Chapter 48
By this point, I felt as though getting a medical license was my fate.
Once I became a licensed doctor, I could immediately join the Imperial Palace and search for the medicines needed for Mother’s surgery.
While I was at it, I could also get official approval to sell Dospirin.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
Truly, even when the sky falls, there’s always a hole somewhere to escape through.
***
From then on, I began visiting the annex three times a day to check on Mother’s condition.
“Tennia, from now on, only serve Mother nutritious meals. Nothing too oily or too sweet, and nothing spicy or overly strong in flavor. Stick to fresh salads, fruits, and quality meats.”
“Yes, understood, my lady.”
“And, Luella, ventilate the annex twice a day, and regularly take Mother outside for short walks. Gradually increase the time, but don’t let it go over an hour.”
“Yes, understood, my lady.”
I resolved to do everything I could to boost Mother’s immunity.
“Lia, you don’t have to go this far. The medicine your father gave me has already helped me feel much better…”
“No, Mother. This isn’t a simple illness. You need to build up your strength now.”
I took her hand and smiled warmly, trying to reassure her. But her expression remained troubled.
“Lia… just to be sure…”
“Yes?”
“…Is my condition really that serious?”
Her cautious question left me momentarily speechless.
Sometimes, patients seem to know their own bodies even better than doctors do.
Of course, it’s their own body—so it makes sense.
And it seemed Mother was no exception.
“No, it’s fine. We know exactly what’s wrong now, so all we have to do is treat it properly. There’s no need to worry.”
I wanted to tell her she’d be fine, that she’d recover completely, that nothing was wrong.
But…
A doctor must always take responsibility for their words. You must never tell a seriously ill patient they’ll ‘be fine’ or ‘get better soon’ if you can’t be certain.
I recalled an older colleague’s advice. Back then, I hadn’t really understood what it meant—but now I did.
It means: don’t just speak—prove it with your actions.
“So please don’t worry too much. I’ll do everything in my power to treat you, Mother.”
Only then did she give me a faint smile.
For a doctor, there’s nothing else to say except that they’ll do their best for the patient.
And I would keep that promise—with everything I had, I would save her.
***
That evening, as darkness settled, a man stood by the window, gazing outside.
A servant quietly approached and spoke in a low voice.
“Marquis Greven, Lady Mable Milgrain has arrived.”
The tall, sturdy man with his hands clasped behind his back slowly nodded.
Moments later, a woman entered the room. She bowed politely toward his back.
“My lord, it’s been a long time.”
“Yes, Mable. It has indeed been a while.”
In the quiet, he slowly turned around.
“You didn’t send a letter like usual. Why visit in person?”
“…I came to ask for your help.”
At her words, Marquis Greven’s brows knit slightly.
This woman was his late sister Rubian’s close aide and head maid of the Blaine Ducal House.
Someone like her could usually handle most matters without needing his involvement.
“Help? With what?”
“…I only learned of this while I was away.”
Mable hesitated before continuing.
“Recently, the young duke took in a young lady with no medical license. The problem is, he trusts her word implicitly…”
She swallowed and went on.
“He’s been managing all household matters based on her advice. He even moved the sick Lady Lily out to the annex at her suggestion.”
Hearing this from the head maid, who had long assisted the ducal household, made the Marquis’s expression twist in disbelief.
“Is Chade getting close to a young lady? That doesn’t sound like him.”
“Of course, it’s hard to believe.”
Mable nodded slightly, as if in agreement.
“But the Duchess passed away recently, and the Duke has been away for a long time… Right now, there’s no reliable adult in the ducal residence.”
The Marquis pressed his fingers to his forehead, looking troubled.
It was true—six months ago, his sister Rubian had died suddenly, and not long after her funeral, the Duke had left for the Border.
Even though the Emperor had ordered it, it wasn’t something he had to handle personally.
Rubian had often described the Duke as “cold,” but the Marquis never imagined he would leave without even minimal mourning.
Disappointed, the Marquis had been left to handle everything in his absence—arranging the funeral, caring for his young nieces and nephews, and helping the ducal house stabilize.
He had eventually returned to his own marquisate, but his concern for the children never faded.
That was why he relied on Mable, his sister’s trusted aide, to keep him informed about the ducal household.
For her to come to him personally to ask for help… clearly, something serious had happened.
“…So who is this young lady?”
“I heard she’s the daughter of a low-ranking viscount. Her father is a doctor, but he was apparently expelled from the Imperial Palace in the past.”
“Hm. That does sound suspicious.”
The Marquis frowned and turned back toward the window. The moon was already shining brightly in the dusky sky.
“Well, I suppose it’s natural for children to seek comfort in someone their own age… But still…”
He slowly turned his head to look at Mable again. His imposing gaze and upright posture made her instinctively bow lower.
“Still, you shouldn’t just let anyone into the house. Don’t you agree, Mable?”
“….”
She bit her lip instead of answering.
It was clear the Marquis was also displeased that she hadn’t informed him sooner.
Finally, in a cold voice, he gave his orders.
“Haveron, prepare for my outing tomorrow.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“And… Mable.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“You’ll come back with me tomorrow.”
Hereth smiled faintly as he said it, his light brown hair gleaming under the moonlight.
“As you command.”
She bowed in gratitude, and Hereth turned his gaze back toward the garden he had been looking at earlier.
Once, his sister Rubian had run across that garden, laughing brightly. Now, bathed in moonlight, it looked desolate.
The Marquis felt a pang of sadness and made a silent vow.
No matter what happened, he would protect his sister’s children.
***
It was already well past mealtime when Chade glanced at his desk piled high with documents.
The longer he stayed at the viscounty, the more the paperwork piled up.
At first, he had stayed simply to bring Adelia back to the ducal estate.
He’d thought he would be here for two or three days, but it had already been well over a week.
For some reason, Adelia had taken complete charge of the Viscountess’s treatment.
As a result, Chade was left in an awkward, idle position.
Viscount Limone really is remarkable. I never thought he’d entrust all of his wife’s treatment to his daughter.
Of course, Chade knew exactly how skilled Adelia was.
She had diagnosed and improved Lily’s condition in just a week—something other renowned doctors had given up on.
But the Viscountess’s illness was a different matter.
It was a chronic disease that had worsened over time, and there was said to be no real cure.
No matter how talented Adelia was, it would be hard for her to surpass the experience and skill of the Viscount, who had been caring for his wife for so long.
And yet, the Viscount had willingly given his daughter the position of primary physician.
…He wouldn’t have let personal feelings influence such an important decision. That must mean Adelia’s abilities are truly exceptional.
Still, no matter how skilled she was, Chade doubted she could remain completely calm while treating her own mother’s illness.
