Chapter 130
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130
Harriet pressed her advantage immediately, giving him no room to manufacture an excuse.
"You’ll have to stake your honor on this. If I sue them, you will be called to the stand. I wonder, will your friends still look at Tez Roark the same way after that?"
"Don't do this, Harriet."
"I would prefer you address me as 'Miss.' We are not friends."
Tez dragged both hands over his face, his expression twisting into a troubled mask as he began to plead.
"I didn't know it would come to this. I truly wanted us to be friends."
"You fed Bella Listerwell information that could be used against me, and you 'didn't know' it would come to this? Are you a fool, or do you take me for one?"
"I never heard a word about this going to the press!"
"The newspapers aren't the point! You know exactly what kind of woman she is. Bella asked for information on me with a clear objective, and you complied. And yet you claim you didn't know...!"
Harriet’s voice rose in anger, but she caught herself. She suppressed the surge of fury and shook her head sharply.
"Let’s stop. This isn't a matter I need to discuss with you any further. Oh, but mark my words."
She looked directly into Tez’s eyes—eyes that flickered with a pathetic mix of hope and apprehension.
"To me, you will forever be remembered as a cowardly, despicable man. Though, I suppose that won't matter much to a person like you."
Leaving him with those words, Harriet turned without a backward glance and boarded her carriage.
Left standing in her wake, Tez was forced to realize that Harriet—the woman he’d viewed as a fish already caught in his net—had never truly been his to begin with.
* * *
After parting ways with Tez and returning to the Fellon Estate, Harriet went to greet Trisha, only to find the new physician, Joseph, in the middle of an examination.
"Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll come back later."
"There’s no need for such formality. Come in," Trisha said, gesturing for her to enter. Harriet hesitated for a moment before approaching the bedside.
Roxana was also in the room, her attention entirely fixed on Joseph as he filled out a medical questionnaire.
"How many hours of sleep is the Madam getting lately?"
"Since starting the new medicine, she’s been sleeping much longer than before," Roxana answered.
"Does her total daily sleep exceed fifteen hours?"
"At least fifteen, sometimes up to seventeen. She seems to be sleeping far too much; is that alright?"
Joseph continued scribbling without lifting his head, his tone dismissive as if it were a trivial concern.
"The medicine is working as intended. To fight off illness, the body must draw upon its energy reserves, so it is natural to feel lethargic. It is best that she eats well and gets plenty of rest."
Trisha interjected, nodding in agreement.
"I do sleep a lot, but the pain has definitely lessened in return. My cough seems much better, too."
Harriet had to agree with that much.
Previously, even with medication, Trisha’s coughing fits were a constant backdrop to the house, and Harriet had often seen her clutching her chest in agony at least once every two days.
Recently, however, the coughing had stopped. Though, that might simply have been because she was always asleep.
Joseph offered a faint smile and pulled a medicine bottle from his bag.
"That is good to hear. This is your supply for the week. Take it once in the morning and once in the evening, just as you did last week. If you happen to have a severe coughing fit, you may take one pill from this smaller bottle."
"Thank you, Doctor."
As Trisha leaned her head back against the pillow, Joseph rose, gave a slight bow, and made his exit.
While Roxana tidied up the bedside, Harriet followed Joseph out to see him off. She had questions of her own.
"Doctor."
Joseph stopped and turned. "Yes? What is it?"
"I was wondering if it might be beneficial to take my grandmother to a hot spring resort sometime this month. Surely the air would be better for her than staying here..."
But before Harriet could finish, Joseph shook his head with stubborn finality.
"Hot springs are of little help in alleviating this specific illness. If the Madam, in her weakened state, were to embark on a journey, her condition could very well take a turn for the worse."
"But...!"
Harriet started to mention that Jasper, the previous physician, had strongly recommended hot spring therapy, but she bit her tongue.
