I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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15

Medical Chart 1. People Who Adore the Young Lady

“How is Lady Shana?”

“She’s finally asleep. She grabbed my finger and earnestly begged me not to take the puppy away because she’d hate me for it, and her tearful face was really…”

Ella smiled faintly. It was that smile Shana had inwardly praised as elegant.

“So cute I almost got a nosebleed.”

“You should live your life being grateful for your face. Who would ever imagine that someone with the face of a precious young lady would have such old man-like thoughts…”

Maria clicked her tongue. Her own young-looking face and demeanor also played a big part in making opponents let their guard down, but in many ways, she couldn’t match Ella.

For reference, Maria’s weapon was gauntlets, and Ella’s weapon was a whip. In fact, both were equally unexpected in their own way.

“Yeah, I’m grateful too. Thanks to it, I’m enjoying myself to the fullest.”

“Please don’t say that out loud.”

She’ll really wake up. Even with Maria’s scolding, Ella wasn’t fazed in the slightest. She just smiled leisurely and tapped her lips.

“Lady Shana is really so adorable… It was definitely fake crying at first, but while pretending to cry, she unknowingly started really crying.”

“Does it make sense that she couldn’t stop crying as she wanted and really collapsed from exhaustion?”

“When she speaks, she sounds completely mature, but she strictly observes nap time.”

“She insists she saw vocabulary that would never be in fairy tales in books.”

“And if you don’t question her about it, she visibly shows relief.”

By general standards, she might be a somewhat strange child, but in the eyes of Maria, Ella, and Bailey, she was utterly adorable.

The point was that she pretended to be an adult, but her actions weren’t adult-like at all. The fact that she knew this and felt upset about it made her even more endearing.

“But her fake crying really isn’t improving at all. Even when she was younger, whenever she absolutely had to cry, she would reluctantly just make a ‘wah-aeng’ sound.”

It was so awkward and funny that we had to struggle hard not to laugh.

“She would really reluctantly pretend to cry only when her diaper wasn’t changed and she felt uncomfortable, or when she was too hungry to bear it.”

Maria closed her eyes as if reminiscing about those dear times.

When they first met, Shana was much younger and more helpless than now. Her chubby hands and feet had no visible wrists or ankles. She was so small that if you spread your hand wide, it would cover her entire head.

Her brilliant golden hair like sunlight, her rosy and plump cheeks, and her large green eyes that took up half her face made her look like an angel descended from heaven.

Or so they thought, but if they praised her openly, she would suffer from embarrassment. She was a baby who understood everything and suffered accordingly. That was so funny and fascinating.

‘She was really adorable…’

The way she struggled on her own, trying to do something by herself.

“Where did the dog go?”

“The Madam and Lord Bailey went to investigate. We need to know basic information before keeping it in the manor.”

“That’s true. She’s a thorough person.”

“Of course. It’s directly related to Lady Shana’s safety. Oh, His Grace went to see off His Highness the Prince.”

Maria leaned back in her chair and stretched long.

“The people in this household being sensitive about Lady Shana’s safety isn’t a recent thing.”

“Is it only the people in this household?”

“We’re also part of this household now, aren’t we?”

“From what I saw today, His Highness the Prince is no different either.”

Raven’s sudden visit was a very bewildering event for Maria and Ella as well. They hadn’t received any advance notice. If they had attempted to attack or subdue him as planned, they might have been dragged away by the Prince’s guards for treason by now.

…It was a chilling thought.

“Did you hear what that 8-year-old brat said? Calling our Lady Shana ‘mine’ and whatnot… Just because he’s a prince doesn’t mean…”

Being a prince can mean almost everything. As Ella muttered quite menacingly, Maria spoke nonchalantly.

“He’s going to become Crown Prince soon, so perhaps his choice of words is different.”

“Even so, what kind of nonsense is that to say to Lady Shana, who’s only 3 years old?”

“Is that something to say when you’re the person who said you almost got a nosebleed because she was so cute?”

“I just find her adorable in my heart. I didn’t actually get a nosebleed. Since Lady Shana didn’t hear it, I’m innocent.”

“…That’s quite a significant distinction…”

Maria shook her head.

“Two years ago, I never imagined we’d still be staying here.”

“Since Lord Bailey had given birth, we were going to rest in a safe place for a while and raise the baby.”

“Yeah, but somehow all three of us ended up settling down right next to Lady Shana. We even extended our contract indefinitely.”

“How could we leave that tiny little one behind now? Wherever we go, she’d be on our minds and we’d come back anyway, right? I can’t leave, at least. If anyone’s going, only cold-hearted Maria can go.”

“I never thought you’d say such things… I really live to see all kinds of things, Ella.”

“You’re one to talk.”

“Actually, Lord Bailey is the most surprising. She originally disliked children but had a child, and now she’s even a nanny. A nanny.”

“No one would believe it.”

