All the way to dinner, the girls spent in the living room, discussing the future tea party, which will be Veronica's first social event. The maid served them tea with various sweets and snacks from time to time. Never before had she tried anything so delicious. In her home, the maid did not hesitate to harm her, to take away what was not part of her diet. Of course, from time to time during her night trips Deya would bring Veronica small chocolate round candies, but that was the end of her gastronomic variety.
With Bella as her accomplice, she tasted the airy blueberry muffin and a host of cookies with amazing toppings in all shapes.
Suddenly Veronica started to feel unwell. The heaviness in her stomach made her sick. Her head began to spin.
"Milady, are you all right? You're turning pale." Bella asked anxiously.
"I feel a little dizzy by the amount of information." She smiled back, trying to keep calm.
"How unwise of me!" She exclaimed, hesitating. "I shouldn't have put so much on you! I'm so sorry, milady! You need to rest!"
"You aren't to blame, milady." The overreaction took the girl by surprise. "I wanted it myself, don't deny yourself. But I'll go to the bedroom."
"I'll send a doctor to you!"
Holding her elbow carefully, Bella helped Veronica stand up and led her to the room. However she tried to talk the girl out of the doctor, Bella was surprisingly firm on her own, so Veronica had to make a concession.
At first Bella showed her a naive girl, but as it usually happens: the first impression is deceiving. Bella was a great expert in aristocratic affairs. She knew exactly who to deal with and who to avoid. Despite her young age, she has already given the family Kir-Erdey heir. A five-year-old baby was now in her parent's house. She was familiar with the household and was ready to take the place of Margaret Kir-Erdey, the housekeeper, at any time.
After only a few hours with her, Veronica realized that she was a caring girl with a kind heart. Despite the arranged marriage, as always, she respects her husband. It's visible in her clean brown eyes.
Before Veronica had even entered the room, her stomach twisted. Everything she had tried with such pleasure was now flushed out of the toilet. Dea held her lady's hair, and then helped her get to bed.
"You should not have eaten that much, milady. Your stomach isn't accustomed to this kind of food, so you vomited."
"Disgusting." She groaned, covering her head with a blanket.
"The doctor should be here soon. I'll ask him to give you something for your stomach." No response from under the blanket. "I'll inform miLady Margaret and the kitchen that you will not be at dinner. For breakfast, you will have a light porridge. Any other wishes?"
"What's the point?" A voice of anger went out.
"Milady..." Deya wanted to say something else, but someone knocked on the door. "This is a doctor."
Deta opened the door. She exchanged some pleasantries with a middle-aged man. They walked into the room. The man introduced himself as Dr. Orlo.
"It's the honor of a common doctor to treat you, the daughter of one of six great families of the empire. May the sky, sun and moon bless you, Madam Veronica."
The blanket didn't move. No response.
Deya and the doctor looked at each other. The girl bowed apologizing, but the doctor only smiled with understanding. The man sat down on a prepared stool by her bed and pulled out paper from his worn leather bag.
"I was going to come to you anyway, Madam, considering your state of health." He took a serious look at once. "Your family doctor contacted me directly and sent all of your medical records as well as prescriptions for the drugs."
Veronica continued to be completely unresponsive to the doctor's words until, it seemed, the man was talking more with her personal servant.
"How often do you take the medication that is prescribed to you?" Doctor looked at Deya.
"Milady is very nauseous of them, so we have reduced the intake to a couple of days a week."
The doctor nodded, looking down at his notebook. He made some notes.
"Madam, may I see you?"
"No." Veronica blurted out sharply from under the blanket, clinging to him even more tightly. "Before the wedding I was examined." Trying to keep the appearance of calm, she continued colder.
"That right." The maid supported her lady. "You can see the most recent medical records."
The doctor again blinked silently, taking out a sheet of fresh ink.
"I heard you." He said after a while, and started folding the papers back into the bag. "You have a little indigestion, so I recommend you cleansing and toning tea from ginseng root, mint and ginger. For the taste you can add your favorite berries."
"Thank you, Dr Orlo."
"It's my duty." He quickly said a memorized line. he turned to the bed. "Madam, if you have any complaints, please contact me at any time of the day or night. I signed a non-disclosure agreement with your family."
Upon hearing the last sentence, the girl threw down the blanket.
"Doctor, what about Leo... " She stumbled for a second. "What about my husband?"
Saw a pale girl with curly hair and red eyes, who looked at him so worried, the doctor smiled softly.
"Without your permission I'm not allowed to disclose personal information. I hope these words will calm your heart." The man bowed, putting his hand to his heart, expressing his deep respect to the girl. "I'll leave you now."
"I'll walk you. And I'll make tea for the milady."
Veronica watched as the two figures left the room. After the doctor's words, she felt better. Her hand reached to her stomach.
"He mustn't find out. Never." The girl mumbled faintly.
Interesting fact unrelated to the story: Veronica was raised by a huge number of maids until she was 8. They always changed so that the girl could not get attached to someone. From 8 to 13 yo she was on her own until Deya appeared.