Time Healer Ceres - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“I’m Director Arnold of this Care Facility.”
An elaborately decorated office.
Wherever the eye turned, expensive-looking ornaments were scattered about in abundance.
In the center of such a room sat a man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, perched on a chair that looked more ornate than anything else, beaming with a bright smile.
“You’re saying you’ll become Guardian for Yulia?”
“…….”
“Coming so suddenly without any prior notice—what brings you here?”
“…….”
“I, well…….”
“…….”
But that smile did not last long.
Director Arnold found himself repeatedly wiping away cold sweat that trickled down his face.
“Forgive me, but why are you holding that?”
It was because of the person sitting before him—Ceres, precisely.
Her unwavering gaze, maintaining silence in response to any question, felt impossibly burdensome.
And…….
‘Most of all, that!’
Looking at the Soup bowl held in her hands, Arnold could only manage an awkward smile.
He recognized immediately what that Soup was.
“I didn’t want it taken away from me.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s evidence.”
“…Evidence?”
Director Arnold’s expression froze further. His mouth went parched.
Had she somehow caught on to something?
‘No, no!’
He tore his gaze away from the Soup with effort and brushed away the rising tide of anxiety.
Once he steadied his trembling eyes, he settled his usual bright smile back in place at the corners of his mouth.
“As you know, our Care Facility restricts outside visitors as much as possible for the psychological stability of our patients.”
“Why?”
“Pardon?”
“Why the restrictions?”
“W-well, as I just said, for the patient’s stability…….”
“My sister becomes unstable when she sees me?”
“That’s, that’s not quite it…….”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“It’s not so much a problem as……?”
As Arnold fumbled through his excuses, wiping sweat from his brow, he found himself bewildered by his own behavior.
‘Why am I stuttering like this?’
He was someone who had dealt with countless Guardians before.
Among them were nobles and wealthy merchants aplenty.
So why? He couldn’t fathom why he felt so outmatched by this mere young noblewoman.
‘Why does her casual speech feel so natural?’
He’d heard she was from the Marquis Household, but wasn’t it supposedly a name only—a house in decline?
He’d been told they were struggling nobility, impoverished to the bone…….
‘But what’s with her demeanor?’
Contrary to what he’d heard, the woman before him carried an air so commanding he could believe her to be royalty.
Her informal manner of speech was utterly natural, and her bearing radiated the unhurried grace peculiar to those of privilege.
“I’ve seen the invoice.”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
Director Arnold, lost in thought with his wits scattered, suddenly snapped to attention at the sound of Ceres’s voice.
“So there’s something I’ve been curious about.”
“Please, ask whatever you wish.”
Only then did Ceres set the Soup bowl she’d been holding down onto the table with a soft thud.
“What exactly is Yulia’s condition?”
“Well, as you’d likely know better than I, the Disease Name remains unidentified. Her vitality gradually diminishes, and the frequency of her collapses increases with each passing day. She doesn’t remain conscious for long during the day.”
“You used Elpia Leaf. Why?”
“Yes? Elpia Leaf? That was because she had a severe fever…….”
“What about using Delia Root together?”
“Th-that’s because the child’s vital energy was severely depleted, so I needed to replenish it…….”
“Are you unaware of the side effects of Delia Root? You used a medicinal ingredient that raises internal heat on a child whose fever you’re already bringing down with Elpia Leaf?”
“I… yes?”
“And why did you use Bros Fruit?”
“Bros Fruit? I… that was to stop the bleeding because the child was injured…….”
“You also used Elcho Leaf at the same time. You know perfectly well that one excels at hemostasis while the other accelerates blood circulation, don’t you? What do you think happens when you combine those two?”
“I…….”
What is this woman?
Cold sweat streamed down Arnold’s spine.
How could she know so much about herbs whose effects even he didn’t fully understand?
Ceres’s questions continued, but the director could not produce a single coherent answer.
“Wow.”
