Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Welcoming (1)
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She hadn't even noticed that the fire in the fireplace had died down.
"Miss."
A familiar voice roused Rose from her deep thoughts.
"...What is it?"
Rose turned her head from the window. There stood a maid named Sonya, her nose dotted with freckles.
Sonya had followed Rose from Vicander Castle. Of course, she hadn't volunteered. She'd been pushed into it because she was the youngest.
That was why Sonya was always curt and half-hearted with Rose. She hadn't said a single word to her even in the carriage on the way here.
"Sonya!"
Another maid standing behind her suddenly scolded her.
"Watch your address! Call her Madam."
"......Ah."
Sonya flinched in surprise and mumbled.
"Madam......"
"We're so sorry, Madam. Please forgive her."
Sonya was the one at fault, yet the other maids rushed to apologize on her behalf. If anything, it only cowed Sonya further.
Rose gazed at the dejected Sonya and the maids beside her, who were peeking at her expression.
'How strange.'
The other maids, excluding Sonya—all long-time servants of Schmichael Castle—had been no different from her at first.
They weren't rude, but they were strictly businesslike, and at times, they seemed wary of Rose.
It was probably due to the rumors about her circulating in high society. That she had such a nasty temper she'd gone through several maids. Or perhaps resentment over having to serve yet another duchess, the eighth wife.
But then,
'What on earth happened to them all?'
Everything changed after Head Maid Selma's stern reprimand.
'Your attitude toward Madam is deplorable! Get your act together!'
Under Selma's firm command, the subtle air of distrust among the maids vanished in an instant.
It was like the heavens and earth had been turned upside down. Rose had seen these maids in her previous life too, but she'd never known they could be this kind.
And that was not all.
Selma had also swiftly dealt with Sonya, who couldn't shake off her sloppy habits from Vicander Castle.
'Do you know where you are, giving me that insolent look?'
'No, I......'
'Madam, forgive us. May I take a moment to teach Sonya the rules of this household?'
Sonya had been dragged off by Selma like a drowned rat and returned with a crestfallen face. And she had become remarkably—nay, extraordinarily—docile.
"Madam, I'm so sorry...... The chief physician is here. Shall we proceed with the examination?"
Sonya asked carefully, paying attention to every word. Her pitiful appearance might have stirred sympathy in anyone else, but Rose's heart remained unmoved.
She remembered everything Sonya had done in her previous life.
'You think that maid won't send any word back to the Vicander family?'
Dane had been right.
Sonya had eagerly carried news of Rose back to the Vicanders. Thanks to her, Viscountess Vicander had grown even more arrogant, constantly nagging Rose.
I knew it. His Excellency couldn't possibly take a liking to the likes of you. Things like that.
'I wonder what she'll report this time.'
Rose was immensely curious what reaction Viscountess Vicander would have upon hearing the news.
"Very well."
When Rose nodded without any rebuke, Sonya's face brightened. Soon after, Joel entered the room carrying his examination tools.
"Madam."
"Come in, Joel."
Rose welcomed him while reclining comfortably on the bed. Joel approached the bed and asked in a gentle tone.
"How is your body feeling? I can prepare some medicine if you'd like."
"It's just fatigue."
Rose shook her head with a soft but firm demeanor.
"A bit of rest should do the trick."
"Hmm, but His Excellency......"
Doesn't seem to be letting you sleep?
He couldn't quite bring himself to say it, so Joel furrowed his brows with a smile.
Everyone in the room, Rose included, knew the truth. Dane that morning had been an absolute beast.
"Ahem, very well. In that case, I'll instruct the kitchen to prepare some nourishing dishes. That should be fine, yes?"
"Yes."
She had refused indirectly, but in truth, Rose had no desire to take the medicine Joel prescribed. Everything he did and said struck her as suspicious.
"Madam, allow me to take your pulse for a moment."
Thump, thump.
She couldn't forget the pain of that dagger piercing her heart. Chatting with Joel felt like a creepy insect crawling up her body.
But she gritted her teeth and endured. Pretending nothing was amiss, she extended her wrist to him.
'I need to extract information.'
She had to find a chink in the armor of this man who could stab someone with a straight face.
"Your pulse is normal, but your hands are a bit cold."
"Is that so."
"They were somewhat cold when I checked yesterday as well. Do you often feel cold in your hands and feet?"
