I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 63

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

63

 

Medical Chart 4. People Who Come After Hearing Rumors (8)

 

Throughout the entire morning, Shana had a noticeably excited expression on her face.

 

Her elated and joyful mood was clearly visible on her small face. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her emerald-like eyes sparkled. It was as if “I think I might be more successful than I thought…!” was written all over her face.

 

From Evelyn’s perspective watching her, it was a very endearing sight, but objectively speaking, it was questionable whether she had any intention of keeping secrets at all.

 

Fundamentally, Shana was honest and quick to react. When she was angry, she showed her anger, and when she was annoyed, she sulked. If she had complaints, she would voice them immediately, never bottling up her emotions.

 

That was endearing, but by the standards of nobility that Evelyn knew, it was close to being a weakness.

 

‘It must be thanks to the environment they created for her.’

 

Ever since she started working as a maid under Bailey, Evelyn had been hearing various stories. The most common thing she heard was, “This isn’t usually how things are, but this is a remarkably harmonious household.”

 

The Wentworth Family was very free-spirited for a noble house. This might only apply to the Duke’s residence in the Capital City, but it was certainly an atmosphere that couldn’t be found anywhere else.

 

Usually, things were more cold and strict, with emphasis placed on etiquette education. Young ladies and gentlemen around Shana’s age would start practicing being arrogant toward their inferiors as their parents taught them, lifting their chins and widening their eyes to appear even slightly more mature.

 

However, the Wentworth Couple would teach proper manners but wouldn’t force corrections. They would even add, “If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to do it. At least in front of Mom and Dad!” They were clearly excessive only-daughter supremacists.

 

Not only Evelyn herself, but Bailey, Ella, and Maria were all very soft when it came to Shana, but if you had to pick the softest among them all, it would undoubtedly be her parents Kail and Anais.

 

Since it was an environment created by such parents, it was perhaps natural that it didn’t fit the standard mold in many ways.

 

A limited space, solely for their daughter.

 

Though Evelyn, who was able to stay by Shana’s side due to special circumstances, wasn’t in a position to say this, she couldn’t understand why they had chosen this particular direction.

 

What exactly were they trying to protect Shana from?

 

‘Could it be an opponent that even their combined power would have difficulty protecting against?’

 

Was there such an opponent?

 

“Are there many patients? Many?”

 

“There were quite a few. Though they didn’t completely fill the lobby.”

 

“But having too many isn’t good, right? Because having many sick people isn’t good…”

 

“There are no critical patients, so isn’t it fine? No one’s dying either.”

 

“Grandfather, that’s harsh.”

 

“…Sorry, I said that without thinking.”

 

Evelyn looked suspiciously at the Old Man whose name she didn’t even know, measuring the distance in case of emergency.

 

‘Suspicious.’

 

Shana liked people and basically gave trust rather than suspicion. Since Evelyn didn’t want Shana to change, she had decided to do all the suspicious thinking that Shana lacked. I will never let my guard down.

 

“If you’re curious, shall I go down and check again?”

 

“How could I ask such a thing of Grandfather! I’ll ask Evelyn, so it’s fine. Actually, I could go myself, but Maria told me to absolutely never go downstairs when there are many people…”

 

“That child doesn’t seem like she’ll ever want to leave your side. It’s fine, so leave it to this old man! I’m still healthy! When you get old, you need to move around every hour so your joints don’t stiffen up.”

 

Since morning, the Old Man had already gone back and forth between the lobby and 3rd Floor more than five times.

 

Who exactly was this Old Man who had been here since morning, settling in while chatting endlessly with no intention of leaving? Despite not even telling them his name, he was already conversing with Shana as if they had known each other for years.

 

He was blatantly trying to win Shana’s favor, which was quite an eyesore from Evelyn’s perspective. At this rate, he’ll probably offer to get on all fours and give her piggyback rides… That won’t do, that’s my role. Evelyn’s eyes flashed with an authoritative glint unbefitting her status as a maid.

 

“Shaaana! My love!”

 

“We’re here, Sha…”

 

“Even though we saw each other this morning, I couldn’t just sit still thinking we’d be coming to see you soon! Mom nagged Bailey so we brought delicious snacks too…”

 

The Old Man and Shana, who had been sitting across from each other having a leisurely conversation, came face to face with the Wentworth Couple who had burst through the door.

