MLWDP CH 09

Chapter 9

“…It’s just… you’re the first person who’s ever treated an herbalist without prejudice. That’s why I want to stay by your side. And if I can be of help to you, that would make me even happier…”

But the maids didn’t look convinced at all.

“I-I don’t need any payment,” Hadi blurted at last, trying to prove his sincerity.

“Not a single coin.”

Even so, the maids’ expressions didn’t soften.

“That’s enough. Stop it, all of you.”

It was Idette who stepped in to stop the argument.

“My lady…”

“Hadi, you should go back for today. We’ll talk again next time.”

“Yes. I meant what I said about not taking any money. If you’ll just allow me to be of help to you, I’d be truly grateful.”

With a happy face, Hadi disappeared into the night. Idette let out a long sigh as she looked at the maids.

If even her own housemaids held such deep distrust against herbalists, how was she ever going to persuade her father?

Perhaps mistaking her sigh for disappointment, the three maids lowered their heads and spoke carefully.

“We’re sorry…”

“What are you sorry for?”

“…”

“Don’t tell Father about this. If you do, I won’t sit still.”

“…Yes. We won’t.”

The maids bowed low.

“Can you tell me what kind of prejudices you have against herbalists? I want to know why you hate them so much.”

As a noble, Idette had never had reason to be involved with herbalists or hear rumors about them.

She had spent her whole life inside the estate, receiving only sacred power.

Gossip of that sort had always been far away from her.

And more than relying only on her memory of the novel, it seemed better to hear the truth directly.

Especially now that she knew not all of her past life memories were clear.

“…First of all, it’s unsettling that they’re all from the slums. And there are so many rumors—that their medicine makes people go insane, that many die after taking it, and that symptoms only get worse. They say the comfort it gives is just the numbness of the senses before death.”

But if patients died after taking medicine, wasn’t that simply because their condition had been too far gone?

Medicine wasn’t a miracle cure for everything.

“By that logic, isn’t sacred power the same?”

“…What?”

“Sacred power doesn’t save everyone either. I’ve been told my illness is terminal.”

“B-but…”

Sacred power wasn’t almighty.

“The ones who took medicine died with blackened faces, as if poisoned. That wasn’t a human complexion. But sacred power… it purifies the soul.”

Ah. So the difference in appearance after death had also fueled prejudice.

“And sacred power is something only high nobles can receive. What did you say happens when you get sick? You just hope for a miracle, right?”

“…Yes.”

The three maids dropped their heads, looking resigned.

“What can we do? We were born this way. We can only pray for a better next life.”

Most commoners died once they got sick.

Even a simple cold could turn into pneumonia and kill them.

Bibi too—if it weren’t for Idette, she would have died from food poisoning.

With proper treatment, she could have lived.

“And that’s enough for you?”

“…”

“You really don’t care if you die?”

Idette fixed her gaze on Bibi, the one who had recently come back from the brink of death.

Bibi stayed silent for a moment, then shook her head as tears rolled down her face.

When she was sick, she had truly felt like she was dying—but she had wanted to live.

She had wanted to live so desperately. And so, she was actually thankful.

“I… It still bothers me that I took medicine. But I’m glad I’m alive… really glad.”

“See? There’s no guarantee you’ll be reborn into a better life after death.”

“…But still, for you to take herbal medicine, my lady…”

“I want to live too, Bibi.”

“My lady…”

Bibi faltered, looking at Idette with pity.

She had been sick from the very moment she was born, and days without pain were rarer than days with it.

“If the medicine doesn’t work, or if there are strange side effects, I’ll stop right away.”

There was nothing more they could say to stop her.

“…Understood.”

Even if they couldn’t fully understand her, they could understand her desire to live.

“We’ll help you.”

“Thank you. But how far will you help me?”

“…What?”

The maids looked confused, but Idette already had something in mind.

“Not just now. Will you still help me later, far in the future too?”

“…Of course we will!”

When they nodded, Idette gave them a wide smile. It was a pretty smile, yet it carried an unsettling feeling—like making a pact with a devil in the heat of the moment.

The three maids exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes trembling.

…It’ll be fine, right?

***

The next morning, after taking Hadi’s medicine and sleeping, Idette woke up feeling lighter than usual.

The maid who always helped with her washing touched her forehead and gasped.

“You don’t have a fever!”

“…Really?”

So Hadi’s medicine really had worked. If it was this effective, then perhaps if she could meet Hezbeni, learn more about her illness, and take a spiritual tonic, she might actually survive.

Her heart thumped with excitement.

“Yes. You look so well today!”

“I know. I feel lighter than usual. I think I could even take a walk in the garden.”

“I’ll tell the Count right away.”

“Thanks.”

Smiling brightly, Idette washed up and changed her clothes. Soon after, the maid left, and her parents entered with cheerful faces.

They must have already heard the news.

“You don’t have a fever today?”

“No.”

“That’s wonderful. Shall we walk together in the garden?”

“Yes.”

Sitting on the bed, Idette reached out her small hands and held both her father’s and mother’s tightly.

Just then, Brinnen appeared, as he did every week.

She thought he wouldn’t come again after running away so abruptly last time, but she was wrong.

Was he the shameless type after all?

“You’re here, young master Brinnen!”

Her father greeted him with great joy.

“…Yes. Greetings.”

It had already been a month since Brinnen started visiting the Luche estate.

Yet he had never once shown a smile.

Looking at him, one might think he didn’t even have emotions at all. Perhaps that was why her father seemed to hold some unease about him.

But Idette knew why he was like that.

She had even seen him struggling with nightmares. Maybe that was why her heart softened.

Last time he had looked exhausted, but today he seemed a little better…

Then her father spoke.

“As it happens, Idette and I were planning a walk in the garden. Why don’t you join us?”

“…”

Brinnen’s gaze briefly shifted to Idette.

“I’m well today—no fever at all!” she said quickly.

“Is that so?”

“It’s a rare day, so I’m in a good mood.”

“It’s only one day.”

“…What?”

Her father’s good mood was immediately dampened by Brinnen’s blunt reply.

His smile disappeared, and Idette and her mother exchanged panicked looks.

“I’ve seen it many times. One day she seems fine, but the next day she’s back in bed. And when she overexerts herself on a good day, she ends up bedridden even longer.”

“…”

What could her father even say to that?