JustPeachyNovels

The Role of the Lady (3)

“Get a grip, boy!”

“At this rate, he’s going to die too! Where’s the physician?”

“Do you think he’s coming? And we need money to call him. Vail would never approve spending money like that.”

“And even if we had a physician, what good would it do? They’re probably all tending to the noblewomen. Those people who never leave their homes, what could possibly be wrong with them every day!”

“Damn it. Isn’t it absurd that there are only five physicians in this entire vast duchy? It’s like telling us common folk to die if we get sick!”

The servants were spouting treasonous words that would get them in serious trouble if any nobles heard them.

While the Duchess, Duha, seemed unbothered, the head maid’s face was red with anger.

To think that these people, living off the Duke’s patronage, would dare insult the Duke’s family!

As a longtime retainer and a noblewoman herself, the head maid couldn’t tolerate such talk.

“How dare you…!”

“What are you doing? Leaving a patient with broken ribs lying on the ground, are you out of your minds?”

But before the head maid could even express her rage, Duha had already stepped forward. Her voice was filled with anger.

The stable men’s were startled by her sudden appearance and, upon seeing the head maid, fell to the ground in a panic.

“M-Madam!”

“How dare you insult the Duke’s family in front of the Duchess, do you wish to die…”

The head maid raised her voice, seizing the moment, but couldn’t finish her sentence. Duha had squeezed between them and sat down.

She didn’t care that her expensive silk dress was getting dirty.

“Duchess?”

Ignoring the bewildered head maid, Duha pressed various points on the young man’s chest before lifting his upper body and leaning him against a tree. Then she suddenly lifted her skirt.

The head maid, shocked, shouted and stood between her and the stable hands.

“Duchess! Why aren’t you all looking away?”

“Y-yes!”

As the stable men’s turned their heads in confusion, Duha tore a long strip from the hem of her petticoat.

“Duchess, what are you doing? You shouldn’t…”

“Just let her do as she pleases.”

“What!”

The head maid snapped at Leila, who was calmly watching her mistress.

“Aren’t you her maid? Why aren’t you stopping her from shaming herself in front of these commoners?”

“I don’t think the Duchess would see it that way.”

“What?”

The head maid, frustrated by the incomprehensible behavior of both mistress and maid, clenched her skirt.

“I don’t understand! What on earth…”

“Did you know that nine out of ten people kicked by a horse die?”

Leila continued, watching her mistress’s delicate but strong back.

“But this one survived. He was saved by heaven. Our princess couldn’t let someone like that die.”

Leila’s gaze softened, as if she felt pity.

“What nonsense!”

“I mean, our Duchess is an expert in this field, so you shouldn’t interfere.”

“What! That’s not what I’m saying…”

Ignoring their bickering, Duha tightly wrapped the strip of cloth around the young man’s chest.

He groaned but looked better than before.

After confirming his condition, Duha sighed in relief and turned to the head maid.

“Sylvia, bring a physician. All I can do is provide first aid.”

“But the physicians are busy attending to the household’s retainers, how can we…”

“Sylvia.”

Duha’s golden eyes had darkened.

“There are no distinctions in work; how can there be distinctions in lives?”

It seemed the Duchess had overheard the stable hands’ conversation as well. The head maid bowed her head, crestfallen.

“I-I will fetch one. But the physicians won’t come for a stable hand…”

“Then tell them I’m injured. Say I got kicked by a horse while inspecting the stables.”

Sylvia gaped at Duha, stunned at her cunning.

At that moment, Leila nudged the head maid’s waist with her elbow.

“Why aren’t you going? Are you trying to kill the barely surviving man?”

“You…! Fine, I’ll go.”

The head maid glared at Leila, who had the audacity to poke her, then hurried out.

These were actions no noble of the empire could understand.

Giving new clothes to kitchen servants and tearing her dress for a mere stable hand.

Yet, why did she feel this way?

Running to fetch a physician by the Duchess’s orders, the head maid felt no burden.

Instead, she felt a strange sense of elation rising within her.

*** *** *** *** ***

“Fortunately, thanks to the prompt first aid, his life is not in danger. The injuries from the horse’s kick are relatively minor.”

The physician who came with the head maid splint the young man’s injuries and rummaged through his bag.

Leila, watching, nudged the head maid’s arm.

“You’re quite a fast runner, aren’t you? I’m impressed.”

“…Don’t make idle comments.”

“Don’t be so prickly. We both serve the Duchess; let’s get along.”

“Stop talking. I don’t want to be friendly with you.”

The head maid stepped away from Leila, looking annoyed.

Given the significant age gap and Leila’s extroverted nature, she found herself quite uncomfortable.

Whether she understood the head maid’s feelings or not, Leila just shrugged with a playful smile.

“So shy.”

It seemed Leila was growing fond of the head maid, who followed the Duchess’s orders well.

“……”

Meanwhile, Duha sat beside the physician, listening attentively to his explanation.

“Since he’s young, plenty of rest is crucial for natural bone healing. This is arnica ointment; applying it daily to the wound will ease the pain. And this is medicine to help the bones heal…”

The physician started giving instructions to the stable hands who had gathered around.

Just then, the young man groaned as if regaining consciousness.

“Ugh…”

“Are you awake?”

“It hurts…”

“You were kicked by a horse, of course it hurts. But you’ve been treated and given medicine, so now it’s just a matter of recovery. Don’t worry.”

Duha spoke kindly, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead to reassure him.

He looked at her through half-opened eyes and murmured.

“An angel…?”

If he hadn’t died and gone to heaven, it must be an angel descended to earth.

The woman’s iridescent silver hair shimmering in the sunlight, her noble golden eyes—she was too perfect.

What else could she be but an angel?

Moreover, only an angel would tenderly care for someone of such lowly status.

Duha nodded at his words.

“I don’t know about an angel, but if you want, I’ll get one for you. So, make sure to recover and get healthy, okay?”

“Y-yes…”

Meanwhile, the other stable hands exchanged curious glances as they watched.

“Is she really the new Duchess?”

“The princess from Bashar? Her hair color is unique.”

They observed Duha’s sparkling silver hair with fascination.

“They say Bashar people are bloodthirsty killers…”

“Killer? She looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly.”

“And would a killer take such good care of an injured person? Doesn’t make sense.”

“Her skin is so pale. Even paler than the women of the empire. Who called her ugly?”

“Rumors can’t be trusted. How could someone like her be called ugly?”

As the stable man’s murmured about the Duchess, Duha finished checking the young man and stood up.

“I have a question for you all.”

She looked at the simple-minded stable hands and smiled softly.

“Who is Vail?”

Episode 7 – Episode 9