If I Can’t Be Your Wife - Chapter 73

Alexis’ face froze. However, Kathleen paid him no mind and hurriedly left the bedroom. The faster she walked towards the drawing room, the more her ankles trembled.

“Kathleen, wait.”

Alexis, who came out of her bedroom belatedly, caught her.

“Cavel and the Imperial Doctor are here, so why did you call Edith?”

His golden eyes quivered in confusion and anxiety. Kathleen noticed that there was fear hidden underneath that she might know his secret.

“You heard what Dr. Cavel said earlier. It would be better to call in someone who has knowledge about medicines and ask.”

“You can ask around separately and find a competent pharmacist.”

“I already have a pharmacist with a good reputation, so why should I do that?”

“Do you know each other?”

“Yes. She’s someone you’ve known for a long time, right?”

Alexis did not object. Kathleen continued.

“Before I came up to the bedroom, I remembered and asked Alsdorf to call Miss Edith.”

She smiled, gently holding the arm that grabbed her.

“I’ve mistaken her for your mistress, so when I meet her this time, I’ll formally apologize as well. For Luci’s sake.”

“…How did you know she was a pharmacist?”

“We’ve met before.”

When Joseph came to see me and you secretly kept him from me.

She almost said out loud.

“She was looking for you, but you didn’t meet her and I saw her on her way back. She explained that you were acquainted because she was from the South.”

“Is that all that she said?”

“Does your relationship with Miss Edith need further explanation?”

He shook his head without hesitation.

“No.”

“Then it won’t be a problem. I need to see Miss Edith.”

“Let’s go together.”

You’re afraid she’ll reveal your secret to me.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Kathleen gladly accepted to avoid any suspicion.

***

Fortunately, Edith was staying at Meyer at the time, so when she heard that Grand Duke Walten was looking for her, she was able to get to the Grand Duke’s residence in a couple of hours.

Of course, as soon as she entered the drawing room in the annex, she was a bit bewildered to see Alexis following Kathleen, but after hearing the situation, she quickly matched their words.

“I haven’t made that medicine very often. The Duke, no, the Grand Duke had severe convulsions from an injury when he went on an expedition to the South, so I made it a few times.”

“Can you make more?”

Kathleen couldn’t hide her nervousness and asked.

For now, she had no choice but to receive help. Luci was still too young and the doctor diagnosed that a high fever could lead to bigger problems, so she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“It’s not difficult, but it takes some time to obtain and process the main ingredient, Tassart herb.”

“It does not matter. We’ll give you everything you need to make the medicine, so make it for me.”

“I understand.”

Kathleen turned to Alexis.

“Please allow Miss Edith to stay here in the annex. I think that would be better than going in and out the residence to make the medicine.”

“…….Yes.”

Alexis agreed as if there was nothing he could do. Edith was baffled as to why no one was asking about her opinion, but after thinking about it, Kathleen’s suggestion wasn’t bad.

All she had to do was bring the ingredients she prepared in advance, and if it is the annex in the Grand Duke’s residence, it would be much more convenient than going back and forth between the old hut in the outskirts or Meyer’s Inn.

‘I’ll be able to observe if that person is still not taking his medication properly.’

She’s already well paid for her work but, she wasn’t shameless enough to pretend not to know that her client wasn’t following her prescription.

Just as Kathleen was saying that she would send a maid to assist her while she was staying in the annex, Emily came in and announced that Luci had woken up.

Kathleen rushed out of the drawing room and Edith tried to follow suit to check on her patient’s condition but someone blocked her.

“Wait.”

Alexis confirmed that Kathleen had completely left before he asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you met Kathleen?”

“It was nothing. She ran into me by chance, and the way she looked at me was full of caution, so I just told her the truth. I’m not a mistress, I’m a pharmacist.”

“Don’t say anything unnecessary from now on.”

“Yes.”

Edith grunted and observed his complexion. From his outward appearance, he didn’t look unwell.

“How are you these days?”

“It didn’t get any worse.”

“Are you taking the medicine I gave you last time? I think it’s about time to run out. Dr. Cavel said…”

“You are here because of my son, not me. Just focus on making him better.”

Edith sighed as Alexis cut her off coldly.

She hadn’t taken a look at his child’s condition, but from what she heard, it was as if he had inherited the poison from his father. He must have been affected by it ever since he was in the womb. Completely curing the person who was originally affected by the poison was the only way to find a cure for the person who was indirectly affected by it. So, in other words, to heal the young master, they must first heal the Grand Duke.

