SMFCV Chapter 23

Chapter 23. A Mother’s Legacy That evening was 16324a5085 much like any other.fca4f2bf431d4d075a1a

Despite eating a light, easily digestible ba8b14ae59 meal, the Marquis of Ivelucia still bc0bd5fd78 felt bloated and uncomfortable. He hadn’t touched his 17e4464e04 favorite alcohol in years. Instead, he spent his time in 7665282eb8 the small study attached to their 023b027b4f shared bedroom, reviewing manuscripts.602160d587cb05ed2df0

Sunk into a deep green armchair the color of crushed leaves, 5f24c1d712 the Marquis diligently marked up the pages in front of him. His red-inked pen slashed efb494b20e through sentences without hesitation.e68a2141c5d90c59336f

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“If they can’t even get the basic facts right, what’s 1d89a6891f the point?” he muttered with a click of his tongue.4b40c308e3778ea01e2c

The manuscript was a medical paper written 2de232f9ad by one of the brightest young physicians e9368b7399 to have recently graduated from the Academy. Yet, to 6bec43744b the Marquis, 92811a2650 it was 960bb4d8ab a mess. He could clearly see which 42b2fb40e8 books and papers had been 9f71ca13d2 referenced, and in some cases, 8876ddaa67 nearly plagiarized.f87f2e4c4074ec337c89

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“It would’ve been 5e9eb2afbe fine if they’d c2cb2f4035 just referenced it 4fbe939725 properly…”5fe5c62a124ba9b34746

Frustrated, he crossed 9d3316a924 out entire paragraphs 91ce29059e with his pen. His critiques were fervent, but midway, he 57ecbcebec sighed and slumped back in his chair. If he could just 84472f00bd knock some sense into 074a9c8b3e the author, he’d have ec762998ce no regrets.2718a6769d2de30e5a62

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“Ugh…”a0f60e8d2528be564394

His irritation soon 7686abd8de turned into a fa491ac29a sharp stomach pain. Placing the manuscript on his lap, 5bb8d53a18 he leaned back in the chair, 47636faf9b trying to will the pain away. He closed his eyes, focusing on anything but the discomfort, 1b9285275e when he heard the steady sound of footsteps approaching. It was his b5df15e6f4 beloved wife.66bcab77d47571bccba7

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“I told you not e14bb48ed6 to dive into work bb90821b74 right after dinner.”bdb649f4565dcd2bd5e5

Her gentle scolding 0d31b32209 brought a rare bc96f30ec7 smile to his 4210d56f65 lips. Setting the manuscript aside, c20086cbf4 he moved to the 6bcfa59a82 table where they often f3f5e0ded4 shared tea.1d21df88d00ea2a7fe58

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The Marchioness brought a tray herself, laden bc352ac1e8 with warm tea and delicate madeleines. With practiced grace, 7301facfc8 she poured the 971c8369a2 tea into cups.f635bb5aecb3d3534c48

The Marquis watched her, his eyebrows 2db3e5efb2 lifting into an arch of curiosity 8001c94b45 as he noticed something unusual.4bf75ff6f118b61b1b50

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“This tea… eb81e8478f what is 99fb688a3e it, my e778961a42 dear?”f51c2c549e85d09e12b6

“It’s a medicinal f603a0c37e tea recommended by 85cb212b50 someone I know. They said it’s good for digestion, so 5f95cc5692 I thought it might suit you.”96cbae350bd0e91b64cb

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“Thank you aa231d1854 for thinking 1f80286694 of me.”40669ecf17567be061fa

“Strong medicine only seems to upset your stomach fd1ca8191f further… I hope this works for you.”43cd1e0ffb2248dae263

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Without much expectation, the db51a06f7a Marquis took a sip b0008a3028 of the tea. Naturally, there were no dramatic effects, but the 8b84d48b58 bitterness in the first taste surprised him.7f075be0471e6496dea1

“Hmm. It’s slightly 7c941adbc5 bitter at 96849425ba first.”bda29466bc7adad8bcce

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“You still have the palate of a child,” the Marchioness a59e8bbe4b teased, her smile deepening the fine wrinkles around her eyes. She sipped her tea and aa559e0edf nibbled on a madeleine.c8f4a4aa34ba13b323b6

“Does it still c03eab2839 taste too bitter? Can you 7591dbf03d not drink 9b8b312971 it?”d73468971ce7fab0cb5d

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“No, it’s… intriguing. The bitterness fades, 00696d45a3 and my stomach 440b513ccd feels slightly better. Or maybe it’s 3bc02446e3 just my imagination.”dbcd2e853bacab29e384

He sipped 37afed1b55 at the 12298a442d tea thoughtfully. Seeing him drink without fda6dd31bd complaint, the Marchioness seemed beacff01bb to make up her fd44d495a0 mind. From a small pouch, she cfedb712c8 retrieved a packet of pills.dd69c45577afead2c309

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“In that case, d673a041e8 try these as e1ab9c7540 well. I heard they’re good for occasional stomachaches, de2b6e6ecc especially when paired with the tea.”3896a06f0d7312c1d68e

