The Quack Lady - Chapter 56

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 56

“Ah.”

Had the rumors already spread that far?

“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

I couldn’t worry the child, so I smiled awkwardly.

However, Demian shook his head.

“They said you need surgery.”

“Ah, yes…”

“But Rtemeia. How did you know? That my cousin’s condition wasn’t good.”

To be precise, both the baby’s condition and the mother’s condition were currently fine.

It’s just that problems would arise as the delivery progressed.

I was about to correct this but just smiled vaguely and said.

“I saw a similar case when I was at the infirmary.”

“Then what happened to the baby back then? What about the mother?”

Demian uncharacteristically asked about this and that.

“A skilled midwife safely delivered the baby.”

“Really? Then what was that midwife’s name?”

“Huh?”

“If she experienced a similar situation, she might be able to save the duchess.”

Demian’s long eyelashes slowly turned downward.

The moment I saw that, strangely, it felt like I had become the culprit behind all of this.

“She can’t do it. She passed away…”

To be precise, this world has neither the medicine nor the manpower to perform a cesarean section.

“…Can the child be saved?”

I couldn’t answer easily.

Faced with a situation where I couldn’t be certain of anything, I was just as frustrated.

“I’m sorry if this was uncomfortable. The duchess had been waiting for this child for a long time.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

To make matters worse, infertility.

If there was a god, I wanted to slap them across the face.

“Mother knows this fact too, so I think that’s why she sent Rtemeia.”

“…”

“Because Rtemeia puts people at ease.”

Demian smiled bitterly as he said this.

At those words, my head dropped powerlessly.

“I think I made things more uncomfortable instead.”

“No, the duchess is a positive person, so she thinks it’s fortunate that she found out now.”

“…”

“Of course, her intention to save the baby seems unchanged.”

Demian had a somewhat complicated expression.

Was he thinking of his mother?

I couldn’t say anything.

“I hope my cousin can see her mother. A living mother.”

“…”

“Ah, sorry. I just wanted to know if you’re okay, and also…”

The child trailed off. I met his slightly trembling eyes that seemed a bit confused.

I firmly grasped Demian’s hand.

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to give up easily either.”

“Huh?”

“That’s what you came to say, right?”

When I smiled as if I knew everything, the boy’s eyes widened like someone whose inner thoughts had been exposed.

“I told you I know all your feelings.”

When I playfully smiled and retorted, Demian’s face turned toward me, looking much lighter.

“Right. I think you do.”

Behind Demian’s refreshed smile, a heavy sensation settled down as if something weighty had been placed there.

* * *

Selian closed her eyes at another midwife’s nod.

‘So the child’s words were really true.’

As soon as she left the room, she called together the midwives and doctors to ask, and learned that the child’s words were true.

Soon, despair and hope mixed chaotically.

“We recommend that you give up the child.”

“Even if you continue the pregnancy, the baby might not be born safely.”

“Why must this happen…!”

Selian sat on the sofa and sighed.

Chelonia, the maid who was staying by her side, offered her a glass of water.

“Please don’t worry too much, my lady.”

That’s when it happened.

Her hand, which was about to receive the water glass, trembled finely in the air.

“My lady…”

Chelonia, who noticed this, carefully called out to her.

However, she took the cup as if it was nothing and swallowed a sip of water.

“Cough cough-!”

“My lady! Are you alright?”

Chelonia hurriedly wiped around her mouth with concern.

“I think it’s because you’ve been worrying too much lately. You even forgot the promise you made with the duchess last time.”

“That’s right…”

As Selian trailed off, Chelonia firmly grasped her hand and said.

“Don’t worry, my lady. Once this period passes, everything will be fine.”

It was comfort spoken as if she understood all of her feelings.

Selian smiled weakly.

* * *

After that, I exchanged a few trivial words with Demian.

After he returned, even though it was time to sleep, I couldn’t.

“The order is to bring her very quietly and secretly.”

