Chapter 16
“…”
Roland smiled weakly instead of answering and slowly losing consciousness.
Karina grabbed the envelope containing willow bark powder and stood up. She couldn’t just trust that quack doctor and leave Roland alone.
First of all, it’s too late to bring in a new doctor today, so she decided to boil this powder and give it a try.
After a while. Karina returned from decoctioning the powder and found Melissa sitting upright on her bed staring at Roland.
Karina bowed her head toward Melissa and called out her name softly.
“Melissa.”
“Mom…”
Melissa’s eyes were filled with tears.
Seeing that, she felt like she was going to burst into tears, but she managed to hold it in. Showing weakness now does neither Roland nor Melissa any good.
“Roland isn’t going to die, right?”
“Yeah, he won’t die.”
“Bring in another doctor. I don’t like that doctor…”
“I don’t like him either.”
Karina regretted her composure for letting the doctor make all sorts of strange noises in the presence of the children.
She was shocked too, but the children must be terrified. But water that has already been spilled is inevitable. Karina carefully woke up Roland, who was half dozing off.
“It’s medicine. Just take a sip if it’s hard to eat.”
Roland grabbed the cup with both hands and gulped it down. She thought it was a good thing it cooled down to the right temperature.
“Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?”
Roland shook his head and threw up the medicine he had just drank onto the blanket. Karina hurriedly wiped Roland’s ruined clothes, blanket, and mouth.
“…I’m sorry.”
“It’s because you’re sick. Don’t be sorry.”
Karina muttered to herself that the doctor was also a quack.
‘I’ll call in a new doctor as soon as the sun rises.’
Roland desperately grabbed Karina’s arm as Karina tried to leave his bed to wet a towel in cold water.
“Mom, I…”
Karina held her breath and waited for Roland to speak. She’s confident that she would do anything for him.
“Send us to the orphanage.”
Something heavy and hot rose on her neck. Karina soon realized that she was about to cry.
However, she didn’t dare to show that feeling in front of the children. Instead, Karina held Roland’s hand tightly.
“Don’t say nonsense.”
Fortunately, Karina’s voice was the same as usual, neither twisted nor immersed in tears. It was very, very shaky.
Karina thought she wouldn’t have noticed either Roland who was overheating or Melissa who was still crying.
“I’m your mother, why are you going to the orphanage?”
“…You’re not our actual mother.”
Roland gave an answer that was a mixture of groans and cries.
“Ka- Karina… There’s no reason to be so nice to us.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to run away from that house without you.”
“Lies.”
“I’m serious. Believe in me, Young Master Roland.”
Karina said it with all her heart. If it weren’t for the children, she wouldn’t have been able to escape from the terrible mansion.
Because there was no reason to leave.
In that house, Karina was treated as a special maid because she was Lord Lenque’s illegitimate child.
Although the work was hard, Lord Lenque would give a warm bed and delicious food if she didn’t rebel.
Even if she managed to get out of the mansion anyway, the only thing Karina could do was be a maid.
Even before Roland and Melissa came to the mansion, Karina dreamed of a new world and life, but it was more of a delusion to forget the difficult reality rather than an actual plan.
“I got to know you… I ran away from that house for you guys. And now, I’m happier than ever. So please don’t feel sorry for me Roland.”
Karina put out the words that are on her chest as it is without filtering them even once. She was afraid that Roland would run to the orphanage thinking it was a lie if she gave him any chance.
Karina’s efforts were overshadowed by Roland’s constant shaking of his head.
“…The orphanage also fed and gave me medicine. There’s no need for Karina to take care of us.”
“Roland, it hurts more if you keep talking when you’re sick. Stop talking.”
“No… no, I’ll keep talking until Karina says she’ll send me to the orphanage.”
Roland was gasping for breath the whole time and Karina patted Roland on the back fearing that he might have suffocated.
“Keep talking, keep talking. Whatever you say, I won’t send you to the orphanage.”
“Why…? If you send me to an orphanage, everything’s gonna be fine…”
Roland finally put his head down on the pillow. He seemed unable to speak anymore.
Karina clenched her teeth.
