Part 1: Tatiana's Bedroom (Noon)
Tatiana's Perspective
"Hmm…" I mumble as I wake up, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Sunlight streams through the window, casting a warm glow across my bedroom.
What's happening? Where am I?
It's already noon, and I've just woken up. The room is adorned with light, pastel colors, giving it a serene ambiance.
"Good morning, big sister!" Blanc enthusiastically jumps on top of me, even though it's practically lunchtime.
"Wait, Blanc, why are you sleeping in the same bed as me? And who's 'big sister'?" I'm taken aback by Blanc's sudden leap onto me.
Her eyes widen, and her smile fades into something more grim and lifeless. Without a word, she walks out of the room in the direction of her own.
"Lady Tatiana, I broke one of your favorite cups," Lily apologizes, her demeanor unusually solemn.
"Are you hurt, Lily?" I'm genuinely concerned, looking around the room for any signs of trouble.
"I'm just a low-life woman who only creates failures. I don't deserve to breathe the same air as you, Lady Tatiana. Please punish me fully." Lily bows, seemingly expecting severe consequences.
Hold on, it's just a cup I mentioned liking once. And what's with her eyes and dramatic speech?
She appears to be waiting for me. I don't want to keep Lily waiting.
"Aie!" I playfully slap her hand as she tries to be cheeky.
"Huh?" Lily is surprised.
"That's your punishment, Lily. Don't do it again, okay?" I warn playfully, trying to maintain a lighthearted atmosphere.
"Urgh..." Lily's face turns pale and disappointed as she walks away, still seemingly lifeless.
"What happened to them?" I wonder aloud as I dress up and head to the dining area.
"Good morning, Tatiana," Sakuya greets me, radiating happiness.
"Sakuya, listen, Blanc and Lily have been acting strangely today. Am I missing something here?" I ask, puzzled.
*Shrugs*
"No, it's just good to have you back," Sakuya replies with gratitude.
The day progresses seemingly normally until afternoon.
"Lady Tatiana, you have a visitor," Lily calls out from her room.
Who could it be this time? I wonder as I make my way to the salon room.
*Salon Room*
"Greetings, Madam Isabella. I think this is the first time we've met, isn't it?" I extend my greeting to the Duke's wife.
"Yes, unfortunately, my business trip to my husband's place caused complications for me to conduct business in the west. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness Princess Tatiana." Isabella's voice carries a sense of formality.
She greets me honorably, even though I'm just a Fallen Royalty. The room is decorated with elegant furniture, and a subtle fragrance of tea fills the air.
"I've heard stories from my son. You've saved this town from various dangers and solved many issues around here," Isabella praises while sipping her tea.
"It's nothing, really," I downplay the compliments, trying to remain modest.
We start discussing improvements and engage in small talk.
"Your Highness, I hate to implore you into this, but can you help my husband?" Isabella breaks out of their small talk, seeking a cure.
There it is! I notice the moment, the air in the room subtly shifts.
"…"
"Of course, I will pay handsomely," Isabella adds, showing confidence.
"Hmm… I would like to, but this time, it's not the money I want," I say, troubled, presenting my bargain.
I had heard from Blanc earlier that their family owns a piece of land. Blanc had checked a few nearby lands, and this particular one seemed suitable for their base. However, it belonged to the Duke's family. Blanc devised a plan, promising to help the Duke in exchange for the land. She considered it a test.
I agreed to Blanc's plan and conveyed it to Madam Isabella.
"A mansion?! Am I hearing this right, Your Highness?" Isabella is surprised and shocked.
"I've heard of an abandoned mansion land southwest from here, which your family owns," I imply the location.
I don't want to reveal why we want it, but I need her to accept the deal. Please, if you do this, the Duke could live.
"…"
"If you don't want to, we can consider this not a deal," I close my eyes a bit, not willing to entertain another offer.
I take another sip to emphasize my decision.
"I… I agree to this agreement," Isabella gives in, accepting any help she can get.
"Good then. My aide, Lady Blanc, will process the required agreement with you by tomorrow if that's alright." I'm relieved and signal Lily to pass on the message.
