Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Midway Check-Up
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It had been twenty-six days since I woke up as Rubettria Diorus. Four weeks into this hellish diet.
And today was...
"Are you ready, miss?"
"Yeah."
...mid-check day.
"Step up."
"Got it."
Rebecca had brought a kitchen scale into my room from early morning, looking terribly tense.
This large industrial scale, used for weighing ingredients, was standing in for a proper body weight scale to help with my mid-check.
Without hesitation, I climbed onto the empty platform and sat down cross-legged.
"...?"
Rebecca checked the needle moving above my head, then rubbed her eyes and looked again.
"What's wrong?"
"Uh, this... is this real? It's not broken..."
"It can't be broken. How much?"
"One forty-nine pounds?"
'At 149 pounds, that's just under 68kg. Started at 180, so over 10kg down.'
Maybe because I had so much to lose, the weight was dropping at a whole different pace than when I'd maintained a slim figure.
Satisfied, I stepped off the scale, and Rebecca threw her arms around me.
"Miss!"
"Oh my."
She was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.
"What in the world happened to you? I mean, to go this far with such determination...!"
"Too early to celebrate. That's only a third of the goal."
I still needed to lose another 20kg to hit target.
"B-But don't push too hard. You look totally transformed already, even at a glance. Actually, the Duke..."
"Dad?"
"Yeah. A few days ago, he called me aside and asked if someone was starving you on purpose."
"What?"
Dad, why are you so overprotective?
If there was one thing I couldn't figure out, it was Dad's inner thoughts.
The pinnacle of indifference, he'd been anxious at meals that I wasn't eating enough. It was exhausting.
'If only you'd shown this interest sooner, tsk.'
Shaking my head, I spread a mat on the floor.
Time for home training.
"Ah! Home tr... whatever? You're doing that?"
"Yeah. If Dad asks again, tell him I'm losing weight for my health and to mind his own business."
"Hmm, I couldn't possibly say it like that... but I'll pass it along roughly."
"Thanks."
Once Rebecca—far more excited than me—packed up the scale and left, I stripped off my dress.
Underneath, I wore a bra top and leggings.
Custom-made workout gear I'd commissioned from tailor Becky.
'Ah... inner pieces...'
Was there any time happier than home training in this outfit, redolent of modern civilization?
It was the one moment I could recall the leisurely life of my Juliet Karénine days.
'If only I could blast some classical music... perfection.'
Spread my legs wide side to side, lay flat on my stomach—I swallowed my regret.
Then.
Knock knock.
A timid knock.
"Who is it?"
"...It's me."
Viego's voice.
I hadn't seen his face since the big blowup last time.
If he was coming all the way to my room after that fight, there had to be a reason.
"Come in—"
I froze for a second, realizing my revealing workout clothes showed my shoulders and midriff.
"—please."
Too much hassle to change.
The door opened cautiously.
"...!"
Viego hesitated as he entered, then his eyes went wide.
"You, you!"
Slam!
He quickly shut the door and whipped his head away.
Snap! He flicked his fingers, and the blanket from the bed floated over, wrapping me up tight.
'Oh ho, so that's telekinesis.'
Telekinesis—the power to move objects without touching them.
Viego's spirit ability.
"What is it?"
"What the hell is that scrawny outfit?"
He finally glanced back, face beet red, and snapped.
"Workout clothes for home."
"Hah, even at home...!"
"Oppa. I'm in the middle of exercising, so make it quick."
He paused at my curt words.
Biting his lip, he strode to the table and set down two large boxes.
"Grandmother bought these for you on her recent rest trip."
"You're delivering them yourself? Nothing else?"
"...'
"Have the servants handle stuff like this from now on. No need for a busy person to come all the way here."
"Rubette."
"Yes."
"Grandmother came to me worried that you've gotten too sensitive. I told her about Riki—how we teased you and played excessive pranks..."
"So?"
"She was furious. She's never once disciplined the twins, but she beat Riki's calves so hard the switch broke."
"Ah, she did it again?"
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'She doesn't hesitate to burst her precious son's calves. What a woman. No wonder Viego's been fooled his whole life.'
Viego hesitated, then added,
"...She feels too guilty to face you, knowing you're still hurt."
What nonsense.
I snorted and gave a half-hearted "Yeah, yeah."
"Rubette, honestly... don't you have more grudges against me? If I'd behaved properly from the start, you wouldn't hate Grandmother or the twins."
"...'
"Forgive your flawed big brother and let it go. Grandmother's innocent. She misses seeing your face..."
"Ah, got it. I'll think about it. Thanks."
As Viego opened his mouth to say more, I flung off the blanket. He squeezed his eyes shut and spun away.
"Go on."
"Haa..."
"Not busy?"
"...Fine, I get it."
Looking like he wanted to talk more, Viego retreated empty-handed against my iron wall.
The moment he left, I tossed the blanket onto the bed and headed to the table.
Grandmother's luxuriously wrapped gifts: two boxes.
One chocolates, one tea.
"Hm."
Examining them, I spotted something odd and turned to the bedside table.
Opened the drawer: a tea box.
'This is from Grandmother's last "rest" trip.'
Carrying it back to the table, I placed the two identical tea boxes side by side and let out a hollow laugh.
"Look at this?"
* * *
Grandmother left the estate once a month under the guise of rest.
Rest, my foot—it was playtime, touring famous spots with young men on her arm, spending lavishly.
She'd return laden with souvenirs. For me, always desserts and tea to go with them...
'Souvenirs varied by destination, but the tea was always the same type?'
Since becoming Rubette, I hadn't had much tea time, and never drunk Grandmother's tea even once, so I'd forgotten.
But today, receiving her gift, it hit me.
Every tea leaf she'd given me before was the same kind.
"Aaron, smells good, right?"
"Yes. Malrove tea leaves."
I sipped from the cup Aaron poured.
Aaron Mueller.
In my past life, the capital doctor who'd given Rubette her terminal diagnosis.
'Aaron's one of the rare honest doctors.'
He'd pitied Rubette so much he'd scoured for overweight complication treatments.
Known as a skilled young physician, he'd turned down noble families' offers to be their exclusive doctor and ran a small clinic in the capital.
'More into serving than succeeding, that doctor.'
He treated poor commoners for free or cheap his whole life.
Trustworthy, so I'd shown him Dad's condition before.
"Hmm."
Lifting the cup to sniff, I pretended to sip.
Glancing up, Aaron smiled awkwardly, as expected.
"What's wrong?"
"Hmm..."
He scratched his cheek, hesitating.
"Uh, Duchess. You always drink Malrove tea?"
"Yes. I've stuck to this tea for quite a while."
"Ahh..."
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"No, no problem."
Ahem. Clearing his throat, Aaron said,
"Malrove tea is quite expensive. The leaves are used medicinally too."
"Then it's good for you."
"Of course. It's great for underweight patients who can't absorb nutrients well from food."
"Oh ho. Aids nutrient absorption, huh. Healthy..."
I forced a smile, lips curling.
"...for gaining weight?"
"Yes, exactly. Fat's essential in moderation..."
Trailing off, Aaron eyed me.