SMFCV Chapter 22

Chapter 22. Alone Winter was 71bcf43720 nearing its 2bc51b10b9 end. The coldest days had e8f4e37924 passed, and people exchanged b1d74f642f pleasantries while talking about 8e3334294b the approaching spring.2853e799be00b04cfb84

The Marchioness of Ivelucia carefully stepped down from her 0f298dece7 carriage, feeling a faint pang of guilt for visiting 185c9a0d94 Rooney Orphanage after such a long absence.c60fa8e94c13b76af9c2

Of course, she had a reason for 83851d320c her infrequent visits—she had slipped on ice 9e60c5fd6b earlier in the season, twisting her ankle. This had confined her to 0998697937 her estate throughout the winter.6b5bf08993f9ba1deabd

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Enduring her strict husband’s endless e0205b58ce nagging was an added burden. Passionate about nurturing talent, her 24d14c2670 husband had retreated to their 932c51a8e0 mansion years ago following a b6f255efab certain incident. The emotional blow had been e3c71f4466 severe, and since then, even bbe8864531 his physical health had deteriorated. Already a naturally meticulous man, he had developed 718e71daaf stomach problems, making him even more irritable.d1b13d718ac14e73e105

The Marchioness sighed 20ed0ff35d quietly, a sound c038d1b0dd only she could d603113ceb hear. Though his nitpicking often made 4b89e78862 her want to pull his c927280419 beard out, she loved her b7561cd148 husband deeply.4e8b68c97f325ab2885c

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The House of Ivelucia had made significant contributions 5dddefa893 to medical advancements, especially through its scholarship foundation. More than half of the Republic’s most renowned doctors c574122fc3 had been supported by the Ivelucia scholarship program.e8ef61af937d1f1f284e

Upon stepping back from public life, the Marquis 30d678a190 had devoted himself to nurturing talent, even teaching 05f906e9ce theoretical classes weekly with unwavering dedication.b1e7c45d7a012cbd061b

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‘And yet… 5c23930719 oh dear.’f7a001ea9cba8316b6f8

The Marchioness shook 1e34182542 her head. Time would 3060989b09 heal his e72ffa2403 wounds. Perhaps some brilliant young person would 750e2e6dac come along and reignite the fire 3aa1ad3b02 in her husband’s heart.2c31fd97989ab519db62

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“Madam! You should have waited until the weather b6c680356a warmed up more… How’s your ankle?”fa9e90f3276508ce14e7

Marcel, the head ab931e6db9 of the orphanage, d3ec9473c8 came running, fussing 722349dfa5 over her. Seeing Marcel’s warm, f4300c8a64 familiar face made 270e261a3b the Marchioness smile 70a00916b9 unconsciously. Though their social statuses dac26526ff differed, the two had 845127ed3f long shared a bond 9933bf6de9 that resembled friendship.b36b91017d00259dcc80

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“Thanks to your concern, beaf728bd7 I’m doing better. I wanted to come sooner, but I’m not as young 5a8280ed9b as I used to be—healing takes longer these days. How are fed076ce9a the children? Are they well?”3a35f40dbe6953e0655a

“You’ve been exchanging letters e414248d40 with Joanne, haven’t you? Thanks to the 0acc085bfb thick blankets you 5379b826d9 provided, everyone’s in e4c2d6116b good health.”55bdcdafa315680338dd

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“Ah, speaking 29eb1cb03d of letters…”0e7d3d7a4d040d7f4a70

The Marchioness touched her lips 08212a782e lightly with her finger, her 02a007ed8b rounded nose tinged with a 5c738cdc38 rosy hue.39b0e15e66aec4466621

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“I heard ab750deb78 there’s a 7022fa6bec new teacher?”72ede8d717f0aca24944

“A new teacher?”e6cf7767f3323a0efd6a

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“Yes. Joanne mentioned her 02d0181ec5 several times in 279aaa759f her letters—she said 84c61c8d72 she’s very beautiful.”916041d1eeea7eeba9de

