Chapter 69
Upon hearing my proposal, Dave hesitated before answering.
It was clearly a difficult choice, so I didn’t rush him to respond. Instead, I kept silent and waited for him to speak.
Dave looked at me with a troubled expression, occasionally glancing over at Sylvia.
Sylvia, too, was waiting for Dave’s answer.
With all eyes on him, Dave hesitated before speaking up, his voice tentative.
“Are you going to punish me?”
I had expected him to talk about whether he would come with me to the Count’s estate, but Dave surprised me with his words. He seemed to think I was taking him with me as a form of punishment for his wrongdoings.
“That’s not it.”
I struggled to find the right words to explain. Part of me felt sorry for Sylvia, who had the Darnnella’s disease, but honestly, the main reason I wanted to bring both Dave and Sylvia along was selfish.
I couldn’t just ignore Sylvia, who suffered from the same illness as me. I couldn’t bear to leave her behind when I left the capital.
If she were to die without treatment, it would feel like I had lost the last remaining hope I had.
Though taking her with me wouldn’t solve everything, it would ease the burden in my heart.
Furthermore, I had two pots of Rosier flowers.
Though they hadn’t bloomed yet, that no longer mattered to me.
Thanks to what I had learned from the wizard’s tower, I knew the conditions under which Rosier flowers would bloom.
If I used one of the pots as a remedy for my illness, the other would still remain. I could give the remaining pot to Sylvia, couldn’t I?
Richard, who had bought the flowers for me, had said he didn’t mind what I did with the two pots, so there was no issue there.
After gathering my thoughts and letting out a small breath, I met Dave’s gaze. Seeing the anxiety in his eyes, I smiled gently to reassure him.
“Do you know about Sylvia’s illness?”
“…No.”
Dave sighed gloomily.
It wasn’t surprising that he didn’t know. He and Sylvia had no money to see a doctor. They had grown up in the slums, relying on each other after losing their parents. There was no inheritance from their parents, and because they were so young, they couldn’t work.
I didn’t know how they managed to survive, but whatever money Dave could get, it wasn’t much.
So it was no wonder they hadn’t been able to get proper medical treatment, and Dave had no idea what illness Sylvia was suffering from.
“Sylvia has Darnnella’s disease.”
“Darnnella’s… disease?”
“Yeah. To treat it, we need the root of a flower called Rosier. The flower only works once it blooms, and it’s very hard to find and even harder to make it bloom.”
“How much is that flower?”
Dave asked hesitantly.
I paused for a moment before shaking my head.
“Very expensive. Even I haven’t been able to get it so far.”
“More than 10 gold?”
“Yeah. More than 10 gold.”
“Then, more than 100 gold?”
“Even 100 gold wouldn’t be enough to buy it. Like I said, it’s very expensive.”
In fact, the starting bid for a Rosier flower at auction was 1000 gold, and the actual trading price was about 5000 gold.
And since the flowers I had hadn’t bloomed yet, a fully bloomed Rosier would be even more expensive.
Hearing that the flower was more expensive than 100 gold, Dave’s face fell.
Even people who farmed or ran small businesses would find it hard to get 100 gold. There was no way Dave could afford a price far beyond that.
Dave lowered his head, and soon, I heard him sniffle.
“Is it really that expensive? What will happen to Sylvia?”
Seeing him wipe his tears with his small hands, I carefully opened my arms and hugged him.
Overcome with emotion, Dave couldn’t hide his tears any longer, and they flowed freely.
“When we went to the doctor… I thought everything would be fixed…”
His voice, tinged with resentment, hurt my heart.
I raised my heavy hand and gently patted his back as he cried, his sobs gradually calming down.
But when the crying stopped, Dave’s face was utterly defeated.
“Dave, I want to cure Sylvia’s illness. That’s why I’m asking you to come with me to Count Theodore’s estate.”
Dave, his eyes swollen from crying, looked up at me.