‘Doesn’t he know that his son is sick because of him?’

He didn’t want his wife to know about his condition so the Grand Duchess might not have been able to tell her husband the truth.

Without revealing the secrets that the couple were hiding from each other, Edith thought that she should be paid double, and then said.

“We have secured some Tassart herbs, but it’s not enough for both of you to take. First, it’s better to adjust the concentration and dilute the medicine and then divide the amount. The young master is still small, so taking a less concentrated amount than an adult will be fine to consume.

“No, make it with the undiluted solution.”

“What?”

“If you lower the concentration, won’t the efficacy decrease?”

“Yes, however, the quantity will be significantly reduced if we manufacture as it is. One of the two may not get enough. For Tassart, the concentration is important, but the duration of taking it is also crucial.”

“Didn’t you just say it’s okay for the child to take small doses?”

Only then did Edith realize the meaning of Alexis’ words, and asked in an appalled tone.

“Then are you saying that you won’t receive any treatment at all?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Alexis firmly said.

“My condition has been better for a while now, so don’t worry about it and put the child first.”

He left the drawing room after saying that. His mind was complicated so he walked faster.

They did not know why Kathleen’s child became ill with an unexplained ailment, but he was only filled with thoughts that he needed to get well soon.

When he thought of the small body, which had lost consciousness and gone limp due to the high fever, his heart sank. He could feel his heart tightening just like when he thought that Kathleen might die and disappear.

‘The child must live.’

He didn’t want Kathleen to fall into sorrow, nor did he want those blue eyes that resembled hers to not look at him again.

‘The drug is only a temporary measure.’

Then there was only one way. Alexis summoned the shadow following his command.

“How many magic stones are being controlled?”

“About ten.”

“Take them and move it.”

“I heed your order.”

If he reduces the number of magic stones here, Kathleen might notice. If she catches on to his petty desire to tie her to his side, the little peace he had maintained until now will be ripped apart at once.

But the most important thing was to save the child first. That was the only reason he sent his shadow.

[T/N: This whole bit with the shadow is confusing so I guess we’ll just see in the next chapters]

‘Just a little bit. Let’s wait a little longer.’

Blue veins protruded out of Alexis’ clenched fists.

***

From that day on, Kathleen stayed in her room and worked hard to take care of Luci. Alexis also stayed by Luci’s side for a while and did not leave, but he couldn’t just stay in the Grand Duke’s residence and show that he was not keeping the new emperor, Peter, in check.

“Don’t worry, go and come back.”

Early in the morning, Kathleen was seeing Alexis off , who was leaving for a court meeting.

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

He stroked her cheek and under her eyes with a worried look.

“Your eyes are swollen.”

“Luci was whining while sleeping.”

“Why do you stay up all night when you have a nanny? Children are important, but to me, you are more important.”

“…..”

“Keep in mind that if a mother doesn’t take care of herself first, she can’t take care of her child properly.”

“….Yes. I will.”

Alexis got on the horse after making Kathleen promise several times to rest. Kathleen stood firm as she watched him head towards the imperial palace in the dim light of dawn. Kathleen’s touch as she rubbed her cheek where he had touched her was somewhat rough.

‘You know that Joseph’s healing powers are the most effective for detoxification, but until the end, you still haven’t told me.’

When she met him in her bakery in Osole Village.

Joseph treated him with his healing powers. He clearly knew that his condition had improved thanks to Joseph.

He says that the child is precious, but he never brought up a single word about Joseph.

‘After all, to that person, I am his most precious thing.’

He intended to completely cover her eyes and tie her hands and feet to stay with him. He will never change.

Kathleen went back to the bedroom where Luci was sleeping.

“Your Highness.”

Edith was already there even though it was still early in the morning.

“Are you here to check on the child?”

“Yes. I’ve never made medicine for infants, so I’m being careful. I thought that I had to see him for myself to calculate the dosage.”

She meticulously asked Emily and the nanny how much water or beverage Luci drank on a regular basis and recorded something. After asking a few more questions, Edith turned to Kathleen.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“As much as you want.”

She asked to move away and added that she wished there were no other ears listening around them. Kathleen noticed that she was about to tell her information about the poison so they headed to the greenhouse in the garden.

As soon as Edith sat down in a chair, she opened her mouth carefully.

“I need you to stop His Highness.”

***