Surviving as a Terminally Ill Heiress - Chapter 86

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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 86

* * *

This wasn’t going to be easy.
I’d expected as much, but it proved harder still.
First, I had to win her over.
I wasn’t a physician, but fortunately I had one advantage over Cho Ok—something she lacked.
“There, there. Was this part uncomfortable?”
Childcare? Easier than breathing.
A medical prodigy she might be, but hopelessly inept with children—so I took her place, cradling and soothing the patients while she stood aside, and the medical center, which had been a shambles, gradually came into order.
After more than a week of unrelenting effort, I finally sat down at a negotiating table with Cho Ok.
After over a week of relentless work, I finally earned the right to sit across from her at the negotiating table.
“You won’t need to be at the medical center every day. Just put in the minimum required hours, and otherwise you’re free to visit patients wherever Cho Ok thinks best. You could say it’s more of a consultancy arrangement.”
This had been pre-approved by Grandfather.
But as Cho Ok listened to my explanation, her brow furrowed.
“Still sharp as ever, that scheming old man.”
“I’m sorry?”
“He’s greedy, never content with just one thing.”
So Grandfather was getting two things out of this arrangement?
One would be honoring my mother’s memory.
But what about the other?
“He’s using you as a scapegoat instead of his own granddaughter.”
Installing a mixed-blood outsider from another continent in a prominent family position would provoke far more resistance than putting me forward.
And relatively speaking, that would quiet the whispers about me.
Clever old fox.
I was mentally chuckling at this when Cho Ok happened.
She studied me intently for a moment, then spoke.
“Your hand.”
“What?”
“Show me your hand.”
I hesitantly extended my arm.
Without hesitation, Cho Ok rolled back my sleeve and began taking my pulse.
After a long moment of concentration, she suddenly asked.
“Your mother—she’s passed away?”
“Yes? Yes.”
“From Wax Disease?”
Thump.
My heart dropped.
Cho Ok clicked her tongue.
“A terrible illness. Truly, a merciless disease with no cure.”
“…How did you…”
How could she possibly know that?
Have I contracted it too?
My head pounded. Damn it, I’d tried so hard to avoid this.
But there was something else troubling me.
Even if I had fallen ill, how would she know about my mother…
“It’s hereditary.”
What?
My hands began to tremble. I’d never heard such a thing before.
Wax Disease is hereditary?
Then I couldn’t escape it.
Which means…
“My brothers.”
The words tumbled out before I could think.
“I have brothers. Would they also…?”
“Are they male?”
I nodded numbly.
Cho Ok spoke flatly.
“Then it doesn’t matter. This disease only passes from mother to daughter.”
Ah.
The wild, ragged breathing and pounding of my heart subsided.
Thank God. Thank you, God.
For perhaps the first time in my life, a prayer of gratitude sprang unbidden from my lips.
Hui and Dido suffering from that horrifying disease—I couldn’t even bear to imagine it.
I looked down at my hand, still holding Cho Ok’s contract.
There is an old saying in Ritz.
When you gain one thing, you lose another.
Today was exactly that kind of day. It left a bitter taste.
The bleak sunset of the Western Region hung at the edge of the horizon.

* * *

On the road back to the Capital.
The carriage fell silent as a tomb.
It was because of me.
The others, bewildered, merely watched my darkened expression.
Normally I would have laughed it off, but I couldn’t afford to be carefree now.
I had secured Cho Ok, and promised to make regular visits to Ambrose Medical Center.
‘As you know, there’s no cure. Prevention is equally futile. Since you were born from her womb, it’s inevitable.’
‘…’
‘It will manifest around the time you reach adulthood.’
In essence, I’d received a terminal diagnosis.
And there had been something else—Cho Ok had muttered more as I spiraled into despair.
‘Though this disease predominantly passes to…’
But I hadn’t heard the rest clearly.
Did it even matter now?
Still half-hollow inside, I checked into an inn for the night.
Tru, uncharacteristically, said little.
Since I hadn’t spoken once the entire journey, she was being cautious too.
“Miss…”
“Mm.”
“Won’t you have some dinner?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“But surely just a little…”
“I’m fine.”
I ran my fingers through my hair and brushed her off curtly. Tru didn’t know what to do.
Coming from someone who knows the value of food, it was hardly ordinary for me to claim no appetite, and nobody understood that better than she did.
“You eat. Go on.”
“…Yes.”
Tru left the room looking dejected.
Once the door closed, I sank onto the bed.
I glanced at the inside of my wrist.
Cho Ok had merely taken my pulse once and diagnosed me.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
I’d thought my illness was like a bolt from the blue, sudden and arbitrary, but it had merely traveled through my blood—passed down like an inheritance.
From my mother, to my grandmother, to her mother before her.
Perhaps from even further back.

* * *

The next morning brought news that was, at least, somewhat encouraging.
“Apparently, today marks the opening ceremony of a nearby station. Shall I see about procuring tickets to the Capital?”
Orka spoke up.
She’d probably made inquiries deliberately, trying to lift my spirits.
Well, taking the Magical Train would cut a journey of several days down to just hours.
I nodded readily enough.
Normally, opening ceremony tickets require advance invitation, but when I asked for them, they always materialized.
‘I’ve just received a terminal diagnosis in this life of privilege.’
I closed my eyes briefly.
Ah, it can’t be helped. My mood’s likely to keep swinging like this for a while.
We made our way toward the outskirts of the town where the Magical Train station stood.
The crowd grew noticeably thicker as we approached.
Opening ceremonies always draw onlookers, so I expected nothing unusual, yet something about the atmosphere felt strange.
“…Orka.”
“Yes?”
“Doesn’t something feel off?”
Orka glanced subtly out the window and nodded.
A number of people had gathered in clusters, weeping.
Their dress and demeanor clearly set them apart from the typical spectators and passengers.
Fine. I decided to ignore it. I had my own problems to worry about. Either way, we’d soon board the Magical Train and leave this place behind.
Whatever was happening in the Renate Territory was theirs to sort out.
The carriage came to a stop before the station.
It was larger and more ornate than I’d expected. For a small fief in the Western Region to host such a facility was remarkable.
‘They’ve staked everything on this.’
To them, the Magical Train must represent hope for revitalizing the Western Region.
Inside the station stood a raised platform. Flags fluttered loudly, and music drifted from somewhere.
A massive metallic structure sat motionless on the tracks.
People pointed at it with expressions of wonder.
And then the platform area erupted in commotion. A thunderous wave of applause followed.
This must be the Territory’s lord.
A middle-aged man in neat attire stood on the platform, raising his hand in greeting. The applause swelled again.
“Today marks a historic moment for our Renate Territory…”
His voice dripped with emotion.
And so began a typical opening ceremony speech.
Talk of the Territory’s development and bright future, the economic benefits the Magical Train would bring, transformation across the Western Region, and not least, his own efforts and foresight.
I stopped listening and looked away.
No. Not interested in the slightest.
Tru quietly asked from beside me.
“Do they always boast this much at these ceremonies…?”
“They tend to, but he’s particularly bad.”
That was when it happened.
One corner of the station erupted in chaos.
At first the noise barely registered over the platform speech.
But the clamor grew steadily louder.
Soon a small figure broke through the people holding him back and made a dash toward the platform.
It was a young boy.
His clothes were filthy, his hair matted and wild. Both his shoes were missing.
Just before he reached the platform, two guards blocked his path with difficulty.
They grabbed his shoulders roughly and shoved him back.
The small boy stumbled and fell back, but then he planted himself firmly and screamed toward the platform.
“Please! Save us!”

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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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