It was because I had to go see her on the duchess’s orders.

The maid really stealthily brought me straight to the front of the duchess’s room.

When the large door opened, the duchess who appeared looked somewhat gaunt.

“You came.”

A calm yet resigned voice.

“I greet you. Rtemeia…”

Just as I was about to offer a calm greeting in return.

“Come closer.”

The duchess patted the seat next to her as if such formalities weren’t necessary.

‘Her personality really is the complete opposite of Ditten Countess.’

I hesitantly went and sat beside her.

Before I could even feel the sensation of the soft sofa, the door closed with a loud sound.

Looking around, there were only the duchess and I in the spacious room.

“Were you surprised? I have something important to discuss.”

She spoke calmly as if she had made some kind of resolution.

And usually in cases like this…

‘Something huge is about to come out.’

With years of intuition, I swallowed my dry saliva.

“I’ll try that thing called surgery. So please save the baby.”

“What?”

My eyes widened at the direct hit from the very beginning.

She smiled faintly as if she had expected this reaction from me.

“You know the method, don’t you.”

At those words, I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t easily say no, so I just pursed my lips.

“Honestly, at first I thought you were trying to confuse me. But when I thought about it carefully, even if you confused me, there would be nothing for you to gain. Unlike Methyla.”

She said she had given Methyla a large sum of money using the child as an excuse.

“When I interrogated her, it seems she was planning to pass this off to another midwife during delivery.”

‘So that’s why she hid the breech presentation.’

In the end, she had sold a life for money.

The Duchess clenched both hands as she said this.

She was suppressing even her anger for the sake of the baby.

“Half of me wanted to test you, so thank you for telling me. Thanks to you, my anxious heart seems to have found a path.”

“…”

“At the same time, I became certain. If it’s you who values my child’s life more than your own, you must surely know a method.”

I couldn’t say anything.

Honestly, it was a problem I didn’t have to speak about.

‘But I ended up telling the truth as it was.’

Because both the baby’s life and the mother’s life were important to me.

“…When you asked me to understand the baby’s feelings, I thought you wouldn’t dismiss anything related to the baby carelessly.”

I hadn’t just rushed in blindly either.

I thought she would listen first rather than treat me like a crazy child.

“That’s why I’m asking you. And if… something happens to me.”

Her hands gripping her skirt trembled finely.

After swallowing her breath for a while, she spoke very carefully.

“Please save at least the child.”

“…That’s.”

“I know it’s difficult. But even if I die, I hope you’ll save the child.”

Her face trembled finely.

The sight of someone afraid of death always colors people’s hearts so desperately.

It was something I could never get used to, no matter how much I tried.

“But the Duchess, who is currently your caretaker, hasn’t given permission.”

“She wouldn’t. I’m her daughter. She probably thinks about me much more than I think about my baby.”

“…”

“Just like I’m doing now.”

The Duchess didn’t smile happily like when I first met her.

Her eyes were filled with sadness.

“Then you shouldn’t give up either. The Duchess also wants you…”

“Then you don’t give up on me either.”

At those words, I felt like I’d been hit hard in the head with something.

“Even if you’re afraid, hide your expression. When you’re afraid, the patient feels tens or thousands of times more fear.”

Words I had heard once flashed through my mind.

Only then could I face myself.

‘I was scared too.’

I understood it in my head, but not in my heart.

When I couldn’t say anything, the Duchess spoke calmly.

“Keep this secret from Mother. She’s already having a hard time these days. She’s been worrying so much because of me.”

“What? Having a hard time…”

“She tries not to show it, so I pretend not to notice, but her hands shake often…”

“Her hands… shake?”

I asked back with a sense of déjà vu. She smiled bitterly and said.

“Yes. Not long ago, she stumbled and fell badly. Come to think of it, could you take a look at that area too? I’m worried… Rtemeia?”

After organizing my thoughts for a while, I immediately asked the Duchess.

“Where is the Duchess right now?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————