The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Snacks and Bloodletting

“Lady Melfina! Good afternoon!”

Shortly after finishing breakfast, Rod and his younger sister Rena knocked on the doors of the lord’s manor. Guided by Anna to the dining hall, where they were served warmed milk, the two brightened up upon seeing Melfina.

“Welcome, Rod, Rena. What brings you here today?”

“Dad said the persimmons from Ricca’s tree have lost their bitterness, so he wanted Lady Melfina to take a look.”

“We tasted them, and they were really sweet!”

It must have been quite cold outside; both of their cheeks were flushed red. Seeing the healthy smiles on the children’s faces, Melfina’s expression naturally softened.

“You didn’t walk all the way here, did you?”

“I pulled the donkey. Rena was on the cart.”

“It was so cold! But it’s warm here, so it’s okay!”

The dining hall adjoined the kitchen, the warmest place in the manor due to the fire in use. As Melfina gently touched Rena’s red cheeks, Rena giggled happily.

“It would be troublesome if either of you caught a cold and passed it to Eli, so it’s better to head back while the sun is still high. Thank you both for delivering this.”

“We were so happy to see Lady Melfina again after so long, so it’s no trouble at all. Everyone in the other villages was super jealous, too.”

“Me too!”

They were sent off with a small cask of ale as a souvenir for Nid, and Melfina checked the basket and jar they had brought.

Inside the basket, ripe persimmons, dusted white and shrunk by a size, were neatly arranged. The jar contained oil beans, filled right up to its brim.

First, they needed to deal with the oil beans later; for now, it was about the persimmons.

“Are these… starting to mold?”
“Dried fruits, when they have high sugar content, tend to have this powdery appearance on the surface due to sugars coming to the surface. But just to be sure, let me ‘appraise’ them.”

She touched them with her fingertips and ‘appraised’ them, triggering a sensation akin to recalling something from ancient times: these were dried persimmons. Along with the name came to mind the components: carbohydrates, Vitamin A, beta-carotene, one after another. It seemed they had been dried well, and she felt relieved that there was no mold or toxins present.

‘Appraisal’ was a talent that didn’t seem very useful despite being common among aristocratic children, but perhaps due to using it extensively when selecting ale and bread yeast, her accuracy had gradually improved.

Thanks to her knowledge from a past life, she had a concept of nutrients, enabling her to understand the finer details.

“It seems fine. Shall we taste it ourselves?”

Ricca fruits grew on trees native to the Moltre Forest, ripening in autumn. They were about two sizes larger than persimmons from her past memories, with a single large seed in the middle, otherwise resembling persimmons in appearance and color.

Though their deep orange color looked delicious, they were excessively astringent when bitten into, thus never used for consumption until now.

They had been dried using the same method as dried persimmons for testing, resulting in what had been delivered today. The surface was densely coated with maltose, indicating their high sugar content.

Sliced thinly with a knife, Melfina tried one first.

The surface was dry and crisp to bite into. Inside, it was thick and rich with sweetness, akin to condensed honey.

“The taste is just like dried persimmons.”

“…Delicious.”

When Marie and Cedric tried it, though initially skeptical, their expressions brightened as they chewed.

“It’s sweet. Quite different from fresh fruit.”

“I might actually really like this.”

Their reactions were quite positive. Cedric, in particular, seemed pleased. When Melfina offered him the remaining slices in their original form, he happily accepted.

“You can eat these as they are, but there’s also a really delicious way to prepare them.”

She split the dried persimmons open, flattened them, and spread cream cheese on top. Rolling them up and slicing, it was ready to serve.

Trying one, the rich sweetness of the persimmons combined with the salty tang and texture of the cream cheese made for a flavor that brought a smile to their faces involuntarily.

“Marie, could you brew some tea? Cedric, could you do as I did and flatten about half of the persimmons?”

“Yes, right away.”

“Leave it to me.”

Cedric washed his hands and deftly opened the persimmons. With his naturally nimble fingers, he swiftly stuffed them with cheese and began cutting.

Thus, with warm corn tea and dried persimmon cheese rolls, a modest tea party ensued. Both the persimmons and cream cheese were slightly sweet and salty, but with a sip of warm corn tea in between, their palates refreshed, and they couldn’t help but reach for another slice.

—It’s like tea and yokan from my past life.

The warm corn tea and dried persimmon cheese rolls brought a comforting taste of nostalgia.

