The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 11 - Rescue Mission

“Milady, what nonsense are you saying!?”

Tim, who must have been listening to our conversation, suddenly grabbed both of my shoulders in a panic. That reaction was only natural.

“I think… maybe I can use water magic.”

“Maybe!? Are you really going to rely on something so uncertain?”

What he said made perfect sense. There’s a chance I might go back inside, risk my life, and still end up saying “I couldn’t do anything after all.”

I thought about trying to use magic here and now to make sure, but the book I read the other day said that when a wind mage first used magic, they couldn’t control it and created a giant tornado, using up all their magic power in an instant.

When I was a child and first used magic, I flooded the whole mansion, then collapsed and fell into a deep sleep. It seems like I don’t have much talent for magic.

Even now, I’m probably at the same level as back then. That’s why I thought, if I’m going to use up all my magic at once, it might as well be in the center of the fire where the child probably is.

“I’m completely, absolutely against this!”

“But if we don’t do anything, we definitely won’t save anyone.”

Looking at the strength of those flames, I don’t think the building will last much longer. And yet, I just couldn’t sit here and do nothing but watch.

The child inside must be alone, separated from their mother, feeling very scared. I understand that feeling better than anyone else.

“If I don’t do anything now, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

But it was only natural for Tim to try and stop me. As my bodyguard, it’s his job to stop me.

Actually, anyone in this situation would say I’m being reckless and tell me to stop. That’s what I thought would happen—

“Let’s go.”

Suddenly, I heard those words from beside me.

“Hurry up. It’s going to start collapsing soon.”

“Rufus… You’re going with me?”

“I should be able to protect you from falling debris, at least.”

He said that while looking straight ahead.

“Do you… believe I can still use magic?”

“I do.”

He said it like it was obvious, and my eyes blurred.

…Honestly, I was really scared to go in there alone. But just knowing that Rufus would come with me made me feel so relieved, I wanted to cry.

“Ugh, fine! I’ll come too!”

And then even Tim said that, and I was already about to cry.

“I can’t let just you and Lord Rufus go alone! If I think it’s really too dangerous, I’ll grab you and drag you out! So please don’t push yourself too far!”

“Th-thank you. I promise…”

It would be terrible if something happened to either of them. So I promised myself I wouldn’t go too far, and the three of us headed into the burning building.

We ran toward the area burning the strongest. Thanks to Rufus’s wind magic, we could breathe without inhaling the smoke, and I was really grateful. Breathing in smoke for too long can be deadly, apparently.

Parts of the building had already started collapsing, and with my untrained body, it was really hard to move. But every time I struggled, Rufus helped me without a word.

“Thank you, Rufus.”

“…Yeah.”

As usual, his response and attitude were curt, but his kindness kept reaching me again and again.

Eventually, we made it to the place where the boy should be. But the flames were so strong around him that we couldn’t even see him.

“Milady… can you really put this out?”

“I-I don’t know… but I have to try…”

The fire was many times stronger than I imagined, and the heat was intense. I was sweating just from standing there. Without Rufus’s magic, I probably wouldn’t have even been able to breathe.

“…It’s okay. I can do this.”

Activating magic isn’t that hard. What’s hard is controlling it. I wasn’t used to using magic, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to control the power.

But this time, I didn’t need to control it. I just needed to release it all at once. Unless I did that, I couldn’t stop this fire. I held both hands forward and focused, ready to use up all my magic.

“Please…!”

In that moment, wild water filled my vision.

I felt both relieved that the magic worked and shocked by how strong the water was. It felt like all the energy in my body was being pulled out at once.

“Milady… you really could use magic…”

Tim said in surprise from the corner of my vision. I didn’t think it would go this well either.

“…Ugh.”

But the amount of magic used was more than I expected. Still, maybe the fire was also losing strength because the boy was running out of magic. If it keeps going like this, we might make it.

I was sweating nonstop and felt dizzy. I swayed, but Rufus caught me from behind and held me steady.

“…Sorry I couldn’t do more.”

“That’s not true. Thank you.”

Eventually, the force of the water became stronger than the fire. I told myself, ‘Just a little more’, and pushed through.

Finally, I gave everything I had left, and the moment I did, the world tilted.

I saw the boy crying not far away. The strength in my body faded. Once again, Rufus supported me. Tim rushed over to the boy and lifted his small body into his arms.

“Milady, you did great! We made it just in time! The building is about to collapse, let’s hurry and get out!”

With Tim’s words, Rufus nodded, picked me up, and started running. I didn’t have the energy to feel embarrassed or guilty that I couldn’t walk. I was just incredibly tired and sleepy.

“You did well.”

Hearing Rufus say that was the last thing I remembered before I passed out.

◇◇◇

“Sadie, you’re awake!?”

I slowly opened my eyes and saw my parents there. It looked like I was in my bedroom at the Arclight family mansion.

Tim, Hara, and Gerald were also there.

Everyone looked really relieved when they saw me awake. I immediately remembered that I had fallen asleep in Rufus’s arms after we saved the boy.

“I’m so glad you’re okay…”

“I’m sorry I made you all worry.”

Seeing everyone looking like they were about to cry made my chest ache. I didn’t regret what I did, but I knew I had to be more careful in the future.

“But the boy was safe. He’s going to be fine.”

“Really? That’s such a relief… Thank you, Tim.”

“No, no. Right now, I bet everyone outside is talking about you, Milady. The infamous villainess, Sadie Arclight, turns out to be a magic user and risked her life to save a child!”

Tim spoke proudly, as if it were his own achievement.

I made him go along with my selfishness and he helped me. I’d definitely thank him properly later.

“What about Rufus?”

“The moment he saw my face, he left,” Gerald said, sounding sorry.

Now that I think about it, Rufus also left right after seeing Gerald the other day. On the day our engagement was broken off, he even asked if Gerald and I had something going on. I think he has a huge misunderstanding.

I need to thank him properly, too.

After my parents checked that I was okay, they left the room. Then I was alone with Gerald.

“I was just about to come visit you when I heard what happened. I was really shocked.”

“I see. Sorry for the surprise. Did something happen?”

As I sat up in bed, Gerald sat next to me.

Back in that place, we always huddled together and talked in tight spaces, but now Gerald’s handsome face was just too dazzling and made me nervous.

“There are two things I want to tell you. First, I asked the Magic Ministry, but they said they’ve never heard of a magic that switches bodies.”

“…What?”

Then what is happening to us?

If there’s no way to switch bodies, no one would believe us. They’ll think we’re just making things up, and no one will treat this like a real case.

“And second—this.”

Gerald pulled out a letter and handed it to me. There was no sender name. I tilted my head, wondering who it was from.

Then Gerald said,

“It’s a letter from Neil. It’s addressed to you.”