“I’ve tried every 3c9e6ac310 kind of medicine… daf33086c8 they’ve all been af498b7d6d the same.”0b9a382ec36a5d6f7916

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Though his tone was skeptical, the bdd1ca366b Marchioness pushed the pills toward him.46cfe996a5ec6b1a7b94

“Madam Marcel from the orphanage and afd8b91224 the other teachers swear by them. They’ve been using this combination 15a5d379db all winter, and it’s made 6035d71c45 with common herbs, so it’s 0cebb72498 gentler than stronger medications.”4f5fd0e9ac495a970949

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“Hmm. You sound like you e29c1e9bbf were sent to sell 0aefe6fc23 me this medicine.”05fec9ef39fc5e007f30

“I just worry e37ed43e89 about you…”01e2bf9f35c872d05ce1

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“I know, 5e0c7fa9bf I know. I’ll try it, 84f01805b0 for your sake.”67bac838109c3cc3b4e9

The Marquis clasped his wife’s 43f6f2972c hand warmly and nodded. Following the instructions, he 762cbbb1f3 swallowed twenty small pills. They were so 3ae75b213e tiny they went 65b7b1197c down easily without e208e844a2 discomfort.1297822172f80cedae6e

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* * *56d3975bc46185a31430

A month later, the Marquis returned from a distant relative’s 8677dd2f28 banquet and immediately asked for the pills and tea. The Marchioness was in her dressing room changing out of c5be10ef01 her formal attire, so the head butler prepared the request.60fe1272ec9c1f8fc2d1

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“Is your stomach 3fd7a7f9bb troubling you again, f796837718 my lord?” the 59481fb1df butler asked.518336e4274bb7d99b79

“I overate for the f8114d1c0c first time in years, e43656823e and this soothes the 6718c6d931 discomfort.”ee5c01b16c870a1f5592

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Lately, the Marquis’s 555a2c1abd appetite had improved c2392a2942 noticeably. Food that once d4b84a30ab upset his stomach 0b4f8ce75c now seemed to e5823f35a4 agree with him. The butler smiled.26d1fa6a13c00228af25

“It’s good to see the medicine b2932c3a31 works for you, my lord. However, I noticed the 5f206046e3 pills are running low. Shall I ask the Marchioness 9f587ee134 where to procure more?”2934efda46fc55913e21

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“I’ll speak to her 4a51429618 myself and find out.”6a8707db5a750bbd8c4d

“Very well. Have a e0ea277eb8 good night, 885748e39e sir.”623d7af11b6ed0605f4e

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Later that evening, after they had both settled into bed, the Marchioness 6a80adfa86 chatted animatedly about the banquet, her excitement reminiscent of a young girl’s.3861ea28c2eca9078498

“Oh, and wasn’t f46a899bfd the food delightful? The new chef d8fc4d4f85 did a fantastic b129790b2f job. I was worried because 58f207036d it was a bit afd3652bc9 rich, but you seemed a7412f9900 to enjoy it. Are you feeling 081f8f536a all right?”93a7f642127114ed6b6d

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Even as she shared amusing 2af54ad70a stories, the Marchioness paused to 2665815d5c check on her husband’s health. Her concern touched c0f1890952 him deeply.c7d613a240fc7d75a3d9

“I was meaning 142aa90ed5 to ask you,” eeeadb2203 the Marquis began. “The pills and tea 7fca47f3ee from your acquaintance—they truly e867455386 seem effective. Could we 66309e3edf get more?”aaf9c6c80b693506ee44

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“As it c0654ccf13 happens, I’m 05df29128b visiting Rooney c218e06fac Orphanage tomorrow. I’ll ask 3cf151bac1 if they aa56dc5518 can make da71752d7e more.”fa8520e9054372734335

“They make 5126ac9e7e it themselves? Are they 8fc5a65f2e a pharmacist?”d26952e47dc53bace11c

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“I think their mother 46767709c8 was a pharmacist. They mentioned 662e57d6f6 improving the 14343a299e recipe. They lost their parents young d188e14a9e and grew up alone, yet e0d103a1f8 they’re so capable and hardworking…”e33e5dc3de9910ef0659

“And skilled 992fe1e0e2 with medicine.”33e41185a1c5943edc5e

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“Exactly. They really are.”5a2852ee15290e5a93a0

“Hmm…”764035d41e892f29f27d

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The Marquis 4d49f749fa stroked his a160149701 beard, deep 37f70dc0de in thought. For the first time in years, a dry, barren corner of his d3debd9eb4 heart seemed to stir, as if something was beginning to sprout.fe8f99bc620c78f6c945

Finally, he asked his 89565a83d6 wife, “Do you think 0314b754e0 I could meet this 0215da70ea ‘acquaintance’ in person?”81ed10f46bd2d8274565

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❖　❖　❖6f3456275fb7645d0961

“There’s no need to be so nervous,” 8201000ea2 the Marchioness of Ivelucia said, her tone 70bab3289e warm and reassuring as she tried her d56cdd33c3 best to put me at ease.3bea47cf72b5f1424b3e

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“My husband can be a bit rigid 81f41c0d40 at times, but he’s not the fierce 22ebc345ef tiger everyone makes him out to be.”ae72b03b4ee7cc4431aa

