Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Taming the Fake Lady (3)
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"...What in the world is going on?"
I opened the door to check out the commotion somewhere down the hall, and the first thing I saw was Hildia, Alfred, and Abera locked in a struggle right in front of it.
"Mr. Ganeghan. Young Lady Abera says something's wrong with her."
At Alfred's words, Abera snarled in a shrill voice.
"Something's wrong with my body because of him! Ever since he gave me that shot!"
Alfred and Hildia exchanged glances once more.
"Even if you say that... I don't see anything particularly wrong with you..."
It wasn't unreasonable for Hildia and Alfred to react that way.
Right now, Abera just looked angry. There was no sign that her body was in pain or anything unusual.
The two of them figured her flushed face and body were probably just from the heat.
As always, the dress Abera wore was adorned with lavish frills and decorations that covered parts of her body. No wonder she felt hot.
Anyway, since Abera was insisting that 'this was all because of Ganeghan,' Hildia the maid and Alfred the head butler couldn't just stand by. Alfred turned to me.
"Did you give Young Lady Abera an injection?"
"Yes. It was more of a nutritional supplement than a medication."
I gave a clear answer in a steady voice.
My straightforward response made Alfred and Hildia hesitate, but Abera exploded and stepped forward herself.
"Hey. You definitely did something to my body, didn't you?"
"What do you mean by 'something,' specifically?"
"You put something bad in my body! I'm feverish, my whole body is burning up... and I'm feeling dizzy right now!"
Hmm. Right on target with the effects.
I felt a surge of satisfaction inside. If things kept going like this, securing my place in the mansion would be that much smoother.
I forced down the proud smile creeping onto my face and spoke with a blank expression.
"From what you're describing, if those symptoms are real, it sounds serious. Excuse me for a moment."
I placed my hand on the lady's forehead, and her golden eyes, brimming with conviction, looked up at me.
But my expression didn't change. There was no fever on her forehead.
"No fever, at least. Lady Abera."
"Then what's with my body constantly heating up?!"
"Wearing something cooler might help."
"Hah, Ganeghan!"
My relaxed expression probably irked her, and so did the servants' increasingly puzzled looks. She made a face of exasperation and continued.
"I, Abera, am telling you I'm not right!"
A sharp command from Abera, rarer than a creature from legend.
The hallway air froze in an instant. Alfred's mouth gaped open, and Hildia and the other maids held their breath.
In that silence, I smiled faintly and spoke again.
"You're right. Something does seem off."
"This isn't something you can just brush off! I'm saying it's your fault I'm like this!"
"No need to worry, though. From the symptoms, I've already figured out what it is."
"A disease? Y-you injected me with germs?!"
The lady flinched back in shock, but I just gave her a gentle smile and shook my head.
"No. Thanks to the nutritional supplement, Lady, your body is actually healthier than ever."
"Liar! That's a contradiction. Don't try to weasel out—you just said it was a disease yourself!"
"Yes. You could certainly call it a disease."
"Then spit it out already! Who do you think I am? The eldest daughter of the Menesil Family, Abera de Menesil!"
"I know."
After answering, I casually glanced around.
The maids were staring breathlessly, and Alfred still couldn't close his mouth.
By now, the maids had filled up one entire side passage of the hallway. Yeah, this should be enough.
I turned to Abera, who was glaring at me with intense resentment, and carefully parted my lips.
"There are so many rare diseases in the world. The modern world's full of weird stuff, isn't it? A world where drugs circulate freely among ladies like you."
"Cut the nonsense and tell me what it is. Serious or mild, don't expect mercy."
"It's a disease called altruism. Also known as compassion."
"...What?"
My answer felt out of left field, making Abera twitch her eyebrows.
Still feigning composure, I continued.
"For a more detailed explanation, could you reflect on your usual routine, Young Lady Abera?"
"Enough pointless talk— just tell me the name of the disease...!"
"It's not pointless. Trust me and talk with me for a bit."
"Ugh...!"
Abera glared at me fiercely, but I couldn't back down here.
A brief silence.
The maids began whispering. Alfred was watching us. Abera, who cared more about her public image than anyone, couldn't ignore my request.
Sure enough, she cleared her throat with a ahem and straightened her back stiffly.
She'd barely regained her usual haughty demeanor.
"Fine. If you want to make a fool of yourself, I'll play along. The people in this mansion aren't idiots—they'll see through any sophistry you spout."
At her words, I simply nodded.
"Yes. Just tell me how you usually spend your days."
"How? Well...!"
Looking displeased, Abera fanned her cheek with one hand and continued.
"I don't waste a single minute or second. Every day, I check on the Menesil Family's affairs and take care of myself without neglect. The day flies by in that process."
"Well said. Your schedule seems awfully packed."
Hmph. Abera snorted triumphantly. The excitement from moments ago was gone; she looked smug now.
"Packed doesn't mean I can't handle it. That's what ability is."
"I don't doubt your abilities, Lady. But you must be very tired."
