The Quack Lady - Chapter 22

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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 22

Then she glanced at me briefly before speaking to Mr. Pairon.

“By the way, it seems there were problems on your way here. Since Nodetum Forest is a place where thieves usually swarm, please understand.”

As if she had already received a report, she bowed her head and apologized politely.

The gentlemen glanced at each other briefly, then quickly changed their expressions and smiled leisurely as if it was nothing.

“It’s fine. The escort did their job well.”

“That’s a relief. The Countess will come down soon. Before that, how about I guide you to the drawing room so you can enjoy some simple refreshments first?”

The repeated polite attitude made me nervous instead.

‘Are we that important?’

I took a step forward, thinking I needed to pull myself together.

Into the magnificently large mansion.

But then.

“This is the place.”

Huh? The drawing room is next to the door?

The drawing room located right next to the mansion’s entrance seemed strange, as if outsiders weren’t allowed to enter the interior of the mansion.

Usually, they would use one of the well-lit rooms inside the mansion as a drawing room, partly to show off the interior.

I just assumed it was how things were and took a seat.

Then the maids began bringing out refreshments as if they had been waiting.

No one reached for the refreshments though.

‘Let me try the taste of a Count’s family cookies.’

It would also be impolite to refuse what was offered to eat. With that thought, I boldly reached for a cookie.

Just as a thrill ran through my entire body from the rough yet soft texture of chocolate felt at my fingertips.

Noisy sounds came from outside the door along with the sound of busy footsteps.

“Hmm? It sounds like someone came?”

“Another doctor besides us might have come.”

“For that, the footsteps are…”

The heavy footsteps came straight to the front of the drawing room where we were and stopped abruptly.

Tension immediately appeared on the gentlemen’s faces.

And the man who appeared with the door bursting open stared at the four of us for a moment.

“…I don’t recall inviting any guests.”

A man with neatly combed hair and silver hair like midwinter frost.

His cold blue eyes were directed at us.

No, to be precise, he was glaring at us.

“Ah, well… that is, the lady said she wanted to try just one more time…”

The caretaker who appeared afterward explained the situation, not knowing what to do.

However, the man asked us as if he had no intention of listening to those words.

“Are you doctors?”

Eyes filled with hostility.

The moment I saw his high-handed and intimidating attitude, one thought crossed my mind.

‘Clint Bernov.’

The fact that he was the owner of this Count’s Manor and the very man who was said to dislike, no, despise doctors.

Soon, words without a moment’s hesitation burst from his mouth.

“Send all these people away.”

As I experienced in my previous life, there are more people who dislike doctors than you’d think.

“They’re just quacks who only care about money! They can’t even make proper diagnoses.”

“If they had treated her faster, our wife would have lived!”

Since it’s a matter of life and death, when situations don’t go well, sometimes because other urgent patients arrive.

Doctors always had to become sinners before the lives they couldn’t save.

And I remember every patient for whom I inevitably had to become a sinner.

That’s why I could tell.

‘It seems he lost someone.’

The moment I met his gaze, I could feel it.

That he too was this type of person.

So even when facing such hostile eyes, I remained calm.

No, rather, I felt a little sorry for him.

“Count. I am Pairon Aphenus, the guild master of the Aphenus Guild. Since we officially came here under the Countess’s orders, such treatment is not proper.”

“Did you just say it’s not proper?”

Soon a strange light flashed in his blue eyes. The murderous gaze that seemed ready to kill at any moment was enough to know that his hostility was beyond imagination.

“Then should I say it’s unreasonable?”

Huh?

Mr. Pairon didn’t back down either. The three of us sat in the middle, glancing back and forth between both sides.

“No matter how much the lady invited you all, this is originally my mansion. I find the fact that there are quacks in my mansion very unpleasant.”

“What did you just say! Qua…!”

Mr. Hanel immediately stood up from his seat and protested. However, Mr. Pairon easily stopped Mr. Hanel.

“Where is the lady now? I need to have a word with her immediately.”

It was just when he asked with sharp eyes.

“There’s no need to look far.”

A woman with her hair neatly combed and tidily arranged appeared.

I could tell without being told.

It was Ditten Countess.

* * *

The woman who appeared wearing a shawl exuded an indescribable elegance.

If the Count gave off a cold feeling with his silver hair and blue eyes, this one had wheat-colored hair and green eyes, yet she was the same.

As if the depths of her inner self were cold.

“These are my guests. Please don’t treat them carelessly.”

“Since when have doctors received guest treatment in the mansion?”

“…”

“Didn’t I clearly say? There’s no need to bring doctors into the house anymore.”

His tone was colder than his chilly gaze.

However, the Countess didn’t bat an eye as if she was used to it.

Rather, she looked straight at the Count without avoiding his eyes.

“Then how will you explain Demian’s condition?”

At her words, the Count immediately gritted his teeth.

“I’ve told you repeatedly that Demian is just being rebellious! Where in the world is there a child who can’t speak! He was speaking properly just a few months ago…!”

His mouth, which had been talking about the young count, suddenly stopped.

He seemed conscious of us.

“So, lady. Stop sullying the noble name of the Count’s Manor! The child will return soon…”

“When?”

“What?”

She cried out with eyes that seemed ready to shed tears at any moment.

“Just how long do I have to watch the child stare at the sky with vacant eyes! It’s already been two months! The child hasn’t said a single word during that time!”

“That’s…!”

“Even when hurt, bleeding, or in pain, he doesn’t speak! Don’t you care about my heart having to just watch that? You’re just trapped in those old memories, even your own child…!”

Slap-.

That was when it happened.

I was so shocked that I had to cover my mouth with one hand.

The Count had struck the Countess’s cheek.

The Count looked once at his empty hand, once at the Countess whose head had turned, and took a step back.

A hollow laugh burst from the Countess’s mouth.

“Ha… So am I next now?”

“St-stop it!”

“You’re the one who doesn’t properly understand the situation, Count! Why won’t you acknowledge that there’s something wrong with the child!”

At the Countess’s anguished cry, the Count’s eyebrows twitched.

Then he immediately pointed at us and shouted.

“Then! What exactly would improve if we keep showing Demian’s condition to such incompetent doctors! The temple already said the child has a divine affliction…”

“What if it’s not a divine affliction…?”

“What?”

“Demian isn’t suffering from some divine affliction! He’s a child I raised with love! He hasn’t received God’s hatred, nor should he!”

With those words, the Countess collapsed to her knees on the spot.

Soon her sobs could be felt through her trembling shoulders, and the maid behind her worriedly wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

The Count’s face, watching this, also twisted fiercely.

He bit his lips hard while looking at the Countess.

Then suddenly, his gaze turned toward us four who had been watching the fight.

All four of us avoided his gaze as if we’d been waiting for it.

But it seemed too late already.

“Aphenus…”

He approached us with his back turned to the sobbing Countess.

“Let’s see just how far that impressive medical skill of yours goes.”

His tone was close to sarcasm. In his attitude of ‘go ahead and try if you can,’ I could feel his deep-rooted distrust.

‘Wow, suffocating.’

With those words, he left the drawing room.

Behind the sound of his heavy footsteps, all that remained was the Countess’s lonely weeping.

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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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