It was because she was tense in Joel's presence. But she couldn't admit that outright.
"A little."
"It seems your blood circulation isn't great. Hmm......"
After a moment's thought, Joel said,
"Schmichael winters are quite harsh. To get through this winter, you'd be best served with medicine to warm your body."
"Do that, then."
She could always dispose of it secretly.
Rose agreed for now, not wanting to arouse Joel's suspicions by refusing too vehemently.
"Thank you, Joel."
"Think nothing of it. Aren't you His Excellency's precious one? We must take extra care."
His smiling words somehow felt laced with barbs. Or perhaps it was because they came from Joel that they felt that way.
"You've had a long day."
Rose deliberately changed the subject. She needed to draw out more conversation from him.
"It's no hardship. If crossing from that corridor to this one counts as hardship, then perhaps it is."
The servants around chuckled softly at Joel's joke. Before she knew it, the room's atmosphere had relaxed.
Joel had probably always been this sort of person. That was why no one had ever suspected him.
"Have you always lived in this castle?"
"I have no family. Well, I do."
As Rose paused, Joel continued.
"His Excellency Dane is my family. He is like a son to me."
It was a touching statement, coming from the man who had killed him with his own hands.
His brazenness left her speechless. Seeing everyone around her moved by Joel's words only fueled her anger more.
"Have you served His Excellency long?"
"Since his father—the previous Duke Wosen Schmichael."
Assuming it was mere curiosity from the new lady of the house, Joel answered every question with ease.
"You've been here a very long time. Doesn't it get stifling, staying in one place?"
"Haha, not always. I go out to purchase herbs sometimes."
"Why not send a merchant?"
Rose played her role to perfection. With an innocently wide-eyed expression, she feigned pure curiosity and kept the questions coming.
"That would work, but I'm rather picky. I need to check the quality myself to be satisfied. Besides, no one in the castle knows herbs as well as I do."
"Hmm, so you go out every time. Must be a hassle."
"Every Monday. That's when the herbs are freshest."
Rose committed Joel's words to memory.
'Every Monday.'
It was her chance to search his room. She might even find traces of his collusion there.
Joel shrugged with a laugh.
"No need to worry. It's not far."
"I'm grateful, that's all. You're the one in charge of His Excellency's 'health,' after all."
Rose plastered on a bright smile as well, slipping in a barb of her own.
It was acting she could never have dreamed of in her previous life. Dying once and returning seemed to have made her quite shameless.
"Haha, I'm delighted Madam cares so much for me."
Joel didn't bat an eye.
"Ah, Madam, if I may."
He glanced around briefly, then leaned in to whisper as if sharing a secret.
"You wouldn't happen to need...... barrenwort?"
"Barrenwort?"
Rose widened her eyes in surprise.
The herb Joel mentioned—barrenwort—prevented pregnancy. It was an infertility weed.
The old her, before regressing, would have been mortified by the question.
'He's wary that I'm winning His Excellency's affection.'
But the current Rose saw through Joel's intentions with cold clarity.
Who was pulling his strings? Someone who didn't want the Schmichaels monopolized by her.
Her thoughts raced, but her actions were swift.
"What's that?"
Rose tilted her head innocently, pretending not to understand.
"......"
Joel studied her face intently for a moment, then
"I've said something unnecessary. Just an old man's concern."
He rose casually from his seat.
"Rest well tonight. His Excellency should return around noon tomorrow."
Was it normal for the chief physician to know His Excellency's schedule so well?
Rose barely restrained herself from questioning him.
Given that he wanted Dane dead, it wasn't strange if he was plotting something. Was he even hiring assassins? Her head ached from the endless suspicions.
"I'll take my leave, then."
Once Joel left, Sonya carefully straightened Rose's bedding.
"Good night, Madam."
After placing a single candle on the table, the maids silently exited the room.
"......Hoo."
Alone at last, a wave of exhaustion crashed over her. It was the aftermath of facing Joel while strung tight as a bowstring.
Rose forced her heavy eyelids open and pondered. What she needed to do now, and where to start.
And she reached a conclusion.
'I need to go meet His Excellency as soon as possible.'
There were a few things only she could do for him. She had to hurry to prepare.
'Tomorrow......'
He would return. Rose closed her eyes, comforted by that fact.