Bailey, Ella, and Maria were a three-woman mercenary group, all A-rank and quite famous. The reason they remained at A-rank was because they were selective about their contracts, and there were rumors that their actual skills were comparable to S-rank.

Such people had completely disappeared from sight two years ago.

“Who would have thought they’d be holed up in the Imperial Capital, in a Ducal Mansion no less, taking care of a baby… If we from two years ago had heard this, we would have told them to stop talking nonsense, right?”

“At first, we were only going to stay for exactly six months. We were really frustrated about how we were supposed to take care of a baby, and…”

Anais had promised to provide an environment where Bailey’s son could grow up safely and to provide generous compensation. Bailey’s son was also a hostage in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

The three people, who initially planned to just collect generous compensation while buying time, had somehow become attached to Shana and completely gave up the thought of leaving.

Shana, who couldn’t even roll over by herself, now crawls around, stands up on her own, walks quite well, and sometimes even runs.

Could there be anyone who wouldn’t love the face that struggles to do something on her own, and when she finally succeeds, unconsciously smiles brightly as if asking for praise?

They couldn’t help but love a baby who was exceptionally intelligent, understanding all adult conversations, yet instead of being wary, smiled defensively with complete vulnerability.

Maria rested her chin on her hand and muttered.

“Healing magic and recovery abilities don’t work on beastfolk, originally.”

“Pretend you don’t know.”

“Our Lady Shana has quite a troublesome ability…”

The fact that she doesn’t even seem to think about hiding her abilities makes it twice as troublesome. Maria let out a long sigh.

The most troublesome thing was the people around her who couldn’t stop Shana from doing what she wanted to do.

Including themselves.

“We shouldn’t indulge her whims too much.”

“But those whims are so precious…”

“That’s exactly the problem…”

***

“Ian, Leon! Come here!”

“Ah, why again, Father.”

“…”

Leon grumbled out of habit, and Ian shot him a displeased look instead of speaking. It was a gaze far too lacking in respect to be directed at a parent.

However, Gillian Lloyd paid no attention to his sons’ rebellious looks. After all, even if they dawdled, they still came when called.

The twins’ expressions were sullen as they set down their wooden swords and stood before their father. Gillian spoke.

“How long are you going to keep being stubborn?”

“What did we do.”

“What.”

“Lady Shana is worried about your well-being. She says she made you cry…”

Leon and Ian’s faces contorted as if they’d eaten sour lemons. Gillian grinned.

“She’s concerned about you. Go show your faces and put her mind at ease.”

“Don’t want to.”

“Don’t want to.”

“Why not? You used to sing about wanting to see Lady Shana…”

Gillian looked at the sulking brothers as if he couldn’t understand them. Though they had spoken arrogantly in front of Shana, saying things like “I want to judge if she’s worthy of our service,” in truth, the twins had only ever talked about wanting to see Lady Shana in front of Gillian. That was probably their true feelings.

‘Little rascals, acting tough.’

Seven-year-olds were at the perfect age for mischief, but in the end, they were just simple children.

“That’s what you get for acting tough and getting on her bad side for no reason.”

“…You should have told us earlier…”

Ian, who had been quiet, muttered. Gillian mischievously pretended not to hear with a “Hm?”

“Earlier, you should have told us what kind of person Lady Shana is!”

“I did tell you. I said Lady Shana was cute.”

“Father’s words aren’t helpful! You just repeated like a parrot that Lady Shana was like an angel, but you never gave us any detailed explanation!”

“How else could I explain it beyond that!”

Gillian shrugged his shoulders.

“Think about it yourselves. Was there anything wrong with what I said?”

“…”

“Lady Shana is cute like an angel. Right?”

“…”

“She has a gentle and kind heart.”

“…”

“She speaks well and is remarkably intelligent for a three-year-old. What did I say wrong?”

“Well, nothing, but…”

Leon clenched his fists in frustration.

But it was natural that Gillian’s infatuated praise alone couldn’t convey what kind of person she was. Ian and Leon had harbored vague resentment toward the name ‘Shana’ that had been drilled into their ears since they first started wielding wooden swords.

Being told to work hard for someone they didn’t even know was ridiculous. While they didn’t dislike training, there were certainly difficult times, so they had felt inexplicably angry.

‘It’s not necessary.’

But.

‘Do what you want to do.’

‘It must be hard.’

The moment they heard those words, it felt like something that had been tangled up inside them was finally unraveling.

The small, chubby white hand that had poked them, the person who had smiled so brightly despite surely being disliked by them, who had even understood their twisted hearts – they had completely lost their hearts to her.

Leon and Ian made a firm resolution. They would definitely become excellent knights and stand by Shana’s side.

But then.

“What if Lady Shana completely forgets about you while you’re being stubborn?”

“…”

“…”

Oh, their cheeks puffed up like toads. Gillian chuckled inwardly.

“Prince Raven went to visit Lady Shana today, I hear. Are you really not going to go see her?”

“…I want to go.”

I can’t just let it be forgotten.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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