Chapter 6
Due to the duke's seizures occurring at least once a month, the duchy housed a skilled physician permanently.
He was responsible for examining Herwin whenever he fell ill and concocting his medicines by the hour. In essence, the one who understood Herwin's condition better than anyone else was the physician.
However, this physician had a slight flaw.
"Ah, Milady. What brings you to the apothecary?"
Evan Chrysler, the duchy's young physician, rose from his seat in surprise at the young lady's visit.
"Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"No, it's not that..."
As Everiel trailed off, Evan chuckled, his eyes twinkling.
"Ah, so you came because you wanted to see me."
No, this devil! Everiel forced a smile, trying to hide her annoyance.
'This smooth-talking quack of a doctor.'
Strictly speaking, he was not a quack as he held a medical license, but both before her regression and now, Everiel considered him no different from one.
‘Besides his skillfulness, there’s nothing good about him. Dozens of servants who've succumbed to Evan's charms have left the mansion in tears of disappointment.’
Staying in the duchy despite everything would’ve been intolerable for them.
Due to Evan's flamboyance and strong perfume, Everiel wasn't fond of him.
"Lily, are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"If you feel any discomfort, please come to me immediately. I'll take care of─"
"Evan! May I enter the apothecary?"
Everiel hastily interrupted Evan.
‘I can't let anything happen to Lily, no matter what!’
For the sake of her precious subject, Everiel was willing to do anything.
"Now?"
"Yes, let me take a look!"
Although puzzled, Evan obediently nodded.
"Of course, but there may not be much that would interest Milady."
"Wow!"
Everiel feigned her excitement as she approached Evan's desk. He seemed to be concocting potions, with herbs, books, and papers scattered about.
"Are these the ingredients for Dad's medicine?"
"Yes, I'm making them three days' worth at a time."
"I see."
In a fleeting moment, Everiel's eyes darted keenly over them, but no one seemed to notice.
The child soon withdrew from the desk, seeming disinterested.
"So, how's it going? Boring as I said?"
"Yeah, it's full of difficult words. And the potions smell funny."
Everiel turned around, her braided hair swaying behind her.
"Evan, do you know what illness Dad has?"
"Pa-pardon?"
Evan, taken aback, stumbled over his words. He smoothed out his flustered expression and looked at Everiel.
"Why are you suddenly curious about that?"
"I want to know. Maybe I could discover the cure for Dad's illness!"
Evan silently regarded the child's innocent face.
Regarding Herwin's 'condition', not much was publicly known. Only Evan, the physician himself, and the duke's aide knew the truth of the duke's illness.
'No one else must know. Even if they're from this duchy.'
Evan's gaze briefly brushed Lily. He quickly regained his usual composed demeanor.
"His Grace is suffering from a gradual weakening of the lungs. His inability to walk for long and minor ailments he suffers is due to that."
Everiel chuckled.
"So, what should Dad do to get better?"
"Usually, he only needs to eat well, sleep well, and exercise lightly to build strength, but given His Grace's current condition..."
Evan trailed pessimistically but hesitated.
"Eat well, sleep well, and exercise? Will that make Dad healthy then?"
Everiel was looking at him with hopeful eyes. Evan hesitated for a moment.
'I can't upset Milady.'
He decided to tell a well-intentioned lie.
"Yes, indeed. With Milady's concern, His Grace's condition will gradually improve. When the weather clears up, it would be nice for both of you to take a stroll together."
Everiel's face brightened like the morning sun.
"Really? Can we do that?"
"Of course. There have been cases where patients on their deathbeds recovered with sincere care. Milady's devotion will undoubtedly make a difference."
Evan concealed a sarcastic expression behind a fox-like grin.
He was someone who believed that tales of sincerity and affection were all mere illusions.
Life and death cannot be affected by such things.
'Those meant to die will die, and those meant to live will live.'
His duty was to save the living. If Herwin Solgren were someone meant to live, he would have been saved long ago.
Painkillers and sleeping pills could only numb the pain; the duke's condition was beyond his reach.