 

The couple, who wouldn’t bat an eye at most things, stiffened up the moment they saw the Old Man. Sensing something was amiss, Evelyn pulled Shana into her arms and extended her claws toward the Old Man.

 

As expected, the couple seemed to know him. This Old Man who had been blatantly trying to win favor was indeed someone who deserved to be guarded against. I knew it, those who approach without revealing their intentions and identity are all…

 

“Father?!”

 

“Father-in-law!!”

 

He seems to be a relative…

 

***

 

Shana’s green eyes trembled finely with shock and betrayal.

 

“You were… Grandfather…?”

 

“That’s right. I wanted to tell you after we became closer, but this is awkward…”

 

“Liar! You said you had a granddaughter you hadn’t seen for 7 years!”

 

“That was you. I haven’t seen you even once since you were born.”

 

“You definitely thought your granddaughter was dead! That’s why you were being nostalgic while looking at me…”

 

“Did I say such a thing?”

 

“…You didn’t… But, but somehow, it feels sneaky…”

 

She felt deceived even though no one had deceived her.

 

The Old Man revealed his name to be Heinz.

 

He was the former Duke Wentworth and former Chairman of the Nobility Council. Though he had passed his title to his son and left the Capital City without regrets, he was still a person of tremendous influence. Such a person had been wandering around the Capital City alone without any guards.

 

“Father, what about the Family Estate? Why did you come here?”

 

“Managing the Family Estate was originally your role. I’m merely a substitute.”

 

“…If you had given us advance notice.”

 

“You would have run away. Isn’t that right, Anais. I left the Family Estate in your Mother’s hands.”

 

An uncomfortable silence flowed. Even while Heinz was having a battle of wills with his son and daughter-in-law, Shana kept her mouth agape before exclaiming.

 

“And not telling me where you came from!”

 

“If I said Wentworth Duchy, you’d know, wouldn’t you? I could tell your parents too. Well, I didn’t expect you to come this quickly…”

 

“…You’re really mean…”

 

“To keep such a cute and pretty granddaughter away for 7 whole years, isn’t that really too much?”

 

Kail interjected.

 

“Keep away? If someone heard that, they’d think Father stole someone’s child. Shana is mine and Anais’s daughter.”

 

“Who said what? I even begged to come visit if you couldn’t bring her to the duchy, but you never listened once. And then what? You sent the child out on the streets?”

 

“…So that’s what you heard and came here for.”

 

“You show her to complete strangers with no blood relation, but won’t even let me see her when she has a quarter of my blood!”

 

Anais said with a dejected face.

 

“I’m sorry, Father… That’s my fault.”

 

“It was Kail who didn’t give me any room to negotiate, not you.”

 

“…”

 

“The Lepoer Ducal Family is too troublesome an opponent to overturn on suspicion alone. Not only your father who was the former Mage Commander, but your brothers also oversee the Academy and research institutions. In reality, there aren’t many dukes with that level of military power.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s why I waited. But I never thought it would go on for 7 years. I had no choice either. Your mother and I aren’t young anymore. We’re at an age where we don’t know how much longer we can live.”

 

Heinz sighed.

 

He was saying that while it was all their fault that he had to secretly meet Shana, he understood the circumstances so he used this method, and this was a kind of consideration.

 

Shana began to think the old man who claimed to be her great-grandfather looked a bit… like a pyramid scheme scammer. Honestly, he was just as scheming as Kail. What? Don’t know when he’ll die?

 

“Do you know how much my heart ached from missing you? The child is even praised for being kind, like an angel…”

 

“Aah…”

 

Shana was startled and bit her tongue.

 

“Really, I was so surprised the moment I saw you. In this tiny face, there’s both Kail and Anais evenly distributed. Pretty like your mother, and your earlobes and eyebrows resemble your father…”

 

Meanwhile, Kail and Anais were nodding enthusiastically, which was so embarrassing.

 

“Just pretend you don’t know, then I’ll come and go on my own. Your mother should come once too. Or how about spending summer vacation at our villa this time? Hm? Shana, you’d like that too, right?”

 

“…I’m a daughter who listens well to Mom and Dad.”

