I stirred at the sound of rushed voices. I regained my consciousness but was straining to lift my eyelids which seemed to weigh a ton. It was hard to open them.
When I finally fully opened my eyes, I had to blink a few times to get used to the light.
"Madam! Madam!"
I wondered whose voice broke into worried shouts. When I turned to look up, it was Oliviel. She was calling for me with an urgent look on her face.
"It's okay, Oliviel. I'm fine now."
Relying on Oliviel's for support, I staggered to my feet as I stood. Seeing that I'm still in the spot from where I collapsed earlier, it seems that it wasn't long after I fainted.
For a short while, I leaned my body against Oliviel's and waited for strength to return to my body.
I know it's been like this since it happened to me a few times before. If I take a break for a few minutes, I'll be able to recover quickly.
It was only after several deep breaths that my legs began to regain their full strength.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
Oliviel's face expressed deep concern. I nodded with a smile.
"I'm fine. Look."
Oliviel didn't seem to believe me even after I showed her that I was able to stand on both legs quite fine.
It was expected. Less than a month after I came here, she had seen me fainted with blood on my mouth.
"Diana."
I heard someone calling from behind. Needless to say, it was Richard.
I slowly turned to look at him. His stunned face came into view.
"Just now……."
I felt sorry to see him open-mouthed in shock, and at a loss for words. I wanted to put off telling him of my illness, but I had a long way to figure out how to conceal it.
"This is nothing."
It's no big deal. I passed out and recovered again. But if this is nothing, then what is?
Richard looked like he had a lot to say. But he didn't seem to have any intention of asking me more out here.
I just looked at him who's seemed rather lost before I turned to walk away, leaving him behind.
Oliviel quickly supported me so I can walk comfortably.
"……Madam, why don't you cancel today's meeting with Viscountess Lumie and see a physician?”
Considering my health, Oliviel was right. But I couldn't help but meet with Viscountess Lumie today.
The reason at least since I'm going to the imperial ball, I have to get a new dress.
However, I couldn't be troubling Viscountess Lumie since she's a famous designer known in the capital and I haven't even made a reservation in advance yet I asked her to come today.
"What time will the Viscountess be visiting?”
"I'm supposed she'll arrive before dinner."
"Then I'll see the physician before that."
"……Yes." Oliviel replied reluctantly.
Oliviel seemed to emphasize more on my rest after being examined by a doctor rather than fitting on a dress.
Hastily, Oliviel ordered the maid to bring in the physician.
I lay in my bed and waited for the doctor to come. While waiting, I could hear the shouts of the Knights from a far distance.
Does he think I'm a spy? I don't even know how to wield a sword much less know anything about it, so how could I steal something confidential just by watching them train…
House Theodore's Knights were Richard's pride. He said they were capable of competing with the Imperial Knights. He said everything that needs to be said.
I wanted to see the Knights at least once when I came here, but I didn't expect to be rejected like this.
I might have handled myself quite pathetically earlier, so I honestly wanted to hide in a rat hole.
What else would he openly refuse me then?
Richard's determined face kept replaying in my mind. I couldn't stand the sight of him right now because he was so mean.
Soon, a little knock rang out in the bedroom.
"Madam, I brought the physician."
"Come in."
After I permitted them, the door slowly opened and an old man came entering. He bowed his head before he came closer.
"I'm Norman. I work as a physician for the Theodores. It's an honor to meet you, Madam."
"May I check-up on you for a moment?"
"Please do."
Dr. Norman asked me about some of my symptoms. It was easy to talk about it since I already knew. After putting my words together, Dr. Norman took out a stethoscope from his medical bag.
It was only after several deep breaths that my legs began to regain their full strength.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
Oliviel's face expressed deep concern. I nodded with a smile.
"I'm fine. Look."
Oliviel didn't seem to believe me even after I showed her that I was able to stand on both legs quite fine.
It was expected. Less than a month after I came here, she had seen me fainted with blood on my mouth.
"Diana."
I heard someone calling from behind. Needless to say, it was Richard.
I slowly turned to look at him. His stunned face came into view.
"Just now……."
I felt sorry to see him open-mouthed in shock, and at a loss for words. I wanted to put off telling him of my illness, but I had a long way to figure out how to conceal it.
"This is nothing."