If Roland indeed could receive proper treatment at the orphanage, she could pack up and send him away.
But it can’t be. Karina knew what an orphanage was like. The orphanage directors weren’t really for poor children who had nowhere to go.
Most orphanages were created to work for children who had no guardians or were abandoned by their guardians. One such orphanage was the one that Roland and Melissa had before coming to Lord Lenque’s mansion.
Naturally, many children got sick while trying to work. Will these children be able to see a doctor?
You know that you will be left in bed either until you are healed or die. It broke Karina’s heart that Roland would know that best.
And it made Karina’s heartache that Roland was probably the most aware of that fact. Fortunately or unfortunately, Roland wasn’t stubborn for a long time.
Karina thought as she wiped Roland’s forehead, which had collapsed from exhaustion.
‘When morning comes, let’s call a proper doctor. And treat Roland completely.’
* * *
“It’s hopeless.”
Karina felt like she was sentenced to death. The doctor who she asked Wilder to bring also shook his head.
“It’s not Petera. It looks like an Aucco, but it has a higher fatality rate. Fortunately, it’s not a contagious disease, so I can send it to you comfortably.”
“If it was a contagious disease…”
“He would have gone to the epidemic control center and been left until he dies. Rather, how lucky for him to be able to die in the arms of his beloved family?”
(T/N: You’re not supposed to say that about a sick person wth)
Karina wanted to shout what luck it was at the fat toad-looking doctor’s face, but she managed to hold her self-control.
“The medicine is…”
“Aigoo, I’ll just take the medical bills. I don’t use any medicine here. Just pray to God.”
The doctor stood there and checked for a long time whether the number of medical expenses that Karina had saved up for a change was correct for someone who seemed to have no greed for money.
Karina uttered insults on the inside.
Another God again.
If there is a real God, where and what is he doing when the protagonist is dying from an incurable disease like this?
Karina grunted and bit her lip. Blood was dripping from it because she bit too hard.
“Mom!”
Melissa cried out in fear.
Karina reached out and tried to pat Melissa.
“It’s just that my lips are torn. Worry-”
In an instant, Karina’s eyes turned white. Neither Melissa nor Roland could be seen in the room. Karina shouted the children’s names out of fear, but she couldn’t hear anything.
It was as if she was alone in a white space. After a while, the letters of the novel appeared in the pure white light field of vision.
「Roland, did you actually think I was your uncle? How dare you inherit the blood of this Lenque family? Ha! Thankfully, my sister married that commoner and died without a child. You and your sibling have nothing to do with me. I raised you without being blood-related into an Archwizard, shouldn’t you be grateful?」
“Mom! Mom!”
The scream of Melissa woke Karina up. Karina opened her eyes. Melissa was looking at Karina frightened.
“Mom…!”
“Melissa.”
Karina grabbed her waist and stood up. The doctor seemed to have just taken the money and left whether Karina collapsed or not. Melissa fell into Karina’s arms.
(T/N: Wow thanks doctor)
‘
No, Melissa…’
Karina soon realized that she had been mistaken. Melissa was hugging her tightly as if she was afraid that Karina would disappear even if she relaxed a little.
“Mommy, are you sick too?”
“No, I’m just tired.”
Karina carefully lowered Melissa’s arm, which was constantly trying to touch her forehead.
“Mom has no fever and is very healthy. She will never get sick.”
“…”
There was a short silence. Just as Karina was about to open her mouth thinking Melissa didn’t trust her, Melissa’s sharp voice came out.
“That’s what Roland said. He’s never going anywhere without me…”
“Yeah. Roland’s not going anywhere without Melissa, you know?”
“Now, you’re about to die.”
Melissa’s lips trembled.
“Just like my parents… I can’t see it if you die. I don’t like that.”
“I won’t die.”
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Karina looked deeply into Melissa’s tearful eyes.
“Surely mama will somehow get better.”
“…Really?”
* * *
(T/N: This chapter was a whole damn rollercoaster, I’m so invested in this novel. Roland being sick, questionable doctors, and Karina’s interaction with Melissa ⊙︿⊙)