The Quack Lady - Chapter 54

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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 54

An important person to me too…

In fact, it was someone I had only just met.

But…

‘If it really is , there isn’t much time left.’

After a moment of contemplation, I nodded my head.

“Yes. It’s important.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Then Eruten suddenly asked back in surprise.

“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Eruten covered his mouth with one hand as if somewhat surprised.

I was wondering why he was acting like this again.

“Oh, by the way, what should we do about the children?”

At my words, Eruten pondered for a moment.

“Since your body has gotten better, why don’t you go visit them.”

“Alright. I’ll ask you to do that, Eruten.”

I had been worried about the children in the forest anyway.

As I smiled at him giving a cheerful response, a polite knock was heard from outside the door.

Soon, a maid who appeared through the crack of the opened door bowed respectfully.

“It’s time to examine the Duchess.”

* * *

Pregnancy.

I definitely think it’s one of the few things that can change a woman’s entire life instantly and dramatically.

And obstetrics was also the only department where most patients visited while not being sick.

‘Of course, since they’re carrying a child, it’s much more delicate.’

Anyway, obstetrics like this was a special department even for me, who specialized in pediatrics.

“You guys shouldn’t meet me. You understand, right?”

In my previous life, I used to find comfort in my heart by looking at children lying peacefully in bassinets*.

A cradle-like bed exclusively for babies.

“There’s no death here, uniquely. This place is filled only with birth.”

When I looked at the faces of babies sleeping wrapped in swaddling clothes, all my worries and concerns seemed pointless.

So honestly, it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t looking forward to it.

After all, it meant I could see babies.

Being able to contribute even a small amount of strength to bringing new life into the world…

‘It seems kind of nice too.’

I was trying to control my lips that were twitching for no reason when it happened.

“The marquis’s mansion is like a work of art carved from part of a mine.”

Then, the maid walking ahead began explaining about the marquis’s mansion with a voice full of pride.

The maid who had been talking for a while continued with a loyalty-filled explanation that the people of the marquis’s family had tremendous crafting skills, enormous wealth, and were masters with good hearts.

“So don’t upset the Duchess. To us, they are like gods.”

“Ah, yes…”

It seemed rumors about being late the previous day were already circulating.

Whether I go this way or that way, I won’t be welcomed, will I?

I just swallowed a bitter sigh for no reason.

Then, suddenly Eruten, who had been walking with me, asked in a whisper.

“But where is the Duchess sick?”

“Oh, there doesn’t seem to be anywhere she’s particularly sick. It’s just that she’s about to give birth soon, so it seems she needs help.”

Giving birth was a very important matter both then and now.

Especially in a place like this where medicine wasn’t well developed, they would need more manpower.

Above all, what I, still young, would do would probably just be wiping the mother’s sweat.

Just like at the infirmary.

Of course, how they’ll use me is up to them.

“My lady, the doctor has arrived.”

When a small permission came from inside, the door opened with a loud noise.

Soon, the maid who held the opening door made a request to Eruten.

“Please wait here for the escort.”

From what I could tell, they seemed to be preparing for the Duchess’s examination.

I patted Eruten’s shoulder lightly.

“I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”

Eruten made a slightly worried expression, then soon smiled following me.

“Then let’s see each other when you come back.”

“Yes, take care.”

Eruten decided to go look for the children as he had said earlier.

I politely greeted him and saw him off.

Then I turned my steps and entered the room.

* * *

The scene inside the room wasn’t much different from the infirmary.

A bed open on both sides, towels, warm water, and so on.

If there was a difference, it would be that it looked a bit more luxurious and neat?

“Hngh!”

She was undergoing an internal examination*, breathing through the pain.

Inserting fingers into the vagina to check how much the cervix has opened.

Just looking at her belly, she seemed to be in the latter half of pregnancy.

The gray-haired midwife skillfully withdrew her hand and said.

“Seeing how soft it’s become inside, it seems birth is approaching. I think we’ll be able to see the baby soon.”

“That’s really fortunate.”

At her words, the Duchess who was beside the Duchess also let out a sigh of relief.

“Our baby. You’re having a hard time.”

It was when the Duchess was adjusting her clothes with the help of the maids.

The midwife who was organizing tools asked.

“Is this the child by any chance? The one who came to help me…”

“Oh, that’s right. Let’s have you two greet each other.”

The Duchess smiled brightly while adjusting her clothes.

