brother!"

He never imagined, not even for a moment, that after Sylvia, even Ester would seriously be considering such a thing.

"I was serious... no, it's not too late even now, is it? Why don't you come to my 'Silver Hammer Brigade' instead of going to Sylvia? I will offer you several times the contract fee Sylvia is offering."

When Ester pressed on, it was Sylvia who twitched her cheek.

"What do you mean by 'instead'? Can I take that as a clear declaration of war against my clan, the ‘Wings of Flash’?"

"We can settle things here if you like?!"

"Heh, heh... Well then, shall we have it out here?"

Sylvia raises her voice as well. Sparks fly between the two beautiful clan leaders as their gazes meet. Lillie and the retainers of the 'Silver Hammer Brigade', who had tried to intervene, cautiously speak up.

"...If you fight here, the city could be destroyed."

"...A-at the very least, the clan house will be damaged, so please stop."

The two of them spoke in frightened voices, trying to stop, and Christophe also opened his mouth slightly as if to interject.

"Both of you... As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to see you two fighting. Could you both calm down for a moment? After all, I'm the reason for this. Shouldn't the anger you're directing be at me, not at each other?"

"...That is."

"...It's not that I'm angry at Christophe-sama."

Upon hearing Christophe's words, Sylvia and Ester glared at each other, then lowered their hands that had been reaching for their weapons.

However, Ester's intense gaze remained fixed on Christophe, and Sylvia let out a small sigh.

"...Ester-san, why are you so fixated on Christophe-san?"

"...Would it be easier to understand if I said it's because I know he's an excellent healer?"

"Really, is that the only reason?"

At Sylvia's probing question, Ester's gaze flickered away for a moment. Then, she spoke firmly.

"That... It's not relevant right now. It's just that I owe Christophe-sama an immeasurable debt of gratitude... there's no ulterior motive whatsoever. In fact, why are you so attached to Christophe-sama? Isn't there some reason other than him being a healer?"

The words of retaliation were spoken a little quickly.

However, this time it was Sylvia who choked on her words at those words. She averted her gaze in the same way and crossed her arms.

"Th-that... well... It's fine, isn't it? After all, I have a precious debt of gratitude to Christophe-san, who saved my life...! Do you have some special reason beyond mine!?"

"I, too, was 'examined' by Christophe-sama… Yes, this body, which I wouldn't even allow anyone else to touch... only he meticulously cleansed every inch of my body with his noble hands... Sylvia. Do you truly believe there could be a deeper, more profound connection than this?"

Ester uttered shocking words, her face flushed red and her head bowed. Christophe was screaming internally, "That's a misunderstanding, stop it!" but Sylvia stood up, slamming her hand on the desk.

"W-well, I... I've had my whole body examined too! I was treated like my whole body was being thoroughly groped... so I'm the one who's superior...!"

"W-what...?!"

In the reception room, white gazes from the members of Sylvia's clan, the "Wings of Flash," who were present, and from those who appeared to be Ester's attendants, all turned towards Christophe at once.

Of course, he couldn't just stay silent in this situation. He rubbed the wrinkles between his eyebrows and opened his mouth.

"No, no, wait a minute. Wait. You guys are causing a huge misunderstanding. Sylvia and Ester, could you please explain properly?"

As Christophe shouted that, Sylvia regained a bit of her composure and said, with a thoughtful expression as her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on Ester.

"...Ester-san, you mentioned that you were once under a terrible curse. You said it suddenly lifted a few years ago. Could it be that Christophe-san was the one who healed you?"

"You understand quickly, don't you? That's right. The one who pulled this Ester from the depths of despair, from the abyss of despair, was Christophe-sama... the only one in the world."

Ester's expression was rapturous, her eyes narrowed as if she were cherishing a scene from long ago. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her voice was filled with passion.

"...The day I felt that person's warm hands on me... It's still vividly etched in my heart. Yes... The memory of my chest being caressed. I've firmly imprinted it on my body and soul."

"You should stop saying things that could be misunderstood, okay, Ester?"

Christophe calls out, but Ester's feverish expression doesn't change.

"My life, from the moment I met you that day... is entirely yours, Christophe-sama. I will now tell you a heartwarming and moving story, Sylvia."

"No, I already understand the reason, so it's fine, but..."

"No, I will tell you. Now, prepare to listen. I will tell you everything about my and Christophe's heartbreaking yet heartwarming encounter―"

Ester had a loving yet feverish expression on her face and began to talk about that time, even though she was reluctant.

Chapter 16