The Quack Lady - Chapter 52

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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 52

 

* * *

 

The sound of burning firewood felt just like my heart.

 

‘When on earth will these clothes dry.’

 

Just the thought of Mia behind me made my head feel dizzy.

 

I buried my flushed face in my arms several times.

 

I could hear gentle breathing sounds from behind me.

 

“Mia… are you asleep?”

 

“…”

 

“…Are you really asleep?”

 

“…”

 

When I slowly turned around, I saw her small curled back moving rhythmically.

 

‘How can she fall asleep?’

 

Though I was a bit flustered, part of me thought it made sense.

 

She had fallen into the water and even treated my wounds, so she must be tired.

 

Feeling sorry for her, I wanted to do something to help.

 

He suddenly stood up from his spot.

 

Then he went around the lakeside to gather dry moss and spread it on the ground.

 

“Hup!”

 

Holding his breath, he lifted Rtemeia into his arms.

 

Her slender arms and legs were as light as feathers.

 

Eruten carefully laid Rtemeia down on the moss.

 

‘…How can she sleep in this situation?’

 

With a hint of resentment, he carefully brushed away the hair that had fallen over Rtemeia’s forehead.

 

‘…’

 

Facing that quiet moment, it felt as if the world had stopped.

 

Her long settled eyelashes, her delicate features, even her very small lips.

 

His eyes that had been slowly scanning her face suddenly lost direction in panic.

 

‘…’

 

He hurriedly brought his clothes and covered the sleeping Rtemeia.

 

‘Am I going crazy.’

 

Feeling his face flush and burn hot, he covered his lips with the back of his hand, afraid of being caught.

 

His face burning like a fireball, and the pounding heartbeat echoing in his head.

 

Everything was approaching too vividly to ignore any longer.

 

* * *

 

“Mia?”

 

Someone carefully shook my body.

 

When I slowly lifted my eyelids, Eruten was standing there, already fully dressed.

 

“The clothes are all dry. Put them on.”

 

His head still wasn’t turned toward me, but.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Half-asleep, I fumbled to put on my clothes.

 

‘But when did I start lying down?’

 

As I sat up, I noticed the moss spread on the ground.

 

‘What kind of moss is this?’

 

As I stared at the moss for a moment, Eruten asked.

 

“Are you done getting dressed?”

 

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

 

At my words, he turned around again. Seeing his face actually felt quite welcome.

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

I thought there would be no problem if we set off like that…

 

‘Is he keeping his distance from me right now?’

 

Earlier he was grabbing my hand just fine.

 

At some point, when I reached out asking him to hold my hand, he offered his sleeve instead.

 

‘He’s definitely avoiding me, right?’

 

I felt annoyed for a moment, but I couldn’t fight like children here.

 

Having no choice, I grabbed his sleeve and followed behind him.

 

“Eruten, look over there! I can see light!”

 

As we reached the cave entrance, I could really see the dim evening glow.

 

Since we had fallen in the middle of the day…

 

‘Wow, we were in the cave almost all day?’

 

I was marveling at this realization while following behind Eruten when.

 

‘Something seems strange?’

 

Eruten’s footsteps ahead had noticeably slowed down.

 

“Eruten?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Should we rest a bit before going? We’re almost there anyway.”

 

“No, we’ll be outside if we go just a little further.”

 

At his voice trying to sound strong, I quickly grabbed his hand like snatching it.

 

Sure enough, his fingertips were coldly chilled.

 

“Don’t you have a fever?”

 

High fever usually starts with the extremities of limbs getting cold first.

 

As expected, Eruten didn’t answer.

 

He just silently walked ahead, only ensuring I could climb up safely.

 

“Eruten!”

 

“We’re here.”

 

The moment we reached the cave entrance, perhaps from the tension being released, Eruten immediately leaned his forehead weakly against my shoulder.

 

“You…!”

 

“Mia…”

 

His forehead was burning hot like a furnace, as expected.

 

It was a fever that seemed to exceed 40 degrees.

 

“I think this is my limit.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m sick.”

 

At those words, I immediately shouted at Eruten.

 

“You’re sick! If you were in such bad condition, you should have said something!”

 

“But if we’re late to the Marquis’s mansion, you’ll get in trouble…”

 

So he endured it for that reason?

 

I immediately said to Eruten.

 

“Is that important right now? If you’re sick…!”

 

However, my feelings couldn’t be conveyed in the end.

 

Because he collapsed onto me without resistance.

 

“Eruten!”

 

My heart sank with a thud.

 

The boy who had been smiling just moments ago.

 

The boy who had boasted about protecting me.

 

“Snap out of it!”

