Chapter 40

Three days after entrusting the investigation to the guardian birds, I was receiving a report from them in a corner of the courtyard.

"Hmm!"

"Hmm, hmm. Marion is sleeping alone in the annex, is she?"

"Hmm!"

"Luria-sama, that seems to be the case!"

Of course, I can't understand the language of animals, so I have Crow translate for me. When Crow asks, the leader of the bird guardians, the owl, answers on their behalf.

I asked Daru, Caro, and Korko to keep watch so that no one would see me talking to the birds. Still, I didn't let my guard down and, while looking around, I asked the owl,

"Was she properly taken care of?"

"Hmm, hmm, hmm!"

"She wasn't taken care of. She apparently took her meals by herself, picking up the food placed outside her door."

The birds are very competent and found Marion's location in the vast capital. Not only that, they also observed her closely.

"…Was she not taken care of because it's contagious?"

"…Hmm."

"It might be."

I feel sorry for Marion. Being left alone when you're sick is very lonely and distressing. Thinking back to when I was sick in my previous life and imagining Marion's situation, I felt tears welling up.

"Is it inevitable because it's contagious…?"

I wiped away the tears that had fallen with my sleeve. It's not me who is suffering, but Marion. I shouldn't be crying.

"Was Marion able to eat her meals?"

"Hmm."

"She hardly ate. She's lost a lot of weight."

If you don't eat, you won't get better. There might not be much time left.

"Symptoms? Fever, headache?"

"Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm!"

"High fever, headache, and rashes are the main symptoms."

"Is that… the disease I cured in my previous life?"

In my previous life, I cured tens of thousands of people and also contracted the disease myself. It's highly contagious and has a high mortality rate. Even if you recover, you're left with bumps all over your body. Of course, if I use my healing magic, the bumps won't remain.

"I think… it was called Scarlet Pox?"

It's called that because the whole body turns red and the scars remain even after recovery.

"If it's Scarlet Pox, it might be normal for her not to be taken care of."

In my previous life, I wasn't taken care of either. I was being bullied, so it was natural. Even the patients I cured were isolated and not taken care of. The weak who couldn't take care of themselves died.

"But if it's Scarlet Pox, I can cure it."

After visiting the wet nurse, I'll sneak into the annex where Marion is and use my healing magic. If it's Scarlet Pox, neither my father nor my mother would allow me to see Marion. It's a disease that kills about half of the children who contract it.

When I asked about the symptoms, my father said he didn't know, but that was probably a lie. If I mention the disease name, someone might know about its high mortality rate. He might have thought I would be sad and scared if I knew.

"Should I make some porridge…?"

"Even if you make it, you can't bring it there."

"I see… what should I do?"

"Maybe you could bring some sweets?"

"Hmm. That's a good idea."

Sweets are sweet and contain nutrients. When you're hungry, sweets are especially satisfying. Marion, who hasn't been eating much, must be craving something sweet.

"Thank you, everyone."

"Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm!"

I thanked the birds and gently petted them all. Then I asked them to continue gathering information.

◇◇◇◇

Three days after Luria said she wanted to visit the wet nurse, in the afternoon.

"The sweets are delicious! I'll eat more! So yummy!"

Watching Luria eat snacks in the dining room, Amalia had a bad feeling. Luria's tone was too exaggerated. Daru, who was standing beside her, was looking around suspiciously, as if he was up to something.

"…"

When Amalia peeked into the dining room from outside, she met Caro's eyes. Caro tilted his head and acted innocent. When Luria is up to something, Caro is good at covering it up.

"Luria-sama, please eat the sweets more slowly."

"I'll be careful!"

Even after being scolded by the maid, Luria continued to eat the snacks quickly, competing with Korko.

When Luria is plotting something, Korko doesn't try to cover it up. Amalia thought this was the case.

Whether Luria succeeds or fails, it's good for her. That's how Amalia perceives Korko's thoughts. Of course, Korko, being just a chicken, doesn't think deeply.

Unaware that Amalia was watching, Luria sneaked back to her room, looking around suspiciously. Daru was still with her, looking around, clearly hiding something.

Amalia followed Luria. When Luria returned to her room, she started doing something.

"Mmm~?"

"Daru, don't eat it. This is…"

She was definitely up to something. Remembering the praying mantis egg incident, Amalia couldn't help but call out.

"…Luria?"

"Ah! It's nothing!"

Luria was wrapping something in a handkerchief and hiding it behind her back.

"Surely, Luria, you're not trying to eat another grasshopper, are you?"

"N-no!"

She was flustered. Luria is bad at lying, and it shows on her face.

"If it's not a grasshopper, is it a cicada?"

"N-no! There's nothing!"

"Did you pick up a new animal?"

"N-no, I didn't!"

Luria was too flustered.

"Then, show it to Mother? You can show it, right?"

"Ah, no."

Sure enough. She must be hiding something similar to a grasshopper.

"Luria, show it to me."

"…Okay."

When I insisted, Luria reluctantly showed me the handkerchief. Inside was a cookie from the snacks served earlier. Amalia was relieved it wasn't a bug.

"Luria, why were you hiding the sweets?"

"Um… well, you see…"

Luria was hesitating. But Amalia understood Luria's thoughts.

"I'm not angry. I'm sorry for speaking harshly. I thought it was a bug."

"Bug!"

Saying that, Luria had a look as if she had a good idea.

"Bugs are not allowed?"

"I know!"

"…Are you planning to give the sweets to the wet nurse?"

Amalia thought Luria might be planning to give the bugs to the wet nurse. Luria tends to treat bugs like treasures, like a boy.

By the way, Luria's wet nurse is a girl named Sara.

"That's right. …Luria, if you want to give sweets to the wet nurse, I'll prepare them properly. You should eat this one."

"…Okay. Munch, munch, munch."

Luria started eating immediately. It's amazing how much she can eat for such a small body. She eats about two to three times as much as Lydia did at five years old. Yet she doesn't gain weight. It's enviable.

"Sweets can also go bad. Even if they don't, they can dry out and become hard and unappetizing."

"Even if they're hard, they're still delicious."

Luria looked puzzled. Despite never having experienced hunger, she dislikes wasting food.

A normal young lady would refuse, and even a servant would dislike cold or hard, dry sweets, but Luria eats them all. It's as if she's searching for the good parts of the food rather than the bad.

"That's true. But freshly made sweets are better. I'm sure the wet nurse would be happier with fresh sweets."

"Okay. Mother, please prepare a lot of sweets?"

"I understand."

Luria seemed worried that the wet nurse might be hungry. The wet nurse's father is a wealthy baron, so she wouldn't be hungry.

"Don't worry, it's fine. You're such a kind girl, Luria."

Amalia gently hugged Luria.