“Hello. I’m called Rtemeia. Please take care of me.”

The midwife answered my greeting with a somewhat displeased expression.

“Nice to meet you. I’m called Methyla. I’m the midwife who will help with the Duchess’s delivery.”

Since most people here had home births, midwives played the same role as obstetricians.

The difference was that unlike doctors, they didn’t prescribe medicine and only helped with the delivery of children.

“I heard roughly from my lady. You have medical skills?”

“Oh, that’s…”

I was pondering how to answer.

She lowered her head and whispered incomprehensible words in my ear.

“Whatever you find out, don’t say unnecessary things to my lady.”

She who moved away from me showed the characteristic kind smile of a midwife.

What on earth does this mean?

“Then my lady. I shall take my leave now.”

“Yes, Methyla. Check the condition again tomorrow. Understood? You’re the best midwife in the western region.”

“Don’t worry, my lady.”

She closed the door and left with a reassuring smile.

For a moment, I was dumbfounded and could only blink my eyes blankly.

“Were you very surprised? Is this your first time experiencing something like this?”

The Duchess, who had already gotten dressed, approached and asked.

“No. I’ve seen it many times. I often went to deliver medicine at the request of midwives.”

Most of them were just mild painkillers.

It was to prevent cases where the mother would faint during childbirth.

“How are the midwives in the Eastern Region? Methyla is the most famous midwife in the Western Region, so it’s not easy to bring her here.”

Brienne, the Viscountess, smiled with satisfaction as she said this.

‘Well, that midwife from earlier. Her examination skills were quite extraordinary.’

If you’re good at internal examinations, you can estimate the approximate delivery date like that midwife did.

And that’s not all. Internal examinations are also useful when the mother needs to push or relax, or when the process needs to be accelerated.

“But, Rtemeia.”

She, who had already tidied her appearance, spoke to me.

“Yes?”

“I heard that you put people’s minds at ease and have extensive knowledge.”

“….”

She hesitated for a moment.

Then she asked very carefully.

“Could you look at how our baby’s heart is doing?”

“…?”

Though I had spent more than half of my previous life studying medicine and had heard all sorts of requests.

“You’re asking me to look at the heart of the baby in your womb right now….”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Her bright smile made my whole body stiffen.

‘How am I supposed to know the fetus’s heart condition!’

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing with my own ears.

“Are you really asking me to see how the baby’s heart is doing in your womb?”

“Yes! Why? If you’re good at understanding people’s hearts, wouldn’t our baby be possible too?”

I quickly covered my mouth to stop a short sigh from escaping.

Instead, I took a calm breath and asked in response to her question.

“May I ask why you’re thinking that way?”

At my question, she widened her eyes for a moment.

“Hmm? It’s just that the baby has been kicking a lot more lately. I thought maybe something might be uncomfortable.”

The Duchess spoke as if it was nothing significant, but surprisingly, I caught a clue from that.

‘The baby is kicking a lot?’

What’s commonly called fetal movement was a good sign.

But since it was the final month, it needed to be checked at least once.

“Then may I also examine the baby for a moment? You can just lie down comfortably.”

The Duchess lay down on the bed with a somewhat expectant expression.

I checked her basic vital signs, including her heartbeat and breathing.

Using very old-fashioned methods like putting my ear to her chest and counting seconds to check her pulse.

‘Her vitals seem to be in the normal range.’

Respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature – the basic elements of physical activity.

What remained was her belly. Looking at the protruding belly made me suddenly nervous.

‘There’s a very small and adorable life form in this belly right now.’

I calmed my excited heart and touched her belly.

What I could do was just very simple diagnosis like checking if there were any abdominal contractions or how the child was positioned.

A situation where the uterus temporarily contracts and the belly becomes hard.

If there were no particular problems, it would be good to comfort the anxious mother’s heart with kind words.

That’s when it happened.

Squirm-

“Oh my! Did you see that? The baby kicked here again!”

At the Duchess’s words, the maids nearby smiled softly in agreement.

However.

‘What is this now?’

The place where the child kicked.

In other words, the position where the belly squirmed was strange.

“Wait a moment.”

I immediately quieted the surroundings and observed the belly again.

Right then, the belly moved with another squirm, and at that moment, I clearly saw the baby’s foot area.

I immediately shouted to the maids.

“Please move the Duchess to the bed right now! Quickly!”

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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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