The Quack Lady - Chapter 16

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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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Episode 16

* * *

Mr. Pairon’s drawing room, being that of a nouveau riche noble, was beyond my imagination.

The drawing room, which was said to be mainly used for receiving guests, was filled with antique paintings, vases of shapes I’d never seen in my life, and various decorative items.

“Please sit over here.”

“Ah, yes… Yes, I’ll do that.”

And it seemed that Lenoven, the director of the infirmary, was equally surprised.

He too was busy looking around at the surrounding items, no different from me.

Soon coming to his senses, he quickly shook his head and let out a cough.

“Ahem! Ah, it’s nothing major, but there was a small commotion at our infirmary recently…”

He trailed off his words while glancing sideways at Mr. Pairon’s arm.

“By the way, your arm doesn’t seem to be in good condition. Did you receive proper treatment?”

Soon he asked Mr. Pairon with an indecipherable smile.

However, Mr. Pairon answered calmly without any change in expression.

“Well, it’s fine. But what brings you all the way here?”

“Ah! That… it’s nothing major, but there are rumors going around that the herbalists’ health has recovered, and I can’t figure out who the doctor was that treated them.”

At those words, I could feel Mr. Pairon, myself, and even Mr. Hanel who was standing behind Mr. Pairon all tense up.

When all three of us said nothing, he laughed awkwardly and said,

“Actually, the reason I came here today is because I want to be introduced to that doctor. I need to send someone to the Count’s Manor.”

“The Count’s Manor… you say?”

“Yes. I need to prepare a skilled doctor by tomorrow, but since I don’t know the patient’s name or illness, all the doctors at the infirmary are reluctant to step forward.”

He boasted about how the infirmary had recently become famous and even the Count’s wife had come to visit.

Of course, the three of us listening to this felt no particular excitement.

“Anyway, when I asked the herbalists, they just said they absolutely couldn’t tell me… I heard that the owner of the screams from a few days ago was Mr. Pairon, so I came looking for you. And…”

“…”

“After that, I heard news that a maid from our infirmary got a job at Mr. Pairon’s guild. Moreover, the herbalists all know that maid.”

He pointed to one spot with a faint smile.

Naturally, at the tip of his finger was me.

How much does he know?

At least he knew that Mr. Pairon had received treatment at the infirmary.

The problem was whether he knew that I was the one who did that treatment.

It was then, as I was pointlessly biting my lips,

“Please tell that doctor this. If he wants to take the maid, he’ll have to make a deal with me.”

Huh?

Since I was a maid, he couldn’t even imagine it.

The fact that it was me, not someone else, who had performed the treatment.

“No, Rtemeia’s resignation has already been completed. Seroneia, the head maid, approved it.”

“But since I, the final decision maker, haven’t given permission, it hasn’t been processed yet, has it?”

“…”

“Anyway, since the Count’s wife came personally to request this, we’re quite troubled as well. So therefore…”

I didn’t need to hear the rest. I squeezed my eyes shut.

“If you tell me about that doctor, I’ll recommend him to the Count’s Manor. With such a skilled doctor, he could treat the Count’s people and gain great wealth and fame, couldn’t he?”

Behind his smooth words lay his plan to use the unknown doctor as a sacrifice.

Mr. Pairon must have felt something similar, as he raised one hand to clearly express his refusal.

“No. We will not recommend our doctor to the Count’s Manor. Isn’t he the one who treated me? I cannot put him in potential danger.”

As Mr. Pairon said, treating nobles was truly a gamble.

If successful, one would gain great wealth and fame.

But if it failed…

‘I’d be beaten or banished from the territory.’

In a way, it was natural. Since lives were at stake, nobles did not forgive doctors who failed to cure them.

“But the treatment might succeed…”

“Then, how about the director going personally? If it’s such a glorious position, it would be better for the director to go himself rather than yielding it to others, saving face as well.”

At Mr. Pairon’s words, this time the director’s brow furrowed slightly.

He quickly composed his expression and waved both hands.

“I’d love to do that, but shouldn’t such good opportunities go to skilled doctors? But…”

Soon his gaze suddenly turned to me sitting on the sofa.

“Maid, but why are you sitting down?”

“Ah! Yes, I’m sorry!”

I jumped up in surprise.

But then.

“Sit down.”

“Sit.”

Both men simultaneously told me to sit down.

And in particularly low voices at that.

At the chilling sensation I felt in that moment, I nervously sat back down on the sofa.

Lately, I’d been conversing freely with these gentlemen and seemed to have forgotten my position as a maid.

Of course, unlike me, the director’s eyes widened greatly.

‘Ah, something feels ominous…’

Before this impression of mine could even end, he rolled his eyes and grinned.

“Then there’s no choice. I should get up and leave for today.”

“Please do.”

“If you ever change your mind, please send someone to let me know. Ah right! And before that.”

Soon his gaze turned to me.

“You’ll have to come with me.”

* * *

“Pardon?”

Soon his gaze silently examined Rtemeia.

Under his look that seemed to wonder if she was a child worth dressing in such clothes, Rtemeia hesitated and lowered her head.

‘This girl seems to be the key after all.’

He planned to take Rtemeia and question her about the identity of that doctor.

To make her speak by force if necessary.

Soon recalling this, a satisfied smile appeared on Lenoven’s lips.

“The new maid in the apothecary room isn’t doing her work well. Won’t you go and teach her some basic things?”

Lenoven said with a grin.

However.

“That won’t be possible.”

“Yes. It’s not feasible. We have a lot of work for her to do today.”

Pairon and Hanel immediately blocked him.

Their attitude showed not a moment’s hesitation.

“Haha, anyone would think I’m going to devour her. Just going to tell the successor about the work process…”

“Mr. Lenoven. The apothecary room has compartments with all the herb names written on them. When you just need to put things in, what is there to teach?”

“That’s right.”

“Moreover, this child is someone we brought over by offering a high salary first. Acting like you’re coming to retrieve something you entrusted is quite unpleasant.”

Pairon didn’t hide his displeasure.

Faced with such obvious intentions, he let out a hollow laugh and stared at Lenoven with cold eyes.

Under his gaze that seemed to say he wouldn’t let it slide if he spouted nonsense one more time, Lenoven hesitated and stepped back.

“Ahaha! My goodness, do we need to get so heated over one maid? I understand. Then I’ll leave this child and…”

Soon the gaze fixed on Rtemeia slowly turned toward Pairon.

“We’ll have a day to meet separately soon. Please stay healthy until then. Ah right, we’re making good use of the herbs you donated. Of course, even though they’re cheap, there are no better herbs for commoners.”

With these final words, he smiled, closed the door, and disappeared.

Hanel made a gesture of spitting toward the door he had left through, and Rtemeia, whose legs had given out, collapsed right there on the spot.

Thinking that she probably wouldn’t live much longer.

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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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