Chapter 71
Rowena. I’ll get straight to the point. My sister’s condition is worse than expected. Her fever has risen high, and she’s seeing things and hearing voices. We’re doing everything we can, but the doctor said we should prepare ourselves. Still, I believe she’ll be on her feet again soon. I’ll write again. —Cedric Godwell
It was a telegram that had arrived late last night. The joy of receiving the letter she had been waiting for lasted only a moment; at its grave contents, her heart collapsed.
Though the firmly pressed handwriting did not reveal it outright, she could feel the plea for her to come see Lauren. She wanted to go up at once, but Damian weighed on her mind. Though his injury was slowly improving, he was still at the point where he had to walk with crutches.
Not only was it absurd to make such a long journey in that condition, but if she went up to the capital, there was also the faint fear that someone might recognize her.
“I’m sorry……”
The fact that she could do nothing for the person who had stayed by her side when she was suffering, now that that person was gravely ill, tightened around her heart. Rowena burst into tears and was clutching the letter to her chest in self-loathing and guilt when—
“Mom.”
Damian, who had entered without a sound, called to her.
“Damian……?”
Rowena, who had not even thought to wipe her tears, lifted her head and stared blankly at her approaching son.
“You’re hiding something from me after all, aren’t you?”
Rowena stiffened like someone caught stealing and hurriedly hid the letter. Seeing that, Damian held out his hand.
“Damian, this is…”
“Show me the letter. The ladies and men working here all look grim too. Something happened to Aunt Lauren or Cedric, didn’t it?”
Now that she had already been found out, she could no longer hide it. Even if she tried to gloss it over, he looked as though he would never back down, and in the end Rowena raised the white flag.
“The truth is, Aunt Lauren is very ill. That’s why Mr. Cedric went up.”
“If she’s very ill…… how much?”
“……”
“Could she die?”
At the words she had barely managed to avoid facing, Rowena squeezed her eyes shut. Reading the meaning in her expression, Damian quietly moved his lips.
“Go to Aunt Lauren. Mom.”
“Damian?”
“Go right now and hold her hand. You want to, don’t you? Aunt Lauren will want to see you too.”
“Damian. You still need someone to look after you. I can’t leave you behind.”
“Mom.”
Though her heart was full of the desire to go, Rowena hesitated, and Damian answered her firmly.
“I’m not a baby. And if you don’t go to Aunt Lauren until the very end, I think I’ll be really disappointed in you.”
“If I go, I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back. Depending on her condition, it could be a week, or it could be a month……”
“It’s okay. All the ladies and men here are nice. Once I’m all better, I can go up there too. So don’t worry and go. Okay?”
Damian smiled as if to reassure his mother and held Rowena’s hand tightly. Rowena silently looked down at her son, who had grown so much before she knew it.
“Have a safe trip.”
Damian kissed Rowena lightly on the cheek as she sank down, then added tenderly,
“Tell Aunt Lauren I love her and that she has to get better soon. Mom.”
* * *
After holding Damian, who had pushed her onward, for a long while, Rowena headed for the capital that very day.
Since she was going up to the crowded capital, a disguise was essential. She put on the black-haired wig she had prepared just in case, then pulled a hat low over it, and she was unrecognizable.
She took a carriage to the train station, reserved a ticket, and found a secluded seat in the farthest corner. Fortunately, there were few people, so she was able to feel a little more at ease.
Only after the train had run along the tracks for two full days did it arrive in the capital. Unlike the quiet countryside, the capital’s train station was brimming with life. As soon as she left the station, Cedric, who had been waiting in advance, approached her. Perhaps mindful of others’ ears, he called her by her alias.
“Diana!”
“Cedric.”
At the sight of the familiar face after so long, Rowena smiled brightly. But that joy lasted only a moment; sorrow surged within her at his gaunt face.
“You look terrible.”
“Do I? I gained so much weight staying at my sister’s house that I was thinking I ought to lose some anyway. This worked out well.”
Cedric answered with affected nonchalance, as if trying to reassure the grieving Rowena, and led her to the carriage. Inside the carriage on the way to the hospital, Cedric first asked after her.
“Damian is doing well, isn’t he? I was surprised when I saw the telegram. I had thought from time to time that he was mature, but still.”
“Even I, his mother, was surprised. It makes me wonder if he grew up too early because of his useless mother.”
“I told you not to say things like that.”
Only after exchanging light greetings and catching her breath did Rowena get to the point.
“How is Lauren? Is she getting a little better?”
“To be honest, even two days ago I was worried sick, but perhaps the new medicine suits her. She’s been a little better since yesterday.”
“That’s a relief!”
At the bright news she had been hoping for, Rowena’s eyes filled with tears and she thanked God.
“I thought something truly terrible was going to happen. I prayed and wished so desperately that she would get better. Then there’s no problem now, right?”
At the desperation in Rowena’s eyes, Cedric silently swallowed a bitter smile. Then he muttered as if to himself,
“I truly wish that were the case.”
“Cedric……?”
