The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Anxiety and Cold Hands

“Swallow nestled against the statue of the prince, which had lost everything. The shabby statue of the prince had been taken down from its pedestal and dismantled by the people, but the prince’s heart could not be destroyed no matter what, and it was discarded along with the swallow’s lifeless body. Eventually, the God of Heaven sent a messenger to bring back two of the most precious things in the world. The messenger took the prince’s heart and the swallow’s body from the garbage dump and presented them before God, and the two lived happily ever after in the heavenly realm.”

As the story concluded and she looked up, it seemed that Serleine had fallen asleep at some point.

Her usually pale face was flushed red on both her cheeks and forehead, and even her slightly open mouth had a breath mixed with a slight wheeze.

Noticing that the towel on her forehead had long since become lukewarm, Melfina prepared to carry the water basin outside, but Marie quickly snatched it away.

“Lady Melfina, if you need ice, I can get it for you.”

“Marie… Yes, could you please? Oh, and make sure to wear your jacket. Even a short time outside can be quite chilling.”

In this season, if you leave the water basin outside, it will quickly turn to ice. Smiling and saying “Leave it to me”, Marie went outside with only a chisel.

She truly is a reliable secretary.

In the kitchen, Simon was there, brewing something.

“Serleine has fallen asleep. What are you making?”

“This is an herbal tea said to be good for colds. It’s also good for prevention, so would you like some, Lady Melfina?”

“Sure. What’s in it?”

According to Simon, the main ingredient is chamomile, with a small amount of spruce needles and crushed rose hips.

“We sometimes add ginger, but it might be too stimulating for His Highness Serleine at the moment.”

— It seems to be a blend of chamomile tea, spruce, and rose hips.

Chamomile has a calming effect, while spruce and rose hips are rich in vitamins. I hear that the blend is adjusted according to the patient’s condition.

“Yes, I’ll have some. Serleine’s throat seems swollen and painful, but tea should be easier to drink.”

If it turns out to be too strong, adding milk and sugar should make it milder. While dumping the old water from the basin and refilling it with fresh water, Simon mutters quietly.

“His Highness Serleine tends to catch colds frequently, especially at this time of year. In fact, this year he has been in such good health that I had overlooked it myself.”

“Children are more prone to colds. I used to catch them often when I was a child, too.”

She fondly recalls how her nurse would prepare various foods that she could eat each time she was ill.

After starting her ladyship education and moving out of the family home, she naturally began to hide her physical ailments from those around her.

At that time, Melfina was only seven years old. She was much younger than Serleine now, and perhaps it would have been alright to rely more on the adults around her.

However, she had come to believe that there was no one she could depend on anymore and accepted that fact.

Childhood is very short. Perhaps her wish for Serleine to enjoy it safely and happily reflects her own longing for a time she never had.

“I might make some candy for Serleine, too.”

“Candy?”

“It’s very simple to make. If you like, Simon, you can watch. It’s gentle on the throat.”

The method is very straightforward: put a small amount of water and a generous amount of sugar into a frying pan, heat it, and gently stir until it turns a light color. Once it lightly boils, drop it in small amounts into another frying pan, and as soon as it starts to set, take it out and it’s done.

Although it turned out irregular and flat, the taste was just like regular hard candy.

If you had molds, you could make various cute shapes, but in this world, there are almost no usable molds. To make it enjoyable to slowly dissolve in the mouth, I try to shape it as smoothly as possible, with as few edges as I can manage.

— Julius might like this.

If he finds it, he’ll probably beg for some. As I store the hardened candies in a small jar, Simon lets out a voice of exasperation.

“Lady Melfina, while the method itself seems simple, preparing that amount of sugar is not easy.”

“Perhaps it will become more accessible in the future. It’s never a waste to remember how to make things.”

“It’s strange how something seems so simple when you say it, Lady Melfina.”

“Actually, adding honey would be better for the throat, but harvesting honey at this season is very difficult. I can’t take the bees’ winter nutrition. Beekeeping and corn production don’t mix very well either.”

“Beekeeping?”

Simon asks with curiosity, and Melfina smiles vaguely. In her past life, it was common to manage bees and harvest honey, but the methods were established only in the 19th century in her memories.

