Chapter 44
‘No way… Could the lady’s ability be…’
A sudden thought struck me: perhaps her healing ability had manifested when she was very young.
I had originally thought it was a power that appeared suddenly after some events had already unfolded—but apparently not.
Thinking that the lady, who had been confined since childhood, was able to survive without falling seriously ill thanks to the healing power in her body made a little more sense.
So that’s how she could survive in such a harsh environment. Despite not being given proper meals, being kept from sunlight, and locked in a room like a living corpse, she could live—all thanks to her healing ability.
“This is strange. Does that mean she was actually properly taken care of?”
Meanwhile, my father’s thoughts, who couldn’t even consider the healing ability, went in a completely different direction.
‘No, no matter how you look at it, this looks like emotional abuse!’
“Still, considering how she was taken care of, it’s odd that she’s so thin.”
The doctor, who had recently regained his composure, countered my father’s opinion.
“Yes. We should investigate this further. Are you certain there’s nothing else physically wrong with her?”
“Yes.”
“According to the place where this child was, there should have been some physical abnormalities. It could even have been a contagious disease. Are you sure you examined her properly?”
My father gave him a sharp glare, full of suspicion.
“Hah. Who said that? I’ll stake my reputation on my skill!”
“Really? He seemed quite confident when he spoke as well.”
“Then, I shall examine her again.”
The doctor, who had been so confident just a moment ago, immediately lowered his head and nodded.
He inspected her even more meticulously than before, to see if there was truly anything wrong with her body.
Only after more than thirty minutes did he shake his head.
“There’s really nothing. She’s completely healthy. Usually, when a disease develops, there are minor symptoms.”
“I see.”
“Those minor symptoms combine to form a disease, and by examining cases of those diseases, we can check if other areas are affected.”
“So?”
“No matter how thoroughly I examine, there isn’t even the slightest symptom. Not even the tiniest one.”
The doctor’s brows furrowed deeply.
“Her body doesn’t even have a mild fever, which is the basis of all illnesses. In fact, her body temperature is so perfectly normal, I almost want to meet the people who claimed there was something wrong with her and show them myself. I can’t understand what their problem even is.”
I didn’t particularly like this doctor, but at this moment, I found myself somewhat impressed.
“Hmm.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can call in another doctor. I would even like to prove through others that my skill is not mistaken.”
He, who normally hated involving others, now seemed willing to do anything to prove his case.
Seeing this unusual confidence in him, my father let out a deep sigh. Then, as if remembering something, he stared intently at the doctor.
“Then, can you put what you just said into a document?”
“A document?”
The unexpected request made his expression harden slightly.
“Yes, a medical certificate stating that this child has no physical abnormalities. That shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”
“Ah… that…”
“So, after being so confident, now you’re saying you can’t?”
“No! I— I can do it! It’s related to my skill, after all. But this won’t cause me any harm, right…?”
He looked very uncomfortable, clearly trying to avoid any situation that might put him at a disadvantage.
“Don’t worry. You’ll also have other doctors examine her, so it won’t be just you.”
“You mean you’ll ask them to produce the same document?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. If it’s like that, I can write it.”
“Then write it immediately.”
“You must keep your word. Don’t leave me with the only certificate later…”
Watching the doctor ramble nervously, my father shook his head.
Finally, the hesitant doctor pulled a form from his doctor’s bag and wrote down a comprehensive record of the lady’s health.
My father looked at the completed document and smiled with satisfaction.
“Good work.”
“It’s nothing. Haha…”
“Then, let’s go.”
As if waiting for this moment, he quickly stepped outside.
“I need to visit your mother.”
“Huh?”
“And while I’m at it, I’ll bring in the other doctors to examine her as well.”
My father lightly patted my head.
“Are we going right now?”
“Yes. The doctor will probably report to your mother anyway, so it’s better to say it in person. Amandette.”
“Huh?”
My father gently stroked my shoulder.
“You take care of her while I’m gone. Until I return.”
“Ah! Okay!”
“Understood? Until she regains her senses and tells us what she went through there—you protect her.”
“Got it. I’ll protect her even while she sleeps!”
At that, my father chuckled softly.
“No. Just until I return. After that, we can have trusted people continue watching her.”
“Okay!”
“Then I’ll be off.”
With that, my father left, repeating dozens of times how well to take care of her.
‘I’m the one who brought her here, yet only my father looks exhausted.’
My original plan was simply to visit a few times, get on my father’s radar, and arrange for our family to take custody.
I hadn’t expected things to move straight to adoption.
Although I was a little taken aback by the sudden change, seeing the situation turn out much better than expected, my gaze toward the lady gradually became more positive.
‘Bringing her here like this… it must be the right thing.’
The lady didn’t make any move to get up for quite some time.
It was only late at night when my father returned, accompanied by five doctors. He instructed them to thoroughly check her health.
He looked utterly exhausted.
“Dad, are you okay?”
“Mm.”
“You look really sleepy.”
“No, your mother gave me a bit of trouble, but I’m fine, really.”
Yet, his eyes, looking at the doctors, were completely drained. He looked like he could fall asleep at any moment.
Though he said he was fine, he clearly wasn’t. And perhaps wanting to impress the doctors, he spent a long time with them as they examined her.
“If you’re tired, send them away and rest a bit.”
“I need the documents…”
“Documents?”
“Amandette… I’m really sorry, but I’m so tired. Can I just close my eyes for a moment? Wake me when it’s done, okay?”
Why was he so obsessed with these documents?
Curiosity surged, but I couldn’t ask my exhausted father any more questions.
Following his request, I kept my eyes sharp and glared at the doctors, ensuring they properly examined her.
The next day, trouble arose.
My father and I, having gone to our respective rooms for the night, gathered in the lady’s room around lunchtime.
She still hadn’t regained consciousness. As if expecting this, my father and I quietly observed her.
Then,
“Your Grace, the Marquis.”
A stranger appeared in our room.
As if expecting him, my father nodded slightly at the man.
“What’s this about?”
“He came looking for you.”
I immediately went on alert, sensing something odd in how he spoke.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
Realizing he was sent by my grandmother, my guard was raised further.
“What is it?”
“The orphanage director has arrived and instructed that it be handled directly by you.”
“Ah…”
The orphanage director went to my grandmother, not my father.
“I see. I’ll go then.”
My father stood.
“Dad, is grandmother really angry?”
“Mm?”
I grabbed my father’s hand as he moved to leave, following the servant’s words.
“I don’t understand why she wants to discuss something we’ve already addressed.”
“Hmm…”
If we told grandmother honestly about the lady’s ability, she would likely be welcomed here… but life would become much more complicated.
At this point, I thought it might be better to let events unfold as they did in the story.
“It’s fine.”
As my silence lingered, my father’s large hand gently stroked my head.
When with me, he acted like a child, but now he seemed like an entirely different person.
Watching him, I made a firm decision.
“Dad. I want to go too.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
My father frowned slightly and looked at me.
“I’m not going there to do anything else, but… since I insisted on bringing her here, it’s only right.”
Expecting him to oppose me, I was surprised when he hesitated, then nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll show you how your father works hard for our daughter.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but my father’s face looked brighter than before. He even seemed to enjoy taking me to see my grandmother.
“Yay!”
Since going together would be better, I quickly took my father’s hand.