“Dried persimmons and cream cheese go really well together.”

“It’s such a luxurious way to enjoy them. …It’s really delicious.”

Both Marie and Cedric loved cheese, so Melfina had thought they would appreciate this way of eating. Seeing them eating quietly, their usual chatter reduced, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Prince Serleine is said to like fruits, so I wonder if he would enjoy these.”

“I can’t imagine anyone disliking these.”

Marie said firmly. She hoped that was true, considering how selective Serleine was with his food.

“He hardly touched breakfast this morning too.”

Remembering the tray that had been taken away, Melfina let out a soft sigh.

It had been about ten days since Serleine had arrived in the Enkar region, and during that time, he rarely emerged from his room and showed little interest in meals.

Melfina had heard that Serleine wasn’t a picky eater, but he was naturally quite light on his food intake. Although the meals prepared for him weren’t particularly large, he often left more than half untouched.

There were times when he hardly touched his food at all.

Leftover food from the master’s meals was typically consumed by the maids who took care of his personal affairs, so in terms of food waste, there wasn’t a problem. However, it deeply concerned Melfina that a growing young boy wasn’t eating much.

It was quite common in this world for leftovers from those above to be eaten by those below.

In fortresses and such, men typically ate meat while women ate meals centered around vegetables in separate rooms, so there was even a jest that maids ate better than noble ladies.

“The taste seems fine, so shall we take it as a gift?”

Simply presenting it as is might confuse newcomers like Marie and Cedric, making them hesitant to try it.

That’s partly why it’s been slightly modified.

She selected the neatly prepared ones and placed them on a plate. As she ascended the stairs, Serleine’s maid was waiting in front of his room.

“Hello, I’ve brought tea and snacks for Prince Serleine. Could you please let him know?”

“Yes, right away.”

The maid’s cheerful response seemed slightly, just slightly, fuller than before.

Since Melfina had heard her happily mentioning how delicious the meals in Enkar had been recently, it seemed that Serleine was in a good mood from eating tasty food every day.

Stepping back as the maid opened the door, Melfina awaited a response.

“Prince Serleine, Duchess Oldrand’s tea and snacks have arrived.”

“Ah, could you wait a moment? I’m just preparing.”

His voice was weak. It seemed his condition wasn’t very good today either.

It would be best to leave as soon as the tea was placed. Thinking this, Melfina turned her gaze forward and saw Simon, Serleine’s attending physician, sitting in front of the bed. Serleine was reaching out towards Simon.

For a brief moment, she thought they were in the middle of an examination. However, she noticed Serleine’s shirt was pulled up to his upper arms, and blood was flowing from midway up his arm into a basin placed below.

Against Serleine’s fair skin, the blood appeared ominously red.

Gasping, she rushed towards Serleine the next moment.

“What are you doing!”

As a lady and a noblewoman, raising her voice so loudly was extremely improper. But faced with the sight that had suddenly confronted her, even the norms she was accustomed to seemed to vanish.

Both Serleine and Simon looked profoundly surprised at Melfina’s audacity in barging in without permission, but Simon reacted first.

“What I’m doing… is bloodletting. It’s to release bad humors from the body.”

Simon’s words made her feel as though the ground had shifted beneath her feet.

“Marie, quickly prepare some bandages!”

“Madam? What happened?”

Serleine, looking at her with a pale face, had lips that were turning blue.

He was still a child, not fully grown. Further bloodletting in this condition could be life-threatening.

She recalled Serleine’s pale face when he first arrived at the mansion. That day, they had discussed whether Serleine, like Marie and Cedric, might have symptoms of anemia.

—Could it be that he’s been undergoing bloodletting all this time?

Bloodletting wasn’t something done daily. At least in this world’s practice, once blood was drawn, they usually observed for several days.

Yet, how many times since arriving in the Enkar region had they cut this small boy’s arm and drained blood like this?

As she imagined it, fear and chills ran through Melfina, causing her to shudder.

“I don’t know what your intentions are, but the bloodletting isn’t finished yet. Madam, please leave.”

Simon said.

“Cedric, please keep him away from His Highness.”

After placing the tray with tea and sweets down, Marie swiftly left the room. Cedric grabbed Simon’s shoulder to restrain him.

Simon struggled, but Cedric was one of the targets of the strategy and possessed extraordinary strength. A doctor couldn’t resist such power.

The maids, not understanding what was happening, were flustered but seemed safe to leave alone.