*Nod*
*Study Room*
"Was it alright?" I ask Blanc, still feeling guilty.
"As I said, we don't do charity around here. Everything has a price, big sis—" Blanc stops herself just before calling me "big sister."
"Tomorrow, I'll send Lily and a few people to monitor the Duke's health. So just take a rest in the meantime. We'll handle this," Blanc assures me while starting to write the agreement.
I return to my room and immediately take a nap due to exhaustion.
Part 2: Duke William's Manor (Afternoon)
Lily's Perspective
I really don't have the energy for this. After Lady Tatiana didn't punish me, I'm just not motivated. We gathered in Duke William's Manor, the weight of our mission settling on my shoulders. Energy eluded me, but the urgency of the situation spurred me forward.
"Miss Lily?" Media's voice broke through my thoughts, snapping me back to the task at hand.
"I'm sorry; I lost in thought. What is it, Miss Media?" I replied, shaking off the daze that clouded my mind.
"We have done all the checkup. These are the records we need," Media stated, her gaze focused on the compiled details. The room, adorned with somber hues, mirrored the seriousness of our discussion.
Me and Media concluded our meticulous examination, with Me narrating the symptoms and Media cross-referencing them with her comprehensive knowledge. We reconvened at the Manor, where Seraphina awaited.
"So, what do we need again? I don't remember," I admitted, still grappling with the complexities of unfamiliar medical terms.
"We first need to extract the liquid made of lead lingering in his body. Then we need a high-grade recovery Crimsonroot Elixir," Media explained, breaking down the crucial steps for us.
"So, we've got to figure out how to do it then?" I inquired, delving into the intricacies of our plan.
"Hmmm… It's pretty hard to do," Seraphina murmured, her thoughtful expression reflecting the weight of the impending challenge.
"How is it, Miss Seraphina?" Media asked, curiosity evident in her gaze.
"First, we have to extract the liquid of Crimson Poison from his body. Without the correct knowledge, it could lead to death. You mentioned the symptom on the chest…?" Seraphina elaborated, her troubled expression conveying the gravity of the situation.
"That was harder to get right?" Media acknowledged the difficulty, her brows furrowing in concern.
"Yes, I'm afraid there's not much we can do. In most cases, it depends on the person, and considering the reported severity of the symptom…" Seraphina's voice trailed off, an air of helplessness lingering in the room.
"If I may suggest, why not I do it?" I proposed, injecting a spark of unexpected determination into the discussion.
"Miss Lily, you can do it?" Media's surprise was evident.
"I have operated on a human body before," I confessed, revealing a facet of my past that seemed incongruent with the gentle atmosphere of the room.
"Still, even if the cut was good, you need tools to extract it. Most advanced medical instruments belong to the church, and they don't allow them to be taken out," Seraphina interjected, providing crucial details that further complicated our path.
"Why don't I take the Slime of Lady Tatiana to extract it?" I suggested, an idea born from the unusual capabilities of Lady Tatiana's Slime companion. The room fell silent as the potential of this unconventional approach hung in the air.
"Using magic to extract it? I've never heard of such a thing. And with the slime's capabilities to clean the liquid, even blood, we might be able to do it after all," Seraphina pondered aloud, her eyes widening with realization.
"That's a good idea, Miss Lily," Media chimed in, brightening up with newfound hope.
"Now, the second one should not be impossible still. We need to make Crimsonroot Elixir. That should weaken the disease and make blood transfusion easier," Seraphina explained, a smile breaking through the somber atmosphere as we moved to the next step.
"I'll be going there. I've never been there, and I wanted to see for myself," Media volunteered to assist in gathering the necessary materials, injecting a sense of purpose into our collective effort.
"Miss Lily, can you contact Lady Sakuya and ask her to lend Aya's help?" Seraphina requested, turning to me for assistance.
"Very well, Miss Seraphina," I acknowledged, bowing before heading off to convey the message to Lady Sakuya.
After all of this done I going to ask on Lady Tatiana to reward me. For that I need to make sure that this operations done perfectly.
Chapter 57 End