The Quack Lady - Chapter 66

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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 66

“Rtemeia!”

“Huh?”

“What were you thinking about that you didn’t answer even after I called you several times?”

Having returned to the research lab, I stared blankly at Tenoa.

When I stared at him intently, he hurriedly averted his gaze and spoke as if making an excuse.

“Eruten went to teach swordsmanship to Young Master Demian.”

I didn’t know why he suddenly brought up Eruten, but I didn’t respond.

Then Tenoa held out a tray and asked carefully.

“It’s started now, hasn’t it?”

“…”

On the tray he held out was not the medication to minimize tremors, but drugs to prevent cognitive impairment.

As the numerous medications that had been administered to the Duchess were suddenly reduced, an indescribable feeling enveloped my entire body.

It really seemed like the end was approaching, just as the Duchess had said.

Seeing my expression, Tenoa asked cautiously.

“Why do we have to reduce the medication? Her condition has gotten worse.”

At Tenoa’s question, I recalled Grandmother’s trembling hands.

The medications I had been using to hold those hands.

The ones that stopped the tremors, aided digestion, and helped her sleep peacefully at night.

“Those medications are the problem.”

“What?”

“The medication used to control the tremors… is now making Grandmother’s memory cloudy.”

My fists clenched involuntarily.

“When you treat one thing, something else breaks down. That’s what this disease is like.”

Parkinson’s was a cruel disease.

If we continued treating Parkinson’s, cognitive impairment would accelerate, but if we treated cognitive impairment, we couldn’t touch the Parkinson’s.

I stood there dumbfounded, unable to say anything due to my helplessness.

Then, Tenoa hesitantly offered clumsy comfort.

“It’s not your fault. You did your best.”

Even with Tenoa’s words, everything felt like it was my fault.

The image of her smiling brightly, saying she might get better soon, flashed through my mind like an afterimage.

* * *

The Marchioness swallowed dryly.

Her gaze was fixed on Rtemeia.

Her clear pink eyes sparkled.

Perhaps because those eyes seemed too mature for a child, she often felt quite nervous when looking at Rtemeia.

“Your condition is very good. The baby is also playing around well.”

At those words, Brien let out a sigh of relief.

“Then am I scheduling the surgery date?”

When she asked with sparkling eyes, Rtemeia nodded slightly.

“I was actually thinking of moving it up a bit. You’ve been wanting to see them badly, haven’t you?”

It was welcome news to hear. She nodded vigorously.

“Of course!”

Her eyes rippled with excitement. The Marquis, who was listening from behind the curtain, was also delighted.

“Really!”

“Yes. The medication preparations are almost finished, so I’m trying to prepare quickly.”

“Has her condition gotten worse by any chance…”

At those words, Rtemeia’s hand stopped abruptly in mid-air.

Sensing something strange, Brien stared at Rtemeia with eyes that demanded an answer.

“…It’s not that. Both Mother and the baby are healthy.”

At those words, Brien’s lips relaxed weakly.

She, who found the word “mother” so pleasant to hear, spoke toward the curtain.

“Rapid! Please quickly deliver this joyful news to Mother…”

Before Brien could finish speaking, Rtemeia shook her head as if she had been waiting.

“I’ll deliver it myself.”

“Huh?”

“I’m visiting today anyway.”

“Well then…”

With that, Rtemeia left the Marchioness’s room with a trustworthy smile.

As soon as the door closed, Brien immediately asked Rapid.

“But doesn’t something seem strange?”

“What aspect are you referring to?”

“Well, it seems like she’s hiding something.”

Soon Brien narrowed her eyes, and Rapid laughed heartily.

“From what I can see, there’s nothing to hide except her age.”

“Her age?”

“Yes. Maybe she’s actually an old person who’s about 200 years old…”

At Rapid’s words, Brien let out a shriek.

