The Quack Lady - Chapter 82
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 82
“What did you say?”
“….”
“You said you were going to study too. I don’t think it’s right for me to remain as the Marquis’s mansion’s doctor when my skills are still lacking compared to yours.”
The moment I faced Tenoa’s serious expression, as if he had made up his mind, I couldn’t find words to say.
If you’re someone who studies medicine.
If you’ve felt the weight of life placed in your hands.
Once you realize that you must study and learn for a lifetime, you can’t remain complacent.
“But it’s not like I have a particular teacher. Even if we go together….”
“It’s fine. Just being able to observe your medical skills up close would be a great learning experience for me.”
“….”
Eruten let out a deep sigh and shook his head, and I was quite troubled as well.
“But your home is….”
Immediate practical concerns came flooding in. However, he smiled as if he had expected this and set down the box he was carrying.
“This amount should be enough to buy a house in the Eastern Region, right?”
Soon he took out a heavy pouch from the box and showed it to me.
My gaze immediately turned to the box on the floor.
If everything inside were gold coins, it would be possible, but….
‘It looks like he’s already made up his mind?’
Seeing how he had not only saved up money penny by penny but also carefully packed medical tools, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Fine, then don’t get in the way.”
“Don’t worry.”
I extended my hand toward the child. He was hesitating as he tried to take my hand.
“Mia.”
Eruten, who was beside me, whispered something in my ear.
“You have powder on your hand.”
“What?”
Startled, I quickly withdrew the hand I had extended for a handshake.
The things I had been handling while researching just moments ago were particularly dangerous enough to suspect poisoning….
‘What? There’s nothing there.’
I looked to the side with narrowed eyes.
Then Eruten turned around with a satisfied smile.
“Someone said we need to be careful about hygiene.”
“Really!”
It was definitely revenge for constantly reminding him to wash his hands before entering the research lab.
“Ah, sorry. Shall we go then?”
Since shaking hands again felt a bit awkward, I just nodded toward Tenoa.
He picked up the box with a slightly disappointed expression.
A new leap forward was about to begin.
* * *
The Marchioness looked at the baby lying in the cradle and smiled brightly as if she owned the whole world.
“It really seems like Mother has been reborn.”
The newly born heir of the Marquis’s family strangely resembled the deceased mother in nose, eyes, and even chubby cheeks.
“It’s really such a shame though. It would have been nice if Miss Rtemeia had stayed a bit longer.”
“We can’t stop someone who wants to study more.”
When Brien smiled faintly, the Duke let out a short sigh as if truly regretful.
“Still, she promised to come check on the child about once every two months, so we should be satisfied with that.”
Brien also wanted to find some way to keep Rtemeia by her side if she could.
However, Brien had learned.
That there are some things that cannot be held onto no matter how hard you try.
“How about setting up a clinic for her later? If that child opens a clinic in the Western Region, it would be a great help to the domain’s people.”
“That would be wonderful if it happened, but I’m not sure if the Count would let that child go.”
He smiled and handed the Count’s letter to Brien.
It was full of stories about Rtemeia.
“He said we would regret it if we didn’t receive treatment. It really turned out just as the Count said.”
He smiled broadly and embraced Brien’s shoulders as she was reading the letter.
“For that meticulous Count to praise her so highly, it really won’t be easy as you said.”
Brien smiled faintly as if admitting defeat and shook her head slightly.
“But the more I think about it, the more amazing it is. How could she do such….”
Because things had been so hectic, I had just let it pass, but looking back, there were more than one or two strange things.
Even if she had worked at an infirmary, that was strictly within the realm of experience.
In other words, actually putting a knife to a person’s body and successfully performing surgery….
‘Can that be done just by watching a few times?’
The more I thought about it, the more I felt she was truly an amazing child.
Hearing this, Rapid fell into thought for a moment.
“It seems like someone of great importance is involved. There are no traces left regarding the child whatsoever.”
Rapid couldn’t help but be surprised by the unexpected investigation results.
This was also because nothing remained except for relatively recent activities.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s anything good to gain from digging deeper.”
The Count tried to dissuade him. However, as the head of the Information Guild, he felt it instinctively.
‘Something… there’s something there.’
Seeing Rapid’s stern face lost in thought, Brien waved her hand.
“Rapid? What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
At his words, Brien lovingly stroked the child and muttered to herself.
“I hope the child finds her real father soon.”
“….”
“From what I heard from Ditten, it seems her mother has passed away….”
Soon Brien clicked her tongue and lovingly picked up the baby.
Seeing this, Rapid smiled.
“Don’t worry. I’ll inform you first as soon as we find him.”
“But may I ask you one more thing?”
“Of course, my lady.”
Rapid smiled gently.
“When I said I would perform the surgery, weren’t you afraid?”
“No.”
The answer came without hesitation.
When Brien blinked in surprise, he smiled faintly and continued.
“That child was looking at you with the same eyes as I do.”
“What do you mean….”
Rapid touched Brien’s nose with his index finger and smiled.
“These eyes that you keep looking at.”
“…!”
Brien finally smiled brightly as if she understood.
‘Yes, that trusting gaze.’
It was another form of love.
“That’s right. That child trusted me. Even after the surgery, she said it was because I had endured well.”
“She probably meant it.”
Rapid nodded slightly.
“I’ll do my best. So that everyone can survive and confirm each other’s well-being!”
He couldn’t forget that feeling when those determined eyes looked up at him.
That absolute conviction and will that nothing could shake.
It was a resolute face, as if going off to war.
Recalling the memory, he smiled faintly and murmured.
“Next time she comes, I should give her a gift. As compensation for protecting what’s most precious to me.”
His gaze slowly turned toward Brien.
As his eyes curved into a smile, Brien also smiled brightly following his lead.
* * *
It seems like the return journey always feels faster than the departure.
It feels like just a moment ago I was receiving farewells from the Marquis’s mansion servants.
‘Wait, we’ve already arrived?’
I dozed off and when I woke up, the view of the Eastern Region with its sprawling green meadows came into sight.
“We’re already here?”
As I tried to get up from my seat while still half-asleep, Mr. Hanel quickly grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
“What are you doing so dangerously! You need to stay seated.”
“Ah.”
I nodded with my eyes half-closed.
Mr. Hanel muttered something about how I could study anything like this, but none of it registered in my ears.
‘Is it because of all the sleep I’ve missed?’
Well, considering how I’ve been absorbed in research all this time…
“Ahhhhh!”
As I stretched with a grimace on my face, the faces of the kids sitting across from me came into view.
The carriage interior was quite cramped, but Eruten was sitting in a strangely comfortable position.
That posture of his, with legs casually crossed and fist propping up his chin, seemed like I’d seen it somewhere before.
‘Is that a common posture nobles take in carriages?’
As I stared blankly at Eruten for a moment, Mr. Hanel started picking on me again.
“Huh? You stretch so lazily and then think fixing your posture will make it better… Ack!”
I elbowed the side of Mr. Hanel sitting next to me, and he finally quieted down.
I smiled toward Eruten and Tenoa sitting across from me.
The two men looked at me as if I were adorable.
“You can sleep more.”
“Sleep more. We’ll wake you when we arrive.”
The two men who spoke simultaneously glanced at each other for a moment, then cleared their throats softly and looked away.
‘Are they still awkward with each other?’
Just then, the sound of horses snorting could be heard.
Whinny!
Starting with that cheerful sound, the carriage slowly began to reduce speed.
We had arrived in the Eastern Region.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————