The Quack Lady - Chapter 80

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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 80

“Yes? It’s Rtemeia.”

Don’t tell me he came after taking another drug?

When I looked at him with narrowed eyes, he immediately avoided my gaze.

Then.

“May I come in?”

“Yes.”

Though I felt uneasy that he came when Tenoa wasn’t here, I couldn’t turn away someone who had already come.

I quickly handed him the antidote that was placed on one side of the research lab desk.

“I had it set aside for a patient I was caring for… no, anyway, you can use it.”

“You see… patients?”

He asked without showing any surprise.

However, his eyes had become glossy, which made me feel strange too.

“Yes. Well… not anymore though.”

There was nothing good about rumors spreading unnecessarily.

As I unnecessarily wiped my mouth, the man asked while catching his breath with a still watery voice.

“Is being a doctor your dream?”

There it was again. As another question without any sense of distance continued, I openly turned my back.

Then I muttered in a small voice that only he could hear.

“I have no intention of charging for the medicine. I just couldn’t pass by someone who had collapsed… but sir, are you crying?”

Before he could even finish listening to my words, he shed sorrowful tears.

I was flustered, perhaps because I had rarely seen a handsome man cry.

“Y-you shouldn’t cry like that at your age!”

In my urgency, I offered him the towel I had been using to wipe the table.

The moment I tried to withdraw my hand thinking ‘oh no,’ he grabbed my wrist firmly.

“Thank you.”

“…?”

He buried his face in that towel without hesitation.

‘Don’t tell me… his nose got affected by the poisoning symptoms too?’

I quietly took a step back.

He buried his face in what I called a towel but used like a rag, then smiled.

‘Wow, he’s beautiful.’

It was such a beautiful sight that it was hard to believe it came from that dry face.

‘He can still be this beautiful at that age.’

While I was newly amazed, he stuffed the rag I had given him into his chest.

“Well then, see you next time. Thank you so much for helping me.”

“Huh?”

I was about to say ‘Why would I see a drug addict uncle again?’ but swallowed the words. I would be leaving the Marquis’s mansion soon anyway.

“Yes, well…”

Whether my words satisfied him, he smiled brightly and turned around.

* * *

Rowen’s footsteps echoed through the quiet corridor of the Marquis’s mansion.

Faded milk tea-colored hair. Delicate features. Slightly drooping eyes.

The face of the child he had just met wouldn’t leave his mind.

Since the day he lost Lifne, he never passed by any child with similar hair color. Just in case he might encounter her. Just in case she might be looking for her father.

However, twelve years had cruelly trampled such expectations.

He thought it would be the same this time too.

‘But…’

He could see the child’s expression.

Since sending Lifne away, what he couldn’t read on anyone’s face in the world came clearly into view.

Even the habit of one eye corner drooping when flustered.

She resembled Lifne too much, far too much.

He hurriedly moved his steps and roughly opened his room door.

“Your Grace! Where did you go without guards… Your Grace?”

Srentte saw his face and gaped.

“A-are you… smiling right now?”

Rowen didn’t even realize he was smiling.

“Srentte.”

“Yes.”

“I met someone whose expression I can see.”

“What?”

A squeaky sound burst from Srentte’s mouth.

He quickly covered his mouth, conscious of the Duke who usually disliked loud noises, but the Duke smiled as if he didn’t care at all.

“It’s Lifne’s child.”

“…Your Grace, judging by expression alone is…”

“Her past has been cleanly erased.”

Rowen pointed to the parchment on the desk.

It was what Srentte had investigated first.

Everything from birth was unknown.

Only a doctor’s registration certificate stamped with a Count’s seal was the sole record.

“Being able to erase traces enough to avoid the ducal house’s search means someone of high rank was involved.”

“…Could it be Duchess Rubenoa?”

“She was someone who cherished Lifne more than anyone.”

Srentte bit his lips hard. He couldn’t refute it logically. However, the anxiety rising from his chest didn’t easily subside.

‘It could just be coincidences overlapping.’

But the Duke’s next words cut off his thoughts.

“Srentte, what do children around twelve years old like?”

“…Pardon?”

Srentte frowned as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Well… normally they wouldn’t accept gifts from someone they don’t even know.”

When he offered cold advice, the Duke’s complexion immediately darkened.

“Then what should I do…”

“I’ll investigate more first. So if you could wait a moment…”

“I’ve waited a full twelve years. I can’t wait any longer.”

The Duke’s cold gaze turned toward Srentte.

He knew about the Duke whose eyes would flip whenever he saw a child with beige hair.

That’s why he also knew well that once he became fixated, there was no stopping him.

Srentte took a breath and slowly offered one suggestion.

“How about introducing yourself first?”

“Introducing myself…?”

The Duke nodded low at that suggestion, and his gaze slowly turned toward Srentte.

* * *

When the procession of numerous nobles finished, Ditten and Brien gathered together.

“The Sepanja family sent a formal letter of protest demanding an explanation for Mother’s death.”

“The House of Lupat and House of Hemillen did the same.”

The families they listed were all southern noble houses serving the ducal residence.

“Mother’s death is unrelated to the doctor who cared for her. Mother’s death occurred with dignity and we will not accept any objections.”

Despite their response, perhaps due to the Empire’s chaotic atmosphere, her death created all sorts of rumors.

“She was none other than the Duchess! The circumstances of how she passed must be made public!”

“That’s right! A proper investigation must be conducted by examining those circumstances!”

It wasn’t that I doubted their loyalty, but given the circumstances, it was indeed quite troublesome.

However.

“Please protect Rtemeia. She’s such a good child. She did her very best for me too.”

Remembering the Duchess’s words, they decided to protect Rtemeia.

They each called their attendants. Then they commanded.

“Right now, announce to the entire world that the Marchioness has given birth to a son.”

“Also announce that another life will be born to the Count’s family.”

The attendants’ mouths fell wide open.

Especially the Marchioness’s birth had been kept thoroughly secret as it coincided with the Duchess’s affairs.

The attendant urgently tried to dissuade them.

“But then rumors will spread that the Marchioness and Countess are not sufficiently mourning the Duchess’s death.”

“No.”

Brien shook her head. Ditten nodded slightly as she watched her sister.

“The gossip of high society doesn’t matter at all. We shared Mother’s death together, even if briefly.”

“Mother was truly motherly. We must protect her final moments. Of course, life afterward will become somewhat troublesome.”

They looked at each other and smiled with satisfaction.

“I don’t want to remain as a mother who caused you pain. Not to anyone in this world.”

“I want to leave when I can remember you completely. If only I could choose.”

They were not young enough to misunderstand what those weary words meant.

“I’ll be a good mother. Like you, Mother.”

Brien smiled faintly, remembering the words she had murmured beside her sleeping mother.

Behind them, countless parchments bearing the Duchess’s seal were placed on the desk.

On the parchments were written congratulatory messages along with both daughters’ birthday dates each year.

It was their mother’s love.

* * *

I sat in the research lab facing Mr. Hanel.

Mr. Pairon asked back with a somewhat moved expression.

“So… you want to become a doctor?”

I rolled my eyes slightly, worried he might ask ‘What brought this on?’

“Yes. So I want to study more seriously. That’s why I’d like you to help me.”

“Hmm?”

“First, I’m planning to work at an apothecary to earn money.”

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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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