“Really! I’m not joking. Lately she seems to be hiding something more and more. The way she vaguely trails off her words too…”

She emphasized what she called her feminine intuition.

Rapid gently stroked her head.

“It’s because the birth isn’t far off. That child is working day and night for you and the Duchess.”

Rapid recalled the contents of the letter he had received today.

“She’s a child who sees what others cannot see. She will surely be helpful for the birth.”

Ending with the message that he would visit with Ditten soon, the Count had given an answer not to doubt her.

Just a little bit, but he too decided to relax and trust Rtemeia.

“I understand you’re anxious, but don’t worry too much. Our baby will be anxious too.”

He smiled with effort while stroking her belly.

Brien still pouted with dissatisfaction, but smiled broadly at the mention of the baby.

“You’re right. I need to stay strong.”

She smiled while stroking her belly.

It was a mother’s smile.

* * *

I reduced the Parkinson’s medication to a minimum and prescribed drugs to improve cognitive impairment.

The problem was that she didn’t remember at all that moment when she had called me Rifne.

“Grandmother, do you happen to remember the name Rifne?”

“Rifne…”

She soon looked at the maid behind her.

The maid explained about our mother, and eventually she slowly nodded as if something had come to mind.

“Yes, I remember. Rifne.”

“…!”

It was the first time since the Clinic Director.

To think there was someone who knew about our mother.

As I held my breath, the Duchess began her story with a gentle face.

“She was such a kind child, but she met the wrong man…”

“That’s right.”

It was a matter that didn’t need thinking, so I nodded low.

If he was really a decent man, he wouldn’t have let a woman raise a child alone, right?

Above all, the Duchess also smiled faintly as if she agreed.

“Every time I saw her she was crying, so I asked if she wanted to work at the ducal mansion, but she refused. She said she wanted to treat everyone in the world.”

The moment I heard those last words, my chest rang with a sting and the area under my eyes ached.

‘Those were words befitting a mother.’

Only then did Grandmother exclaim belatedly that I resembled my mother.

Instead of answering, I smiled faintly.

In truth, there were many things I wanted to ask, but to the Duchess, my mother was just one of the servants she happened to meet.

One who served as an attendant to the Imperial Physicians at that.

It was nothing more than a trivial connection, where their sleeves had brushed a few times.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“I hope it was helpful.”

Grandmother also didn’t ask anything more, perhaps because of my expression.

It was then.

“Then, could you help this grandmother with something?”

Grandmother suddenly requested my help.

At the different feeling from usual, I opened my eyes wide.

Then when I nodded slightly, parchment was placed before me.

“…I’m trying to prepare for the end now.”

I doubted my ears.

That’s why I asked Grandmother again with a trembling voice.

“You’re preparing… for the end?”

At my words, Grandmother calmly brought out the words she had prepared.

“I’ve been thinking about… a good farewell. So that even when I’m gone, the children won’t feel that empty space.”

On countless sheets of paper were written the names of her two daughters along with different dates each year.

“I want to celebrate the day the child was born… but I can’t celebrate all the remaining days.”

The moment I saw the multiple sheets of paper, one thought crossed my mind.

“…You weren’t going to tell them until the very end.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Instead of answering, Grandmother offered an apology.

“But to Brien, who has such an important matter ahead of her, I just couldn’t…”

“…”

“I just couldn’t tell her that I don’t have much time left to live.”

Instead of answering, the Duchess bowed her head deeply.

Tears flowed endlessly between her face covered by her trembling hands.

“I’m so sorry that I just can’t bring myself to say it…”

What must be the heart of a parent who has to leave their children behind?

Would they even be able to close their eyes?

In grief too deep for me to fathom, I couldn’t say anything.

As if waiting, the sound of the maid’s sniffling could be heard.

“I’m also so afraid that I’ll eventually lose my memory and inevitably hurt the children.”

“…”

“…I’m sorry. I should be showing you the example of a good adult… but I just can’t find the courage.”

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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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