“I have a plant that can cure her illness.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But it hasn’t bloomed yet, so I can’t use it as a remedy right now.”
Dave’s face briefly showed hope at my words, but then his shoulders slumped.
I wiped the tears from his eyes with my thumb and smiled gently.
“Don’t worry too much, though. I know how to make the flower bloom.”
“But are you really going to give that flower to Sylvia? Even though it’s so expensive?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll go.”
When I readily agreed, his expression changed. He looked resolute, as if he had made up his mind, and I was impressed by his determination. I patted his head once and then turned to face Sylvia.
“Sylvia, Dave says he’s going, so you’re coming too, right?”
Since I had already asked her about this, I didn’t press her for a long answer. She blinked, still unsure about the situation, before nodding.
“If Dave is going, I’ll go too.”
Sylvia’s voice revealed her trust in Dave. I patted her head just like I did with Dave and then stood up.
“Then, stay here until Dave’s treatment is finished. When the time comes, these knights who are guarding you will guide you to me.”
I then checked the two knights assigned to guard Dave and Sylvia. I didn’t catch their names, but they were knights I had seen a few times.
The two knights must have realized what I was about to say, as they greeted me respectfully.
“I am Manuel Pale. As soon as the children’s treatment is complete, I will visit you at Tristan Castle.”
A knight nearby spoke up. I smiled warmly at Manuel, showing him my trust.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes, my lady.”
His precise manner of speaking inspired confidence.
I turned once more to check on Dave and Sylvia. The two children still seemed awkward in the situation.
“Then, rest well. Make sure to receive proper treatment.”
“Okay.”
“Goodbye.”
The two children awkwardly greeted me, and even their clumsy gesture was adorable.
I then left the hospital room and headed straight to the doctor’s office. The doctor, sitting in the office and reviewing charts, stood up as soon as he saw me.
“How are the children?”
“Fortunately, they seem to be recovering well, so I’m relieved. Please continue to take good care of them.”
“Of course, no need to worry about that.”
The doctor smiled warmly at me. I paused for a moment, then turned to call Olivier, who was waiting nearby.
Olivier approached me and, as if understanding the situation, handed me a pouch filled with gold coins.
I immediately took the pouch and handed it over to the doctor.
“This is for taking care of the children.”
“Oh, you really didn’t have to do this.”
The doctor waved his hand, initially refusing, but eventually took the pouch. Though surprised, he didn’t seem unwilling.
“I hope you have no shortages in treating the children.”
“Of course. I’m a doctor, after all.”
After giving my last piece of advice, I turned to leave, but suddenly a shadow loomed in front of me. I stopped and looked up to see Richard blocking my way.
“Richard?”
I was puzzled, and as I looked up, he placed a hand on my shoulder. He then shifted his gaze to the doctor.
“Please take a look at my wife. I’m worried because there’s still a bruise on her neck.”
Richard turned me around to face the doctor. Reflexively, I reached up and touched my neck. Though it hadn’t been too uncomfortable up until now, the bruise hadn’t fully healed, and there was still some discomfort when I breathed or drank water.
Still, I thought it would heal on its own over time.
But it seemed Richard had noticed something that I had overlooked. I didn’t mind that he was being attentive. In fact, it made me feel a bit uplifted.
“Would it be alright if I took a quick look?”
The doctor asked, and I nodded in agreement.
“Then, please sit here and I’ll check you.”
Following the doctor’s suggestion, I sat down, and he came over to examine my neck.
Though I had been treated by this doctor before, I had never felt so awkward about a check-up.
The doctor carefully examined my neck before straightening up. He then checked my records on the chart.
“Your condition has improved compared to before, but it’s not fully healed yet. However, the only thing I can do for you right now is prescribe medicine. You must be careful not to strain yourself, and you should take the medicine regularly to recover faster. If the medicine runs out, I will prepare more and send it to you.”
“I understand. Please have it sent to Tristan Duke’s castle.”
“Certainly.”
The doctor bowed in respect, and only then were we able to leave his office.
