Chapter 15 …
Elena stepped down from the carriage, her face pale as a sheet.
“Thank you.”
“I only did what I had to do,” the coachman replied kindly.
He looked at her with pity. He was sure this was the same young lady he had once seen at the Crest Bridge. No wonder he had felt an odd urge to stop his carriage for her. Who could have guessed their paths would cross again like this?
When he saw Elena running out of the mansion earlier, his heart had nearly dropped. Her face had been so distraught it looked like she could collapse at any moment.
What on earth had happened to make such a young lady’s face filled with such sorrow?
“Did things not go well where you went?”
He asked as he helped her unload her belongings from the carriage. Elena stared at him blankly, her eyes glistening with tears. She wanted to say something—anything—but if she opened her mouth, the tears she’d been holding back would surely burst out.
Her head drooped helplessly. All she could do was accept the bundle he handed her.
“It’ll be all right. Whatever it is, it will turn out fine.”
The coachman hesitated before finally turning to leave. Elena stepped into the mansion, rain-soaked and trembling.
“Oh, heavens—Elena!”
Hazel gasped when she saw her and ran over, horrified.
“What happened? What in the world happened to you? Did you have nowhere to take shelter from the rain?”
Elena trembled.
“Mrs. Hazel…”
Hazel, who had always offered her kindness without reason, like a sheltering umbrella. The moment Elena saw her, emotion welled up uncontrollably. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Hic…”
Without realizing it, Elena burst into tears. Hazel immediately embraced her tightly. Elena’s body was cold to the touch, perhaps from the rain.
“Oh, dear… Elena…”
“I… I’m so helpless… There’s nothing I can do for Leana. Nothing at all…”
“…”
“I spent all the money I had, but I couldn’t even find a doctor. Mrs. Hazel… oh, Mrs. Hazel…”
So that’s why she’d come back clutching that packet of medicine as though her life depended on it. Hazel gently patted her back. She was barely twenty, yet the weight she carried was far too heavy for someone her age.
Leana, and Cecile as well—such burdens were too much for her to bear alone. And yet, despite everything, she still held on to her little sister and refused to let go.
At that moment, Mrs. Greta came down from the second floor.
“I’ve had the maids prepare a bath. She’ll need to warm up.”
“Well done. Elena, dear, first take a bath and have something to eat. Then we can talk, all right?”
Elena sniffled and nodded, her red nose quivering. Hazel gently took the packet of medicine from her hands.
“This—this was prescribed by the physician from Lebunto, wasn’t it?”
“Yes…”
Elena nodded weakly.
“May I take a look at it?”
Elena gave her permission. Hazel sent the weary girl upstairs to wash and rest, then exchanged a heavy glance with Greta.
“I’ve already asked Her Majesty the Empress to have Mr. Ollendo examine Leana as soon as possible. Could you have Mr. Miles summoned right away?”
“I’ve already sent word this afternoon. He should arrive by tomorrow morning.”
“I see.”
Hazel looked down at the packet of medicine, her gaze somber. Inside it lay all of Elena’s sweat and tears.
That night, the fever that had slightly subsided in Leana suddenly flared up again.
Maxim woke early, roused by nightmares and a splitting headache.
“Phew…”
Nightmares and headaches had become part of him—like a curse that refused to leave.
—Maxim. Look only at me. Only me! What’s so great about that woman? Her hair? Her dress? Or her eyes? Oh, I know—if I dye my hair like hers, will you finally look at me?
—I think of you all day long. You’re all I need, Maxim.
—Why aren’t you the same? Why don’t you love me? Why don’t you…
Maxim gulped down water, his breath ragged. The remnants of the nightmare slowly began to fade. He rummaged through a drawer, found a bottle of pills, and chewed one dry. The container was nearly empty.
He’d have to call Miles in the morning.
Pressing his temples, Maxim put on a robe. Damn it all. Even in death, that woman wouldn’t release him. He ran a hand through his damp hair.
Since that incident, he hadn’t known a proper night’s sleep. Insomnia plagued him, and when he did finally manage to drift off, nightmares and headaches would wrench him awake.
He glanced at the clock. 5 a.m. He’d fallen asleep around two, meaning he’d slept barely three hours.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
“…Yeah. It’s always you, damn woman.”
He drank another glass of water and opened the door to his study. Work was the only thing that gave him peace. If he exhausted himself enough, if he stayed busy enough, sometimes he could forget the nightmare—and her.
He had just begun spreading out the documents when—
Clop, clop, clop.
The sound of hooves echoed outside. At this hour? He looked out the window and saw a familiar carriage pulling up.
“Miles?”
What was going on? He hadn’t summoned him. Could Hazel have—?
Setting his papers aside, Maxim headed downstairs. Just as he reached the hall, he encountered Miles and Mrs. Greta coming in.
“Miles, I wasn’t expecting you today.”
“I can explain, Your Grace,” Greta interjected before Miles could answer.
Maxim turned his gaze to her.
“Leana’s fever wouldn’t go down last night. I sent for him, and he said he’d come this morning. I forgot to inform you.”
“No, it’s fine. Actually, this works out. But… Leana?”
The name rang no bell.
“Ah—the young Miss Elena’s younger sister.”
Ah, yes. He remembered seeing the girl when Elena had first arrived at the estate. Elena had said her sister was her greatest joy.
And now the child was ill?
“What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s been given a terminal diagnosis. Even if she survives… she’ll likely live with the illness for the rest of her life.”
Greta hesitated as she spoke. Maxim let out a quiet, bitter laugh. That woman truly had the worst luck. Misfortune seemed to cling to her like a shadow.
“Let’s go together,” he said finally.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Elena gazed at Leana with tear-stained eyes. The dark circles under her eyes spoke of the terrible night she’d endured. She had almost forgotten these past few days—forgotten that her life was never meant to be a warm, gentle spring.
She took a shaky breath. Tears that hadn’t yet dried rolled down again, and she hastily wiped them away.
Had she underestimated Andres too easily?
No matter where she went, not a single doctor would accept the payment she offered. She had gone door to door throughout the city, but they all refused.
[For that sum, you won’t find a physician in this district.]
[I’d like to help, truly—but as you know, our profession has its own rules. If I take your sister’s case for that fee, my reputation will stay at that price forever.]
Their reasons varied, but the result was always the same.
Before leaving, she had taken on as many translation jobs as she could, but it hadn’t been enough.
She remembered the money Cecile had begged from her to buy cosmetics—and how she herself had worn that same makeup to a ball she never wanted to attend.
“Please…”
Her cracked lips trembled as she spoke. She clutched Leana’s small, feverish hand tightly.
“Leana… your sister will fix everything…”
It was a foolish promise. No matter how hard she tried, money slipped through her fingers like water, and the goals she’d set so earnestly crumbled like mist.
A small house for the two of them.
Plenty of food.
A healthy Leana.
That was all she’d ever wished for, yet even that, God refused to grant her.
Elena stroked Leana’s burning forehead.
“Don’t be sick…”
Knock, knock.
It was just before dawn. Elena turned her head toward the sound.
“Elena, it’s me. May I come in?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
It was Hazel. Elena quickly wiped her face, forcing herself to look composed. People who carried misfortune always appeared pitiful in others’ eyes; she had long learned to hide her suffering.
The door opened—and Hazel wasn’t alone.
Beside her stood a weary-looking Maxim and an unfamiliar man. Elena’s eyes dropped to the bag in the stranger’s hand.
“…A doctor?”
