“You look very healthy today as well.”
Hetherson, who was taking my pulse, delivered a satisfactory result.
“Yeah. I’ve always been quite healthy.”
“No, you’re not as remarkably healthy as that. Your body is inherently weak.”
“I’ve never seen someone give medicine and then make me sick.”
Hetherson let out a hearty laugh.
...He’s laughing?
Since our last meeting, I had been speaking casually with Hetherson.
Given that we were in the same boat and, being a duchess, it was fine for her to speak comfortably, I felt at ease thanks to Hetherson’s consideration.
So, I thought it was okay to treat Hetherson more casually as well.
“No matter how I think about it, you just see me as a friend, right?”
“How could I dare to consider the duchess as a friend?”
That’s not true. It feels like it is.
After narrowing my eyes and glaring at Hetherson, I took out what I had prepared.
It was a small box, about the size of my palm.
Hetherson’s eyes lit up as she took the box and asked, “Oh. Is this the Hosan fruit?”
“Yeah. You can see the garden entrance over there. I picked it from there. If you’re curious about the tree, you can take a quick look on your way out.”
“Yes, I will. Wow. I can’t believe I’m seeing this in person.”
“Is this fruit really that precious?”
“At least, it’s not a common fruit.”
Hetherson examined the fruit with curious eyes.
Seeing the inquisitive gaze of a science student made me feel incredibly reassured.
I had a feeling that she would bring back a proper solution.
After observing intently, Hetherson carefully packed the fruit to take home for further examination.
“You got some on your hands, Hetherson.”
“Oh, dear.”
With a sigh, she hurriedly wiped her fingertips with a handkerchief.
“Fortunately, it didn’t stain.”
After confirming her clean fingertips, Hetherson smiled with satisfaction.
Then she took something out of the bag she had brought and handed it to me.
“This is the supplement I gave you last time.”
“You really brought it?”
“Since we need evidence to match our words. And it’s genuinely good for your health, so make sure to take it.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Thanks?”
“Oh. It means I’m grateful.”
Now that we had finished our business, we stood up from our seats.
“I’ll be going now. I’ll contact you if there’s any progress.”
“Okay. I’ll reach out if I have any developments too.”
“Alright. If you succeed in germinating, you have to give me a seedling too?”
When I mentioned that I was trying to grow more Hosan fruit trees, Hetherson subtly expressed her desire.
“Sure. I’ll do that.”
Since we were in the same boat, sharing that much wasn’t difficult.
Having said our goodbyes, Hetherson hesitated at the door instead of leaving right away.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you going?”
“Well, you see... actually...”
“Actually?”
After letting out a deep sigh, she quickly returned to the tea table and sat down.
Curious, I sat back down as well, and she wore a serious expression.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m scared.”
“Scared? Of what?”
At my question, Hetherson widened her eyes and lamented.
“Actually, every time I come to see the duchess, my heart drops. Doesn’t it feel like everyone is glaring at me?”
...That’s somewhat true.
Last time, they looked at me with sharp eyes, as if I were a fraud or a quack.
However, I couldn’t say that outright, so I awkwardly denied it.
“Oh, it’s just your imagination. Why would they glare at you?”
“Do you really think so?”
“...Do I have to hear the truth?”
“No, I’ll just think it’s not true.”
“Right. There must be some misunderstanding. Don’t worry too much about it.”
While she nodded at my reassurance, her expression was still filled with concern.
Wait. Is she really that worried?
At this point, I began to suspect that she might have been dragged away at some point...
“I hope I won’t get caught this time.”
Huh. This is real.
I widened my eyes in surprise at the story I was hearing for the first time.
“Did you get caught on your way out?”
“Yes. It was when I came to deliver the medicine last time.”
Ah, that time.
According to Hetherson, after delivering the medicine and cautiously making her way out, she was caught by Barhan and dragged right in front of Dante.
Of course, she went on her own, but it was practically like being dragged.
The expression she wore while explaining how scared she was felt almost pitiful.
But why did they take Hetherson?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Hetherson shrugged her shoulders and replied.
“They were just worried about the lady’s health. At that time, they didn’t know that the lady’s health issues were due to the Hosan fruit. The duke must have been genuinely concerned.”