Rowena saw the shadow cast over his handsome face and was about to part her lips when, with exquisite timing, the carriage came to a stop.
“We’re here. Let’s get out for now.”
Cutting off Rowena’s words, Cedric opened the carriage door.
“Diana!”
The moment she entered the private hospital room, Rowena almost burst into tears at the familiar voice calling her name. Lauren’s once sturdy, plump face had become much thinner and more haggard. Lying in the sickroom, she did not look as though she even had the strength to sit up.
“Lauren……”
When Rowena drew close and took her hand, Lauren stroked her cheek. At the warmth of that hand, Rowena finally spilled the tears she had been holding back.
“Why are you crying? You’ll make me sad.”
“I’m so sorry I came so late……”
“No. I heard Damian was hurt. I also heard that portraits of Diana were circulating, and since the child was sick too, I fully understand that you couldn’t come.”
“Thank you.”
Rowena kissed Lauren’s forehead as she smiled weakly and spoke gently.
“There’s no one in this room but us, so just call me Rowena.”
“I will. You must have had a hard journey. Have you been well? How is Damian?”
“He’s much better. His wounds didn’t even leave scars.”
“That truly is a relief.”
Their peaceful reunion lasted only a moment. Lauren began to cough, then coughed as if she had gone mad. Flustered, Rowena handed Lauren a handkerchief and patted her back, but the coughing did not stop. Rowena looked down at the handkerchief, turned deathly pale, and called Cedric, who was standing behind her.
“Cedric! Call the nurse! There’s blood!”
Cedric’s face drained of color, and he turned and ran out of the hospital room.
* * *
Only after the nurse and doctor rushed in and administered emergency treatment did Lauren’s fit stop. After Lauren, drained of strength, closed her eyes as if fainting, Cedric and Rowena left the hospital.
Throughout the ride back in the carriage they had come in, neither of them said a word. Only after they arrived at the townhouse did Rowena speak heavily.
“What exactly is Lauren’s condition?”
“……I don’t know.”
“What……?”
“They said it’s a rare disease with no known name. They said there have been no cases in this country either.”
It was something she had never expected. Rowena covered her mouth and stammered.
“Good heavens. Th-then what do we do? What’s the cause? Is there a treatment?”
The situation was far more serious than she had imagined. With a shadowed face, Cedric shook his head.
“When they looked into it, there was a family member long ago who died with the same symptoms. They think a hereditary cause may have been involved. They said it’s a disease that originally appears suddenly……”
“My God. Lord.”
It felt as if the sky had fallen. Rowena buried her face in both hands and trembled from the shock.
“Is there no way? If she keeps taking the medicine they said had some effect……”
“Fortunately, there were similar cases abroad, so the doctor barely managed to bring back a few pills from overseas. It was effective, but they said she must continue taking it.”
“If it’s money, I’ll help. Even if I have to pour in everything I’ve received in royalties.”
“Rowena. That’s not the issue.”
Cedric squeezed his eyes shut and continued with difficulty.
“The doctor did bring it in once as an exception, but bringing that unapproved medicine into this country itself is illegal. The medicine is strictly regulated, so it will take at least another year to receive permission.”
Her vision went dark. Cedric murmured with a bleak expression,
“There is only one way…… but it’s nearly impossible. I am trying quietly, but……”
“What is it?”
“To find a smuggling route and make an illegal deal. I’m mobilizing not only my sister’s connections, but all of mine as well, but……”
Cedric’s face clouded. At the sight of this man, who always seemed calm and confident, showing weakness, Rowena sat beside him. This situation was painful and sorrowful for her as well, but no matter what, it could not compare to Cedric, Lauren’s blood sibling and family.
“I’ll help too.”
At the hand patting his back, Cedric turned his head and met Rowena’s eyes. At his gaze asking how, Rowena smiled.
“I’m a rising new author whose name is gradually becoming known now. Didn’t you know?”
It was a little out of the blue, but it did make sense. Art was in fashion in the capital’s social circles, and prominent nobles all wanted, in one way or another, to form connections with artists and boast of their refinement. Cedric seemed to waver for a moment, falling silent, but soon refused.
“That’s too dangerous. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
“Cedric. This isn’t a situation where we can afford to be picky.”
“What will you do if the worst happens? You can’t bear that much risk……”
They both knew the “worst” he spoke of without his having to say it aloud. At the face that briefly rose in her mind, Rowena clenched and unclenched her fist for a moment before answering resolutely.
“I’ll do as you said.”
“What……”
“I’ll disguise myself.”
“If you mean a disguise like the one you’re wearing now…”
“No. Of course I’ll keep wearing the wig, but I’ll also wear a mask. I’ll say the burn scars on my face are too severe, so I have no choice.”
“……It’s still dangerous. You’re a foreigner, so you stand out.”
“Then.”
At his firm opposition, Rowena kept her lips tightly shut for a moment, then dropped a bombshell.
“I’ll become your wife.”
To Cedric, who froze like a plaster statue at the declaration he had never expected, Rowena informed him,
“Of course, there won’t be any need to prove it with identification, so only as a pretense.”