ICMMF | Chapter 6

Episode 6

“Did you find out?”

“Yes.”

Emma, after taking a deep breath, was asked impatiently by Madam Audrey.

If it were up to her, she would have brought the personal doctor right in front of her and questioned him thoroughly.

But if she did that, Emmet—Arden’s confidant—might relay everything to his master.

She had to avoid arousing suspicion. It was better to act as if she had no interest at all.

“They say it’s sleeping sickness.”

“What?”

At Emma’s discreet words, Madam Audrey flinched. Then she let out a sigh.

It was a more serious illness than she had thought, leaving her feeling dizzy.

But when she thought about it, it was a predictable diagnosis.

Sleeping sickness often afflicted those with healing powers.

Even among priests, didn’t 90% die of sleeping sickness?

The remaining 10% were priests without healing powers, so sleeping sickness was considered an incurable and fatal disease.

The only known method of treatment was to sustain life with magical stones while the patient slept for an extended period.

That, too, lasted at most ten years, so in essence, there was no fundamental cure yet.

Though she understood, the Madam tilted her head slightly.

Aicel hadn’t even been here for a full year. How much could she have used her healing power just for Arden during that time?

Unless she had gone around selling her healing abilities before coming to the Grand Duke’s house, there was no reason she should have developed sleeping sickness.

Thinking of Baron Silva, who had claimed she had saved her power solely for the Grand Duke’s house, the Madam shuddered.

“Hmph, of course.”

Madam Audrey snorted and drank the now lukewarm tea.

“That’s not all. She also has Vapour disease.”

“What kind of disease is that?”

Unfamiliar with the name, Madam Audrey furrowed her brow.

What a wretched woman. Sold here by her parents because of her healing power, and now she had returned with two illnesses.

The Madam gestured over the teacup for Emma to hurry and continue.

“I hadn’t heard of it before either, so I asked the mansion doctor…”

As Emma gulped, Madam Audrey held her breath along with her.

“They say it’s a disease that causes the whole body to redden like a burn.”

“Hah…”

“They say the pain is so indescribable that getting sleeping sickness instead might actually be a blessing.”

“Good grief…”

Madam Audrey clicked her tongue.

Though she was a woman who needed to be driven out of the Grand Duke’s house, she evoked genuine sympathy.

“But apparently, there is a cure for Vapour disease. It requires a rare herb, and the child brought it herself.”

“Hmm.”

Was it a relief?

Even if Vapour disease could be cured, wasn’t it meaningless because of the sleeping sickness?

Madam Audrey let out a low sigh and tapped the armrest of the sofa.

She had returned to the Grand Duke’s house due to illness, so the plan was to treat her quickly and send her away.

But you couldn’t drive someone out because of sleeping sickness. It couldn’t be cured.

Her fingers, which were tapping the armrest, suddenly stopped.

Was it really a relief?

If Aicel were to die from sleeping sickness, wouldn’t Arden also give up?

It wasn’t just any disease—it was one with an inevitable end.

Even if Arden returned, there would be no way to resolve it.

“We can just accept the child.”

Emma looked up at the murmured words, but the Madam was still deep in thought.

She was Arden’s child anyway.

There was clear evidence she carried the blood of the Kreshmir family, so she couldn’t be cast out.

In that case, it was better to formally acknowledge her and bring her forward.

They had already adopted two sons who had no relation to the Kreshmir family, so this wouldn’t be difficult.

“Tsk.”

Thinking of Arden’s two adopted sons currently at the academy, Madam Audrey’s face twisted in discomfort.

Of course, the girl who had walked in on her own was better than two boys with unknown roots.

And didn’t she resemble Arden exactly?

“Um, Lady Ethelred has been requesting to see you since morning.”

“Haah…”

Recalling Freya, whom she had momentarily forgotten, Madam Audrey held her forehead.

She had no idea how to convince her.

The plan to hold an engagement ceremony when Arden returned in a month or two was now in ruins.

“I’ll tell her that you’re not feeling well.”

“Yes, yes.”

Madam Audrey waved her hand as if to say “do as you wish.” Emma, understanding the gesture as dismissal, bowed and turned away.

Then the Madam called out to her.

“Emma, what… what did they say the child’s name was?”