A sudden suspicion flared: Jasper had handed over all his records and prescriptions to Joseph. How could their opinions on something as fundamental as hot spring therapy differ so drastically?
"Then... is there anything else that might help, aside from the medicine?"
"For the treatment of Higgs Legato Syndrome, the medicine I am providing is currently the best possible option."
"I see..."
As Harriet gave a lukewarm response, Joseph added, as if the thought had just occurred to him, "However, please do not mention this medicine to anyone else."
"Why not?"
"It was only recently approved, so production is still quite limited. If word gets out and others begin buying it up, we might not be able to secure enough for the Madam."
"So, other doctors aren't even aware this medicine exists?"
"It would be difficult for anyone but a diligent physician who stays abreast of the latest drug approvals to know of it."
Judging by the slight lift of his chin, he seemed quite proud of his professional superiority.
Harriet forced a wry smile and nodded. "I see. By the way, what is the name of this medicine?"
"It hasn't been given a proper name yet. The product name on the application was APR-35-QR5, or something to that effect."
"AP... Ah, I see."
"A layperson wouldn't understand the nomenclature even if I explained it. It isn't something you need to concern yourself with. If that is all, may I take my leave? My next house call is approaching."
"Oh! My apologies for holding you up."
Harriet saw him to the entrance. Unlike Jasper, who always preferred to walk, Joseph departed in a Fellon family carriage.
Harriet watched the carriage recede into the distance before returning to Trisha’s room.
Trisha had fallen asleep in the short time she was gone. Roxana had finished tidying and appeared to have returned to the office. A maid stood guard at the door, checking on the patient every thirty minutes, but for the moment, the room was empty.
Harriet sat in the chair beside the bed and gently took Trisha’s hand. It was wrinkled and dry, completely devoid of moisture, yet Harriet knew the immense warmth and kindness those hands held.
She whispered in a voice so low it wouldn't disturb the sleeping woman.
"Grandmother. You can call me selfish if you like. But I wish you would stay by my side just a little longer."
She prayed fervently that the Lucky Pebble, which she had returned to Trisha, would protect her once more.
* * *
There was no denying the effectiveness of Joseph’s medicine. Trisha, who had previously avoided going out because every cough was a battle with pain, had decided to venture out for the first time in weeks.
"Are you absolutely sure you're up for this?"
"This is the fifth time I’ve answered you, Roxy. I truly am fine. I feel a bit languid, but not so much that I’ll collapse while walking."
Trisha brushed off Roxana’s fretting as if it were nothing.
"The Grand Duchess of Kailas isn't the type of woman to take offense if I stayed home for my health."
"Who said anything about her? I’m going because I want to. Besides, she saved my grand-niece; I must go and express my gratitude in person."
"It’s all because of Miss Harriet, after all."
"Are you upset?"
Roxana shook her head. "No. I know this is part of your role as her guardian."
"I’m glad you understand. While I was focused on my recovery, I couldn't help her, even though I knew she was running herself ragged. Now that I’m feeling better thanks to this new medicine, I must settle the tasks I’ve put off."
Trisha lightly touched her hair as a maid made final adjustments to her attire.
Looking at her reflection, she had clearly lost weight. She expected to endure a barrage of tiresome inquiries about her health at the tea party being held today at the Kailas Mansion.
However, her complexion looked more vibrant than it had ten days ago, when she had been utterly exhausted by the constant coughing and lung pain.
As the maid fastened the final earring, Butler Andre arrived to inform them that Harriet was waiting.
"Well then, I’m off, Roxy."
"Yes. I’ve already told Miss Harriet, but please, do not overexert yourself."
"I said I understand. Goodness, you’re such a nag."
She grumbled playfully as she descended to the lobby, only to find another nag waiting for her.
"Grandmother, wouldn't it have been better to wear a more comfortable dress?"
Trisha shook her head, wondering if her own nagging sounded quite this repetitive. Without answering, she walked past Harriet and boarded the waiting carriage.