Marcel immediately understood 959056541a who the Marchioness 6cc7b79127 was referring to. The last time a new teacher had been b393699c5c hired was in the fall, and there was 48104f8220 only one person who could be described as 961b9b4c6d “very beautiful.” Marcel replied with a smile.36cd1066187e2bbf6a4f

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“You must 16d3231924 mean Miss 5ee747fb61 Myrda. She’s not a 3a655b4653 teacher, though. She’s been volunteering regularly since 4113db2921 the start of winter.”7f8e96eb33a0929edd49

“The children seem 06f36ea306 to like her?”5fd579dcb5bbfc32bab2

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“Not just 5878216c82 the children. Even the staff can’t 6490c8612b stop praising Miss Myrda. She’s diligent, smart, and an 24ce33df6f enormous help to the orphanage.”44d218bc6ede3e4287a2

The Marchioness’s deep, milk-chocolate 3fdbafe243 eyes sparkled with interest. Marcel was usually cautious in 6b968dfcbe assessing volunteers, having dealt with b7975f8d76 all sorts over the years. If she was showering Myrda ebfcd59c53 with such glowing praise, it 88e74df581 was clear the young woman 3c760950ec was something special.fc3384eedd985844c105

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“I’d like f0541abe8d to meet 5a6ffc50e6 her. Will she be 57d05cece1 here today?”327fbcf9c2ed543e63e4

“I believe she said she’d d0396325e4 come in the afternoon. If you’re 67d547c972 lucky, you 4ab4728007 might run a40c68a39b into her! Would you like me 87218f5603 to introduce you?”1b16adcd78dc69f58255

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“Oh, no. That won’t f0e88fb4ed be necessary.”fadc4753570cd5f4664e

The Marchioness 7911806c5f firmly declined cee0176c2d Marcel’s offer. Judging by what 9e2f710824 she’d heard, Myrda a86595ab3f wasn’t a noblewoman. The Marchioness had grown weary 1599ec2222 of young noblewomen fawning over 9bb25b61ab her to curry favor.a0c0de0c96ceea506828

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Instead, she intended f34ab16f8e to observe Myrda 2d5b3124b5 discreetly from a 6dff2281cc distance. There would be plenty of time 7f7b73c230 to decide whether to approach her.57477cd84c2585edd8e2

❖　❖　❖83344627a7ff16f23bbe

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As soon as I arrived at Rooney 78af6679b1 Orphanage, a small commotion broke out. Little Hoya burst 05c5df84b8 into tears and 73445109bf ran straight into aaaa969362 my arms.ad06c53fcc49107d0f21

“What’s the matter, 00ce6835d5 my dear Hoya?”c41062f70e548601430e

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Between sobs, Hoya complained of f488579c2d a stomachache that had been f7c69191f4 bothering him since last night. Flustered, I turned 8fd05b7db8 to Marcel, who d16f870f1c had hurried after df68fbd7da him.edec0b3378f055366f30

“Madam, have you run out 238d8c6f79 of the medicine I brought e3599ef82d you last time?”6c2f6ee331f58416a026

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“Oh, you 8c824a6fbd know how ab38ae4cbc it is. The kids get f04c3d449a sick so often 93c8b99485 that we ran fc7efe5838 out pretty quickly…”89e9c498b7be8e0c5262

“How fast 51a4c54a4d did you 124dac5a43 go through a1fc0abc1e it? This time, I’ll make 8d3525fcfb a larger batch before c736f13b7d I leave.”2ff7ca4a166240a9129f

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“That would f73c0fec36 be wonderful. Could you also 169ebfe165 make some more 37117b991f of that tea?”b5318c17548622219cb5

“Of course. Now, let’s see. Hoya, your tummy 42f84e1798 hurts a lot, 1537086e28 doesn’t it? Hang in there 4505a7ee05 for a moment.”ec0b02a9f2f8bb455d6e