“Hm. That makes sense.”
It was a sufficiently reasonable explanation.
My family does tend to be overly concerned about health.
The fact that their concern was directed solely at me is a bit of a problem, though.
When they ask me, “Are you okay?” it seems like they’re horrified, so they must have grabbed Hetherson to check on my health.
“So what did you say back then?”
“I just answered honestly. I said I didn’t know anything yet, so I would research harder to find out.”
Oh. That was a very honest answer.
“By the way, if you happen to get caught today, you have to keep the Hosan fruit a secret, okay?”
“Huh? Why?”
“We agreed to research it secretly. After all, this is a surprise gift.”
“The Hosan fruit is a surprise gift?”
“Yeah. My husband has severe cold hands and feet.”
“Oh. Cold hands and feet. That’s tough.”
“Yeah. I need to treat him with the Hosan fruit before it gets worse.”
For a moment, I thought I saw a look on Hetherson’s face that seemed to say, “You’re researching the Hosan fruit for such a trivial reason?” but she quickly turned away.
“Anyway, I wasn’t called here because I was sick today. So there shouldn’t be anything to catch me for, so don’t worry. I’m just saying this just in case.”
“That’s true.”
Only then did Hetherson stand up again with a brighter expression.
“As you said, I will keep the fruit-related matters a secret. Just trust me!”
She didn’t forget to leave with a spirited promise before exiting the room.
However, not long after leaving the room, Hetherson regretted her promise.
Didn’t she say there wouldn’t be any chance of getting caught!
* * *
The situation seemed similar yet different from last time. Last time, she had been hiding cautiously.
‘Today, I am confident.’
Today, she was confident.
Having come under the pretext of delivering supplements, there was nothing to be ashamed of.
Of course, she hadn’t entered illegally last time either. Ahem.
Hetherson puffed out her chest and confidently headed toward the main entrance.
Since she was going out anyway, she planned to check on the Hosan fruit tree as the duchess had mentioned.
But just before she could step into the garden...
“Excuse me, the duke wishes to see you.”
She was blocked by the butler.
In a situation that felt reminiscent of the past, Hetherson couldn’t help but tremble her eyelashes.
Having been quietly led, or rather summoned, to the office, Hetherson clasped her hands neatly in front of her and faced the duke.
Wow! This is really scary!
Please send me home!
Somehow, his gaze seemed even colder than last time.
Is this how a rabbit feels in front of a predator? I should never eat rabbit meat again.
“So, did you hand over the supplements well?”
“Yes! Of course. I handed them over properly!”
“But it seems like it took quite a while for just handing over the supplements.”
Gulp.
At the sharp question, Hetherson swallowed hard.
Her throat was dry and parched, while her palms were damp with sweat.
Please save me, my lady.
I’ve been caught.
“I, I did a simple examination as well.”
“Examination?”
Dante’s expression hardened coldly.
“So, what’s the condition?”
“Ah, very healthy.”
“Oh. I see.”
What’s going on? Why does it feel like his expression is getting more and more menacing?
“So, is there any progress regarding the issue you mentioned before?”
Hetherson hesitated for a moment.
The issue the duke was referring to must be the “strange and unexplained health issues” the duchess had experienced before.
If he was asking if there was progress, there was indeed some. She had discovered that the cause was due to the improper consumption of the Hosan fruit.
However, to speak the truth about this...
〈As you said, I will keep the fruit-related matters a secret. Just trust me!〉
The promise she made to keep her mouth shut weighed heavily on her mind.
...Should I just say it regardless of the promise?
If her limbs were intact, wouldn’t she be able to keep her promise better?
If she said she felt her life was in danger, wouldn’t the duchess just acknowledge it?
But in the end, she decided to uphold her loyalty.
Wasn’t she the only one who believed in and supported him when everyone else thought he was a quack?
Thinking back to the gratitude she felt at that time...
“I, I have nothing to say. I, really. It’s unfortunate, no, it’s regrettable. I’m sorry.”
She spat out the lie with all her might. But unfortunately, she had no talent for lying.
“You’re lying.”
“How do you know...!”
Gulp.
Hetherson, who reacted in surprise without realizing it, clamped her mouth shut.
Oh my god. Please send me home.