Chapter 50

After looking at the letter for a while, Yurina sealed it and sprayed a lot of perfume as usual. It was the same scent as the floral soap that Raynald loved when he was a kid, saying it smelled good.

Yurina, who was fluttering like a fan, shook the bell with the letter exuding a pleasant scent. Soon after, Bessie brought a simple cookie with hot tea.

“Did you call me, My Lady?” 

Yurina looked at Bessie, who was setting the teacup on the table, with puzzled eyes.

“I didn’t need tea.” 

However, this was not the time when Yurina usually drank tea. Bessie smiled as she poured the steaming tea into the cup.

“Because the weather is cold. Also, you still have a fever.” 

“It’s okay. I’m all better.”

Although she spoke casually, Yurina was actually a little bit sick. ​​She had been living with a cold ever since she suffered a severe fever a while ago.

In fact, even this morning, her head was heavy and her body felt stiff as if she had muscle pain, so she was only able to get up after lying in bed for a while.

How did Bessie know when I didn’t even tell her? 

As if Yurina’s heart was revealed from her expression, Bessie touched her forehead and laughed out loud.

“It’s been 10 years since I’ve served the young lady, did you think I wouldn’t know? In winter, I can tell whether or not you have a cold just by looking at your face. You seemed to have a hard time waking up in the morning today. Fortunately, you don’t seem to have a fever. Should I call the doctor just in case?”

“No, it’s okay. I don’t have a cough or sore throat. My head is just a little heavy, so if I rest well today, I’ll be fine tomorrow.” 

Yurina took a sip of the warm tea as she watched Bessie place a couple more firewood in the fireplace. Instead of her usual black tea, the scent of chamomile tea, which is said to calm the mind, lingered in her mouth.

Bessie’s consideration of the littlest things made her smile.

‘Consideration for the small things…’

She didn’t know why Raynald’s face came to mind at that phrase. Yurina looked at the tin case on the table. It was the herbal tea that Raynald had sent along with a letter.

Although he said it plainly as if it were nothing, the fact that Aiden Tessie noticed and prepared the finest tea leaves meant that Raynald had worked hard to find a tea that was good for a cold so others could see it.

“Bessie, make that tea next time.”

Yurina suddenly became very curious about the taste of that tea. Even if it didn’t taste good, she was determined to drink it.

Bessie, who was observing while holding a mint-colored tin case that looked luxurious at first glance, exclaimed.

​​”These are tea leaves from the Kingdom of Crohn. Did Raynald send them?”

“Yes. Dave must have told Ray about the fever I had last time I went to the Crohn Kingdom. He sent me a tea that’s good for colds. They say it’s a special product of the Tessie Territory.”

Bessie carefully opened the lid to smell the tea leaves so that they wouldn’t spill out.

“It smells good too. But I don’t know what kind of tea it is. It’s my first time smelling such a sweet scent.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen this tea too. It must only be produced in the Crohn Kingdom. They say you can add milk, so you can drink it as milk tea.”

Bessie quickly spoke to Yurina, who took her hand back to the teacup. 

“My Lady, please wait a minute.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll make a new cup of tea for you quickly!”

Yurina lightly shook her head.

“No, you don’t have to. You can just make it next time.”

“No! I think this tea would be better. I’ll warm up the milk and bring it to you.”

It was really okay. However, even though it would be cumbersome to go back and forth, she couldn’t say it was okay anymore because Bessie looked happy. Eventually, when Yurina nodded reluctantly, Bessie left the room with an excited expression on her face.

“Oh, by the way, Bessie.”

Recalling the reason why she called her in the first place, Yurina pointed back to the table.

“Please send that letter to the Crohn Kingdom.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Bessie smiled brightly and left the room with a letter and a tin case.

* * *

The tea that Raynald gave her was much better than she expected. Although he said it was a good tea for colds, he also took Yurina’s taste into consideration, and as soon as she took a sip, she smelled the sweet fruity scent she liked.

The sweet scent lingered on the tip of her tongue, but at the same time, it felt bitter, so it wasn’t burdensome even when served with sweet desserts.

She thought it would taste like medicinal herbs because it was said to be good for colds. However, it was not so burdensome and it could be enjoyed lightly all year round. Even if it didn’t taste good, Yurina tried to drink it with sincerity, but she liked the tea enough to empty the kettle in no time.