 

Perhaps due to the burning fever, Eruten collapsed unconscious.

 

Why didn’t he say something earlier.

 

I forcibly swallowed the tears that were welling up.

 

There was no time to cry right now.

 

I immediately carried Eruten on my back.

 

* * *

 

Two hours later, at the Hartwin Baronial Residence.

 

How I caught a carriage, how I got to the baronial residence – my memory was hazy.

 

I just remember repeating “Please, hurry” to the coachman about a hundred times.

 

Because I was more worried about Eruten who had collapsed than my appointment with the marquis’s family.

 

Even knowing I’d be scolded for being late, I headed straight to the baronial residence.

 

When I arrived at the baronial residence like that, my face was already a mess of tears.

 

“I’m a doctor, you know. Why didn’t you tell me.”

 

I sighed while looking at Eruten lying peacefully on the bed.

 

“Well, this kid has been on a forced march for the past few days too.”

 

I suddenly felt like I had done something terrible to a young child.

 

“So hurry up and get better. You understand?”

 

I stroked his sleeping head.

 

His soft hair slipped through the gaps between my fingers.

 

‘He really is handsome.’

 

His face with long eyelashes resting down and his straight nose bridge.

 

Even while sleeping, his face looked somehow stubborn.

 

“Are you inside?”

 

The door opened with a polite voice. I quickly ran toward the door in case Eruten might wake up and bowed my head.

 

“Hello. What’s the matter…?”

 

“The Duchess is looking for you.”

 

The maid who delivered the message in a cold tone turned around immediately.

 

It was a situation where I had nothing to say even if I received criticism for arriving late.

 

‘Eruten should be fine, right?’

 

I glanced at him once and carefully closed the door.

 

The moment I closed the door, he spoke quietly as if talking in his sleep.

 

“…Mia.”

 

I should probably come back a little quickly.

 

* * *

 

Perhaps because it was a society where hierarchy existed, the ways of displaying wealth were also varied.

 

If the count’s manor had a neat and calm feeling, the baronial residence had a gorgeous and luxurious feeling.

 

The splendid decorations placed everywhere gave an overall bright and gorgeous feeling.

 

‘It feels like a festival.’

 

As I looked around here and there, the maid walking ahead said.

 

“The Hartwin Baronial Residence is called the light of the west and possesses so many jewels and precious items.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“Above all, the minerals from the Astic Mines of the West have the finest quality in the entire Empire.”

 

“Ah… yes.”

 

Her words continued after that. To summarize roughly, the main content was that the Hartwin Baronial Residence was really an amazing family.

 

‘Why is she explaining all this to such an extent?’

 

Because it felt like she was speaking as if entrusting me with something, I had a bad feeling.

 

Anyway, while listening to the history of the Hartwin Baronial Residence like that, we arrived in front of a door.

 

When permission to enter came from inside, the large door opened with a creaking sound.

 

‘Wow, what kind of drawing room is this big?’

 

In the drawing room as big as an auditorium, huge trees and flowers were lined up.

 

If there hadn’t been windows blocking the outside, it was such a beautiful space that I would have doubted whether this place was outdoors.

 

And there was a woman with graying hair and a fierce impression, and a woman with a protruding belly.

 

From the situation, this side seemed to be the Duchess Rubenoa, and the one with the protruding belly seemed to be Baroness Hartwin.

 

Since I was also late, I hurriedly gave a proper greeting.

 

“I greet you. I am Rtemeia from the Eastern Region…”

 

“Let me ask just one thing.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“What was the important appointment that made you abandon your promise with the marquis’s family?”

 

At the direct fastball, I felt my heart sink with a thud.

 

But after trying to compose myself, I carefully opened my mouth.

 

“…On the way here, I saw pitiful siblings. They were in danger of losing their lives from heavy metal poisoning, so I treated them.”

 

I delivered all the details clearly after that.

 

However, she seemed to have no interest in my words at all.

 

I could tell just by looking at her frowning expression as if she was very displeased.

 

Dry saliva went down my throat with a loud sound.

 

“So. What the doctor is saying now is that those siblings are more precious than our daughter.”

 

“That’s not what I meant – the situation was very urgent. If I had left them alone, they might have lost their lives!”

 

“What if something had happened to my daughter in the meantime? How were you planning to take responsibility for that?”

 

Honestly, I felt wronged.

 

If this situation had been more urgent, I would have dropped everything and rushed over.

 

But I only heard from Lord Rudel that she was just pregnant!

 

However, I couldn’t explain this fact in detail.

 

Because I could tell that the grandmother in front of me was trying to crush me using her rank.

—————
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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