The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: The Doctor and Gratin

Descending the stairs, I sensed someone in the servants’ dining room, an extension of the kitchen.

Normally reserved for the Lord’s household meals, today it was occupied by Marie, Ed, and the hunched figure of Simon, looking lost.

“Milady Melfina.”

Marie noticed me and approached with gentle steps. She took my hand naturally, making me realize I had been clenching it tightly.

“I’m fine, thank you, Marie. Prince Serleine has fallen asleep. Could you check on him in about two hours for water and ventilation?”

“Of course. Would you like me to brew some tea?”

“Yes, please.”

Marie’s calm voice helped me feel more at ease, bringing a sense of normalcy. Sitting opposite Simon across the table, I saw a startled expression on his face.

“Since the Lord’s household is usually so few, both masters and servants often dine together. I’m a regular here too, so please don’t mind.”

“Yes, um, madam.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d prefer if you called me by my name. I’m not particularly fond of being called madam.”

Simon muttered something indistinctly, then bowed heavily, his head hanging low.

“Milady Melfina, I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”

Cedric had described Simon as a stern man, and now he seemed to speak with little strength. He appeared pale, visibly tense, and within half an hour of leaving the room, he seemed to have aged considerably.

“It’s all right. I regret not showing you enough consideration in my own lapse of composure.”

“It wasn’t… that…”

“At the very least, you shouldn’t use words that disparage your actions in front of Prince Serleine. I’m sorry, Simon.”

Marie said, pouring the tea she brewed. The warm steam carried the scent of corn. This, too, was the everyday aroma of Melfina.

Both fell silent, and the other three present didn’t attempt to speak. The silence lingered until Simon finally spoke heavily.

“…I have always believed I served the royal family and His Highness earnestly. I’ve studied every medical text with the sole desire to ease His Highness’s severe coughs and restore his health. Yet… I don’t know what to do anymore.”

He sighed and covered his forehead with his palm.

“It’s difficult to admit right away that the treatments I’ve learned and applied might have been wrong… But seeing Prince Serleine again, I realize that Lady Melfina’s words may indeed hold truth.”

The Kingdom of Luxen, Serleine’s homeland, lies even further north than the northern regions of the Francesca Kingdom. Among royalty, those born with white hair and pale skin are common, and Serleine was no exception.

Therefore, distinguishing his paleness due to anemia from others was challenging.

Bloodletting is a common treatment in this world. It’s not only for expelling bad humors from the body but also serves aesthetic purposes to maintain a fair complexion. Nobles have no qualms about it, much like buying cold medicine at a drugstore in our previous world.

Even if Simon were to declare that the long-standing treatments endorsed by noble doctors and local surgeons were wrong, he would likely be dismissed as an ignorant noble’s daughter.

Simon, deeply troubled, had sincerely and earnestly endeavored to treat Serleine.

“…It’s already lunchtime. Simon, won’t you join us for lunch at the Lord’s manor?”

“No, I really don’t have an appetite…”

“Eating well and sleeping soundly are key to good health. Serleine’s condition won’t improve just because you’re in anguish. Please eat properly.”

With that, Melfina stood up without waiting for a response. As she entered the adjacent kitchen, Ed was already donning an apron over his formal attire.

“Ed, could you make the white sauce? I’ll handle the rest.”

Melfina said.

“Yes!”

Ed, proficiently chopping onions, joined Melfina as she diced vegetables and chicken into bite-sized pieces for sautéing. Today’s ingredients included pumpkin, chicory, carrots, Brussels sprouts, red bell peppers, and mushrooms from the Moltre Forest.

After seasoning with salt and gently sautéing over low heat, a delightful aroma filled the air.

Once everything was cooked through, she transferred it to an iron shallow pot, mixed in the white sauce Ed prepared, topped it with chopped cheese, and baked it in a preheated oven until it developed a golden crust.

“…Do you often cook, Lady Melfina?”

Simon asked.

“Yes, it’s a hobby of mine. Isn’t that unusual?”

She chuckled, and Simon hesitantly replied.

“Yes, indeed.”

“At first, everyone is usually quite surprised. It’s almost as if a noble lady entering the kitchen is usurping the role of the cooks.”

Among nobility, especially married ones, hobbies typically included embroidery, gardening, painting, music, or, more unusually, horseback riding. These were pursuits that could be enjoyed alone or with a few companions, without displacing the work of servants.

For a noble daughter or wife to claim cooking or cleaning as a hobby was considered both improper and ignorant of their social standing.

“Tradition and position are important, aren’t they? When I lived in the capital, I wore corsets tightly laced at the waist and was always in dresses in public.”