In this world, where there may be no concept of managing bees for honey, it makes sense that honey is extremely valuable, and mead and other honey-based drinks are very expensive.

Just then, Marie enters the kitchen, carrying a tray piled with ice.

“Lady Melfina, is this amount of ice alright?”

“Thank you, Marie. It’s perfect.”

“I’ve left crushed ice near the back door, so it can be replenished even at night.”

Noticing that Marie’s white fingertips have turned red, Melfina takes the tray and grips her hand tightly. Though Melfina’s own body temperature isn’t particularly high, Marie’s fingertips are like ice.

“Thank you, Marie.”

“No… This is part of my job.”

Marie replies, her expression softening with a gentle smile.

“Simon is just about to make some tea. Since it’s said to be good for preventing colds, let’s all have some.”

＊　＊　＊

After a modest tea party with Simon’s brewed tea, Melfina returned to Serleine’s room. It seemed Serleine had woken up, as her dazed blue eyes were directed toward her.

Although his eyes were open, his consciousness seemed quite hazy. Picking up the towel that had slipped off, Melfina placed her hand on Serleine’s red forehead and found it to be very hot.

“Marie, could you prepare a few more towels? Simon, please tell the maids to get a change of clothes ready for Serleine.”

The two immediately set to work.

“Big sister…”

“There’s no need to force yourself to speak.”

“Big sister’s… cold… feels good…”

As a noble lady, Melfina was not permitted to be present during a child’s clothing change, even if the child was a boy. She instructed the maids to change Serleine’s clothes right away due to his heavy sweating and high fever and to cool the back of her neck and underarms with a towel soaked in cold water before changing him.

After informing the maids to wash their hands and gargle thoroughly, Melfina re-entered the room.

Though she seemed somewhat refreshed after being wiped down, Serleine lay there weakly.

“Big sister…”

“Serleine, I’m right here. It’s alright; you’ll get better soon.”

As Melfina tried to pull her hand back from under the blanket, Serleine tightly grasped it. The heat was pitiful.

“Scary…”

Serleine murmured.

“Serleine?”

“I want to be a grown-up… like big sister.”

Melfina gently squeezed Serleine’s hand, which was feverishly warm.

“It’s alright, Serleine. You are very kind and wonderful. You’ll grow up just fine.”

Perhaps reassured by Melfina’s response, Serleine slightly relaxed his mouth and soon began to breathe softly, falling asleep.

Meeting Maria will save Serleine. After growing up and gaining a body that can withstand magical power, he will likely sleep peacefully without this kind of discomfort.

— I wish Maria would choose Serleine.

But I also feel the same way about Julius.

Although Julius, who has a tendency to abandon himself to destruction and is an unpredictable magician, might never awaken again, I’ve come to realize through our brief acquaintance that he isn’t inherently evil.

Julius is, in a different way than Serleine, like a child. He does what he likes as he likes and can’t tolerate inconvenience. His lack of obvious tantrums makes him even more difficult to handle.

If Maria falls in love, I would want to support Cedric as well.

The more I grow closer to them, the more I can’t help but think this strongly.

Melfina was a character destined for ruin from the start. All the things she’s doing now are meant for her own happiness.

In the world of the game, I wonder what happened to the characters who weren’t chosen.

Cedric will probably continue to serve diligently as the commander of the knights. Serleine should have been able to live healthily while he was in the Kingdom of Francesca.

As for Julius—did he fall into a state of eternal sleep?

Alexis might have continued a cold marriage while living in the capital with Melfina.

—I wish everyone could find happiness.

Lost in such thoughts, Melfina feels a slight tightening of the hand Serleine is holding.

There doesn’t seem to be much that Melfina, not being the protagonist, can do for them.

Despite the difference between the villainous daughter and the love interests, they might all be characters prepared for Maria’s sake, just like Melfina. The only difference is that the villainous daughter isn’t saved, while the chosen ones are rescued by Maria. It’s only a difference of fate.

And yet, here they are, living with a range of emotions.

Holding Serleine’s feverish hand, she wished she could do something, even just a little, to help them.