The Quack Lady - Chapter 31
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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 31
Normally, he would have turned a blind eye this once out of pity for the domain residents who spoke of honor.
However.
‘She’s ruining the Count’s Manor.’
Having already noticed that Rtemeia’s treatment was underway, he frowned deeply.
The child was not sick.
He was a child born with the pride of Bernov. As Ditten said, a child who should neither earn nor receive God’s hatred.
And that was none other than Demian’s true position.
A mere doctor who had only observed the child for three or four days couldn’t possibly know everything about him.
‘It’s too late.’
He slowly lifted his tightly closed eyes.
Then, in a voice lower than ever before, he commanded the attendant beside him.
“Have that doctor brought to me as soon as dawn breaks.”
* * *
Ditten’s bedroom was a place that reflected the Countess’s refined tastes.
The simple and elegant decorations placed throughout, and above all, the large and cozy bed were specially prepared for her to sleep with Demian.
Returning to her bedroom, Ditten looked at the bed once with lingering attachment before going to sit in a chair.
At that moment, a nearby maid quickly supported her as she swayed slightly.
“My lady! Are you alright?”
“…Go and bring me a glass of water.”
At Ditten’s words, the maid nearby quickly disappeared outside the door.
The maid Rudel helped her sit back against the soft sofa.
She had been worried sick lately as the Countess had been complaining of frequent headaches.
Soon, Ditten, who was breathing heavily, stared blankly into space and spoke casually.
“Rudel, frustratingly, the child is right. I’ve never once taught Demian what to do when losing something precious.”
“I don’t think that’s something you can teach. My lady. I hope you won’t be too heartbroken…”
Ditten immediately raised one hand to stop her words as if to say enough.
“Rudel, do you remember the day Demian was first born?”
Her tender eyes silently turned downward. Rudel nodded slightly.
“Of course. How could I forget that time.”
“He wasn’t breathing right after birth, so I was so anxious… I immediately taught him how to breathe. Like this, directly mimicking how to breathe.”
A wistful smile appeared on Ditten’s lips.
Demian was a premature baby.
The child, born more than two months before his due date, seemed terrified and came out pale, not breathing.
“Baby! Baby! You must breathe! Baby!”
Ditten raised her exhausted body and immediately taught him how to breathe to draw out the child’s breathing.
Recalling this, the corners of her mouth slowly fell.
“I taught him how to breathe, so why didn’t I teach him something as simple as that.”
“…My lady.”
“I should have comforted him, understood the child’s emotions, and worked through it together…”
She buried her face in both hands as if collapsing.
Heavy breathing mixed with regret filled the quiet room.
“I thought it wasn’t my responsibility. Then I blamed all the doctors for everything.”
Ditten raised her head as if she could no longer bear it. Tears were already hanging in her large green eyes.
“Am I really a good mother? The child is suffering like that and I don’t even know what I should do, Rudel.”
“…”
“Isn’t it already too late? Honestly, if the wounds Demian received are that deep… perhaps our Demian is, sob…!”
As she buried her face in both hands once again, Rudel carefully sat down beside her.
Then she silently embraced her and gently stroked her back.
“My lady, do you remember what I said to you most often during your childhood?”
“…”
“I told you that you were intelligent and warm, so you would overcome any trial.”
Ditten nodded slightly.
Rudel smiled warmly and finished stroking Ditten’s back.
“A mother who knows how to cry and reflect for her child like this is enough just with that. You’ve only been a mother for nine years now, my lady.”
“But…”
“Including caring for you and the young master, I’ve been taking care of children for over 30 years, but it’s still difficult and new to me.”
“…Nanny?”
Ditten’s sharp eyes slowly turned downward. Her cold expression instantly became gentle.
Noticing this, Rudel smiled brightly and nodded readily.
“So don’t blame yourself too much. I’ll help you, so let’s work together to heal the wounds in young master Demian’s heart.”
“…But nanny, I’ve never experienced wounds so painful that I couldn’t speak. So I can’t even gauge it. Those emotions the child must have felt…”
Her attitude was as careful as handling glass beads. Rudel nodded as if she understood everything.
“As that little doctor said, beginnings are difficult for everyone. Similarly, it’s difficult for you, my lady, experiencing this for the first time while raising a child.”
“…”
“But we can solve it together. How about telling the young master the truth? That mother was also inexperienced because it was her first time, and that you’re sorry.”
“…But for some reason, Demian is avoiding me.”
“Just because he’s avoiding you doesn’t mean you can’t keep approaching him. For the young master, there’s only one mother in existence – Lady Ditten.”
“…”
At the gentle comfort, tears flowed from Ditten’s eyes. The tears created tear tracks and began flowing endlessly down her cheeks.
“My lady, so please stop being sad. If you do this, the baby in your womb will be sad too.”
At these words, Ditten dabbed at her eyes and cheeks with the handkerchief Rudel handed her.
“Yes, I need to be strong.”
She drew strength from another life that would depend on her.
Straightening her posture, she gazed straight ahead with her usual elegant and beautiful appearance.
“But since the situation has become like this, how about informing the Count about your pregnancy?”
It was a careful suggestion. However, instead of answering, Ditten silently lowered her gaze.
After thinking about something for a while, she shook her head with a deep sigh.
She couldn’t reveal her pregnancy in this situation.
Above all, she couldn’t receive blessings alone when Demian, who was like her own heart, was struggling in such a difficult situation.
“Now is not the time…”
Murmuring lowly, she embraced her remaining belly and prayed.
Please, if there is a God, let this child be born receiving the world’s blessings when everything is stable.
Let Demian, who is like her own heart, escape quickly from this endless darkness.
* * *
Today too, the child drew pictures with all his might throughout the day.
Then, as if he had been waiting, he collapsed from exhaustion and fell asleep when night came.
“Sleep well, Young Baron.”
I covered the already sleeping child with a blanket.
The hand sticking out from between the blankets was stained black like the dark night sky.
Like a wound so deeply embedded that it could no longer be erased.
The 6th day since starting treatment.
It was almost a week, but the child couldn’t open his mouth as easily as expected.
“…”
I silently tucked his hand back under the blanket, then looked at the pictures he had drawn today.
“Today you colored by dividing with curved lines…”
As I was slowly examining the pictures with a candle, worried about waking the child.
“Ah…!”
Candle wax dripped and fell onto the spread parchments with a plop.
In my surprise, I urgently reached out to separate the stuck parchments.
‘Wait a moment.’
The moment I was about to remove the drawing, an unknown feeling that wrapped around my entire body gave me chills.
“When things get too complicated, just think of one thing. Like me.”
“How many of these did you draw?”
Strangely, the words Eruten had said kept circling in my head.
“No way….”
I slowly reached out and began to piece the drawings together one by one.
The fragmented drawings gradually began to take on a certain form as time passed, and the moment I faced the completed image, I was so shocked that I had no choice but to cover my mouth.
“…My goodness, this can’t be.”
What the child had wanted to express most.
And his one single heart.
…It was Tete.
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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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