The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 36

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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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The Villainess Establishes a Department Store

Chapter 36

“Does the doctor know about it too?”

“No, I don’t.”

The maid was momentarily speechless at his answer, which was so firm it seemed cut with a knife.

‘But you’ll find out soon enough. And you’ll probably beg me for just one root.’

Mother’s attending physician hadn’t prescribed that treatment out of malice. Rather, he was closer to being a true doctor.

It was just that kind of era.

Still, should I be grateful that it’s better than the level of wearing bird-beak leather masks and wheezing during a plague outbreak?

After brewing for another hour like that.

“It’s done!”

Adelaide smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the black ginseng extract that had been brewed so dark you couldn’t see the bottom, as deep as her earnest wish for Mother’s recovery.

* * *

“This… is medicine?”

Mother furrowed her brow and asked me several times, looking suspicious of the black ginseng extract I had brought.

“Sniff… Good heavens, is this really something a person can drink?”

Mother, who had tried smelling it once as a test, recoiled in shock and pushed the cup far away.

Instead of the usual syrup in a black glass bottle, it was black liquid sloshing in a teacup as if about to overflow.

Unlike syrup with sugar or honey added, the black ginseng extract was made with only black ginseng and water.

So it’s natural that she’s being so wary, but it’s a little sad…

“Waaah. I fanned it in the kitchen for over an hour to give it to Mother!”

“No, no. No. I would never dismiss Adele’s devotion. It’s just a bit… too hot! Yes. It’s too hot so I want to let it cool before drinking.”

When I whined and expressed my disappointment, Mother hurriedly shook her head and comforted me.

It was an obvious lie, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

“Mother doesn’t like taking medicine either?”

“Yes. Mother doesn’t like bitter medicine either, it seems.”

“Even though you’re an adult?”

“Even adults.”

It probably wouldn’t be wrong to say this was our Mother’s first bitter taste in her life, having only had sugar, honey, and spices.

“But Antoine, what’s that in your hand?”

“Candy!”

Antoine proudly held out his palm. It was a large candy the size of a child’s fist.

What a thoughtful boy. I patted Antoine’s head and looked at Mother with expectant eyes.

Gulp it down all at once, please.

“…Gulp!”

Finally, while everyone watched with anxious hearts, Mother swallowed the black ginseng extract while making all sorts of faces.

“…Wa, water! Good heavens, I’ve never had such bitter medicine!”

Father hurriedly handed her a glass of water, followed by Antoine placing candy on Mother’s hand.

“Thank you, Antoine.”

“What about me, Mother? What about me?”

“Our daughter is appreciated too!”

Mother spread both arms wide. Antoine and I quickly claimed spots on either side of Mother and burrowed into her warm embrace.

“Then what about me?”

Father tried to join in belatedly, but when there was no room left, he made a crying face and stuck out his lips.

Then Antoine’s burst of laughter followed.

“Father’s face looks just like a carp!”

Antoine, you should be grateful that the concept of defamation by stating facts doesn’t exist in this era’s legal code yet.

“You too. Thank you for always caring for me. Just from the taste, it seems like it will be the most effective medicine I’ve ever taken.”

“If it’s effective, I’ll get you anything. So please stay by my side for a long, long time, Eleonore.”

My parents lightly touched lips.

But even when it should have ended with a light peck, my parents were still touching lips.

I hurriedly averted my gaze, and Antoine, thinking it was a fun game, squirmed to squeeze between them.

“Me too! I want to do it too!”

My parents exchanged glances, then began showering Antoine with kisses with him in the middle.

“Ahaha! Father’s beard tickles!”

The child’s characteristic giggling laughter made even me laugh just watching.

Only after receiving his fill of kisses did Antoine seem satisfied.

His cheeks flushed red from excitement and his eyes sparkling more clearly than ever made me think how adorable my younger sibling was.

“Adele?”

“Huh? Oh, aaaaah! Ah! Kyaa! It tickles! Ahaha, ahaha! Ahahaha!”

The moment I turned my head carelessly, Father’s large hand dove into my side.

Father in front, Mother behind my back. Plus Antoine too. I was a bit breathless from being hugged so tightly, but my heart was full of family love.

* * *

Taking the black ginseng extract didn’t cure Mother’s condition in just one day.

But perhaps Mother felt something when told that one root was worth the same as a gold nugget of the same size, as she consistently took the black ginseng extract without refusing.

And so the day came when Mother’s attending physician visited once every two weeks.

“Welcome, Monsieur Guérin.”

“Have you been well? Oh, your complexion looks even better today.”

Mother’s attending physician, Albert Guérin, came from a family of royal doctors for generations.

He himself was once the king’s personal physician, and even after passing the position to his successor, he still occasionally receives royal summons or gives lectures at the Academy.

To be able to employ such a person as a personal physician, I’m amazed again at Father’s wealth.

At the same time, I was amazed in a bad way at Uncle who squandered such enormous wealth.

Monsieur Guérin was a quack by my standards as someone with modern knowledge, but by this era’s standards he was quite a renowned physician.

Like other doctors, he prescribed opium as a painkiller, but he was indeed a renowned physician in that he at least recognized opium’s dangers.

“How is the dizziness? Too frequent outings are not good for your health, so you must be careful.”

“It’s much better. I’ve started riding a bicycle in the garden recently – would this level of outdoor activity be alright?”

“A bicycle… you say?”

Monsieur Guérin, who had been nodding with a kind face, suddenly frowned.

“Ahem. Bicycles have a bad effect on women’s wombs, so it would be better to refrain from them if possible… but…”

He really is just a quack, isn’t he?

My jaw dropped at claims that might be common sense and cutting-edge medical knowledge by this era’s standards, but were nothing but quack nonsense to my ears.

“Then I suppose it doesn’t matter for me.”

Mother’s expression had darkened as she replied coldly. Without realizing it, my gaze turned toward Antoine.

“…I apologize. In any case, you must be careful not to be in the sun for too long.”

Monsieur Guérin took out his stethoscope for a proper examination.

“You’ve improved considerably. No, this is nothing short of a miracle.”

“Oh my. Is that really true, doctor?”

Mother, who had been tensely keeping her lips pressed together, let out a sigh of relief and smiled brightly.

“I tried brewing and drinking a new herb on my daughter’s recommendation, and I’m glad it’s effective.”

“A new herb, you say?”

“I don’t know much about it myself. It’s something Guillaume Hedebeau brought from the East this time… Since taking it, I haven’t had anxiety or loss of appetite, I don’t break out in cold sweats, and I sleep well at night too.”

Incidentally, all the symptoms Mother mentioned as having improved were early symptoms of opium addiction.

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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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