It's no big deal. I passed out and recovered again. But if this is nothing, then what is?
Richard looked like he had a lot to say. But he didn't seem to have any intention of asking me more out here.
I just looked at him who's seemed rather lost before I turned to walk away, leaving him behind.
Oliviel quickly supported me so I can walk comfortably.
"……Madam, why don't you cancel today's meeting with Viscountess Lumie and see a physician?”
Considering my health, Oliviel was right. But I couldn't help but meet with Viscountess Lumie today.
The reason at least since I'm going to the imperial ball, I have to get a new dress.
However, I couldn't be troubling Viscountess Lumie since she's a famous designer known in the capital and I haven't even made a reservation in advance yet I asked her to come today.
"What time will the Viscountess be visiting?”
"I'm supposed she'll arrive before dinner."
"Then I'll see the physician before that."
"……Yes." Oliviel replied reluctantly.
Oliviel seemed to emphasize more on my rest after being examined by a doctor rather than fitting on a dress.
Hastily, Oliviel ordered the maid to bring in the physician.
I lay in my bed and waited for the doctor to come. While waiting, I could hear the shouts of the Knights from a far distance.
Does he think I'm a spy? I don't even know how to wield a sword much less know anything about it, so how could I steal something confidential just by watching them train…
House Theodore's Knights were Richard's pride. He said they were capable of competing with the Imperial Knights. He said everything that needs to be said.
I wanted to see the Knights at least once when I came here, but I didn't expect to be rejected like this.
I might have handled myself quite pathetically earlier, so I honestly wanted to hide in a rat hole.
What else would he openly refuse me then?
Richard's determined face kept replaying in my mind. I couldn't stand the sight of him right now because he was so mean.
Soon, a little knock rang out in the bedroom.
"Madam, I brought the physician."
"Come in."
After I permitted them, the door slowly opened and an old man came entering. He bowed his head before he came closer.
"I'm Norman. I work as a physician for the Theodores. It's an honor to meet you, Madam."
"May I check-up on you for a moment?"
"Please do."
Dr. Norman asked me about some of my symptoms. It was easy to talk about it since I already knew. After putting my words together, Dr. Norman took out a stethoscope from his medical bag.
"I have to put this stethoscope on your back, would you excuse me for a moment?" Dr. Norman asked carefully.
"Okay."
After Dr. Norman put the stethoscope on my back, I followed his instructions by breathing in and out several times, and then he made a whinge at the end.
"How many years has it been?"
I was wondering if someone could diagnose my condition with a stethoscope, but Dr. Norman asked me with a serious face. It appears that he already knew I had this disease for a long time.
"It's been five years."
"Hmm……."
Dr. Norman seemed reluctant to speak since he's bidding his time by slowly putting his stethoscope back in his bag. But I knew what he was going to bring up.
"It's Darnella's disease, right?" I couldn't wait for the doctor to speak, so I told him myself.
Dr. Norman nodded and sighed heavily, "Yes, it's Darnella's disease. So Madam already knew."
"It's my body, so of course I would know.”
The doctor kept a solemn face despite my light-hearted words.
"By the way, you're saying it's already been five years?"
"Yes, exactly five years."
A person contracted with Darnella's disease will have a lifespan of five to six years.
Surprisingly, I'm in great condition for the past few days considering I was created to be quite the burden in the story.
It's already quite fortunate that my marriage to Richard had been arranged for a year because I don't know if I would really last a year at this rate.
I had a lot of nosebleeds, suffered from severe headaches, and accumulated fatigue. I also spewed too much blood, sometimes I faint.
It wasn't normal from anyone's perspective.
"Don't worry too much, Madam. Although Darnella's disease has a high fatality rate, it is not incurable."
"Because the cure is the roots of the Rosiere flower, right?” I intercepted Dr. Norman before he could mention the cure.
"But how can I get that precious flower? They said that the medicine that is difficult to obtain even with money is the Rosiere Blossoms.”
It was a rare flower that bloomed every 100 years.
That's why the cure is called Rosiere Blossoms because Darnella's disease can only be cured with the roots of a fully bloomed Rosiere flower. However, even if I found a Rosiere flower, it was impossible to know when it would bloom.
My house also tried to obtain the Rosiere Blossoms.
