Surviving as a Terminally Ill Heiress - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 17

“……Yes.”
I accepted his kindness with a slightly awkward expression.
How long had it been since I’d let myself be held like this?
It felt strange, but one doesn’t decline when there’s no room to be polite. The truth was, my nerves had unwound so completely that even taking a single step felt difficult.
As he carried me past each window, my reflection flashed across the glass again and again.
As expected, the skin around my eyes was redder than usual.
Maybe it was just how thin the skin was here, but whenever emotions ran high, I looked like I’d been crying even if I hadn’t shed a single tear.
‘……I hate how it looks. Like some weakness.’
I frowned and tried to force the softness from my eyes, tensing my face deliberately.
Not that it changed my helpless expression at all.
What was I doing? I’d turned into a child.
I let the tension drain away and leaned against the man, when suddenly his earlier words came back to me.
“By the way, you said you came for treatment after an injury. Are you all right? Please, let me put you down.”
When I began to struggle, the man held me gently in place.
“It’s nothing serious. This is all it is.”
He held up a single finger for me to see.
A wound? Where? Ah, was it this one?
I had to squint hard just to find the mark.
He smiled awkwardly and explained.
“It’s the law at Ambrose that anyone who suffers any injury whatsoever must receive treatment. We have to at least make an appearance at the Medical Facility. It’s a rule the Duchess of Ambrose set herself.”
“I see…….”
They certainly took care of their people.
The more I saw of the Ambrose Estate, the more it felt like a small village unto itself.
Beyond its sheer size, it had all manner of communal facilities well-maintained — like the Medical Facility that occupied an entire section of the West Wing.
‘How on earth did a quack like that manage to settle in such a good place…….’
A wave of bitterness rose in my throat.
Had the Duchess of Ambrose been fooled by Scott just like I had?
A genius, my foot. The man was just spectacularly unlucky.
I’d always prided myself on being able to read people, and I’d failed spectacularly.
‘But I’m certain that back then, it felt like Destiny was calling…….’
I glared at the palms and legs — the source of all this misunderstanding.
I don’t know. Maybe Fate just wanted me to be angry.
While I fumed internally, the man continued speaking.
“She was always generous with others and had a keen interest in medicine. During her lifetime, she even managed the operations of Ambrose Medical Facilities across the entire nation. Perhaps because her own health was fragile…….”
The cheerfulness that had been in his voice began to fade.
I recognized the name of that emotion. It was longing.
I said nothing and simply looked at his profile.
Strange — I’d only just met him, but he reminded me of someone…….
“Alec!”
Ah. It was Maya.
She’d spotted us in the Lobby and was calling out sharply, her features bearing a striking resemblance to his.
“How dare you put your hands on the young lady! Don’t be so presumptuous!”
“But she enjoys it.”
Oh, this is perfect.
I’m melting. Please, don’t ever put me down.
I nodded enthusiastically and hugged his neck tightly.
“Since we’ve met, would you like me to show you around the Knight Order?”
“Yes, please.”
I agreed readily. In this state, I could go anywhere.
Yet Maya’s expression remained hard, and the man sighed as he protested.
“I was only helping the young lady in my capacity as a knight of the house.”
And then, more quietly:
“……Don’t be so strict, Mother.”
He was her son!
That explained the resemblance.
But Maya remained cold.
“Call me the head housekeeper.”
“Yes, yes, Head Housekeeper. Now, I’ll escort the young lady.”
The man turned sharply and walked on with long strides.
A chill seemed to emanate from Maya as we moved away.
‘……Are things not good between them?’
It was strange to see the kind Maya turn cold toward her own son.
While I was reading the atmosphere, the man chuckled and looked down at me.
“I’ve shown you an unfortunate sight.”
“Shall I forget it?”
“I’d be grateful, though I suspect you’ll see it often enough that you’ll become accustomed to it in time.”
Just like that?
It was curious.
This man Alec seemed to have a good nature, much like Maya’s.
“As you’ve heard, I’m Alec, a member of the Ambrose Knight Order.”
“I’m Rabhyne. Just call me Rabhyne.”
“What a lovely name!”
Alec’s eyes crinkled as he smiled widely.
The resemblance to Maya only grew stronger.
So without thinking, I said:
“Get along well with your mother.”
You never know how long you’ll have together.
Alec blinked dumbly for a moment, then burst into laughter.
His expression was exactly that of someone who’d just been scolded by a child.
Then he raised his eyebrows and began humming in an exaggerated voice.
“But Mother is always like that. She tells me never to call her Mother in the estate, never to presume on her favor, and then loads more work on me than anyone else. Yet she turns around and treats the other knights like they’re my brothers.”
“Oh…….”
I nodded knowingly.
Now I understood.
The man holding me continued his grumbling.
“She’s always harsh with me alone.”
“That must hurt.”
“Right?”
“Maya too.”
I murmured almost to myself as his pace slowed.
“She’d be beautiful enough without doing anything, but to rebuke him on purpose like that — it must pain her deeply.”
Today had brought back many old memories.
It was around this time, back then. When Mother passed away and I began to earn money for the first time.
My first job was at a shabby inn.
I couldn’t leave my younger siblings at home alone, so I asked for permission and took them with me…….
At some point, I started snapping at my siblings — they were well-behaved, but I snapped at them anyway.
I regret it now, but back then I had no choice.
The owner was kind enough, and the guests adored us, but in my eyes my siblings looked fragile as glass figurines on the verge of shattering.
I was anxious. I was worried. I didn’t want them to be judged by anyone.
In short:
“It’s because you love them.”
Sometimes people grow angry precisely because they love too much.
At that moment, Alec’s eyes met mine as he stared down at me.
“……You speak just like a grown woman.”
A pang.
I answered shamelessly, as though nothing were amiss.
“I hear that often.”
“My goodness.”
“Want to call me sister?”
At that, Alec let out a loud laugh.
Oh no. I’d gotten caught.
Wiping away my embarrassment, I asked him as he resumed his slow walk.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
“Then you’re the real adult here, and you should understand your mother’s heart.”
“Of course I do. From her position, she can’t show favoritism to her children. But even when you’re grown, sometimes you can’t help but feel hurt.”
That was true. After all, there was only one mother, and he had to treat her only as a stern superior.
What’s more, Maya and Alec seemed to have a considerable age gap…….
“Did Maya have you late?”
“Yes, in a way. I have two older brothers and two older sisters ahead of me.”
“……They all treat Maya well.”
Alec burst into laughter again.
What’s so funny? I don’t see the humor.
Raising two is already so hard. But five children?
As I shook my head in disbelief, Alec’s warm gaze found me.
“By the way, your eyes look just like the Young Master’s.”
You sound exactly like Maya’s son yourself.
I swallowed my laugh and replied.
“Is that so? Have you seen the Young Master before?”
“A few times, when I first joined and was working as a Page Boy.”
“I see.”
“He was a good man. Quite taciturn on the surface, but when the Duchess wasn’t looking, he’d slip a snack to me and the other Page Boys.”
I simply nodded.
I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“And very handsome too.”
Yes, I know that.

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