'I can only hope Milady withstands it.'
Fortunately, Everiel seemed pleased by his lie as she rushed towards Evan, embracing him suddenly.
"Thank you, Evan!"
Watching from behind, Lily secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the child's excitement. She had been worried as a personal maid whether Everiel might be upset.
'I'm glad she's feeling better.'
Lily gave Evan a thumbs-up.
‘You did well, Evan!’
Evan silently chuckled, returning the thumbs-up.
Little did he know, Everiel, nestled in his arms, was smiling mischievously.
* * *
The duke is said to be ill, but little is known about the illness.
'Occasional seizures, and respiratory weakness to the point of being unable to walk for long.'
That's all Everiel knew.
So, before anything else, Everiel tried to understand exactly what Herwin's illness was.
'I've always thought it would be difficult to recognize those before my regression.'
But now was different.
During her time at the palace, Everiel studied herbalism, wondering if it would help Herwin.
'I was just memorizing books from the imperial library.'
Thanks to her memorization of the herbal encyclopedia back then, she easily recognized the herbs used to make medicine on the apothecary table.
'Evan was making sedatives and painkillers.'
Based on Evan's explanation and the potions he was making, Everiel quickly deduced Herwin's diagnosis.
'Synic Disease.'
Synic Disease was an incurable disease of unknown cause, gradually reducing cardiac and pulmonary function.
At first, it might just be a bit challenging to breathe, but as time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to move, ultimately leading to death.
The only medicines that could be prescribed to the patient were painkillers and sleeping pills, which helped alleviate the pain.
However, Everiel had a different reason for being surprised.
‘Synic Disease doesn't worsen as long as you regularly expose yourself to sunlight!’
Everiel pulled her hair in frustration.
When Everiel turned thirteen, a method to slow down the progression of Synic Disease was announced.
Everyone collectively deemed it absurd that simple exposure to sunlight for an hour could halt the disease's progression.
However, the announcement was true. The following year, a cure was even developed based on those results.
‘If only we had known earlier, such tragedies wouldn't have occurred.’
Everiel's melancholy was fleeting.
‘But still, I can cure Dad's illness!’
Everiel found hope in that fact.
‘Until the cure is released, I just need to delay the progression of the disease or even expedite the cure's release.’
When Evan's words were pondered upon, it all boiled down to this.
‘Eat well, sleep well, exercise.’
Inverting those words implied that Herwin wasn't eating or sleeping properly.
"...Excuse me, Milady."
At that moment, Lily spoke with a cautious tone.
"Are you worried about His Grace?"
Everiel paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I wish Dad wasn't ill. Then maybe we could’ve played or taken a walk together, right…?"
Everiel tried to speak like a child.
Now that she had just turned five, suddenly using sophisticated vocabulary would seem strange.
'Didn't I sound awkward just now?'
Everiel glanced at Lily. Fortunately, Lily was more focused on Everiel's expression than her tone.
"Don't worry, Milady. His Grace will surely get better someday."
Lily firmly held Everiel's small hand.
Originally, Everiel's language acquisition was somewhat slower compared to her peers.
The fact that the duke showed a firm attitude towards hiring a governess was partly for that reason.
'A child who can't even speak properly as the heiress of Solgren, it's unacceptable!'
If the issue of the heiress's qualifications continues to be brought up, Everiel will ultimately get hurt.
'If His Grace were well, Milady's burden would also lessen…'
Lily was worried that Everiel might get hurt.
Ironically, at that very moment, Everiel was devising a mischievous plan.
'Not getting any sunlight and just lying around makes him weaker. Also, what’s with that gloomy room of his?'
Thinking of Herwin's dismal bedchamber, Everiel glanced at Lily with a sudden thought.
"Lily."
"Yes, Milady."
Lily, who responded with a bright expression, lost her smile the next moment.
"Did you know that being forgiven is easier than getting permission?"
Because she saw a hint of mischief in the face of her troublemaker lady...