At the sudden exclamation that burst from Ceres’s lips, Arnold flinched and threw her a bewildered look.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this desperate need to see someone.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I’m just curious what kind of incompetent fool taught you medicine. Who were you trained under?”
“That’s… that’s quite harsh……!”
“Listen to this.”
Arnold, his face flushed red as he shouted, couldn’t finish his sentence properly this time either.
Ceres had picked up the Soup she’d set down moments before.
“If you’re really curious?”
“Curious… about what, exactly?”
The director’s eyes wavered as he followed her gaze to the Soup.
Without breaking eye contact for an instant, Ceres spoke slowly.
“Whether some wretch ordered you to put poison in this, perhaps?”
“I… what?”
“Or maybe you’re wondering why you tried to poison my sister?”
“……!”
She really knows, doesn’t she?
Director Arnold’s face drained of all color in an instant. His eyes trembled as though an earthquake had struck, and after a long moment, he stammered out a response.
“Wh-what are you saying! Po… poison?!”
“You’re unconvincing.”
“What?”
“Your expression control is far too clumsy.”
“Oh, you’re mistaken! There’s no reason I’d use poison at all!”
“That’s exactly my point. Why would you poison a seven-year-old child?”
“I swear it’s not true! There was no poison in there!”
“Is that so?”
Ceres pushed the bowl forward sharply toward him as he shook his head vehemently, protesting his innocence.
“Then eat it.”
“…What?”
“Eat it.”
“…Ah!”
Arnold flinched momentarily, but quickly composed himself and let out a dry laugh.
“Do I look like I can’t eat it? I’ll eat as much as you like!”
As if to prove his innocence, Arnold snatched the bowl from Ceres and brought the spoon to his mouth without hesitation.
But his confidence didn’t last long.
The moment he heard what Ceres said next, the color drained from his face.
“Oh, do you know? The poison in that Soup works differently in male bodies.”
“…Works differently?”
“In female bodies, it gradually saps energy, increases sleep, and eventually puts them into eternal slumber. But in males…”
“…In males?”
Arnold found himself swallowing hard.
Ceres’s mouth curved into a subtle smile as she watched him.
“Even a small amount becomes a lethal toxin. Instant death.”
“……!”
“What are you doing? Not eating?”
“Th-that’s a lie!”
The spoon in Arnold’s hand trembled violently.
His eyes, fixed on the Soup, shook just as badly.
‘There was no such thing said!’
According to her words, poison had indeed been mixed into this soup.
The symptoms matched perfectly.
A poison that gradually sapped strength and destroyed the body.
But she’d never mentioned anything about instant death.
Like her sister, if consumed in small amounts over a long period, it would strain the body—but a dose or two wouldn’t cause any problems with daily life, or so she’d claimed.
That’s why he’d picked up the spoon so confidently when she told him to eat!
But instant death?
The effects change when it enters a man’s body?
“That’s a lie! That poison doesn’t have such an effect……!”
Arnold had cried out thoughtlessly, then froze mid-word, clamping his mouth shut. He’d only just realized his blunder.
‘Tsk.’
Watching him belatedly check her expression, Ceres clicked her tongue inwardly.
‘Is he an idiot?’
The man seemed to have less sense than she’d expected.
‘Push just a little and the whole thing tumbles out.’
How could someone be so careless?
“Whether I’m lying or not, if you’re right that nothing was put in the food, then it doesn’t matter at all, does it?”
“I…….”
“Eat.”
He shook his head firmly.
“I said eat.”
More vigorous shaking.
“Should I put it in your mouth myself?”
Even more frantic shaking!
Arnold had already flung the spoon far away, clamping both hands over his mouth as he shook his head with desperate energy.
Ceres regarded the director with a look of utter contempt, then opened her mouth again.
“There’s something else I’m curious about, actually.”
Her gaze fixed on Arnold’s hands, pressed with all his strength against his mouth.
“What’s your relationship with our Yulia’s aunt?”
“……!”
Arnold’s face drained of color once more, turning a sickly pale.

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