Chapter 43
Hearing Dad praise me made my conscience sting.
But I couldn’t exactly bring up stories from another world, so I just gave him an awkward smile.
“And I learned a lot too,” Dad said. “I realized that if I want to cure your mom’s illness, the usual methods won’t work.”
Then he firmly held my hand.
“So… it’s okay. After examining your mother, please share your thoughts comfortably.”
“……”
“It would be nice if you could check whether my diagnosis and treatment are correct—from one doctor to another.”
It was amazing.
I hadn’t spent that much time with Dad since coming here, yet he already seemed to understand me deeply.
‘When I first showed him the medicine, he looked hesitant, but now he truly acknowledges the value of what I made.’
Knowing how cautious Dad usually is, I could feel just how much he must’ve thought it over. It moved me.
I quickly thought of what Room 406 might say in a moment like this.
‘She would probably…’
And after thinking hard, I finally spoke.
“Dad, thank you so much for trusting me. I want to give you all the gratitude I have.”
I smiled brightly at him, just like Room 406 once did.
…As if I were speaking for her, too.
* * *
I really wanted to check on Mom right away, but the problem was that she had only just fallen asleep after fainting.
So I had no choice but to wait until dinner to see her again, and I left the drawing room.
As soon as we stepped out, Chade smiled and said to me,
“You have a good father.”
It was a simple comment, but to me, it was the nicest compliment I could hear.
“I think so too,” I replied with a cheerful smile.
Just then, a maid passed by, so I called her over.
“Marsha, this is the young master from the Duke Blaine family. He must be tired from the long journey, so could you prepare a room for him? The biggest and best one, please.”
“O-Of course, Miss!”
The moment she realized his status, Marsha stiffened and replied with determination.
Then she nervously started guiding him to his room.
I waved at the two of them until they disappeared up the stairs.
Just then—
I heard someone behind me. It was Verdick, who seemed to have just come out of the drawing room too.
He stared at me for a while, watching me wave at Chade, then suddenly spoke.
“…Since when did you two get so close?”
I stopped waving and turned around, crossing my arms and looking at him.
“Do you realize that’s the first thing you’ve said to me today?”
Sure, I was a bit harsh the last time we talked, but still—no greeting at all after being apart for so long?
Couldn’t he at least ask if I’ve been well?
“…You know I’m not good at talking in front of strangers,” Verdick said awkwardly.
Just like he said, now that it was just the two of us, he started talking more comfortably.
“And that young duke—you said he blackmailed you and Master. Master was really worried after leaving you at the Duke’s house alone.”
He then gave me a disapproving look, like he couldn’t believe I was being so friendly with someone like that.
‘Oh… I still haven’t apologized to Dad for that day.’
Feeling guilty, I avoided his gaze and tried to change the subject.
“So… is that why you were acting so grumpy earlier?”
Now that I thought about it, he was being kind of rude to Chade.
“You must’ve really worried about me while I was gone?”
I squinted at him teasingly.
Verdick’s ears turned red as he mumbled,
“Of course. I was supposed to go with Master, but you went instead.”
Huh. I was joking, but he answered seriously.
It caught me off guard.
Then I remembered what Dad told me earlier.
“By the way, Adelia. Verdick must care for you quite a bit.”
“Verdick?”
“Yes, with everything going on—from the Duke’s house to your mother’s condition—he’s been on your side the whole time.”
I always thought Verdick just liked arguing with me, but it turns out he was trying to help fix things between Dad and me behind the scenes.
‘Who would’ve guessed?’
I cleared my throat.
“Anyway, thanks for saying nice things about me to Dad.”
“…?”
“He told me you praised me a lot.”
As soon as I finished talking, Verdick’s face turned bright red.
“I had no idea you thought that way about me… I’m touched, really. But now, don’t just do it behind my back—show it in front of me too, will you?”
I patted his shoulder like I already knew everything, and he jumped in surprise.
‘He’s so fun to tease.’
I chuckled and headed toward my room, thinking I should rest a bit before dinner.
* * *
Verdick still clearly remembered the first time he met Adelia.
Her soft pink hair, rosy eyes…
And especially her bright smile—it was so cheerful that it made others smile too. That’s why he couldn’t look away.
She was kind and warm, even to someone like him who didn’t stand out.
But the smile he thought would last forever vanished in an instant.
“Mom…! Mom! Please, no…!”
The day the Viscountess collapsed from her illness, Adelia’s smile disappeared.
In its place came worry and exhaustion.
Doctors came in and out of the house constantly, but no one could mutually agree on a diagnosis.
Maybe that’s why—
“I’ll become a doctor… I’ll cure Mom myself!”
From then on, Adelia locked herself in the library and started studying medicine.
She begged their Master to take her as an assistant and teach her healing, but he always refused.
“Adelia… the Viscount is only thinking of you…”
“You’re only saying that because you’re already his assistant.”
Even though they used to laugh and dream together, their relationship started falling apart.
One day, Verdick overheard a huge argument between Adelia and his teacher.
“This isn’t something you need to worry about, Adelia!”
After exchanging harsh words, Adelia stormed out of the room.
From that day, she stopped talking to both their Master and Verdick.
She spent all her time researching her mother’s illness and practicing medicine, rarely seen outside her room.
Everyone worried about her—not just Verdick and the Master, but the servants too.
Then, finally, she started walking around the house again.
The Master explained he had given her permission to use the lab.
“I just couldn’t win against her stubbornness.”
He said it like he gave in, but his expression looked relieved.
Verdick was glad too. Even though Adelia didn’t talk to him yet, at least she made up with his teacher.
And she was smiling again.
Then one day…
She suddenly spoke to him again.
“I don’t need anything special—just… match lips with me for a moment.”
Embarrassingly, Verdick’s heart sank when he heard that.
“K-Kiss me?”
But moments later, he realized he had misunderstood and turned red.
She had only approached him with a practical request—not to reconcile.
Realizing that made him feel strangely empty.
So before he could stop himself, his words came out harshly:
“…No.”
He had thought they were still close friends.
But it seemed she didn’t miss their friendship at all.
That thought made his eyes sting with tears.
It was terribly embarrassing.
