Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 293 – : Mt. Carmen

 "Csille, are you sure this is a good thing for you to do?"

 I stop from walking and look at Brother Pascal. "What do you mean, Brother?"

 We're currently on our way to the top of the mountain. After Brother Pascal gathered his things, we immediately left the capital. We just bought a few clothing for me and some necessities. After all, we don't know if we can still go down the mountain at night. I heard that the trail is quite dangerous at night. 

 "That you won't attend the welcoming banquet for his highness? You are his fiancée, and after the issue that happened between the two of you, it won't be good if you won't show up tonight."

 I sigh. I have already thought about that but do I have any other choice here? I cannot let Brother Pascal go on his own. Those people ask for help from me, so I need to be there. 

 "Brother, what can I do now? Even if I return to the capital, I won't be able to make it. Also, I have already sent a letter of explanation to his majesty and his highness. I also ask Lilla to send a copy of documents about the old woman to prove that this is something serious. I don't think his majesty will take this against me. After all, we are saving a life here. What's more important? The life of a person or the welcoming banquet?"

 Brother Pascal didn't answer me. I just heard him sigh. He knows that what I say is rational. 

 "Of course, life is more important, right Dame Csille? I'm sure his majesty will understand if you won't be able to attend Prince Fraser's welcoming banquet."

 I look at Gisbert and smile at him. He is the one Brother Pascal hired to bring us to the top of Mt. Carmen, the name of the Mountain.

 The trail in the mountain is quite tricky, so we need someone who will guide us safely. 

 Gisbert stops walking and looks up at the sky. "Oh, no. It's getting darker already. We need to rush now. It's not safe in the mountain once it gets dark. The only safe place in Mount Carmen is on top. So, let's go."

 It's already six in the evening already, and the sun is about to set now. So we really need to rush if we want to be still alive. I heard rumors that there are ferocious beasts living in Mount Carmen, and they usually hunt for their prey at night. 

 The three of us rush to get to the mountain. Even if we were tired or our knees were about to give up, we didn't stop for a moment. Our life is at stake here. We needed to get to the top of the mountain before the darkness engulfed the whole place.

 Half an hour later, we are all panting while lying on the ground. We made it to the top of the mountain safe and sound. I thought we would end up as meals of the beasts.

 Gisbert heaves a sigh of relief. "Whoah, this will be the last time I will agree to guide someone to Mount Carmen before sunset. We almost lose our lives there."

 I look at Gisbert. "Apologies, Gisbert. We just have an emergency, that's why we don't have a choice but to get here. Thank you for taking us safely on top of Mount Carmen. Don't worry. We will definitely reward you for this."

 I feel guilty for involving Gisbert. We know the dangers of hiking Mount Carmen at night, but we still convince him to guide us. It's a good thing we found Gisbert, or else no one will guide us here.

 Gisbert shakes his head. "Dame Csille, it's my honor to serve you. How can I refuse to guide the two of you after knowing you are here to save a life? Your lives are more precious than mine, but the both of you decided to risk it for someone. How can I not be brave to guide you?"

 Brother Pascal stands up and looks at the nearby houses. He then helps us to stand up before he looks at Gisbert. "Gisbert, thank you for helping us. If you don't feel okay, feel free to go to the Holycross Hospital and look for me. It's on me. You won't need to pay anything."

 I looked at Brother Pascal, couldn't believe what he said. Gisbert doesn't look like a bad person, yes, but there are many people who took advantage of everything. What if he does it?

 Gisbert bowed his head when he heard what Brother Pascal said. "Doctor Pascal, thank you for the offer. You don't know how much this will help me. I never once visited the hospital because I couldn't afford the fee, but thanks to you, I can be assured that if something happens to me, I can be saved." He looks up at us with his teary eyes. "Doctor Pascal, Dame Csille, you don't need to pay me for guiding you here. Doctor Pascal's offer is more than enough for me."

 I knew it. He isn't the type of person who will take advantage of someone. My worries are groundless. 

 I smile gratefully at him. "Gisbert, what Brother Pascal offered to you is just a reward for guiding us here despite knowing how risky it is. We will still be paying you for guiding us here, and we won't take no for an answer."

 Gisbert almost kneeled to us if we just didn't stop him. "Doctor Pascal, Dame Csille, if you want, you can stay in my house here for the night. It's only small, but everything you need is there. You can leave your things in there first before we talk to the chieftess of Mount Carmen."

 Brother Pascal and I both agree with Gisbert's plan. After all, it will be difficult to find shelter for the night because there is no inn here. 

 It's a good thing Gisbert has a place to stay here. Based on his story, he used to live here as a child but decided to move to the proper city to look for a job. He only returned to Mount Carman once a week to check on his house and to check on his remaining relatives here.

 After putting our things and resting for a few moments, we immediately look for the chieftess of the mountain. 

