🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 36
“Does the doctor know about this too?”
“No, he doesn’t.”
The maid was momentarily at a loss for words at such a firm, almost cutting reply.
‘But he’ll find out soon. And I’m sure he’ll beg for just a single root.’
My mother’s primary physician hadn’t prescribed such medicine out of malice. On the contrary, he was closer to a true doctor.
It was just the way of the times.
Still, compared to the plague doctors wearing those strange beak-shaped leather masks and gasping about, this was better—so perhaps it was fortunate.
After another hour of boiling, stirring, and fanning the herbs…
“Done!”
Adelaide smiled with satisfaction, her eyes focused on the pitch-black black ginseng extract she had brewed until it was nearly bottomless, hoping fervently for her mother’s recovery.
“This… is medicine?”
My mother narrowed her brows, clearly skeptical, and repeatedly looked at me to confirm that the black ginseng extract I had brought was safe.
“Sniff… my goodness, is this really safe to drink?”
She tentatively smelled it and recoiled, pushing the cup away.
Unlike the usual black syrup in glass bottles she was used to, the dark liquid in the teacup shimmered almost to the brim.
And unlike syrup mixed with sugar or honey, this black ginseng extract was made using only black ginseng and water.
So it was understandable that she was wary, though it made me a little sad.
“I’ve been fanning it in the kitchen for over an hour so you could have this, Mom!”
“No, no, no. I’m not trying to ignore your effort, Adele. It’s just… it’s too hot! Yes, it’s too hot, so I want to let it cool before drinking it.”
When I complained with tears, Mom hurriedly shook her head, trying to calm me.
Even though it was an obvious excuse, I decided to let it slide.
“Mom, you don’t want medicine either?”
“Yes. I don’t like bitter medicine either.”
“Even though you’re an adult?”
“Even adults do.”
For a lifetime accustomed only to sugar, honey, and spices, this was likely my mother’s first taste of true bitterness.
“But Antoine, what’s that in your hand?”
“Candy!”
Antoine proudly held out his palm. It was a giant candy about the size of a child’s fist.
Seeing his pride, I ruffled his hair and turned to Mom with expectant eyes.
Drink it all in one go.
“…Gulp!”
At last, with everyone anxiously watching, Mom grimaced and swallowed the black ginseng extract.
“…Water! My goodness, I’ve never had such bitter medicine!”
Dad hurriedly handed her a glass of water, and Antoine placed the candy on her hand.
“Thank you, Antoine.”
“What about me, Mom? Me?”
“Thank you, my daughter too!”
Mom spread her arms wide. Antoine and I quickly nestled into her sides, enveloped in her warm embrace.
“What about me?”
Dad tried to join in belatedly, but with no space left, he pouted with a teary face.
Antoine burst out laughing.
“Dad, your face looks just like a fish!”
Luckily, Antoine didn’t yet know the concept of defamation in this era.
“And you too. Thank you for always taking care of us. From the taste alone, this seems like the most effective medicine I’ve ever had.”
“As long as it works, I’ll get anything for you. So please, stay by my side for a long, long time, Eleanor.”
Mom and Dad lightly pressed their lips together.
But even when a quick peck would have sufficed, they remained close.
I hurriedly averted my gaze, and Antoine, seeing this as a fun game, struggled to wedge himself in between them.
“Me too! I want to do it too!”
Mom and Dad exchanged looks, placing Antoine in the middle, and began showering him with kisses.
“Ouch! Dad, your beard’s prickly!”
The sound of his delighted laughter was so infectious that I couldn’t help but laugh along.
After receiving as many kisses as he wanted, Antoine finally seemed satisfied.
His cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling brighter than ever, I couldn’t help but think how adorable my little brother was.
“Adele?”
“Huh? Ah! Ah! It tickles! Hehe! Ahahaha!”
Unthinkingly, I turned my head and Dad’s large hand poked into my side.
In front of me was Dad, behind me was Mom, and Antoine beside me. Hugged tightly, my breathing was a little restricted, but my heart felt full of the family’s love.
Taking the black ginseng extract did not cure Mom’s illness overnight.
However, knowing that a single root was worth as much as a gold nugget seemed to give her perspective, and she steadily continued to take it without resistance.
Soon, it was the day when Mom’s primary physician visited, which occurred every fifteen days.
“Welcome, Monsieur Guérin.”
“How have you been? Oh, today you look even healthier than usual.”
Mom’s primary physician, Albert Guérin, came from a long line of royal physicians.
He himself had once served as the king’s doctor, and even after passing the position to his successor, he was still called upon by the royal family or to give lectures at the academy.
Hiring someone like him as a personal physician was incredible; again, I was awed by my father’s wealth.
At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a grudging admiration for the uncle who had squandered his fortune.
Monsieur Guérin, from my perspective with modern knowledge, might be a quack, but by the standards of this era, he was a master doctor.
Like other doctors of the time, he prescribed opium as a painkiller, but at least he recognized the dangers of opium, which made him an expert.
“How’s the dizziness? You must be careful not to go out too often; it’s not good for your health.”
“Much better. I’ve started riding my bicycle in the garden—would such outdoor activity be okay?”
“Bicycle… you mean?”
Monsieur Guérin nodded kindly, then furrowed his brows.
“Ahem. Bicycles can negatively affect a woman’s uterus, so it’s better to avoid them… but…”
Still sounds like a quack to me.
By the era’s standards, this was common knowledge and modern medical advice, but to my ears, it sounded like nonsense.
“Then it should be fine for me.”
Mom’s sharp reply darkened her expression. I instinctively glanced at Antoine.
“…Excuse me. In any case, make sure not to spend too long in the sun.”
Monsieur Guérin took out his stethoscope to begin a proper examination.
“You’ve improved significantly. No, this is nothing short of a miracle.”
“Oh my! Is that really so, Doctor?”
Mom, who had been biting her lips in tension, exhaled in relief and smiled widely.
“It’s fortunate that the new herb my daughter recommended worked.”
“A new herb?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but Monsieur Hedevo brought it from the East… Since she started taking it, there’s been no anxiety, loss of appetite, cold sweats, and she’s even been sleeping well at night.”
For reference, the symptoms she describes as improving now were all early signs of opium withdrawal.