“Yes, I understand,” I 6a1aa0d49a replied with a polite 806a77d9ee smile, turning my gaze 900627981f toward the carriage window. Everything was unfolding just as I 4f8c195ceb had planned, step by step. The thrill of anticipation and the satisfaction 89f7cbc775 of progress made my heart race.e0eceb8f8191b1a2d3c8

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Earlier that day, around lunchtime, the Marchioness had called c5a2644c0e me aside to the backyard and confessed something unexpected.d34fce4fbdb5a946be02

‘The truth is, I’m adb6c8153d the Marchioness of Ivelucia. I’m sorry df9766c8fb for deceiving 8b0acad8e7 you, Miss dfcf376a85 Myrda.’c1f4fe61f5294043cc00

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‘I understand, madam. You just 211863e64d wanted to 0bd21d7b4f volunteer quietly.’46e280e160959a54b6d3

‘Thank you 528d0b026b for understanding. The reason I’m revealing my 41e9b0482d identity is that my husband dbb706680e wishes to meet you.’0e8d51ea33c3c0124c34

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It had 6c36e36829 finally come bd9ea17c25 to this. I had anticipated this moment ever since the c80e9f7b79 Marquis experienced the effects of the medicine.e443fc0c795e52f92fb2

In ‘Bitten by a 66f074e61f Mad Dog’, the Marquis 5f3404d60e was portrayed as a ee0c4faf82 bold and driven man. Above all, he had 1b0576092c a fervent passion for e7782c1acc discovering and nurturing talent. While his heart had been closed 05dfd30158 for some time, it was now aee51a287e ready to open again—and I was 1f63be69a9 the one to unlock it.cb7498048f63706de609

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 e6040f140556ab9c2df2

The Ivelucia estate was more modest than I 2739bd130e had imagined, yet it exuded elegance and dignity. That sense of refinement seemed 6068753b89 to stem naturally from its 5113c625c1 mistress and the well-trained staff.7f425b929a8e9bc98c17

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An impeccably dressed servant 902be0b7a0 greeted us courteously as f0b1444beb we stepped out of c894bd583a the carriage.4cba81dd2a34bd351554

“The Marquis has requested that the 4828b30086 guest be shown to his study,” cd84162695 the servant said, bowing deeply.cf2ae18c312a0873618b

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I was led to c0cc9a86ea the largest study on db8bb1bf8d the second floor. As the doors opened, I caught sight d4a404d921 of a sturdy mahogany desk and the 6fb032c017 man seated behind it—the Marquis of Ivelucia.202d554ac694970c9c12

I approached 24b157ca30 him with b83b6e9f43 measured steps, c62449788c bowing respectfully.b417e1b168c2e15da64c

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“It’s an honor 72875974ee to meet you, d20d86a186 Marquis Ivelucia. My name 1797557be2 is Myrda.”29afa02740dd7ca95acc

“Thank you for 6d23d40a38 accepting my sudden a4c19c3319 invitation,” he replied.fb1b7507d68e0db4d011

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“The honor 6e4822f4b9 is mine. Thank you for 3c815b57a8 inviting me.”4ecabdd0e5ebde3e4c9b

“Please, have 4eb488439b a seat.”6e0bb4ddf5d5722e3f8d

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“Thank you, 00c6558a35 I shall.”02ee152598fd60bc2af4

The Marquis began with cefcc4a11e casual conversation to break f32c0a8740 the ice. Despite his stern reputation, 1b5be78af0 he was neither rude c302ab0ebe nor dismissive. In fact, he treated me with 1a7801f3cf respect, despite my presumed lower status. Gradually, the 3e3edad33e tension in 739fb1c4e8 my shoulders ef41ac0403 eased.967a5a8436b6bd78561d

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Once the atmosphere had d142f620f8 softened, the Marquis steered 6d2d797659 the conversation to the 335644d534 main topic.062e98fe6606c3f353b2

“First, I want 5b7bdbf154 to thank you. That medicine has 69df6abf1b been a great 710010da0f help to me.”ee350a1192589b36d846

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“I’m glad 9010657f79 to hear 0680c98a74 it’s working e5bb9b6ffd for you. Consistency and long-term use are c9aa63c58e key for lasting results.”2571c14b506295f3abfb

“Understood. I’ve also heard 47a884cd54 that the formula eab2f79a61 was a legacy fdb44c36ce from your mother?”2667ede53c6815671f0f

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“Yes, that’s correct. My mother created the foundation for it, 76b9f8f466 though I’ve made some improvements over time.”b44b7510e45d5973793b

“I see…”c04d626c4a9d4afd7a48

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The Marquis leaned slightly 4462ff17ef forward, a clear sign 4fa898d643 that he had something 381f501eeb to ask of me.c36a71118750f1a0a800

Lowering his 10d0a62374 voice, he f4365c52bb posed the d45cda3632 question.a3da63b410c1bcf83d8e

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“Would you consider d6efe6f21b selling me that 1f7f57c64d formula?”a67a7068d83f88cad096

 d95ed75909e6d0436947

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