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The orphanage struggled to provide fresh food, so children b59efe4cc8 with weak stomachs often suffered from digestive issues. It wasn’t as bad in the winter, but 80e8bca716 during the summer, when food spoiled quickly, cases f19e93119e of stomach problems were a daily occurrence.b3bd9256767555be27d9

I headed to the orphanage’s ed2f864e2a kitchen and laid out the 390c63ba77 medicinal ingredients I’d brought.f9ab7ea4145ce539ec15

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The remedy I was making had roasted tree bark powder as its 078efed402 base—something reminiscent of the so-called “goat poop medicine” from back in Korea.400394108fdb06d2dd7c

I knew how to prepare this thanks 1380166674 to the memories of Mine Molière. Before she awakened as a mage and was called to the royal palace, Mine b48e6da2cd and her mother had made and sold herbal remedies gathered from the mountains. Mine had a keen intellect and categorized herbs by their properties and ec0f6b347d uses, conducting countless experiments to determine the best combinations for various ailments. Her secret notebook was 3631047022 essentially her version of ac2f25dd32 the ‘Donguibogam’, the revered cfa252d1cc Korean medical text.02f6e967ded81edf2607

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But…c5ed6d7bd75fe388a010

‘That notebook… it led to 6903688400 the ruin of Mine’s mother.’8266dd555991cff2b968

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The line between medicinal and 82e6d2b2a0 poisonous plants is thin. Some poisons can become cures c882c4571e when used correctly, while some 48da58d09a medicines can become deadly if cce6b63d93 used improperly.9b508489dc8090e7a829

The town’s pharmacists, jealous b29c93bd02 of the young, beautiful, ed836d4496 and intelligent mother-daughter duo, 6fd7393d8c conspired to frame them. They claimed Mine’s notebook was evidence that f98d925fa9 they were experimenting with poisons under the 6ddd4bbf57 guise of selling herbal remedies.985a63098498f77f6c6a

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In the end, Mine’s mother 192a72f7fc was branded a witch. Though her record of saving many villagers spared her from being burned at 22376253a8 the stake, she was stripped naked, beaten, and exiled from the village.4fb31a5a7ac54055d4d0

Mine stayed by her mother’s side in c31bc42402 the snow for days until she passed 3b6e3a0f23 away, refusing food or water. Afterward, that small, frail child set 2c84a28aca the village’s food storehouses ablaze before a4155d7c82 disappearing into the night.a58d910ae707b63f0dd8

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‘How did 879fb07b5e you survive, 810a0f9c57 Mine Molière?’f4964f73c4b9f9f293e4

How did she endure such a cruel world, 585bfeb2c0 having lost her mother in such a horrific 15e81d3cb9 way, with nothing but her tiny, emaciated body?907fc86a4ef2c181bda9

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The memories 42b53a743d weighed me 1f515ef915 down. As I shaped the medicine 399dcdf8f7 into small, child-friendly pellets, I eb252f9295 realized tears were streaming down 75e02aa032 my face. I quickly wiped them away with the back e7655782a3 of my hand, hoping no one had seen.d26beef43b685713b932

To mask the bitter smell of 3baef6ed30 the medicine, I coated the surface 5f639c76d4 of the pills with something sweet. The unpleasant odor of the main ingredient was a significant drawback, and I had to 8a14f749e1 at least make the smell tolerable if the children were going to take it.4cabef67cfff097d7b1b

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As I was rolling the pills 6fac630efb in the sweet powder, I heard f9f5c5570e the kitchen door creak open.8f419df0a35644fca977

“Is there anything I d76f8b14b3 can help with?”281793407c56999dde33

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“Ah…?”ba34ba244d35cd58a861

“Sorry, did 5e3703e641 I startle d9db5dcf6f you? I’m a 82299cd341 volunteer too. I’d like to 7845407ddb lend a hand.”8cd05aa809d46bb79fff

