“Mel!! You shouldn’t open the door suddenly like that!?”
Surprised by the suddenly opened door, Reiner and Nunnally freeze in their sweet, intimate posture. Reed, seeing the two, realizes what they were about to do and puts on an apologetic, embarrassed expression. However, Meldy, oblivious to all this, looks at the two quizzically and asks about the scene she sees before her.
“Daddy, Mommy, Were you two about to kiss?”
Reiner was surprised by Meldy’s question and inadvertently coughed. As he was wondering how to answer, he remembered the picture book she was holding and her previous words, and quickly wove a response.
“Ahem!? W-well, Meldy, you had a picture book, right? Let me read it to you for a change. Come here.”
“Really!? Papa’s going to read to me? Yay!”
Meldy, not expecting Reiner to read to her, immediately rushed over. Nunnaly, who was initially blushing, had now calmed down. As Reiner sat on the bed where Nunnaly was lying, Meldy climbed onto his lap and said with an adorable smile, “Hehe, it’s the best seat.” Reiner couldn’t help but smile, and Reed quietly sat down next to him.
“…Why are you sitting here too?”
“Well, I rarely get the chance to have Father read a picture book to me. I’d like to have the best seat too… if that’s alright, Mother?”
“Hehe, that’s fine. We need times like this occasionally.”
Reiner made an indescribable expression as he faced the gazes of his three family members. Then, as if resigned, he cleared his throat and began to read the picture book to the children in an unaccustomed manner.
After finishing several picture books, Reiner and Reed had to leave as their departure time was approaching. Meldy said she wanted to see them off, so she left the room with them.
Nunnaly, left alone in the room, prayed for the safe arrival of the carriage convoy she could see from the window.
A few days after Reiner and Reed’s departure for Renalute…
That day, in Nunnaly’s room, she was reading a picture book to Meldy. Before she started using the magic recovery potion, even reading a picture book was difficult. However, now she could do more things little by little, including reading picture books. As Nunnaly finished reading, she noticed Meldy had an unusually serious expression and gently asked:
“Mel, why such a serious face? Was the picture book difficult to understand?”
“No. Mama, can I ask you something?”
“Of course, what is it?”
Nunnaly smiled at Mel as she answered. Mel then asked the question she had been wondering about for a long time.
“…Big brother has me as a little sister, right? But why don’t I have any little brothers or sisters?”
“Oh…”
Nunnaly was taken aback by Mel’s unexpected words. She never thought Mel would question not having siblings. Wondering how to answer, Nunnaly considered carefully before responding gently.
“Well… you know I’m sick and not feeling well right now, right? At times like these, children don’t usually come to visit.”
“I see… So when Mama gets better, will I have little brothers or sisters come to me?”
“Eh!? Um, w-well, maybe they will.”
Mel heard Nunnaly’s answer and beamed with a bright smile. However, Nunnaly’s face turned slightly red, and she had a somewhat awkward expression. Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Danae’s voice could be heard.
“Lady Nunnaly, Lady Sandra is here for your medicine and check-up. May I show her in?”
“Yes, please do.”
Nunnaly answered and then turned her gaze to her daughter Mel, to whom she had been reading the picture book.
“Mel, I’m sorry. I have a check-up, so could you step out for a bit?”
“Okay. Get well soon, Mama. I’ll be waiting for my little brothers and sisters!”
“Oh, y-yes, of course.”
Mel bowed to Nunnaly and rushed to the door, leaving the room with Danae. Sandra entered in her place. She watched Meldy’s back with gentle eyes as she left the room, then turned her gaze to Nunnaly.
“I saw Lady Meldy leaving the room looking very happy just now. Did something good happen?”
Sandra, who had created the magic recovery potion with Reed, was well-versed in magic. She was also Reed’s magic teacher and, due to her magical knowledge, had become like the primary physician for Nunnaly’s magic depletion syndrome. As a result, they had met many times and naturally became familiar with each other. However, this time, Nunnaly wore an embarrassed expression.
“Yes, well. I told her my condition was gradually improving, and she was very happy about it.”
“I see. Indeed, your magic has increased considerably compared to before. However, we can’t let our guard down. Well then, let’s begin the examination.”
“I understand. Please proceed.”
After that, Sandra carefully checked Nunnaly’s health condition and magic levels, recording them in her handmade medical chart. When the examination was almost over, Nunnaly casually addressed Sandra.
“Sandra, do you have some time after this?”
