The Three Sisters (4)

I handed over the vial without a single excuse. I simply admitted my clumsiness and accepted the blame. Even if it wasn't truly my fault. Because that was the path for Ellensia to recover from the flu one step ahead.

She could resent me as much as she wanted. She could blame me and question my errors all she liked. And with me not denying it, she even had the justification to do so. But Veronica would quickly realize what took priority upon seeing the vial in my hand. This girl... she was that kind of child.

"...Is this medicine for treating the flu?"

Yes. This girl would never choose to scold me and waste time in this situation. She knew how to temper her anger and slowly regain her composure. That's why I offered no excuses or explanations. To avoid any drawn-out argument questioning if my response was false.

"Yes. It's medicine specifically for treating Ellensia's flu. I bought some I'd prepared in advance."

"Understood. Then I'll give it to Ellen right away..."

-Swish.

I placed the medicine directly into Veronica's hand.

"Family Head?"

"Give her one spoonful, three times. Then wait ten minutes. If the fever drops and her breathing lightens, give her two more spoonfuls. If her breathing improves but the fever rises, give one more spoonful. Repeat until the fever fully subsides. After that, no more is needed."

"..."

"I'll take my leave now."

Having explained the dosage, I left Ellensia's room without looking back. There was no reason for me to stay any longer. I, who had become the cause of Ellensia's illness, had no place in this room.

And so, another unchanged future slipped by. The fact that the fake family head was the cause of Ellensia's flu remained unaltered. Just as in the past, time would flow on like this once more.

But...

'Why is it taking so long? I thought it was about time.'

After taking the medicine, Ellensia's breathing would lighten rapidly, and her fever would drop. Meaning, delivering the medicine and clearing Tutorial 4 should happen within a minute.

'...Did bringing the medicine a bit earlier cause an issue?'

Fortunately, that worry was quickly dispelled.

'Yeah. No way it wouldn't.'

It was just a slight delay. Because I'd brought the medicine even earlier than scheduled. After that... the familiar morning I knew would arrive, just as always.

After taking the medicine, Ellen's breathing quickly improved. Not only did her fever drop, but she no longer shivered or made any pained sounds.

'Good.'

Only then could Veronica finally relax.

"Ellen sis... is okay now?"

"Yes. Probably."

Widen had said this flu could only be cured with medicine. If she was better, it meant they'd used the right one—and correctly at that.

"Everyone, you've worked hard. You can go now. I'll stay with Ellen."

"“Yes, miss.”"

The maids withdrew. Their worried gazes shifted to ones of relief. Now it was time to return the ducal residence to its normal state.

"Can't I stay too?"

"Lucy, you have etiquette class. You need to go back too."

"Ugh... but Ellen sis is like this. How can I do class?"

"No slacking, okay? Ellen wouldn't like that either."

"Eek! R-Really?"

"Of course. She always says to study etiquette diligently without skipping."

Lucy puffed her cheeks with a buu-, but since it was her sister's words, she reluctantly stepped away from the bed.

"Sis, sis. Then can I come later? Heehee."

"Yes. After you study hard."

"O-Okayyy~!"

Puffing her cheeks once more, Lucilla headed off to her lesson. Now alone with Ellensia in the room, Veronica rewetted the cloth, wrung it out, and placed it on her forehead.

"..."

Ellensia slept peacefully, her breaths soft. She would recover soon, but the moment she'd collapsed... Veronica's heart had plummeted.

"I... have to protect her."

She was her sister. The sister she had to guard in their mother's absence. The thought of nearly losing her was agonizing.

Protect her. She bowed her head, repeating it over and over. She didn't want to lose any more family. She had to protect them. No matter from whom.

So.

-Whoosh.

"I'm sorry."

This was the only way to handle it. Veronica bit her lip hard as she watched the letter burn fiercely.

"Miss Veronica."

"Eek...!"

Startled by the sudden voice, Veronica jumped. Someone had approached from behind.

"Tia. You scared me."

She didn't want to show weakness to others. Fortunately, it was just Tia watching over her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you... But is Miss Ellensia okay? Her breathing sounds much better now."

"Ah, yes. I gave her the medicine."

"Medicine? Has Doctor Widen arrived already?"

"No, not that. It was... someone else who got it."

Widen, who had gone to fetch flu medicine, hadn't returned. He might not for a while, busy chasing down physicians. But hearing she'd taken medicine and improved would seem odd to Tia.

Though reluctant to say it aloud, an explanation was needed.

"...The Family Head got it."

"The Duke did?"

"Yes. Right after you went to find the map and gave it to Widen, before he left the residence. That's when the Family Head brought it."

"I see..."

What was clear was that Ellensia had improved after taking it. Still, Veronica had no desire to defend that man. He'd brought the medicine as 'Family Head,' but he'd also neglected the flu as 'Family Head.'

Anyway, Ellensia was recovering well. Wasn't that what mattered? Veronica forced a smile.