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“Oh… hello. My name f8aa547d8e is Myrda.”b1174d8991a915d5bd34

“I’m Lucia. Marcel told 3be45c16ba me about e82c492d63 you. Now, what 17eae6d758 can I 06ee0a76ae do?”a0e4d4d77e0c54d38b9b

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“Thank you. Could you roll 3ce37417fd the medicine into 0c45cf91d7 pellets this size?”f5382f33bca6f11874ef

“Of course.”e6038ba00b27e979b032

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Lucia approached with her sleeves a6cf143ef2 rolled up, her neatly pinned e2f49d540c ash-brown hair gleaming softly under d227817494 the light. Her clothing was made of 9f9c337284 fine, subtly glossy fabric.4bac4531013368883d11

“What kind 2cffae5f6f of medicine 5f0256a227 is this?”64709036d53e3c150758

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“It’s for f578a1162c stomachaches and e162e5e798 diarrhea. A lot of 52734f24b0 the kids here f08b2e8674 have sensitive stomachs…”4344a04baeef5c4d42a0

“You seem 307779f97c very skilled 006cbd0cfb with medicinal a052e5b566 ingredients. Was your 2513fde160 father a d92b9dc3dd pharmacist?”f8744486de32efa3c350

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I stifled f4a52efda2 a bitter db836ac1cb laugh. “My father? Oh, he was the last 11be27473d king of the kingdom,” I 262c884536 thought to myself, but of 692c73dfd5 course, I couldn’t say that.6670e4d8571ead7a2583

“No, I grew up in b6fe1cd6ff the countryside with my mother. This was how we 4d7cc96b46 made a living.”65eddda786d24c613486

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“Marcel mentioned how be0f3ab3ae effective your medicine 4bf6984aa8 is. She said just 4ab77388d4 one dose cures e4d232225e the children’s stomachaches f59dcdc7b3 completely. And…”d9ae16625d1780bc8364

Lucia hesitated, a faint 02ac436951 hint of embarrassment in 31992eb574 her tone.2cb6bcdb39811962d230

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“She also d3580901a2 mentioned the e034ee29bf tea you 6ba9eaee16 make. Apparently, it’s incredible 1191775bb6 for settling the dec72c096b stomach.”374eb2002e563b6c121b

“Well, the work here is tough, and 17a86818b9 I figured a lot of the staff fc8ba6e6f1 suffer from headaches or stomach issues. That tea… my mother used to bedd9afa4d give it to me often. I had a 87afbfd3e9 weak stomach as d91227ee59 a child.”15370dffc228cb7e56d1

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“Everyone has their 0382f1c55f own story, don’t d6a5b1a82d they?”0768c4da585a70385d4f

“Of course. No one 83d070983c is without 0d0f1495a7 a story.”1625c093fb2a5b4feaf3

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“By the way…”f9606389a529daa7cfa3

After rolling the last of the medicine into perfect 5c6719566e pellets, Lucia stretched her shoulders and slowly spoke.e2d912265bd379bdc43f

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“Could I possibly 765317cd96 have some of 5340a7e32e that tea as 4dd5c3fce4 well?”f4f5113fe76830d4295c

“Oh, do you 1925fde4f4 have stomach troubles?”a239a19a8fa3389b8ece

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“Not me, 80c2c48bdb but my 1b2d520b2e husband does. If it’s too much a477147914 trouble, I’m happy to db07d5a2df pay for it…”6b91e1820862ffb5aa42

“No, no. I’ll give 8cefa7e0ed it to f95764f7c7 you.”77ad7c1fdf1da57cf882

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I smiled brightly at Lucia—or rather, 432a123b8c at the Marchioness of Ivelucia.fc9bfa4b3d007db9edad

“How much 52363f9880 do you 695d518c18 need?”2ef4c8bb25b730bb1e66

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