I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 13

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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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Chapter 13

Anticipation that tomorrow they would be able to examine and treat the Dowager Duchess was floating throughout the castle.

“When the physician comes, he’ll examine us too.”

“Really? What’s gotten into him? He usually doesn’t pay much attention to the servants.”

“I don’t know. I heard he’s been dining with an outsider, so maybe that’s having some influence?”

“Ah, that glamorous woman?”

“How did she seduce His Highness? He’s someone who rarely even comes out of his room.”

The servants whispered among themselves.

“You all must not have much work to do.”

“Gasp! H-Head Maid!”

“When the physician arrives, pay careful attention to every corner so he won’t be cold. Even people who were healthy in the Capital can easily catch cold when they come to the Northern Region.”

“Yes, of course! Don’t worry!”

Head Maid Ruby disciplined the servants with her monotone manner of speaking.

They don’t know the detailed reason why the manor is frozen.

They simply signed agreements not to divulge what happens here and work accordingly.

So that’s why they can say such things.

They wouldn’t know what kind of existence Clemente is to His Highness the Duke.

Ruby, who let out a light sigh, continued bustling about busily.

‘Clemente must have been here.’

When walking around the castle, there are parts that are particularly warmer. Places where Clemente had stayed, even briefly, had different air.

‘Still, it’s fortunate that she seems to be adapting well. Hmm. Should I bring Lora and Rudo back soon?’

A new person who brought a sense of alienation had entered the Northern Region’s castle that had always been the same. Not knowing what might happen, she hadn’t granted the twins’ pestering to go to the Duchy Castle.

“There’s a monster in the castle! My heater is in danger! You have to stay by my side and protect it!”

“Lu, cold. Heater…”

Even Lu, who hadn’t been causing trouble, put on an obviously fake act trying to follow Clemente, which was troublesome.

But now it seemed like it would be okay to bring them.

“Mmm…”

She suddenly remembered the kids who had rampaged in front of other people, claiming they had to defeat the monster. How frightening.

At least it was fortunate that His Highness was generous with the children. If not for His Highness’s mercy, they would have received whatever punishment they deserved.

Nevertheless, there was one reason she brought the children from time to time.

‘His Highness seems to like the kids.’

The gaze she occasionally felt from inside the building suggested that. It seemed similar to her own eyes when she secretly watched baby cats from afar, worried they might be startled.

But her adorable troublemakers didn’t seem to think so…

“…”

Let’s stop thinking about it.

Back to work.

The day after finishing preparations to receive the honored guest under Ruby’s guidance.

The physician arrived.

With a cold, stern-looking expression and disciplined movements. At first glance, you could believe he was a knight rather than a physician.

He examined the Dowager Duchess, speaking only necessary words, then turned around to look at Rossia.

“I didn’t expect to see this disease in the Northern Region.”

“Do you know this disease?”

Rossia asked with anticipation.

“Yes, it’s a common disease in the Southern Region.”

Cactus Flower. The physician’s explanation starting with the disease name was the same as what Clemente had told them.

“Then, then you naturally know the treatment too, right?”

However, the physician’s answer didn’t come easily. Rossia’s face gradually hardened as well.

“It will be difficult to obtain the medicine.”

“Money, I’ll give you as much money as you need-“

“Money isn’t what’s important.”

Whooooosh, clatter!

The sound of windows shaking echoed throughout the castle.

A blizzard struck and fierce winds blew.

“The Dowager Duchess’s illness has already progressed significantly.”

“Then, then what, uh…”

Rossia’s mind went blank.

“It’s difficult for me to assure you that the Dowager Duchess can hold on during the time it takes to obtain the medicinal herbs.”

“How long, does it take?”

“That too cannot be known for certain.”

Lavaba, the only medicinal herb that can cure Cactus Flower.

Lavaba cannot be cultivated. It’s a precious herb that grows only in lava regions.

Moreover, the lava region was even further south than the desert in the Southern Region. The southernmost tip of the continent. Not only was it a difficult distance to travel from the Northern Region, but it was also a herb that was difficult for merchants to handle.

“Even if you somehow obtained it from the lava region, lavaba becomes useless if it gets even slightly cold.”

Lavaba was a herb that sensitive to temperature. If that weren’t the case, cultivation would have been sufficiently possible.

“All of that must be done within a week. Would that be possible?”

