With a clatter, Nina opened the door and came in.
“What brings you here?”
“A doctor has arrived from the Imperial Palace, Milady.”
Nearly for a month, a doctor has stopped by here once a week from the Imperial Palace. He was sent by Valery, whom I hadn’t met again. I received a letter from him once, but my mother’s words bothered me, so I deliberately refrained from meeting him.
Then Valery sent a doctor as if he was worried about my physical condition. It bothered me a little, but fortunately, mother and Sir Shubart didn’t touch that far.
I decided to go down the stairs instead of letting the doctor in the room.
“Okay, let’s go down.”
I pondered in thought as I slowly walked down the stairs.
Juri del Chartero sent a letter saying thanks for the information I gave. I think she will quickly prepare to expand her wine business. But that wasn’t the part I was happy with Juri.
The Gerdo family seemed to have been preparing to do the same thing, and it made me delighted that Juri was the one who did it first. When she said she wanted to invite me to her party that day, I replied that I wasn’t feeling well. The next day she sent me gifts in nearly as much as one carriage, promising to meet me. They were all health-related gifts. And there were two bottles of wine that I liked.
When I greeted the doctor and sat on the sofa, he began to treat me skillfully.
“You’re much better now. You don’t need to take any more medicines. Still, it’s better to drink warm tea often.”
“I often bother you.”
Then the doctor smiled quietly.
Although he should be hostile to me by this point, the doctor, who is Valery’s personal doctor, has consistently devoted himself to treatment.
“Don’t say that. I’m just doing my job.”
“Thank you. Ah, please tell His Highness that I’m okay now.”
“Yes, I will pass your words. Then I will be on my way. Ah, by any chance.”
“Yes?”
“Is there any medicine you usually take other than the one I gave you?”
I looked up at the doctor for a moment and opened my mouth.
“…No, there’s no such thing.”
“Not at all?”
Maybe it was because of my mood, so I decided to roughly say it as his question was a bit persistent.
“Um, just the medicine I sometimes consume because of my headaches and pain relief… And indigestion medicine. Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s not like that. Finding the cause of your cold is the most important thing.”
“Ah, I don’t know about that. I don’t consume other medicine.”
“I see. It’s not good to take medicine that relieves pain frequently.”
“I’ll try to reduce it little by little.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
It was the first time the doctor had asked such a question. In particular, I haven’t taken any medicine these days. Still, seeing that he’s asking, it seems that he became the Imperial doctor for nothing.
The doctor smiled warmly and said that the most important things were to eat well, sleep well, and warm up. Listening to such suggestions, I felt like a child.
After the doctor returned, everyone around me, including Nina, went out. I sat down on the bed.
“As expected, I feel comfortable alone.”
To the point where I miss the North even though I hate the cold. Even the villagers look at me in a bad way and look threatening; they’re just like that. They weren’t really dangerous. There were a lot of days when I didn’t hear any noise.
I rubbed the bed sheets with my hands and opened the bedside table drawer for nothing. Four luxurious gold envelopes appeared side by side. All were sent by Valery Ahibara Kasinev.
He made his own person to deliver his letters, but he seemed to prefer to write such letters by himself and send them by himself if possible. Seeing that every time he sends someone from the Imperial Palace, a letter comes with them. He also puts his sincerity into his handwriting as straight as himself. That’s one of the things I really liked about him.
We had talked about meeting once, but it was postponed as my excuse for being sick, and I was banned from going out. That’s why my treatment took longer.
I never wrote a letter to anyone. Well, I didn’t even make a small note. It’s not that I didn’t do it, but I was taught not to do it. This is because I learned to erase traces first rather than writing them down with sincerity to someone.
I learned how to write, but I didn’t even know what my handwriting was like. It must have been bad handwriting because I had never written it properly.
If you look at it that way, Valery and I were very different. It’s strange that I entered his heart like that.
[To Blake Ariandel.
This is Valery. I’m on my way home after exercising at dawn. I’m sending you a doctor, but I’m still worried if you’re feeling okay because the weather is cold. Still, Samuel is a trustworthy person, so you can rest assured.
It’s my first time writing a non-business letter, so I’m worried that it might feel stiff. Next time, I would like to hear your voice in person. Please remember me at least once a day.
From Valery Ahibara Kasinev.]
It was just neat handwriting, but his expression and voice came to mind.
“I can imagine his strong look. His voice too.”
The first letter was already being read for the third time. At first, I read it because I was surprised to receive the letter, but then I opened the bedside table and saw it. And now I’m just reading it.
I opened the next letter again. I didn’t read the book because it was difficult to find in the North, but thanks to this, I found out that I really liked reading.
[To Blake Ariandel.
This is Valery. I wonder how you are doing. I saw winter flowers in full bloom at the Imperial Garden. That made me think of you, Blake. I think it would make you smile if I sent them to you, so I’m sending them. Will you accept my invitation next time? Please show me your smile too.
From Valery Ahibara Kasinev.]
Even if I told him to speak comfortably, he always speaks using honorifics. He always felt considerate of me, and my heart fluttered out for no reason, as if something had happened.
The flowers he sent were placed in a vase, and then Lisa dried them well. It was said that there were four seasonal flowers in the Imperial Garden, and the bouquet brought by the doctor that day was full as if he had brought all the flower gardens.
[To Blake Ariandel.
This is Valery. How are you spending your day today? When I picked up the pen, I suddenly became curious about your day, Blake. Do you tend to get up early in the morning? Or do you wake up a little late? I wonder what else you do during the day. Do you like sweets?
I heard your fever has decreased, and your health has improved significantly. I’m glad you like the flowers. I have work outside for the time being, so it will take a little while for me to get back. It’s still cold, so always dress warmly.
From Valery Ahibara Kasinev]
When he sent a letter, he always sent something together. Most of the time, it was something that matched the letter.
“Should I reply at least once?”
I had never felt a guilty conscience, but as I kept receiving these neat letters, I thought I should reply at least once. Don’t you need to exchange it once? So, when I got the third letter, I sent a small gift instead of replying. It was just an ordinary handkerchief.
[To Blake Ariandel.
This is Valery. I wonder if you could sleep well because it has been raining since dawn today. I didn’t know you would send me a present. Did you think of me? How much? I wonder what you were thinking. Selfishly, I want you to think of me every day.
I will cherish the gift you sent me. Actually, I don’t think I can use it because it is precious. I received tea that is good for a good night’s sleep, so I sent it together with this letter.
From Valery Ahibara Kasinev.]
I read the four letters once more, put them back in the envelopes, laid them neatly on the bedside table, and closed them. They do not contain very interesting stories or anything special, but I keep getting my hands on them.
I feel like I need to get some fresh air. Getting up, I went downstairs again.
* * *
“He said he needed a little more time.”
After sending the medicine bag to Shale Iskar last month, I thought I would finally get an answer. Still, he couldn’t find any information about the ingredients.
“Is it difficult?”
Don’t tell me, are they herbs that are only grown in the Bei? But Sir Shubart wasn’t particularly involved with herbs matter. Then is it just mother who knew about it?
I thought the heart pain I felt when I wasn’t taking medicine was closely related to that medicine. Still, my suspicion faded as I thought it was just my misunderstanding. However, my doubt rose again when I saw the Imperial doctor asking if I had consumed any medicine.
“First of all, I understand. Since it’s not that urgent, so please take it slowly. How about the child?”