……No, is it even true that they were trying to get it for me? I'm not sure at this point.
It was because my family was just as close to wanting me dead. Most of all, those people with the money they had couldn't possibly get a cure for Darnella's disease.
It was already a miracle that there was a cure for this disease even if it can't be obtained that easily.
"If the only cure of the disease is administering the Rosiere Blossoms, then I don't think we have to do any kind of treatment other than that.”
"Yes, Madam." Dr. Norman took my word for it. It was because the disease can't be cured even by him.
"Then, Madam, I'll prescribe you some pain relievers. You can have a servant pick them up tomorrow."
"I will."
The doctor politely excused himself as he bade farewell.
In the end, I was reminded of the facts that I already knew. The fact that I only have a year to live.
"Madam, about Darnella's disease...… is that the same disease that I know of?" Oliviel, who confirmed that the doctor had left, hesitated as she spoke.
Darnella's disease wasn't well-known, and only a few people knew of it. Even if she knew, she could do nothing about my condition.
"Yes, it is as you know."
Oliviel burst into a sigh.
"So it seems that you're terminally ill......”
I looked at Oliviel's face contorted by grief.
"I don't know if you heard earlier, but it's not incurable. To be precise, it would be right to call it incurable since there's not a sighting of a Rosiere flower for years but at least there's a cure for it."
Of course, the problem was that it was too difficult to obtain a bloomed Rosiere flower.
Oliviel's worried expression hadn't disappeared even after hearing my reassurance. I don't know what to do because she was making a face like she was about to cry. She doesn't seem to realize it though.
I stared at Oliviel and opened my mouth at the thought that popped into my head.
"Oliviel, as I said before, I'll tell Richard about my illness myself."
"Yes?"
"So, don't tell him yet, alright?"
It was Richard who thought I was a distraction. If he so much as caught wind of my illness, it's obvious he would start treating me like a burden just like in the novel.
"No, I'm sorry, but I don't think that's possible." Oliviel, who always heed my words, rarely protested.
"The Earl should know about your health since both of you are married."
Oliviel was right, to be honest. If it was the other way around and I later knew that Richard had such a disease, I wouldn't understand him trying to hide it either.
But I didn't want to reveal my illness to Richard because I hated it once he knew that I'm defective.
I know that I'm being childish but I can't help it.
"Madam, you have to tell him quickly so he can find a cure for you sooner."
"Who? Richard? Richard will find a cure for my illness?"
"Yes, even if that flower is hard to find, wouldn't we be able to get it somehow? If it's the Earl......”
That would be a miracle.
In this world, Richard was viewed as heartless and it was his way of expressing himself towards me.
I've been an incurable Darnella patient, and ever since he realized that he paid Duke Tristan to bring in a lump of baggage, he ignored me all the time.
Even if Diana, who was already at the death's door, begs for the cure, he doesn't even pretend to find it, revealing his heartlessness.
I already know that, and I'm begging Richard for a cure? No way. It's more practical to just pick a Rosiere flower by myself that would happen to bloom.
I had a lot of nosebleeds, suffered from severe headaches, and accumulated fatigue. I also spewed too much blood, sometimes I faint.
It wasn't normal from anyone's perspective.
"Don't worry too much, Madam. Although Darnella's disease has a high fatality rate, it is not incurable."
"Because the cure is the roots of the Rosiere flower, right?” I intercepted Dr. Norman before he could mention the cure.
"But how can I get that precious flower? They said that the medicine that is difficult to obtain even with money is the Rosiere Blossoms.”
It was a rare flower that bloomed every 100 years.
That's why the cure is called Rosiere Blossoms because Darnella's disease can only be cured with the roots of a fully bloomed Rosiere flower. However, even if I found a Rosiere flower, it was impossible to know when it would bloom.
My house also tried to obtain the Rosiere Blossoms.
……No, is it even true that they were trying to get it for me? I'm not sure at this point.
It was because my family was just as close to wanting me dead. Most of all, those people with the money they had couldn't possibly get a cure for Darnella's disease.
It was already a miracle that there was a cure for this disease even if it can't be obtained that easily.
"If the only cure of the disease is administering the Rosiere Blossoms, then I don't think we have to do any kind of treatment other than that.”
"Yes, Madam." Dr. Norman took my word for it. It was because the disease can't be cured even by him.