"A lot happened while you were gone."

"..."

"Tia?"

"I'm sorry. Your answer caught me off guard."

"Me too, honestly."

Somehow, Ellensia's flu had been resolved quickly thanks to the medicine. But questions lingered in Tia's mind.

'The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Duke wouldn't have medical knowledge...'

Widen had said it required a physician to procure. That implied specialized expertise. Without even knowing the medicine's name—just that it was a recently trendy flu without a proper one—distinguishing and finding it demanded knowledge.

'And it was supposed to take time to acquire...'

Even after getting the map, Widen had said it'd take considerable time. Yet he'd brought it now, this early...

No matter how she thought about it, it was strange... but one thing was certain: the action wasn't threatening Ellensia but purely meant to help.

'He wouldn't do anything against the contract... but I didn't expect him to act with such intent.'

His solitary movements ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and secrecy had been suspicious, but this? She should express gratitude for his diligent effort instead.

"More importantly, Tia, shouldn't we call Widen in?"

"Ah, yes. I'll send for Doctor Widen right away."

A short while later.

Widen returned to the residence upon hearing the news. Tia handed gratuities to the two who'd gone searching for him, cleanly wrapping up the aftermath.

'I hope this prevents any rumors.'

She then approached the elderly physician groaning as he dismounted.

"Whew. Getting old is rough. Even riding a horse is a chore now, heh heh."

"You've had a hard time. Sorry for making you come all this way for nothing."

"No need. This is better news, isn't it? Miss Ellensia took medicine quickly and is recovering."

After visiting physicians everywhere with no luck, his purpose had vanished. Yet Widen chuckled heartily, calling it good fortune.

"But how did it happen, Tia?"

"Pardon?"

"The medicine Miss Ellensia took. Who got it, and how? Isn't it strange? No one in the ducal family has the flu, and we don't have specialists to identify it."

Oh, right—she'd forgotten to explain that. Tia would find it odd too, and Widen, as the family physician, would question it most deeply.

"Don't tell me that guy... finally made a move?"

"No, not Berg, sir."

"Hmph. Got my hopes up for nothing. Then who was it?"

"...Well."

Tia finally explained everything.

"...The Duke brought the medicine?"

"That's what they say."

"No... how could he..."

Widen tilted his head in bewilderment. No matter how he thought about it, that man didn't seem capable.

The doubt Tia had shelved resurfaced. She empathized with Widen's confusion. She'd thought the same: could the Duke really have obtained it?

"Well... it worked out, didn't it? Miss Ellensia will recover quickly. Nothing bad about that."

"Yes. True."

"Then I'll head to my room. Tia."

"You've worked hard."

...But the doubts didn't vanish easily. She'd have to meet him soon anyway. She could resolve it then.

"Mm... Veronica sis?"

"You're awake now? Silly."

A warm hand combing her hair. Ellensia opened her eyes at the familiar touch—her sister's, unmistakably.

"Wh-What happened... Oh."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Only then did Ellensia realize she was lying down. Her memory faded after her head spun a few times. Waking in her own room, with Veronica nursing her. She could guess what had happened.

-Squeeze.

A sharp reprimand followed immediately.

"You have to say when you're sick. How can you hold it in? Do you know how worried sis was? I kept asking if you were okay when you staggered, and you just said yes... then you collapsed. Haa."

"Sorry, sis."

She had no words, even if she had ten mouths. Collapsing in front of everyone...

"Ung...? Siiiis?"

Lucilla, dozing against the bed, woke at the sound. Her wide-eyed little sister greeted her even more fervently.

"Ellen sis!"

"Eek! Lucy."

Hugged tightly, she endured another round of sisterly nagging—not quite nagging.

"Come to think of it... how long was I out?"

"You were really sick. Flu, they said. Won't get better without medicine, so you suffered a ton."

"R-Really?"

"Even takes from morning to noon to make. Only a special method works for mana users like you—later batches don't."

Shed heard it in high society once. A notoriously nasty flu.

"Well... luckily they got medicine, so you recovered fast."

"Did Widen get it? Gotta thank him."

"..."

"..."

Somehow, the reaction felt off. She'd assumed the family doctor, but... maybe not?

"Not Widen?"

"Well..."

"What's the point if that old man got it!"

"Lucy."

Veronica hesitated, urging restraint, but the immature little sister raised her voice instinctively. Suspecting at "old man," Ellensia soon realized: the Duke had procured the flu medicine.

"The Duke... brought it?"

"..."

Veronica nodded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠silently.

"Still, you should thank him."

Lucilla burst out indignantly.

"Why do you have to thank him! That old man made sis siiick...!"

"Lucy. That's enough."

"But..."

"We said no yelling in front of a patient. Here, sis'll peel you an apple. Eat together?"

"Ah, yeah!"

Ellensia wondered why the youngest acted that way... but the topic didn't continue.