"Tired or not, it can't be helped. That's my fulfillment."
"Exactly. You've always been busy and tired, Young Lady Abera."
"Hm...?"
Doubt crept onto Abera's face.
Her golden eyes wavered, rippling with my reflection. I spoke plainly toward it.
"Even an outsider like me knows it well. You're the finest lady of all, Young Lady Abera. You're never neglectful of those around you, nor lax in self-care. No wonder they call you the best."
"Y-you know it well."
Ripples stirred in Abera's steadying gaze. I took one step closer to her.
This was the first time I'd approached Abera.
"...Eh? Huh?!"
Naturally, the lady seemed a bit flustered. Her barely subsiding pink flush reignited fiercely.
And she looked most startled by her own body's reaction.
"I told you at the start, didn't I? It's a disease called altruism. I'm not saying you're neglectful of self-care—not at all—but what I want to emphasize is that you've been looking after others even with a tired body. That's how exemplary your compassion is, Lady."
"S-so what?"
"Naturally, a body that should be tired isn't, so you're surprised by that."
"M-me? Surprised at not being tired...?"
"It may sound contradictory, but doesn't this show your perfection too? Feeling this out of place with your own vitality proves how diligently you've pushed yourself all along."
"Is that... so?"
Abera glanced around in confusion.
The servants were already nodding along, looking pleased with her.
It looked like I'd successfully convinced them.
In my words, Abera had become the ultimate overachiever—always brimming with altruism, working so hard that her own energy felt awkward. At least, that's how it sounded to the servants.
"Oh, so that's... No, ah... I, I did something embarrassing because of that...?"
She didn't hate the situation but was still flustered. Abera looked bewildered.
"Ah... I see! I misunderstood... No, that can't be? Wait... Ah. What if I really did misunderstand? I'm so sorry..."
Abera started rambling incoherently. Now for the finishing blow.
"Sometimes, you should enjoy this vitality at your leisure. Free yourself from the obsession to exhaust your body until you're tired. And honestly, I'm pleased on one hand."
"W-what about?"
Abera's eyes went wide.
She probably thought she'd woken someone sleeping soundly with her misunderstanding. So of course she'd be thrown off when I said I wasn't upset.
"The first person you thought of and came to, now full of vitality, was me. How could I not be happy?"
"Eh? N-no. It wasn't like that!"
Abera flailed her arms in the air. Her face was flushed to the max, like it might burst with a pop any second.
"N-no! That's not it! Eek?!"
As Abera stumbled with her legs tangling, I grabbed her arm and gently touched her forehead with my other hand.
"You seem to have a slight fever now."
"H-hee, ah, hah. Hiyaat?!"
The moment my hand touched her forehead, Abera shuddered violently.
Then she collapsed straight to the floor. I could have supported her, but I deliberately let her sit down.
The maids began whispering, rolling their eyes. The lady sat in the middle of the hallway, flustered.
"E-eh?!"
Facing her confusion from emotions she hadn't yet grasped, I just gave her a kind smile.
The relaxed expression she usually wore.
"Looks like your body still needs rest. Would you like to come to my room for a bit?"
Instead of answering aloud, Abera—still seated, clutching the hem of her dress over her crotch—nodded vigorously.
"Ah, Alfred!!"
She suddenly shouted for him.
"Y-yes! Lady!"
"Right now! Everyone, go back to your duties! Hurry!"
"A-ah, yes. Understood!"
Before Alfred could give orders, the maids scattered at her cry. Soon, the hallway was empty except for Abera and me.
I quietly swung my door wide open.
"You can come in now, Lady."
"A-ah, yes. Yes! Of course! I'll go in. So don't look this way!"
"Shall I?"
The lady, clutching her crotch with both hands and trembling legs, barely stood and dashed past me into the room.
At least it's going smoothly.
As I thought that and moved to close the door, I felt a gaze from the far end of the hall.
'Dia?'
Pink eyes staring blankly at me.
They bore into me with an unknowable emotion for a while before vanishing into some corner of the hallway. The feeling was oddly cold.
Does she have something to say?
Well, focus on Abera first. This is for Dia in the end, anyway.
Shaking off other thoughts, I closed the door.
Hildia, who was mopping the floor, and Alfred, arranging potted plants, locked eyes in the air.
They went back to mopping and trimming, only to lock eyes again.
"Hey."
They called out to each other at the same time.
"Ah, you go first."
"Alfred, you first."
The two looked awkward. But both seemed itching to speak.
"Then I'll go first..."
Their voices overlapped again. Alfred cleared his throat, and Hildia took a step closer, unable to hold back.
"Um... about Young Lady Abera."
"That's what I wanted to talk about."
"Right? It feels that way, doesn't it?"
"Seems so. I was shocked too."
"Oh my! Oh my! What do we do?! That Young Lady Abera?"
Hildia hopped in place, squealing like a girl.
And then their voices overlapped once more.
"She must be in love!"