 Gisbert said we need to ask for the head chief's permission to stay here, but because it was the chieftess who asked us the Foundation for help, he is sure that the chieftess will agree for us to stay the night.

 We stopped in front of a bamboo house. In front of the bamboo house, there are two men who are guarding the place. They are holding a long spear in their hands.

 The people in this mountain are like the tribes we can see in movies. The only difference is their clothing is more modest. You cannot find any guy who is topless here.

 The guards slam their long spears on the ground. "Gisbert, state the reason why you are here. You even brought outsiders with you. Does the head chief knows about this?"

 Gisbert immediately gets down to his knees and kowtow. I immediately look at Brother Pascal for help. I don't know if we should do that too or not. Since we're in their territory, I think it will be rude not to follow customs. However, Brother Pascal shakes his head.

 "Please tell the chieftess that Dame Csille Lauretré and Doctor Pascal Lauretré are here to help us."

 The two guards who are frowning just now look at Brother Pascal and me before they kneel at us. "Dame Csille, Doctor Pascal, please forgive us for not recognizing you. We will immediately call for the chieftess. Please wait for a few minutes."

 One of the guards immediately went inside the house. A moment after, someone opens the door, and a woman who is probably the same age as Brother Pascal. 

 I just look at her with admiration in my eyes. She's so beautiful and enchanting. She looks like a deity of the forest. Her beauty can be comparable to Flora, who is the florist of the Saiven Kingdom, known for her alluring beauty. But the chieftess beauty is like a gentle breeze of the river. It's calming and refreshing. I have never seen a person like her in my whole life. 

 She looks at us for a couple of seconds before she smiles warmly at us. She then bows her head a little. "Dame Csille, Doctor Pascal, I didn't expect to see you here tonight. Please forgive me if I wasn't able to welcome you properly. I am the chieftess of the Mount Carmen, Nahale."

 I looked at Brother Pascal and saw a hint of admiration in his eyes for a moment before he bows his head in a respectful manner. "It was us who should ask for forgiveness for entering Mount Carmen without asking for your permission. I hope you can forgive us."

 I look at Brother Pascal for a few seconds before I bow my head a little too. Although she is the one who asks us for help, it is still rude to come up here without prior notice.

 Lady Nahale immediately walks to us and holds my hand. "No, no. How can I let you apologize? It was I who asked for your help." Nahale gestures her hand inside the house. "Come inside first. Let's talk."

 Brother Pascal and I walk inside her house. The house looks beautiful. It doesn't have the usual medieval design. It has more like an ambiance of a forest. Probably because you couldn't see anything concrete in the house. The furniture are all made of wood, and there are plants everywhere.

 We didn't sit on a sofa like we usually do. We sit on the floor with a pillow as our cushion. 

 Lady Nahale pours us some tea. "Try to drink tea first. Apologies, this is the only thing I can offer to you. We didn't expect any guests, so we didn't prepare any food."

 I shake my head. "No, it's okay, Lady Nahale. We are here to talk about the old woman. Can you please explain to us how and when did she get this tuberculosis?"

 Lady Nahale sighed. "She is one of our healers here. Last year, she went down the mountain to cure a person in a nearby town. But little did she know, she was treating a patient who had tuberculosis. It was already late when she knew about that. She tried to ask help from the public hospitals, but because there are no Doctors in this town who know the cure of tuberculosis, she remains untreated."

 Lady Nahale stops and smiles sadly. "In the end, she decided to return to Mount Carmen and live her remaining years. However, because her grandchild begs us for help, we take some chances and ask for your help. We heard you open up a Foundation that aims to help people who are in need of medical help. I didn't expect you would respond immediately. After all, I know how many people ask for your help every day. We even thought you might not see her alive. But thank goodness, you are here. The whole Mount Carmen could be at peace now."

 I sigh. How many people out there are suffering because they didn't have enough money for hospitalization fees? I feel sad knowing about this.

 "Don't worry, Lady Nahale. Now that we are here. We will make sure to help the old woman. I will also ask for some help from Doctors to visit Mount Carmen to do a check up. So everyone can be at ease. Although it will still take some time because as you know, the capital is short staff of Doctors now."

 Lady Nahale bows her head. "Thank you for your help, Dame Csille. Doctor Pascal. The whole Mount Carmen is indebted to the both of you."

 "We are only doing our job, Lady Nahale. So, you don't have to feel indebted to us. We are more than happy to help you."

 Lady Nahale smile at Brother Pascal's remarks while I look at Brother Pascal and Lady Nahale. 

 Hmm. I can definitely see a spark between them. Maybe they are the ones meant for each other? I wouldn't mind having Lady Nahale as my sister-in-law. After all, she's a beautiful woman.. I'm sure Mother and Father will be satisfied with her too.