Chapter 5
The next day, the two women used a visit to the bakery as an excuse to go out. Their destination was a nearby general hospital. To avoid drawing attention, they parked the carriage at the repair shop and walked to the hospital.
‘We need to be careful not to make this public. No one knows where or how this could be exaggerated,’ Caroline thought.
As the wife of a famous person like Frazer, it was important to be this cautious.
Caroline held Marsha’s hand tightly as they made their way to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic. However, the results of the examination were entirely different from what the two women had expected.
“You’re not pregnant.”
“…Really?”
Caroline couldn’t hide the bitter expression on her face as she replied. Marsha simply stood next to her, looking like a sinner.
“But I haven’t had my period in over two months…”
Caroline murmured softly, but then she caught something strange in the doctor’s words.
“Not pregnant?”
Caroline’s face grew tense as she locked eyes with the doctor. The doctor averted his gaze and began speaking.
“That’s actually the problem.”
“…What?”
Caroline felt like her heart had dropped to her feet at the blunt tone of the doctor’s voice. But the doctor remained indifferent and continued flipping through the medical chart.
“To be objective, your body is actually in a condition that makes pregnancy unlikely.”
Caroline’s face went pale as she silently listened to the doctor. She had met many women who were disappointed when told they weren’t pregnant, but this was the first time she had heard something like this.
“…What do you mean?”
At Caroline’s question, the doctor took off his glasses and looked at her with steady eyes before speaking.
“The reason your period is delayed is simple: your body has weakened.”
“…”
“You said you’re having trouble with digestion and frequent nausea. You also feel tightness around your chest, right?”
Caroline clenched her fists tightly as the doctor’s gaze seemed to probe every part of her. The sharp sensation of a needle poking her veins, the cold stethoscope touching her chest—those unfamiliar sensations enveloped her in a strange, unsettling anxiety.
The doctor placed a paper with the test results on the desk and spoke again.
“…I think it’s better to transfer you to a surgeon.”
Caroline’s body swayed with shock.
Her weakened body leaned on Marsha as they walked toward the cardiothoracic department. They had left right after lunch, but after several tests, the sun was already beginning to set.
Caroline thought the sunset looked cold and gloomy as she made her way to the consultation room. The elderly doctor, sitting behind a large desk, let out a soft sigh as he saw her enter.
After a brief silence, the doctor confirmed her identity before addressing the main issue.
“It’s certain that you have a congenital heart condition, but I can’t give a clear diagnosis.”
Caroline felt as though she had been struck on the head with a blunt object at his words.
“Excuse me? What does that mean?”
It was Marsha, not Caroline, who became upset by the ambiguous statement. She furrowed her brow and marched toward the doctor, but Caroline grabbed her hand tightly to stop her.
“There’s a congenital problem with your heart function. There are also issues with blood flow… And the heart valve situation is the same.”
“…”
“I’m sorry, but with the equipment we have here, we can’t perform the necessary tests.”
The Kingdom of Glenford had been enjoying an unprecedented golden age since the abolition of slavery and the implementation of compulsory primary education. However, this progress had not been mirrored by advancements in medical technology.
“You’ll need to go to a large hospital like Humphrey General Hospital for a detailed examination.”
“…”
“Of course, with current medical technology, we may not be able to fully diagnose your condition.”
“…”
“I’ll write you a diagnostic note. If you take it with you, you should be able to receive treatment soon. Humphrey is the best general hospital in the capital.”
Humphrey General Hospital had been established over 120 years ago by the Humphrey dynasty, which had seized power in Glenford. As a hospital built under the royal family’s leadership, it boasted the best medical expertise in the capital.
“…Doctors really have a knack for talking about extraordinary things as if they’re no big deal,” Caroline said in a voice still shaken from the shock.
Her face was pale, and her lips were dry and cracked. Her fingernails had been bitten so much that they were all split, with no nail intact.
Seeing this, the doctor momentarily showed an expression of discomfort but quickly returned to his usual demeanor. His indifferent tone was inevitable. After decades of dealing with critically ill patients with chest issues, it had become second nature to him.