"Then, Madam, I'll prescribe you some pain relievers. You can have a servant pick them up tomorrow."
"I will."
The doctor politely excused himself as he bade farewell.
In the end, I was reminded of the facts that I already knew. The fact that I only have a year to live.
"Madam, about Darnella's disease...… is that the same disease that I know of?" Oliviel, who confirmed that the doctor had left, hesitated as she spoke.
Darnella's disease wasn't well-known, and only a few people knew of it. Even if she knew, she could do nothing about my condition.
"Yes, it is as you know."
Oliviel burst into a sigh.
"So it seems that you're terminally ill......”
I looked at Oliviel's face contorted by grief.
"I don't know if you heard earlier, but it's not incurable. To be precise, it would be right to call it incurable since there's not a sighting of a Rosiere flower for years but at least there's a cure for it."
Of course, the problem was that it was too difficult to obtain a bloomed Rosiere flower.
Oliviel's worried expression hadn't disappeared even after hearing my reassurance. I don't know what to do because she was making a face like she was about to cry. She doesn't seem to realize it though.
I stared at Oliviel and opened my mouth at the thought that popped into my head.
"Oliviel, as I said before, I'll tell Richard about my illness myself."
"Yes?"
"So, don't tell him yet, alright?"
It was Richard who thought I was a distraction. If he so much as caught wind of my illness, it's obvious he would start treating me like a burden just like in the novel.
"No, I'm sorry, but I don't think that's possible." Oliviel, who always heed my words, rarely protested.
"The Earl should know about your health since both of you are married."
Oliviel was right, to be honest. If it was the other way around and I later knew that Richard had such a disease, I wouldn't understand him trying to hide it either.
But I didn't want to reveal my illness to Richard because I hated it once he knew that I'm defective.
I know that I'm being childish but I can't help it.
"Madam, you have to tell him quickly so he can find a cure for you sooner."
"Who? Richard? Richard will find a cure for my illness?"
"Yes, even if that flower is hard to find, wouldn't we be able to get it somehow? If it's the Earl......”
That would be a miracle.
In this world, Richard was viewed as heartless and it was his way of expressing himself towards me.
I've been an incurable Darnella patient, and ever since he realized that he paid Duke Tristan to bring in a lump of baggage, he ignored me all the time.
Even if Diana, who was already at the death's door, begs for the cure, he doesn't even pretend to find it, revealing his heartlessness.
I already know that, and I'm begging Richard for a cure? No way. It's more practical to just pick a Rosiere flower by myself that would happen to bloom.
However, I'd rather find a way to obtain a Rosiere Blossoms after I've become an important person to Richard.
…… But can I do it?
I questioned myself, but instead of giving up without making an effort, I'll pave this thorny path as a means to my goal.
Just as he used me to obtain what he wants, I will use him, too.
"No, I don't want to go that far. And Oliviel, Rosiere Blossoms is also being obtained by my family, the Tristans, so don't worry about it."
…… But can I do it?
I questioned myself, but instead of giving up without making an effort, I'll pave this thorny path as a means to my goal.
Just as he used me to obtain what he wants, I will use him, too.
"No, I don't want to go that far. And Oliviel, Rosiere Blossoms is also being obtained by my family, the Tristans, so don't worry about it."
"Alright……."
If I didn't say it like this, Oliviel wouldn't accept it and would go and tell Richard.
I would like to talk to Richard about it only after I had established a bit more of my presence and catch his eye.
I couldn't afford to be caught now that I still haven't attained my purpose.
"Of course, even if I hide it, it won't last long. That's what I know best after suffering for five years from this disease."
My throat feels prickly for some reason.
"I understand that I'll have to talk to him right away but I don't want to be treated as a sickly patient until then. So can you keep it a secret just for a while?"
I took Oliviel's hand as she reluctantly agreed. Oliviel had no choice but to concede to my request.
I took Oliviel's hand as she reluctantly agreed. Oliviel had no choice but to concede to my request.
She was one of the few people who really cared about me not long after we met. Still, I was lucky to have met a good person during my stay here.
"I'm truly grateful to you. And I hope we get along in the future as well."
Oliviel nodded with an expression of uncertainty after she somehow understood the meaning behind my words.
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