She had been on her mind ever since they met yesterday.

The child, who was clearly of the Grand Duke’s blood, and yet she didn’t even know her name.

Her shabby appearance was another matter. It seemed the butler had bathed her and dressed her in new clothes, but her skinny frame and unkempt hair were concerning.

Aicel would return to the goddess’s embrace due to sleeping sickness, but the child had to bear the Kreshmir name and live here.

She would become the only princess of the Grand Duke’s house.

If so, she had to possess the dignity befitting the family name.

In a few years, she would also have to attend a debutante ball and a grand coming-of-age ceremony.

In the brief moment while she waited for Emma’s answer, Madam Audrey began organizing everything the child would need and what had to be done.

“Her name is Lucy Silva.”

“Lucy. Lucy, huh.”

Recalling the sharp gaze of the child, like the midday sun, Madam Audrey smiled faintly.

She had called her ‘grandmother.’ A fitting title.

She didn’t like the child’s attitude, but even that seemed to match the Kreshmir family well.

The child was now eight years old.

Madam Audrey wondered what kind of banquet would be appropriate to announce her existence.

Until then, the girl had to be shaped into a proper lady of the Grand Duke’s house.

“Emma, call for the head maid.”

“Amelia?”

Emma asked in surprise.

Eight years ago, the head maid and many of the maids were expelled from the mansion.

The reason was none other than Madam Audrey.

Because of that, she even lost all authority over the estate to Arden.

Since then, it was the first time she had called for the head maid.

“Yes. Bring her immediately.”

Emma had no idea if the head maid would even listen to her, but she had to follow the Madam’s orders.

Shortly after.

Head maid Amelia stood in front of Madam Audrey.

Not knowing why she had been summoned, Amelia adjusted her glasses with a solemn expression.

Was she trying to interfere with internal affairs again? What if she asked for the key to the storage?

This was her first summons from the Madam, and Amelia couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Even though the master of the mansion was rarely present due to frequent expeditions, his orders remained unchanged.

The affairs of the Kreshmir estate were still in her hands.

“There’s no need to be so tense. I just have a question.”

Despite the calm tone, Amelia bowed her head slightly more.

Madam Audrey rose from the sofa.

Amelia flinched instinctively at her movement.

Even though she had lost her authority, without the head of the family present, Madam Audrey was the most senior figure in the mansion.

Even if she didn’t make decisions on family matters, expelling a single maid was nothing to her.

Of course, there was a chance she’d be reinstated once the master returned, but Amelia had no idea when that would be.

For now, she had to be cautious, even with her breathing.

“Amelia.”

“Yes…”

“An uninvited guest is staying as she pleases, and my headache is worsening because of it.”

Realizing the reason she had been called, Amelia pressed her lips shut.

Who in this mansion didn’t know that Lady Aicel had returned after nine years?

It had been a mansion as quiet as a lone tree in a dense forest. A breeze rustling the branches wouldn’t shake the roots.

But Lady Aicel’s return was like a strong wind.

Sweat gathered in Amelia’s clasped hands. The storm was reaching her too.

Though it had been nearly ten years, everyone still remembered how Madam Audrey had treated Lady Aicel.

When she had finally disappeared like a ghost, who had been the happiest?

Would that history repeat itself? What would she be asked to do?

The answer was obvious, but she prayed it wasn’t true.

What had happened to the previous head maid? She had worked in the mansion for thirty years but was disgracefully expelled without a penny of severance, having colluded with the Madam.

“I just want news. It’s nothing serious.”

Letting out a soft sigh, Madam Audrey walked to the dressing table.

Among the trinkets strewn about, she picked up a particularly shiny ruby necklace.

“Even if the master of the mansion returns, it’s a light enough task not to be blamed, so don’t feel burdened.”

Madam Audrey pulled Amelia’s tightly clenched hands forward and placed the ruby necklace in them.

“Y-you just want information?”

“Yes. It won’t be hard.”

As if understanding Amelia’s trembling fear, Madam Audrey gently patted her shoulder.

After some hesitation, Amelia wrapped the ruby necklace in her hand.

“Every effort deserves its reward. I won’t forget it.”

Leaving behind the implication that there would be additional compensation if she succeeded, Amelia slowly nodded.