“…? Yes, that’s fine.”
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Hearing Sandra’s answer, Nunnaly asked the maid who was always stationed in the room to step out. After only Nunnaly and Sandra were left in the room, Nunnaly slowly began to speak.
“I… I hate this illness, this magic depletion syndrome, more than ever. It came suddenly without warning, attacking me, and bringing deep sorrow not only to myself but also to my husband and children.”
“…Yes. I can understand your feelings.”
Sandra nodded seriously, acknowledging Nunnaly’s words. Nunnaly clenched her fists tightly, shaking them. She sniffled, took a deep breath, and after a brief pause, with tears in her eyes and a frustrated expression, she continued speaking in a suppressed voice.
“…And I couldn’t even participate in my son’s first important event, the marriage meeting, as the wife of the Count… as Reed’s mother. I couldn’t fulfill my duties as both a wife and a mother, and it’s unbearably frustrating. Sandra… please tell me. How can I defeat this illness as quickly as possible…!?”
“That is…”
Sandra was momentarily at a loss for words in the face of Nunnaly’s desperate demeanor. This was because, at present, no method to overcome magic depletion syndrome had been found. The magic recovery potion was, so to speak, a symptomatic treatment, not a cure. However, Sandra knew why Nunnaly’s son, Reed, had departed for Renalute. Of course, it was for the marriage, but that wasn’t all. She hesitated whether to tell Nunnaly, but after taking a deep breath, she answered carefully.
“Unfortunately, there is still no way to overcome magic depletion syndrome at this point. The magic recovery potion also falls under the category of alleviating symptoms, so it won’t lead to a complete cure.”
“I see… So that’s… how it is…”
She had been told before that a complete cure would be difficult with the magic recovery potion. But she couldn’t help asking again. Nunnaly’s face fell upon hearing Sandra’s words. However, Sandra continued speaking with strength:
“But please don’t worry. Lord Reiner and Lord Reed’s departure for Renalute was not just for the marriage meeting. Confidentially, I heard that Lord Reed was adamant about the possibility of finding herbs in Renalute that could be the raw material for a medicine leading to a complete cure for magic depletion syndrome. That’s why he persuaded Lord Reiner and forced this visit, I’ve been told.”
Surprised by Sandra’s unexpected words, Nunnaly raised her face from its downcast position and replied.
“…!? I, I haven’t heard anything about this. Why didn’t Reiner and Reed tell me?”
“Probably because it wasn’t certain information. It was likely just a high possibility that it exists. In that situation, they probably didn’t want to give you false hope by telling you, Lady Nunnaly.”
“…”
Indeed, if told, people tend to hope. And when that hope is shattered, people’s despair becomes even deeper. Nunnaly once again realized how much her husband and son cared for her. Before she knew it, the frustration she initially felt had disappeared, and she was in tears of joy at being so loved. Sandra, sensing this, smiled happily as well.
“Lady Nunnaly, I understand you have many feelings. However, those two are trying so desperately. I believe they will surely find a clue leading to the complete cure of magic depletion syndrome. That’s why I took the liberty of telling you this now. To prepare for that time, let’s focus on your treatment as much as possible for now.”
“…You’re right. Thank you, Sandra. I can see what I need to do now. I’m no longer frustrated. I will continue to fight, believing in my beloved family.”
As Nunnaly answered Sandra, she suddenly turned her gaze to the window and whispered in her heart.
(My love, Reed, I love you both too. And I’ll wait, believing in you. Just please, don’t overdo it.)
At this moment, Nunnaly renewed her determination to fight against magic depletion syndrome for the sake of her family.
Later, as the examination ended and Sandra and Nunnaly were chatting, suddenly the door opened, and a cute voice echoed in Nunnaly’s room.
“Mama, when are my little brothers and sisters coming!?”
“Eh…?”
Nunnaly and Sandra were both taken aback by Meldy’s words.
“Lady Meldy, you mustn’t open the door suddenly!!” Danae, who had been chasing after Meldy, joined the scene. However, ignoring Danae’s words, Meldy continued with an adorable smile.
“Hey, Mama. The treatment is over, right? When you get better, my little brothers and sisters will come, right?”
“Wha…!?”
Nunnaly’s face turned bright red in an instant as she uttered an incomprehensible sound. Meldy, who had likely spoken without understanding the meaning, and the others present who understood the meaning and wore indescribable expressions. However, amidst all this, Meldy just tilted her head cutely in confusion.
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