“What on earth are you intending, madam!”

Ignoring Simon, who began shouting without resistance halfway through, Melfina approached the bed.

“Lady Melfina, I brought the bandages.”

“Thank you. …Serleine, may I see the wound? May I touch your arm?”

Confirming Serleine’s almost faint nod, she touched his arm.

Numerous scars remained on the boy’s thin arms. Each wound was short, about 1-2 cm long, as if made by the tip of a knife. But there were many, conveying how often this treatment had been performed.

The hand she touched was as cold as ice.

“Marie, prepare a blanket.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Um, Lady Melfina, what exactly happened?”

Holding Serleine’s hand, Melfina took a deep breath before speaking, observing Serleine’s bewildered expression.

—Stay calm. Don’t behave hysterically; that won’t help convince her. After all, Melfina isn’t a physician or an apothecary.

All she needed now were words of persuasion.

“Serleine, you are currently suffering from severe anemia. We mustn’t withdraw any more blood. Please lie down slowly.”

Attempting to stand in this state could risk a fall. If it were near stairs or a high step, he’d be in real danger, unable to protect himself.

In a sense, it was fortunate that Serleine had secluded herself in her bedroom and rarely ventured outside.

“Um, what exactly is anemia?”

“It’s a condition where the body lacks enough blood. When the blood is insufficient, various problems arise… For instance, my lips are red, and even my tongue has a healthy color, right? But because you lack blood, your complexion is pallid.”

“That’s… the first time I’ve heard of it. Wouldn’t withdrawing blood expel the bad air accumulated in the body and improve health?”

“Blood circulates in the body to maintain health and normalcy. When there’s not enough blood, dizziness upon standing, shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, and other symptoms occur.”

In this world where most medical practices are overseen by churches and temples, and where injuries and illnesses can be treated with magic, the study of medicine remains relatively undeveloped.

Healing and recovery in this world are broadly divided into three categories: temples, churches, and physicians.

Among them, temples employ healing magic for injuries, while churches use restorative magic for illnesses, performed by priests and priestesses affiliated with each.

In this world, injuries are simply physical damage, but illnesses are believed to arise from the intrusion of bad air into the body. If the illness can be treated with restorative magic, it can be healed by the church.

However, due to its exorbitant cost, commoners often rely on doctors or herbalists.

…I feel completely tethered to sensations from my previous life.

If Serleine held his status, he should have been attended by a dedicated priest or a cleric, or both. Therefore, having a doctor accompany him was itself peculiar.

“Serleine, is there a reason you’re not seeking treatment from a priest or cleric?”

“My condition hardly responds to healing or recovery magic. It provides temporary relief but quickly returns.”

Serleine’s coughing fits were a disease occasionally afflicting children of the Kingdom of Luxen, commonly known as Glass Throat.

Named for the painful sensation like a cut from glass in the throat, accompanied by coughing and spitting blood.

Severe cases make breathing difficult and can lead to death. It’s believed to naturally heal with age, but Serleine, being a wielder of immense magical power, has slow bodily growth.

Glass Throat is exacerbated by the dry air of the Kingdom of Luxen. Leaving might offer some relief.

…Illnesses of the throat and lungs heavily depend on environment and constitution. Thus, Church magic aimed at dispelling “winds” may not be very effective.

Even if the temple’s magic soothes inflammation in lungs and throat, the underlying cause of severe dryness remains untreated, leading to rapid deterioration.

“Lady Melfina, I’ve brought a blanket.”

“Thank you, Marie. Please summon Rad and bring an extra brazier promptly. Also, fill the kettle with water.”

“Yes.”

Wrapping Serleine’s frail body tightly in a blanket made his nose sting.

If only Rudolf… if his own brother were subjected to this.

The doctor meant no harm; bloodletting is still widely accepted as “medical treatment” in this world.

“For heaven’s sake, enough! Don’t touch my patient!”

Simon’s voice, filled with sorrow, seemed to instantly lower the fever in her head.

“Cedric, bring Simon over here.”

Cedric glanced down at the struggling Simon, briefly hesitated, then released his grip on Simon’s arm. However, he kept a firm hold on his shoulder and escorted him to the bed.

“You too, as a physician serving the royal family, should take pride in attending to Prince Serleine. I have no intention of undermining that pride.”

“Then why…”

“Simon, look at Prince Serleine properly.”

