Chapter 47
Following Lily’s order, May exaggerated her gestures as she explained.
“…So, on my way to buy madeleines as you commanded, I saw a familiar face, so I looked closer—and that familiar face actually passed right by me! I’m certain it was Rosie. She was with some man!”
Lily’s expression stiffened at the word man, and she asked anxiously.
“…A man? Was it the same one we saw last time?”
“No, someone else.”
“Someone else?”
“Yes. At first, I wasn’t sure, but it was definitely a different person.”
Lily had been listening with a grim expression, but now an irrepressible smile rose to her lips.
“Hah! I knew it…!”
Even if Rosie had managed to get here by some stroke of luck, she’d undoubtedly been abandoned by the man from last time. Every time Lily imagined that extraordinary handsome man—whom even she, after attending countless parties, had never once seen—standing beside Rosie, her blood had boiled. Now she felt a bit vindicated.
With newfound excitement, Lily asked,
“What did the man look like? Surely he was some old fellow with a huge belly, right?”
But May’s next words betrayed that expectation.
“He… didn’t look like that at all.”
Carefully watching Lily’s reaction, May continued. The man she’d seen was the complete opposite of the previous one in aura, yet handsome enough to rival him.
But she didn’t dare plainly say he was handsome. Who knew how Lily would react?
“I’ve already checked which room they went into, so you can meet them anytime you want. After treating you like that and running off, they deserve a lesson!”
May subtly egged her on, hoping Lily would storm over, force Rosie to her knees, and scold her.
But Lily merely looked at May as if she were pathetic before retorting,
“You want me to cause a scene when it’s unclear whether she’s even been recognized by a noble family yet? This is why uneducated people are useless…”
Lily’s blunt words, spoken without the slightest care for how the listener might feel, made May’s face burn red.
“Th-that makes sense… You really do think differently, my lady.”
“Hmph. Spare me your flattery. Help me get dressed first.”
“Dressed?”
“Yes. I have another ball to attend today.”
At that, May bit her lip without realizing it.
Knowing Rosie was staying at this hotel, yet Lily was only going to a party? Why did she look for Rosie then? Why had she hit May? For what purpose…
As May was stewing in such thoughts—
“I can’t possibly keep such an amusing bit of news to myself, can I? It seems some people still believe Rosie to be some grand noble lady, so I ought to enlighten them.”
Lily said with a wicked smile.
Only then did a smile creep onto May’s face as well.
The next day, Rosie rose early as usual, ate breakfast, and left the hotel.
She had been enduring the pain with painkillers, but her ankle simply wouldn’t heal. Her medicine was nearly gone, so she was heading to the clinic she hadn’t managed to visit last time.
“You’re up early again today, Lady Rosie.”
Several reception staff—now quite familiar with her—greeted her warmly. Rosie nodded lightly in response.
“Are you heading somewhere?”
One of them followed her outside and spoke to her. On closer look, it was the same employee she’d given ointment to before.
Rosie smiled.
“I’m heading to the clinic. My sprained ankle isn’t getting better.”
“Oh dear, you’re injured? If you had told us, we would have summoned the hotel’s physician. It’s terribly hot outside. Shall we call him even now?”
Evidently, the ointment incident had left quite the impression, and the staff member was even more attentive than usual.
Rosie shook her head gently.
She needed more painkillers, but she couldn’t ask for such strong medication in front of them.
“I’m fine. The breeze is nice, so I’ll take a slow walk.”
“But still—”
“It’s really fine. Thank you for worrying.”
Her kind tone made the staff member smile unconsciously.
How could anyone say those things about someone like her?
The staff recalled the malicious gossip she’d heard at yesterday’s party. A certain noblewoman—Lily—had swept in looking for Rosie from the moment she arrived, freezing the atmosphere, and soon began hinting that Rosie was promiscuous and had a filthy past.
The staff had wanted to defend Rosie, convinced she wasn’t that kind of person, but a mere employee had no right to intervene among nobles.
…Still, surely the rumors won’t get any worse than this.
But contrary to her hopes, the rumors only grew bigger day by day.
“…What do you mean there isn’t any?”
Rosie stared blankly at the physician. He looked troubled.
“You received a large amount of painkillers last time. If used normally, they should have lasted you years. Where did you use them all already…?”
He trailed off, staring suspicions at her.
Rosie avoided his gaze.
“There were… circumstances. Anyway, are you saying I can’t get painkillers anymore?”
The doctor didn’t like her vague answer, but he still replied honestly.
“That’s not it. The problem is the supply time from the capital… It’ll take about a week before we receive more.”
Relief softened Rosie’s expression. A week was manageable with what she had left.
The doctor continued,
“Painkillers aside, your ankle is in bad shape. The muscle is torn. You must avoid using it for at least a week.”
“…My ankle?”
Rosie stared at him in shock. She knew it was healing slowly, but a torn muscle?
The doctor nodded knowingly.
“You’ve been using the painkillers daily, haven’t you? That’s why you didn’t feel pain—but no pain doesn’t mean you’re fine. Your ankle has been deteriorating all this time.”
Rosie grimaced. He was right; she’d relied on the painkillers every single day.
“…What should I do then? I can’t just not use my foot for a whole week.”
Time was precious enough already, and she refused to waste an entire week locked in her room over an ankle.
But unaware of her situation, the doctor looked at her as though she were a fool.
“If you want to recover immediately, there’s only one way. Visit the Temple and receive a blessing from a high priest.”
“Ah…”
Rosie blinked.
Right—that was an option.
But the problem was the scarcity of high priests capable of using divine power. Receiving a blessing from one required tremendous wealth and influence. Even most nobles couldn’t afford it.
Rosie sighed lightly.
“…I suppose all I can do is pray the painkillers arrive quickly.”
Meeting a high priest was unrealistic. The doctor, embarrassed by the situation, awkwardly bowed his head.
“I’ll make sure you receive your medication as soon as possible. Please remain on strict rest until then.”
Rosie hesitated.
The doctor’s face hardened.
“Absolute. Rest.”
Rosie had no choice but to nod.