‘I’ll have to ask you to send me a little more the next time I send you a letter.’

Yurina thought it would be nice to give it to the people she’s close with.

After having tea time with Bessie, who was sitting across from her, she said it was okay and Yurina got up. This was because one of the maids from Marquess Carthia came and told her that Marquess wanted to meet Yurina.

Even though she was only moving inside the mansion, Bessie made a fuss as she followed.

“My Lady, why don’t you just leave?”

Bessie had a scarf, gloves, and earmuffs in her hands. When Yurina nodded in refusal, Bessie pouted her lips.

“Then you’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m going to be back in a bit, so it’s okay.”

“No. Last time you said it was okay because you were only out for a little while, but you caught a cold.”

When she said that, Yurina didn’t have much to say. Since she already had a record, Yurina gently approached Bessie. 

“Then I’ll just wear a scarf. I’m not even going out, so earmuffs and gloves are too much.”

“Yes.”

Yurina, wrapped in a red scarf, entered Marquess Carthia’s room and looked around. Even though it was midday, the room was dark because the curtains were closed. There were only a few candles lit to light up the room.

She felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere that was different from her room, which was always bright. Yurina paused for a moment, then passed the drawing-room and headed to the bedroom.

The Marquess was sitting on the bed, giving instructions to the maids who were taking out dresses one by one. 

As Yurina approached the bedside, the Marquess finally looked at Yurina and gave her a light smile.

“You’re here?”

“Mother.”

Yurina held her hand as she sat on the chair the maid had placed in front of the bed. Although it was winter, warm air lingered in the room because of the fireplace, but the Marquess’ hands were as cold as ice.

“How are you feeling?”

“How? I’m very good.” 

Contrary to her calm voice, her complexion was so pale that it was noticeable even in the dark.

As with other noblewomen, the Marquess was originally on the weak side. Even so, surprisingly, she hardly had any small sicknesses, but strangely, her body started to get worse from the fall of last year.

The family doctor, as well as Dave, tried to figure out the cause, but several months later, they still couldn’t find the cause. There was no particular illness, and there were no symptoms of poisoning.

The doctor cautiously said, ‘People who have poor physical strength can get sick rapidly as they get older.’ The Marquess stayed healthy last summer, even when it was hotter than usual.

If there was an abnormality, it should have appeared from then on.

Both the doctor and the people of the Carthia family knew it was just an excuse because they couldn’t find the cause.

The people of the whole mansion stuck together and took care of her with all their hearts, but her condition did not improve at all because the cause was unknown in the first place. For now, it was best that her health did not deteriorate further.

“You should worry about yourself more than me. I don’t think your complexion looks good. Is your fever rising again?” 

The Marquess patted Yurina’s cheeks and forehead with her cold hands. The Marquess was worried that Yurina’s face was hot, but no matter how much she thought about it, Yurina’s cheeks weren’t hot, but instead, her hands were cold.

Yurina continued to hold her hand that was caressing her face and neck, blowing a breath.

​​“Don’t worry about me, I’ll worry about my mother first. The room is so warm, but your hands are so cold. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Sure. I feel light today after a long time. I feel refreshed. Why don’t we go for a walk together later?”

“Even if the sun is shining like that, the wind is quite chilly. Rest in your room today and go out next time when the weather is a little warmer. Even if you’re frustrated, spring is coming soon, so hang in there a little more.”

“You guys treat me too much like a patient that I’m going to get sick.”

“You guys?”

“Riggs came earlier and said the same thing.”

The Marquess grumbled in a clear voice so it was hard to believe that she was a patient with a horrible illness. Yurina gently rubbed the back of her hand and examined the Marquess’ face.

The Marquess had always been like a pure iris flower. It was unbelievable that she was a mother of four children, and still so pretty and youthful.

Her wrinkles were barely visible on her white, firm skin that was envied not only by wives of her age but also by girls of Yurina’s age.

Her bright, curious personality and behavior, and her way of talking made her feel like a teenage girl, so Yurina sometimes thought that she was not just a mother but a friend.

Her face had become more emaciated over the past few months, and her eyes had darkened. She lost a lot of weight and said that the dress she bought before was now very loose around her waist.

“Madam, what should we do about this?” 

“Ah, that’s a dress I really cherish… I can’t wear it anymore because it’s too big, and it’s a waste to throw it away.”