The physician had an indifferent expression. The novelty of seeing someone in the Northern Region afflicted with a Southern Region endemic disease was brief, and his interest rapidly cooled since it was a disease that couldn’t be helped anyway.

The physician, who was staying put only because this was the Ducal Household, looked at Rossia with an expression asking what she would do.

Rossia was upset by that nonchalant expression, but getting angry wouldn’t change anything. When she unconsciously bit her lip, blood burst forth. At the same time, despair took its place.

Familiar.

This kind of situation.

It had always been like this anyway.

When Zephyrus was cursed, when the previous Duke went missing because of it, and the Dowager Duchess hovering between life and death due to illness!

It felt like going up to the sky and then falling, but it wasn’t much different from before.

Having steeled her heart this way, Rossia received the appearance and name of the medicinal herb.

“You’re a physician. Even if it’s not within a week, within two weeks, I’ll obtain it. Keep her alive somehow.”

“I’m a physician, not a god.”

When Rossia glared, the physician shrugged. It was the leisure of someone who knew there was nothing they could do even if he acted this way.

Right. There’s nothing she can do now, but once the Dowager Duchess recovers, she’ll roll up this physician and leave him outside. She’ll save him just before he freezes to death!

“Do it properly. Sié, please take care of Aunt.”

She entrusted the aftermath to Sié and moved quickly.

Sié, who had seen Rossia off, asked the physician.

“Still, she eats well and sleeps too… is the situation really that critical?”

“She eats well?”

The physician tilted his head and then palpated the Dowager Duchess’s fingertips again.

They were cool. However, for someone afflicted with this disease, they were on the warm side.

‘Come to think of it, the disease has progressed enough that she should be shivering from cold even while unconscious.’

He wondered if it was because of the room that was hot enough to be scorching, but he had to shake his head.

Cactus Flower is a disease where patients die shivering even while receiving the hot sunlight of the desert.

If the body gives off a sweet smell, it means the disease has reached its final stage.

‘But the body isn’t cold… hmm.’

There must be a reason. When he asked Sié, the answer came immediately.

“Ah, if it’s about that, I have an idea. There’s someone called Clemente…”

Someone much hotter than ordinary people, for whom that’s normal.

It sounded familiar somehow. He became interested.

The physician raised one corner of his mouth.

“Could you arrange for me to meet her?”

“I’ll ask about her intentions.”

“Let me rephrase that. You must arrange for me to meet her.”

When Sié looked troubled, the physician emphasized once more.

“She might be the only person who can keep the Dowager Duchess alive.”

“That person? Ah, perhaps… because of that warmth?”

“I think I’ll know for certain once I see them.”

At the physician’s words, Sié nodded with a determined expression.

His Grace the Duke had said not to let the physician and Clemente meet.

But this is to save the Dowager Duchess, so surely he would understand!

Unable to leave the Dowager Duchess’s side, Sié asked the head maid to bring Clemente.

“Is this something that needs to be done immediately?”

“I’d like Clemente to visit right after lunch. That’s earlier than usual.”

Head maid Ruby finished all urgent tasks in the morning and waited for lunchtime to end. She couldn’t disturb Clemente who was in the Duke’s Chamber.

Instead, she immediately went to find Clemente afterward and headed up to the 3rd Floor.

She wasn’t there. She thought Clemente usually cleaned the 3rd Floor at this time, but perhaps that information was wrong. Puzzled, she went down to the 2nd Floor.

Not there. 1st Floor, Dining Hall, Annex, Party Hall.

From the Training Ground to the Garden, even the Stables where Clemente had no reason to go.

She searched every corner but couldn’t find her.

‘Is she still in His Grace’s chamber?’

She asked knight Gwen to call Clemente from the Duke’s Chamber.

“Yes! I’ll go, so please sneak me a snack just once later!”

“If there’s food left over.”

Gwen hummed inwardly as she headed to the Duke’s Chamber. She thought it was admirable that they had grown close enough to spend time together outside of meal times.

‘Gasp, could it be romantic feelings?’

Clemente was exotic but certainly a beauty, so it wouldn’t be strange.

Of course, he did have a fiancée, but he had never even seen her face until now.

The other party was even calling for the engagement to be broken off.

She didn’t know what the Dowager Duchess would think, but to Gwen, it seemed fine for friends to become lovers.

Rather thinking it might be a good thing, she knocked with a light heart mixed with half excitement.

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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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