Chapter 59
“…Hoo.”
Rose let out a sigh after carefully wrapping the bandages. She should have grown accustomed to putting a splint on her arm and wrapping it with bandages, but it was still difficult.
‘By the time I get used to it, maybe I’ll be allowed to remove the bandages?’
She chuckled at her own silly thought, then stood up and tidied away the bandages, scissors, and other items she had laid out on the table.
Using only one hand made everything inconvenient—washing, changing clothes, or grooming herself was a hassle. Above all, putting on a splint and securing the bandages by herself was challenging. Especially when finishing the wrapping—she needed both hands to tie a proper knot, but since she couldn’t, she always had to struggle using one hand and her mouth to hold the bandage.
“…I can’t ask anyone for help.”
After her inspection trip, the nanny’s attitude had become even colder. She would pick at small things and scold her, and the verbal abuse directed at Rose had been increasing.
As a result, the other staff at the Grand Duke’s household kept even more distance from Rose. They had always been a bit hostile toward her sudden arrival, but now…
‘…Jealousy? Envy?’
“…Ridiculous. I’m not someone important.”
Rose chuckled at her own thoughts and adjusted her clothing. Dawn was breaking. She turned off the lamp she had left on while wrapping bandages in the dim light and stepped out of the room.
The cold air of the hallway greeted her. Only a week had passed since her travels, yet it felt as though the season had shifted abruptly from fall into winter.
“Her cough should have calmed down by now…”
Rose shivered slightly against the chill as she quickened her pace. A worried expression clouded her face; Flita’s cold, which had begun at the end of the inspection trip, had yet to improve since returning to the Grand Duke’s residence.
‘Why won’t this cold go away?’
Rose sighed as she climbed the stairs. The physician, who had initially claimed it wasn’t a cold, had now changed their diagnosis and prescribed appropriate medicine. By now, there should have been some improvement.
Knock, knock.
Rose stood before Flita’s bedroom and knocked. The child’s voice could not be heard from inside—she must still be sleeping soundly. Understandably, it was early.
Out of courtesy, Rose carefully turned the doorknob to avoid waking the child. Inside, warm air brushed against her skin. The fireplace had done its job all night, keeping the cold hallway air from creeping in.
Rose added a few logs to the fire before approaching Flita’s bed. The small dog that had been sleeping on the cushion beside the bed perked up its ears at the sound, then stood up.
“Hey, Hayan.”
The clever dog from Middlepion wagged its tail in greeting, careful not to disturb its sleeping owner. Rose bent down and patted its head, then looked back at the bed. Flita was buried under the covers, not even her small head visible.
Rose smiled at the sight of the round bundle of blankets on the bed, then turned to begin her tasks. There was much to do before Flita woke up—first, she would give her a warm drink…
“Cough!”
At that moment, a cough came from behind. Rose’s expression hardened. Flita’s cough seemed worse than the night before.
“Cough, cough!”
The child coughed repeatedly as if confirming something. Rose quickly turned and approached the bed again.
“Princess?”
Rose called softly. No response came from under the covers. She assumed the child was still deeply asleep, but an uneasy feeling gnawed at her.
“…Princess?”
“Cough, cough! Huh…ugh…Ro, cough! Rose…”
When Rose called again, Flita’s voice emerged from the covers with severe coughing. Rose hurriedly pulled back the blankets and checked on her.
“P-Princess!”
The child’s entire body felt like fire. Overnight, she had sweated so much that not only her pajamas but also the blanket and sheets were soaked.
“Rose…haa…It…It hurts so much, cough! Oww…”
Flita barely opened her eyes, saw Rose’s face, and began crying. Rose hugged Flita’s burning body, unsure what to do, and then had no choice but to lay her back down. With one arm unusable, she couldn’t lift Flita elsewhere.
“J-Just a moment, Princess. Please wait a moment.”
“Sniff…ugh.”
Flita nodded, still whimpering, and began shivering as a chill overtook her.
First, the bed sheets and blankets had to be changed. Wet blankets would only drain her body heat further.
‘It’s too difficult to do alone with one arm. I’ll have to ask another maid for help, call the physician, and inform Haven…’
“Ow…Rose, it hurts. Something red is appearing here too. Cough!”
Flita’s whimpering words pierced Rose’s ears, and she froze. It felt as if she had been doused in cold water.
No.
It couldn’t be.
‘…No. The physician didn’t mention anything. It’s just a cold.’
A boy’s image surfaced in Rose’s memory—coughing, high fever, with a rash.
The boy had collapsed in front of Flita while they were at the festival in Middlepion, and they had brought him to a healer directly…
“Princess!”
Rose rushed to the bed. Flita, unable to contain her cries, revealed her arms and legs to Rose.
They were blotched with red, like the boy she had seen in Middlepion.
‘What does this mean…?’
Rose’s mouth went dry as she looked at the child’s pale face.
“Cough! It hurts here too, huff…”
Flita tugged Rose’s hand under her sternum. It was the same as the boy. Rose recalled the boy screaming in pain when the healer touched him.
“A few days ago, I treated a child with similar symptoms. It wasn’t as severe as this one, but still similar.”
A child with similar symptoms. And now Flita. The implication was clear: this disease was contagious.
“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll call the physician right away and inform the Grand Duke as well.”
“Boo…sniff…”
‘How scared and in pain she must have been all night alone.’
Rose calmed the child, recalling the healer’s words:
“I’m not sure exactly what the disease is, but medication can ease the symptoms. The same was done for the little boy before.”
‘Yes. Even if we don’t know the exact illness, it can be treated. If a healer in small Middlepion could cure it, surely the Grand Duke’s physician can too.’
She repeated this thought to herself like a mantra.
“Flita?”
Haven barged into the room with a grim expression. The physician had been checking Flita’s condition and attempted to show respect, but Haven waved him off and asked again:
“How is the child?”
“Yes, she has a cough, high fever, and a rash…also pain beneath her sternum.”
“I’ve already been informed. What disease is it? Can it be treated?”
Haven pressed the physician. Wiping sweat from his forehead, the physician replied cautiously:
“It seems to be Dunfer’s disease.”
“Dunfer’s?”
It was an unfamiliar name. Haven frowned and repeated it, then asked:
“What is that?”
“It’s an infectious disease, particularly fatal in young children…”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Dunfer’s disease is initially similar to a cold, making diagnosis difficult. However, after a week to ten days, it progresses rapidly to a severe stage, making treatment difficult. Even if medication eases symptoms, the condition can quickly become critical…”
As the physician explained, Rose’s face went pale. Haven also listened with a drained face, furrowing his brows.
The physician, seeing the Duke’s reaction, hesitated but then spoke grimly:
“…In young children, nine out of ten cases are fatal.”
Rose staggered. Haven quickly caught her.
“S-Sorry…”
“Pull yourself together. Are you going to collapse before her?”
Despite the scolding tone, Haven’s hands steadied Rose, giving her both physical and emotional support.
‘Yes, I need to stay strong.’
She could not fall before the child.
Nodding at Haven, Rose bit her lips hard. She bit so fiercely that they split, and she tasted blood. Haven, seeing her resolve, turned back to the physician.
“Are you certain it’s Dunfer’s disease?”
“Yes. The rash pattern and the pain beneath the sternum are classic symptoms of the disease.”
“With such a serious illness, why isn’t it widely known? I’ve never read about it in any medical texts.”
