~Chapter 31~
“Penelope’s been feeling a little sick the past few days, so I’m not sure if she can join us.”
“Aunt Peppy is sick?”
After telling Isabella everything for Raphaella’s sake, Penelope started feeling unwell the next day.
Leah couldn’t help but worry that Penelope might’ve gotten sick from stressing over Raphaella.
I really want to help Miss Penelope, especially since she did so much for Raphaella…
But she wasn’t sure if the Duchess Dowager would allow it even if she asked again.
“It might be too much for today. Let’s have it together when Aunt Peppy feels better.”
“Okay. I’ll pray she gets well soon.”
Leah decided to give the remaining dessert to the maids who worked hard decorating Raphaella’s room.
Just as they were about to head back to the room, a maid approached Leah.
“Lady Leah, the Duchess Dowager is asking for you.”
“The Duchess Dowager?”
Leah had actually been wondering when would be a good time to visit her—so this worked out well.
They followed the maid up to the fourth floor.
…She’s calling us to the fourth floor?
Still a bit confused, Leah entered the sitting room.
“Come in, dear.”
The Duchess Dowager stood and welcomed them warmly.
Then, she carefully approached Raphaella.
“…Raphaella, would you sit on the couch with Grandma?”
Raphaella hesitated and looked at Leah.
“It’s okay, Rafi.”
Raphaella shyly sat next to Isabella.
“Raphaella, I didn’t know anything, and I ended up hurting you.”
She gently patted her granddaughter’s hand.
She was afraid seeing this child would remind her of the healthy and lively Penelope from before.
She regretted keeping her distance and only watching Raphaella from afar for such a selfish reason.
If I had just spent time with her and talked to her, maybe I would’ve noticed something sooner…
She promised herself she wouldn’t make
that mistake again.
“I’m really sorry, Raphaella.”
Isabella sincerely apologized to her granddaughter for scolding her the other day and for not knowing how Carolina and Marco had treated her.
Her voice was warm—so much so that Raphaella started to feel more comfortable with her.
“…It’s okay, Grandma.”
Raphaella replied while looking at the warm hand holding hers.
“Thank you. Did you just call me
Grandma?”
Isabella asked, clearly touched.
“To be the grandmother of such a sweet child is a joy I hadn’t realized I had.”
A maid nearby handed her a handkerchief as her eyes grew teary.
“I also owe you an apology,” she said to Leah. “It was rude of me to treat a guest in the Duke’s house the way I did…”
“It’s all right,” Leah replied.
“There will be a new butler and head maid coming soon, but I’ll personally look after you and Raphaella from now on, so don’t worry.”
She gently patted Raphaella’s cheek.
“If you ever need anything, come to me anytime, okay?”
Seeing how kind the Duchess Dowager was being now, Leah took a deep breath and spoke up.
“Well… actually, I’d like to visit Miss Penelope, if that’s okay.”
“Penelope?”
The Duchess Dowager’s soft expression slightly stiffened at the mention of Penelope.
Maybe she held back because Raphaella was right next to her.
“…You’re not trying to bring up that topic again, are you?”
She tried to stay calm as she asked.
She probably won’t let me see Penelope just to check her condition, Leah thought.
She decided to take a different approach.
“No, I just want to thank her in person.”
“Thank her?”
Realizing she might’ve reacted too sharply, Isabella softened her tone a bit.
Raphaella also looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
Is this what grandmothers feel when they talk about their grandchildren with pride?
Luckily, Penelope was feeling better that day.
She’d had a fever recently, but today seemed normal.
I’m a little worried since she’ll be seeing not just Raphaella but also Leah… but just for a short while should be okay.
Penelope had been wanting to see Raphaella and was also curious about her mother.
“…I think a short visit is okay.”
“Really? Thank you so much.”
“Just make sure it’s only a thank-you visit.”
“Grandma, we’re going to see Aunt Peppy now?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Excited, Raphaella held her grandmother’s hand, and they headed to Penelope’s room together.
—
Penelope looked a bit thinner but still welcomed Raphaella warmly.
Isabella stood quietly, clearly deep in thought.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Penelope,” Leah said as she approached.
“Oh! You’re Rafi’s mom? So nice to meet you.”
Penelope, who looked just like the Duchess Dowager, was still cheerful and bright despite being bedridden.
If she were healthy, she’d probably be running around the garden with Rafi instead of lying in bed.
“Thank you so much for what you did for Raphaella that day.”
“I only did it for Rafi—and all I did was pass along a message, so I feel a little embarrassed getting thanked like this.”
Penelope blushed slightly.
Leah took a closer look at her condition.
Her body seemed dried out and her skin looked worse than a village child she once treated—but it showed very similar symptoms.
If I could just check her tongue and bite wounds…
But with the Duchess Dowager right there, it wasn’t easy to ask.
“Mom, can you go get me the first volume of ‘Classic Mythology Tales’ from your room?”
“Right now?”
“Yes, I’ve been meaning to give it to Raffi, but I just remembered.”
“Well, how about later—”
“I really want to give it to her myself. Please?”
“Sigh, fine.”
“It’s in a hard-to-find spot, so you’ll have to look for it yourself.”
“All right…”
Although surprised by the request, Isabella left to find the book.
“…You seem like you have something important to say.”
As soon as she left, Penelope spoke up.
“…How did you know?”
“You kept sneaking glances at me while watching Mom at the same time. It was pretty obvious.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.”
“More than that, it felt like you wanted to talk to me without Mom around. Am I wrong?”
“Well… that’s…”
“I asked her for a hard-to-find book, but she might still come back quickly.”
That’s when Leah realized Penelope had purposely helped her get a chance to speak alone.
She was extremely grateful—since she’d been struggling to find a way to check Penelope’s condition.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask about your health.”
“My health?”
Penelope looked confused.
“This might sound strange, but I learned about magical medicines from my grandmother, and I can make various remedies.”
“I’ve heard from Rafi! She said her mom can make any medicine.”
“Well, not any… but a few years ago, I treated a child with a condition really similar to yours.”
“Really? You really did?”
Penelope sat up slightly in surprise.
“That child also started drying up after being bitten by a strange fish.”
“…And what happened to that child?”
“It took a whole year to make the cure, but they fully recovered.”
“Seriously? They got better?”
“Yes, really. And your symptoms look almost the same, so I wanted to check a few things.”
“What kind of things?”
“Would you mind showing me where you were bitten?”
Penelope carefully removed the glove she always wore on her right hand to hide the scar.
Leah examined her right index finger closely.
The wound looked worse than the village child’s, but it definitely had the same pattern.
“…Could I also check your tongue?”
It was a bit embarrassing, but Penelope closed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.
The darkened tongue matched the symptoms of the other child almost exactly.
She was bitten by the same species of fish—no doubt about it.
Now sure of the cause,Leah knew she needed to act fast.
“Do you also feel really thirsty?”
“Yes. That’s why I always keep water nearby.”
Penelope pointed to a water jug and cup on her bedside table.
“…Do you think I can get better too?”
Penelope looked at her with hopeful eyes.
“Your case is worse, so I need to make the medicine quickly—but yes, you can recover.”
According to her dreams, Penelope would die in about three years if nothing changed.
But there was still time to save her.
“Really? Can I really get better?”
Penelope’s eyes filled with tears.
“Aunt Peppy, don’t cry.”
“Rafi, I’m crying because I’m happy. I can get better and play with you again!”
She hugged Raphaella tightly and cried tears of joy.
“…Penelope, why are you crying?”
Just then, Isabella returned, holding the book, and walked toward them with a concerned look.
