Chapter 51
“Come in!”
The voice from inside was one she already knew. Biting down on her trembling lips, she lowered her head.
“Please go in, Your Highness,” Fedwin said. Heivan nodded, then, just as he was about to step forward, paused and glanced back at Roze.
“Roze, why are you just standing there? Are you unwell?”
“N… No, Your Highness. I was just… lost in thought for a moment.”
She hurried to answer, then picked up Plita and entered with him. The knight carrying the boy followed behind, and soon the healer’s cramped house was filled.
“Welcome, welco—”
The healer awkwardly rose to greet his guests, but upon spotting Roze, his eyes widened.
“Oh, you were here yesterday—”
“Hello. I came for digestive medicine yesterday, didn’t I?”
Roze quickly cut him off, fearing he might say more than he should.
The healer frowned in puzzlement at her odd remark, then caught on belatedly and forced a reply.
“Ah… yes. That’s right. Yes, yes. Ahem. And did the medicine help?”
“Yes, thanks to you. It worked very well.”
Roze forced a smile as she spoke. Heivan narrowed his eyes slightly. There was something strangely awkward about the way the two interacted.
“You’ve been here before, then?”
“Yes. Yesterday…”
“Hm.”
It was nothing worth suspicion—she had said she hadn’t been feeling well and had visited a healer. The only coincidence was that today’s emergency had led them to the very same place.
“Ahem. So then, what brings you here today—ah, I see, the boy is sick?”
The healer coughed and adjusted the glasses on his nose. At once the knight carrying the boy raised his voice.
“How dare you! To address His Gra—ugh!”
“Quiet. Do you mean to shout it to the whole world?”
The sharp smack of a hand rang out—the palm of Fedwin striking the back of his own subordinate’s head. Realizing his near-mistake in almost blurting “Grand Duke,” the knight shut his mouth and carefully laid the boy down on the bed.
With the little commotion quickly settled, Heivan let his earlier unease drop and addressed the healer.
“He suddenly collapsed. Can you examine him?”
“Let’s have a look. Hm…”
Adjusting his glasses, the healer approached the boy, but before touching him, cast a sideways glance at Heivan. From the way the group carried themselves, he suspected they were wealthy—no doubt festival-goers with attendants.
So he said he had no family…
His gaze flicked briefly from Heivan to Roze, then to Plita at her side. But suppressing his curiosity, he turned back to the patient. Duty came first.
“High fever, coughing, and skin rashes…”
The healer’s eyes darkened. Tilting his head, he pressed lightly beneath the boy’s sternum.
“Aaagh!”
The boy, who moments ago seemed unconscious, screamed as though the pain would kill him. It hadn’t been a hard press.
“Hm…”
The healer scratched his brow. Plita, startled by the cry, clung to Roze’s arm. As Roze comforted the child, Heivan asked quietly,
“Well?”
“I treated a child with similar symptoms a few days ago. His case wasn’t as severe as this one, but the signs are alike.”
“So it can be treated?”
“I can’t say exactly what illness it is, but medicines to ease the symptoms should help. The last boy recovered after them.”
Finished with the examination, the healer spoke as if it were nothing serious. At once, Roze and Plita sighed in relief. Heivan gave them a faint smile, then drew out money.
“Will this cover the treatment?”
“It’s not a grave illness, but the medicines are costly, so about one gros would be—oh!”
The healer froze at the sight of the sum Heivan offered. His beard quivered with shock.
“M-more than enough! But… this boy doesn’t seem related to you. Are you sure you want to spend so much on him?”
“If I’m going to spend money, better it be for something worthwhile. Let’s go.”
Heivan replied indifferently, already turning away. His words were cue enough—Fedwin, the other knight, Roze, and Plita followed. The healer watched them go, then looked back at the shabby boy lying on the bed.
The difference in clothing alone made it clear—there was no connection between him and those well-dressed nobles.
That made it even stranger. To spend their festival hours bringing a poor boy here for treatment…
“Kind-hearted folk, hm…”
Curiosity returned to the healer’s face, and he followed them out, feigning to see them off.
Outside, the sunset had dyed the sky crimson. As Plita trotted along, her puppy suddenly barked, startling them into a small commotion.
Taking advantage of the moment, the healer sidled closer to Roze and spoke.
“So he has no family, you said?”
“…Pardon?”
Roze turned in surprise at the voice behind her. The healer pointed at Plita with inquisitive eyes.
“The child. He looks just like you. Nephew, perhaps? Ah—then I misspoke. I thought that man was your husband…”
“No, nothing like that,” Roze quickly denied, shaking her head. She looked wistfully at Heivan and Plita, then gave a faint, bitter smile.
“They’re the ones I serve.”
“Ah.”
The healer mouthed a word, then nodded. At that moment, Plita called back to her.
“Roze, aren’t you coming?”
“Yes, of course.”
She smiled at the child, bowed slightly to the healer, and turned to follow. The healer clicked his tongue softly and murmured,
“Working in another’s household, then. Tsk. If only you could rest instead, do nothing and preserve your remaining years… That’d be the best way to protect what time you have left.”
Roze only smiled silently. For others, his words would be true. But not for her.
Even if it shortened what little time she had, she wished only to spend it with the man and the child she loved. That alone was her dearest wish.
She raised her head to the sky. The setting sun, sinking slowly below the horizon, was achingly beautiful.
“Woof!”
“Heheh! Stop, Hayan! I just bathed!”
Plita laughed helplessly as the puppy licked him, rolling together on the bed. Roze, straightening his bedding, smiled.
Had the nanny been here, she would have clutched her chest in outrage, demanding the mutt be thrown out. A mongrel, in a noble young lady’s chamber? Unthinkable.
But Roze let the child and the puppy bathe together, let them tumble around on the bed, even if it was improper.
“This is so fun!”
Plita sat up, face smeared with dog slobber. The puppy placed its paws on his lap, eager for more play. Roze scooped the animal up and set it gently on a thick cushion on the floor.
“Time for sleep now. Hayan too.”
“Okay… but can’t we play just a little longer?”
Plita gazed at her with pleading eyes. Roze chuckled, then shook her head with mock sternness.
“No.”
“Aww…”
“If you sleep late, you’ll be drowsy tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be a shame to nod off instead of playing with Hayan in the sunny garden?”
“Hm…”
The boy frowned in thought. Roze sat by the bed, smoothing his furrowed brow with a finger, then combed his tousled hair gently.
“So tonight, no more play. Look—Hayan’s yawning already.”
Right on cue, the puppy yawned, curling up on the cushion. Plita yawned too.
“Haaah… Fine, I’ll sleep.”
“Wait. Let me wipe your face.”
She cleaned his face with a damp cloth, clearing away the mess of drool. As she did, Plita giggled, then threw his arms around her.
“You know… earlier, I was really happy.”
“The festival?” she asked, stroking his hair.
Plita shook his head, hugging her tighter.
“No, that was fun too. But there was something even better.”
“…?”
Roze tilted her head in curiosity. The boy grinned mischievously.
“Guess what!”
“Mm… the puppy?” she guessed, glancing at Hayan dozing on the cushion.
Plita grinned wider and shook his head.