 

Kail and Anais looked at their daughter with waves of emotion. Maria, who peeked her head out from behind, tilted her head as if asking “Since when…?”

 

“Shana… Do you dislike Grandpa? Hm?”

 

“…”

 

“You smiled at me when you didn’t know my name or identity…”

 

That was because she thought he was a poor grandfather who had lost his granddaughter. Not an old man whose expression completely changed as if his face had been swapped, showing off his cunning way with words.

 

“How much must Grandpa have wanted to see you to drag this old body here all alone? Hm? Hm?”

 

“…You said you were healthy earlier…”

 

“Relatively, for my age, that is.”

 

Kail looked at his father with disbelief, who was acting as if he’d give his liver and gallbladder to a granddaughter he’d surely only met yesterday.

 

If Duke Algren saw this scene, he’d definitely stare with his mouth agape. The reason that man hated Kail to death was because, unlike Heinz, he acted with a relaxed and leisurely attitude. Duke Algren respected Heinz.

 

‘Wouldn’t he cry if he saw this?’

 

Of course, Kail and Anais also changed their attitudes quite a bit in front of Shana, but people generally can’t see themselves objectively. His father in childhood was an authoritative, strict man who was more aristocratic than anyone. That’s why Kail had tried to abandon his noble status entirely.

 

But what was this? Heinz looked like, as Evelyn had observed, he would willingly walk on all fours if it meant he could give his granddaughter a piggyback ride.

 

In fact, Kail had never imagined Heinz looking like this. Since he kept pestering to see his granddaughter, Kail thought it was just a sense of duty to confirm blood relations and spite toward a son who rebelled even in old age.

 

But what kind of miracle was this? What exactly was a grandchild that made that man fall in love at first sight?

 

“Shana, my granddaughter, try calling me Grandpa. Hm? Hm?”

 

“…I don’t want to.”

 

“Ugh, pain in my chest!”

 

“I know it doesn’t hurt.”

 

“…”

 

Oh, he’s really crying.

 

***

 

“Can you believe it? Can you believe it? He really was my grandfather!”

 

-That sly old fox, as expected.

 

“Are you insulting my grandfather right now?”

 

-How much have you even seen him that you’re defending him?

 

“Still, he’s my grandfather…”

 

-You probably acted cold in front of the old man anyway.

 

“…How… how do you know that?”

 

-You get awkward when someone likes you too much. Well, your parents seem to enjoy even that.

 

“…”

 

-So, did you think of me today?

 

“…You’ve been really weird since we got engaged. I’m 7 years old. Isn’t that comment a bit dangerous?”

 

-What is? Is it strange for us to think of each other even once a day? And I’m 12 years old. What’s dangerous? The person who thinks it’s dangerous has something wrong with their head.

 

Shana made a groaning sound. Really, if only he couldn’t talk. Hurry up and make some new friends.

 

“Anyway, we decided to go to Grandpa’s villa for vacation. He’s completely persistent. Plus he’s really good with words, no joke. …So Raven, when can you come back? When is your break?”

 

-Well.

 

“Hm?”

 

-In 6 years?

 

“What.”

 

-If I’m lucky. Otherwise, 8 or 9 years later?

 

“…”

 

-That’s why I said this gold ring was valuable.

 

“…What, I can’t see you at all during that time? You said I could see you during breaks. That you’d come back whenever you had a chance…”

 

-Things have gotten a bit complicated. I’m not thrilled about it either. Duke Algren was determined to dump this work on me. He’s probably worried that if I leave my post, some gap might appear. He’s underestimating Her Majesty.

 

“….”

 

Shana stared intently at the gold ring. She could almost see Raven’s face frowning with fatigue.

 

-Do you miss me?

 

“…What are you saying…. Just work hard. Study hard too….”

 

-I’ll come if you call me.

 

“You said you can’t come…. Whatever. As if I’d call you….”

 

-But I would call you.

 

“I’m not Bigsby or Siri, you know….”

 

Perhaps the fact that she wouldn’t see him for as long as she had lived in this world, or maybe even longer, was hard to believe. This was Raven, after all.

 

Shana casually said goodnight and then stared at the gold ring for a long while.

 

He must be joking, right?

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