“…You should go there as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. It’s urgent.”
Caroline accepted the diagnosis note and left the hospital. She needed time to process the overwhelming events of the day.
A few days later, Caroline, avoiding people’s gaze, headed toward Humphrey General Hospital. Patient identities were supposed to remain confidential, but she didn’t want to take any chances. Being cautious wouldn’t hurt.
She spent hours undergoing tests and realized for the first time how terrifying hospitals could be.
‘I’m so scared. I want to go home quickly…’
As Caroline thought, she could hear the distant shouts of people, and the screams from various places made her shoulders tense up involuntarily. Strange machines passed over her body, and when cold metal touched her, her toes froze with the sensation. When the test results were delivered, the blood in her veins seemed to freeze as well.
Congenital heart disease, a heart valve that had lost its function.
Although she had been slow to awaken and slow to speak compared to others, Caroline was not so foolish that she didn’t understand what the doctor was saying.
As she listened to the words that turned her mind blank, she remembered her father, who had passed away two years ago from a heart attack. She had assumed it was just due to aging.
But if the disease was congenital, and neither her father nor she had known about it…
“I’m sorry, but you likely have about a year and a half left.”
With those words, Caroline lost consciousness.
* * *
Her husband was an incredibly busy man.
The Count’s family, the Huntid family, had been involved in the cultural and artistic industries for generations. Frazer, who inherited the family business, was too occupied with expanding his business to pay attention to anything else. More often than not, Caroline was left alone in their vast and beautiful mansion.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Caroline was able to quietly collect her thoughts because of her husband’s consistent indifference.
After a few days locked in her room, she regained her composure quickly.
“He said I have about a year and a half left.”
The doctor had given her less than a year and a half to live. That time could either lengthen or shorten depending on her physical condition.
Her body, standing on the ground, would crumble after a few seasons had passed. Realizing this, even the time spent in despair began to feel wasteful.
She spent quiet time in a separate building, arranging flowers by herself. It was to think about what she wanted to do, what she could do.
Then, a sudden desire arose in her.
“I can’t waste time like this.”
She had always thought of herself as someone without desires, but now, facing death, she realized there were more things she wanted to do than she had ever imagined.
“Come to think of it, I’ve never traveled with my mother. We had promised to go see the sea together… What if I lived in a hilltop village by the sea? It might be fun to visit the ruins I saw in the newspaper on the Western Continent.”
She also wanted to wear a sparkling dress and dance all night in a moonlit garden, holding hands with someone she loved.
…That would probably be the hardest wish to fulfill.
Among the many wishes she held, there were only a few that a terminally ill patient could accomplish. Setting aside her lack of strength, any episodes or seizures could lead to disaster.
So, the choice she made was a journey for treatment. The Kingdom of Greta, which bordered Glenford to the north, was renowned for its world-class medical expertise.
Though crossing the border into Greta would be difficult, traveling to the north seemed manageable.
The northern city of Nortium had a world-class general hospital, established through a treaty between the two countries. Nortium General Hospital was renowned for being the first to successfully perform surgeries that involved separating and reconnecting organs.
“If I go there, I might receive even better treatment than in the capital.”
If she made Nortium her destination, she could take a roundabout route through the kingdom, stopping at medical facilities along the way to manage her condition. This way, even a brief journey might be possible.
Of course, there would be no leisure to enjoy the trip.
After organizing her thoughts, Caroline dismissed Marsha after much persuasion. It was a decision made with the thought of having her join the trip to Nortium.
As the departure date drew near, Marsha, who had been anxious about leaving Caroline alone, introduced her cousin, Stephanie, to accompany her. Caroline also used the money she had gradually saved up to establish a base in the north.
What she thought would be difficult turned out to be easier than expected. Frazer was always busy, and the servants had no interest in her, making it possible to carry out her plans.
“It’s nothing new,” Caroline thought with a bitter smile, looking at the Count who had shown no interest in her. It seemed like a natural thing, but strangely, her mouth felt bitter.
After occasionally exchanging letters, the three of them finally came face-to-face in the northeastern part of the kingdom.