Since moving to the Enkar region, she mostly wore simple dresses, but it wasn’t so long ago that Melfina lived a life fitting of a noblewoman, as a daughter of a prominent southern noble family, adhering to proper etiquette.

“But here, this isn’t the capital or a bustling city; it’s a small country estate. Adhering to traditions and roles can sometimes be inconvenient.”

The soup was made simply with smoked meat and leeks in a broth made yesterday from chicken bones and vegetable scraps. It was accompanied by whole grain round bread baked yesterday, served with butter and cottage cheese.

Since all the ingredients were already cooked through, the gratin would be ready shortly.

Melfina brewed fresh tea and asked Marie to serve it. Cliff, Rad, and Anna, who were currently staying at the manor, were also invited to join for the usual lunch.

At mealtime, it was customary for the head of the household or the highest-ranking person present to start eating first, so Melfina always began promptly.

The gratin, filled generously with chicken and vegetables, aroused appetites with its aroma alone. Upon tasting, the crispy cheese, the savory aroma, and the creamy white sauce melded beautifully in the mouth. Following Melfina’s lead, the members of the manor started their meal in a familiar manner, and seeing this, Simon finally picked up his spoon.

“It’s delicious, but the cheese stretches a lot… quite a lot.”

Simon remarked.

“When you bake cheese, it stretches like that.”

In this world, cheese was typically purchased aged and hardened from temples, sliced, and served as hors d’oeuvres (appetizers). Previously at the manor, they mainly enjoyed sliced mozzarella with vegetables or used cottage cheese and cream cheese on bread.

“This is the first time I’ve had baked cheese.”

Simon murmured.

“I never knew baked cheese could be this delicious.”

He added, surprised.

“Cheeses aged for a long time to preserve them don’t stretch much even when heated. But when you lightly sear a moderately aged cheese and grate it generously over steamed vegetables or ham, it becomes wonderfully tasty.”

There was a slight gulp, but no one bothered to identify the source.

The residents of the manor were all quite the gourmands.

“Oh, that’s right. Simon, you haven’t had the manor’s ale yet, have you? Ed, could you fetch some for him?”

“Yes, right away.”

Ed swiftly got up, poured ale into a tankard from the barrel, and returned promptly.

“The Duke himself liked it enough to purchase a whole barrel. I’d be delighted to hear your thoughts after trying it”

Melfina remarked.

Ale was commonly consumed throughout the day for hydration. Simon seemed momentarily surprised by the sudden offer of ale, but upon tasting it, his eyes widened and he gulped it down enthusiastically.

Men from the north generally had a fondness for alcohol, and Simon was no exception to this rule.

“This is… delicious. Very, very delicious.”

Simon exclaimed.

“Ale pairs wonderfully with baked cheese. Ed, if anyone wants more… well, they can pour it themselves.”

Melfina added.

One by one, those seated approached the barrel to refill their tankards with ale. Melfina, content with an occasional drink, continued sipping her tea.

Warm and delicious food had a way of soothing the spirit. Add alcohol to the mix, and it loosened tension in the body just right.

To truly consider someone else’s viewpoint, one needed a clear mind.

“Say, Simon, why don’t we work together to help the Prince regain his strength?”

Melfina suggested.

“…”

“Instead of continuing to bleed him, let’s discuss his treatment further. I want him to recover just as much as you do. I really do want to collaborate with you on this.”

Melfina urged.

Managing Prince Serleine’s treatment and health was Simon’s crucial responsibility, and he likely wouldn’t take kindly to interference from an amateur.

However, ignoring the issue wasn’t an option either. Melfina didn’t want to resort to drastic measures if possible.

“…Since coming to the Enkar region, Her Highness has noticeably reduced his coughing. I believe those braziers are quite effective.”

Simon carefully chose his words, setting down his spoon.

“I’ve always sought out and applied new knowledge to improve His Highness’s condition… If I can learn new treatment methods here in the Enkar region, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t incorporate them into His Highness’s care.”

Melfina asserted.

Though not stated directly, it implied acceptance of Melfina’s approach.

“I also hope we can work together and discuss things as we go along. Count on me, Simon.”

Melfina added.

Simon responded with a short “Yes…” and bowed his head.

Melfina smiled at his reluctant concession, though a hint of doubt flickered across her thoughts.

Whether involving Serleine so significantly… whether it would lead to something good or potentially harmful in the future, she couldn’t be sure.

Yet, Melfina’s choices since coming to the Enkar region had always been like this.

Stepping away from the script and into an unknown future, she never knew what was right or wrong.

Still, leaving that boy alone was something Melfina’s principles simply couldn’t allow.