Scolding a child like this or continuing such treatment would only be futile. Her tightly gripped palm felt terribly cold. Her stomach felt as heavy as if she had swallowed a stone.

Even so, only Melfina could change the situation here.

“Look at the prince’s pale face, his lips turning blue, his body growing so cold.”

“…”

“Lady Melfina, I’ve brought the kettle.”

Ed entered the room with an oddly cheerful voice. He approached with a puzzled expression.

“Ed here is the same age as Prince Serleine, twelve years old. Look at his cheeks, his palms. You understand how the blood flowing beneath the skin keeps him strong, right?”

Ed hesitantly showed Simon his palm. Unlike Serleine’s, Ed’s hands, worn from labor as a footman, had several small calluses and toughened skin.

Still, it was clear at a glance that the blood flowing beneath his skin gave him vitality.

“Prince Serleine has had too much blood drawn. If we continue, he will die.”

“I-I followed the procedures as outlined in medical texts.”

“The person before you is not a medical text; he is a living human being.”

Simon glanced uncertainly at Serleine, then at Melfina, about to say something… but ultimately, no words came out.

Looking down at the silent and crestfallen Simon, Cedric spoke in a subdued voice, suppressing his emotions.

“…I’ve been on numerous winter monster hunts, treating soldiers who bled too much, applying healing magic after closing wounds, only to find them unable to see the morning light inside their tents.”

“Perhaps bad winds entered through the wounds.”

“No, the wounds were completely healed. Despite giving them extra blankets and placing them near the fire, many still shivered and grew pale, unable to endure. It was said they were poisoned by the monster’s venom through the wounds, but in retrospect, it happened to those who bled excessively.”

Simon remained silent, shoulders slumping.

It was clear he wasn’t entirely convinced and struggled with inner conflict.

“I know it’s hard to accept all of a sudden, but please try to calm down and think about it. Marie, please offer him some tea as well.”

“Yes, Lady Melfina.”

Marie, quick-witted as ever, invited Simon out of the room with a gentle gesture. Simon, in his subdued state, left as prompted.

As Ed cleared away the basin and cloth stained with blood, Melfina sighed deeply, feeling the tension drain from her stiffened body.

“Lady Melfina…”

“I apologize, Serleine. I have a responsibility for your well-being. I couldn’t overlook treatments that put your life at risk.”

Even in her past life, when modern medical technology wasn’t established, it was said that nobles had shorter average lifespans than commoners, due to receiving medicine steeped in superstition and ignorance.

Subjected to improper treatments for her illness and prescribed “medicines” akin to poisons, she ultimately met an untimely end.

…It’s ironic that commoners without money to see doctors end up living longer in the end.

But standing in that reality, it was more than just irony. If today hadn’t been the day they realized… if Serleine had continued to have his blood drawn.

As a character from Maria of the Kingdom of Hearts, Serleine was not supposed to meet her end until she encountered Maria. Therefore, Melfina had thought to create a calm environment for him until he reached the capital in the spring.

In her attempts to keep Serleine isolated in his bedroom and distant as a capture target, she may have inadvertently applied brakes somewhere.

…If only she had actively engaged with Serleine, she might have noticed sooner.

“Please, give me just a month. Please trust me when Serleine recovers with my method.”

“I already trust you, madam, even now.”

“Serleine?”

“So please, don’t look at me like that, Lady Melfina.”

Being pointed out like that, she felt a sudden loosening of her tension.

Even though she had been desperately trying to control her emotions, it seemed her tension and urgency had been conveyed to the astute prince.

“I understand you’re genuinely concerned for me. It’s been said that I won’t live long anyway. I trust you, Madam, and I’ll make sure those around me understand I won’t hold anyone responsible for whatever happens.”

Despite his pale face, Serleine still managed a smile, tightening Melfina’s chest.

Even though she had reluctantly agreed to take charge of him and believed in the scenario where Maria would appear before he lost his life, she couldn’t leave a child in such a state.

“Well then, Serleine, please rest for a while. I’ll prepare your meal when you wake up. You’ll feel better soon, I promise.”

“Will I become as lively as that boy Ed from Enkar?”

“Hehe, that boy is one of the liveliest in the Enkar region. If you become as lively as Ed, you can do anything.”

“I look forward to that.”

With heavy eyelids fluttering, Serleine soon began to breathe softly.

As the contents of the kettle warmed over the brazier, gradually moistening the dry air, Melfina did not untangle the hand Serleine held.