Chapter 41
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Sienna ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
“Rose?”
I called out to him cautiously.
But he doesn’t seem to hear me; he’s just staring at me with a slightly dazed expression.
‘Is the medicine not working?’
If that were the case, it would be a big problem. I leaned in a little closer to him. Then, in a slightly clearer voice, I asked.
“Rose, are you okay?”
“……ah.”
Luciel blinked a couple times, as if he’d finally come to his senses.
It was the moment our eyes met.
The back of my hand, which had been resting on his forehead, began to feel a little warm.
For a moment, I felt a twinge of fear. No matter how good the medicine was, if it didn’t suit his body, it would be like poison.
I removed my hand from his forehead and said with a serious expression,
“Is there something else wrong with your body? If so, we should call a doctor and tell…”
“No, it’s nothing.”
At that moment, Luciel quickly shook his head.
He placed his hand on my cheek and spoke in a slightly embarrassed voice,
“Just… I think I got a fever out of sheer surprise.”
“Then there’s nothing wrong with your body?”
“No. There’s nothing wrong with me …… certainly.”
Luciel nodded and mumbled something softly, but his eyes were serious and clear, no longer shy as before.
I wondered if he was telling a white lie out of consideration for me, not the shy look from before.
‘I’m glad to hear that, but…’
As I was about to ask again, Luciel let out a faint sigh.
Like he was finally letting out the breath he had been holding.
I turned to him and asked cautiously.
“What do you think about the medicine’s effectiveness?”
“What?”
Luciel looked a little surprised at my question.
Seeming like his thoughts were still elsewhere, I gestured towards the medicine bottle in his hand.
“Oh…” Luciel said, his voice trailing off.
“The medicine… it was…”
He looked as if he had momentarily forgotten that he had taken the medicine. However, Luciel cautiously took the opportunity as if he had been waiting for it.
“To be honest, I’m a bit surprised. This is the first time I’ve had a medicine that shows immediate effects…”
Luciel said, glancing at me.
He didn’t look suspicious, but it still pricked my conscience a little.
I cleared my throat softly and said,
“It may not be well known in the Empire, but it is one of the excellent medical practices. The medicine you took was made based on that technique.”
It was true, so I could say it with confidence.
“It may feel a bit unfamiliar compared to conventional medicine, but if it suits you, the effects are certain.”
“Yes, it really seems to be like that. It’s the first time I’ve been healed so quickly.”
Luciel nodded in agreement.
‘Now, the important part starts.’
I clenched my fist under the table and cautiously continued.
“Rose.”
“Yes, what is it?”
Luciel smiled.
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to continue making the medicine for you…”
“….medicine?”
“Yes. Or I could even teach you how to make it yourself.”
“…….”
“This isn’t the first time you’ve been in pain like you were just now, is it?”
“…….”
Luciel remained silent, only biting his lips.
A sign of affirmation. I quickly continued,
“If the medicine I made can provide even temporary relief, I want to help.”
“…….”
“Of course, I understand if you find it hard to trust me. But I can guarantee the effectiveness of the medicine.”
“No, it’s not that I doubt your intentions. It’s just…”
Wringing his hands in denial, Luciel looked down hesitantly.
“I’m not sure if I should accept this kind of help…”
His eyes turned red from another coughing fit, and his long, silver lashes trembled.
Seeing him so vulnerable, I sighed inwardly.
Even with an effective medicine right in front of him, he couldn’t readily accept it. It means this wasn’t the first or second time this had happened.
‘Besides, he said that even at the temple, he didn’t receive any treatment…….’
How much pain had he endured to react like this… I felt a twinge of bitterness towards Luciel.
Then Luciel slowly opened his mouth.
“I appreciate your concern. But… I don’t think I can accept such generosity after all.”
“……”
I gaped in bewilderment.
‘Wait. What if I don’t get this right now……?’
I’d miss the only person who could prove the effectiveness of my medicine.
‘That can’t happen!’
“I don’t think so, Rose.”
“But…….”
Luciel’s face showed signs of concern. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly spoke up.
“You helped me when I was in trouble with my fiancé, Rose.”
“…….”
“I want to help Rose, too.”
Luciel’s eyes flickered at my words. His hesitation gradually faded, and he slowly nodded.
“Yes, I understand. Then, I’ll leave it to you, milady.”
With his characteristically gentle voice, he indicated that our deal was sealed.
‘Yes, it worked!’
I cheered inwardly.
Selling medicine after being dismissed for the crime of attempted poisoning was quite difficult.
Thanks to Luciel, I was able to lower the difficulty quickly.
I looked at Luciel with sincere gratitude.
“So, where do you usually feel uncomfortable, and can you tell me what kind of pain you’re experiencing…….”
Before I could finish my sentence, Luciel began unbuttoning his shirt.
My eyes widened in surprise.
“Rose, why are you suddenly undressing……?”
“Isn’t it necessary to remove your top for a thorough examination?”
“Remove……”
While it was true that it was necessary to undress, hearing it from Luciel made it sound like it had a different meaning.
‘A typical examination would involve directly inspecting the painful area, but I don’t need to do that.’
After all, this was a terrace in a busy neighborhood.
What if one of those suspicious-looking people wearing a black robe suddenly stripped off his clothes…
And if it was revealed to be the Grand Duke and that the woman with him was the rumored Lady Peregrine?
‘I don’t even want to imagine it.’
I shook my head at the thought of all the speculation that swirled in my mind.
‘But I suppose I should at least pretend to examine him’
“It’s okay; I don’t have to see your body directly.”
A question mark appeared on Luciel’s face at my words.
I held out my hand toward him.
“The medical practice I mentioned allows me to diagnose the condition of the illness just by holding your hand.”
Honestly, it would be easier for Luciel to take my hand rather than remove his clothes and directly examine his chest.
“…….”
But for some reason, Luciel seemed a little hesitant.
At my insistence, he fiddled with the buttons on his shirt a few times, then slowly held out his hand.
“Oh, please remove your gloves.”
“……Gloves?”
“Yes. That way I can see more clearly.”
“Ah…….”
Then Luciel’s expression became peculiar.
He seemed both surprised and embarrassed.
He pursed his lips and muttered quietly.
“It’s a little more aggressive than I thought…….”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Luciel smiled and removed his gloves.
When his large, white hand was revealed from the white gloves, I couldn’t help but admire him silently.
‘What kind of hands are… so pretty?’
Despite the thickness of his knuckles and visible veins, his fingers were long, elegant, and neat.
They were truly a man’s hands, but they were so beautiful that one couldn’t help but think they belonged to a woman.
“Milady?”
Then Luciel called me again.
“Is there something wrong with my hand…….”
“Oh, no, I was just thinking of something else.”
I smiled awkwardly and reached for his hand.
I intended to check his pulse, but truthfully, I didn’t know how to do it.
I was good at noticing other people’s pain; I can just point where it hurts, but to others, I might appear as nothing more than a fraud.
So, I decided to mimic scenes of checking pulses that I had seen over the shoulders of the doctor.
‘Oh, come to think of it, I don’t have a wrist rest.’
With no other choice, I extended my other hand and placed it on the back of Luciel’s hand.
I felt Luciel’s index finger twitch and tremble.
‘He must be uncomfortable with his bare skin touching mine, since he usually wears gloves.’
I needed to finish quickly. With that thought in mind, I focused on feeling Luciel’s pulse.
Three cheers for Sienna coming in clutch with this chapter!
