As soon as the maid had taken out that child, Adrian's parents breathed a sigh of relief. Adrian could tell that they did not like that child for some reason. However, he could not determine why his parents would not want to look after a newborn.
"Mother, who was that child? Where did it come from? Can I play with it? Can Rose play with it once they grow up? Is that a playmate?"
Adrian asked once he could no longer keep his authority under check. He watched his mother take a sharp breath to try to control her temper.
His mother never truly got mad at Adrian and never scolded him when he did something stupid. Instead, she calmly explained what Adrian did wrong, and he was glad to say that she was the gentlest person in the world.
That was why his mother's attitude toward that baby did not make sense to Adrian.
"That…child…is not a child but a harbinger of destruction. One day, its presence would cause us endless problems. But for some reason, we cannot…make someone else also take that baby away from us."
"So, Adrian, if you see that baby in the future, keep your distance away from it. And no matter what you hear anyone else say, remember that the baby you saw today is a demon."
"You will need to be the one to protect your sister from that demon in the future, alright?"
Adrian listened to his father's words very attentively. He did not understand what his father said or why he said these things, but Adrian knew better than to question his words.
His father was a nobleman, and he was never wrong. So, Adrian was sure that his father was also right this time. That baby must genuinely be a demon.
It was not until years later that Adrian realised that the wrong one was his father. But by the time he realised it, everything had been too late to fix.
...…..
"Oh, for god's sake, stop crying. I cannot take it anymore. Now, where do you think I will find a doctor who would keep his mouth shut and treat this kid?"
Emily quickly left the house and was thankful that she had covered the child's face with a cloth. The street was filled with people, and many were injured.
It was clear that a dungeon had opened in the nearby area, and all these people were the victims of that dungeon. No doctors would be available to treat regular people until the dungeon patients were cared for
A dungeon appearance was a natural phenomenon that had been occurring all around the world for many years. It started small, but nowadays, it could even engulf whole cities when it happened.
Only those with weakened abilities could fight in these dungeons and clear the danger. And there were a few awakened ones in this generation.
Those who did awaken gained status and fame almost immediately. One such family was Chloracne, who had one of the most substantial powers recorded. But no one knew what that power was.
It was awakened a few centuries back and never since then. But that famous legend had made the Chloracne bloodline famous, and people kept an eye on them.
The more Emily walked, the more she felt tired. She wanted to sit down, but she did not dare risk it, especially after she had noticed how the people around her looked at her and the child in her arms.
Desperate times were upon them, and people did anything to ensure that they would survive to see another day. That also included stealing and smuggling children. Anything that could get them to see another day was no longer a taboo.
It would be more appropriate to say that the word 'taboo' did not exist in the dictionary.
"Hey miss, are you looking for something here? If not, then I suggest you leave this place. It is not a safe place for you or your baby."
Finally, a decent man decided to tell Emily what she already knew. He looked like a doctor from his clothes, and Emily knew she could trust this man.
"I need your help with something. This baby is sick, and the disease is rather contagious to weak people. So, if you don't mind, can you come with me?"
Emily asked, and the doctor looked taken aback. But he did not dare ask the woman to take the baby's cloak off to check for himself whether the child was contagious or not.
If the lady had made such a bold request and came here to get treatment, it would have meant only one thing.
This child could not appear in front of people. But it was not being killed because the kid was essential to a family line.
'Fuck, an illegitimate heir of a family? I should not take on any more burdens than I am already taking. This secret might get me killed if the family is prominent enough.'
The doctor was intelligent, and he knew when to back out. But he was also already involved; if he refused now, he would be disposed of.
"Fine, I will help you out. Come and follow me this way."
They walked through the wave of people waiting for treatment. People tried to grab his pants and his shirt. They wanted him to stop and look at their wounds.
However, the doctor did not have enough time on his hands to be able to help everyone. He had to do his best not to look at the gazes of people begging him for mercy.
Finally, they reached the tent, and the doctor sealed the exit with a special scroll he took out of his inventory.
"This place is as safe as it can get here. Now, let me see the face of the child you were hiding so carefully."
Emily sighed but finally removed the cloak she had put on the child. As soon as the doctor saw the child, he hissed.
'I knew she was trouble when she first entered. I should have ignored her request for help.'
The doctor looked at the green hair of the child in front of him. The child's eyes were still closed, but he instinctively knew the child was a Chlorance from the fascial structure.
But as far as he knew, all the Chlorance family kids were silver-haired and had their mother's face.
'Did Rocx Chlorance, the man who wad about his family, finally cheat? Or was he taken advantage of and did not reveal it to the public? Whatever the news is, I do not want to know about it.'
"You should keep this news to yourself for now. Think whatever you want to, but the final announcement about this child will be made soon. Don't worry; your safety will be guaranteed as well."
Emily sweetened the deal for the doctor, and he already knew he had no choice but to do as he was asked.
He took the offered child and examined her with his magic. The child was underweight, malnourished, and mistreated. But those things were secondary when compared to the fever she was running.
"Sheesh, what did you do with this child for her to end up this sick? This fever is terrible, and the weakness this child is suffering from…you should have brought her for treatment sooner. What made you wait so long?"
Emily felt ticked off. Normally, she would have let such words ride off her shoulder. But right now, she was snappy, and the earlier confrontation with her masters had caused her headache to bloom.
"Well, we only got news of this child yesterday night, and it was too late to bring her in for a check-up. You do not know how hard I had it all this time, and I…just do your job."
Emily caught herself in time, and the doctor decided not to ask her any more questions. The maid looked more pent-up than usual. So, either she did not have a significant other to look after her desires, or she was mentally ill and needed to get herself checked out.
In any case, the doctor was not going to be the one to stick his neck out. He just wanted to deal with the baby and nothing more.
"I will sign a receipt for the baby so you can get extra medicine for her. What is the name of this baby?"
The doctor asked, and the maid looked flustered once more.
"How would I know what this baby is called? She did not come with a naming card, and my masters ignored her existence. It is a miracle I ever got them to accept getting her treated."
The doctor was startled, and he was also worried for the child. The abuse was a huge thing (or people pretended it was a huge thing) in well-maintained upper sections of society who could look over themselves.
If the news of this child getting abused got out, t wouldn't it be a massive problem for the couple?
"Look, ignore what is happening around you. Just do what you are paid to do, and do not ask unnecessary questions."
Emily's advice sounded good. As much as the doctor was worried about the child, he was not about to put himself in harm's way to get justice for the kid. He was happy with his current lifestyle.
If he lacked anything, it was positive human contact. But that was more so because of his choice than his circumstances. He had enough charm to attract any person he wanted to.
And no! The doctor was not coping when he said that. He was genuine, and he believed in himself.
"Here, this is what you will need to feed the baby if you want her to survive the week. If you have any complications, then come and find me. My name is Rasher, and I will help you out."
Emily took the visiting card the doctor gave her and kept it on her. She was sure that she would need the doctor more than once in her life. It was safe for her to be here.