“Ah, there you are, Monsieur Evanchester, I’ve been expecting you.”
As Dorothy opened the door to welcome him, Chloe tipped his hat and bowed politely.
“Long time no see, Madame. You’ve managed to become even more beautiful.”
“If anyone heard, they’d think we hadn’t seen each other for half a year, not five days.”
She covered her mouth with a dainty hand, her laughter betraying her delighted mood. The mischievous boy behind her stuck out his tongue in distaste.
“Bleeh.”
“Please, come inside. The sudden snow had me worried. I hope you didn’t have trouble finding your way here.”
Dorothy playfully ruffled the child’s hair and stepped aside to let him in. Chloe, smiling warmly, brushed the snow from his hat and coat, feeling the warmth envelop him as he entered.
“Fortunately, the capital boasts only seasoned coachmen. The horses are driven with such safety that one could comfortably have tea in the carriage.”
“You certainly are an entertaining individual. I was just perusing the diploma and letter of recommendation you sent. Your participation in such pioneering research on Hannah is truly impressive.”
“Curiosity about Hanna is common among Professor Jean’s students.”
Upon arrival, a maid relieved Chloe of his coat and hat, while Dorothy led the way to the parlor. Her earlier statement about reviewing documents appeared to be true, as Chloe’s papers were laid out in the living room corner.
The documents included a blatantly falsified diploma, a recommendation letter from Professor Jean, and a concocted history for Chloe. Dorothy, having taken a seat, faced the seated Chloe and examined the fabricated history detailed in the papers.
“Let’s see… Your record is flawless. I regret offering you employment during your homecoming break.”
As soon as he settled into his chair, the maid handed him a cup of hot black tea, and Chloe smiled softly as he inhaled the aroma.
“It’s better to tend to Hanna patients than to rest. For the first time in a long while, I feel a renewed sense of purpose in my medical mission.”
Chloe bit his lip slightly, as if he could hear Vivianne scolding him for his blatant lies, and moistened his lips. Dorothy, oblivious to his deceit, beamed at the young doctor’s apparent dedication.
“Thank you, it’s very generous of you to offer your assistance. You’ll only need to come in for the president’s checkup once a week, so work won’t be too hectic. I plan to return to the Empire as soon as I can, but… Still, I must attend to other matters for about three months. Until then, please look after him for me.”
“Yes, of course. You can rely on me.”
Fortunately, caring for someone with Hannarai was not overly complex. The primary responsibilities involved checking his physical condition weekly and prescribing sleeping pills monthly to aid his rest. Additionally, it was important to gently remind the patient to maintain his health regularly.
As she took a sip of tea and arranged the documents in her hands, Dorothy inquired,
“Today happens to be his regular checkup day, and since I must leave either today or tomorrow, this will be my final day examining the president. Would you care to observe? I don’t mean to question your abilities, Monsieur, but you mentioned you’ve never treated a Hanna patient before.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Pa kbeiv yf ws tbcbg ab jmmfqa sbeg ugjmlber lcnlajalbc,” Jtibf gfqilfv, j ufcaif rwlif qijslcu bc tlr ilqr jr tf ujnf j riluta ybk ab tfg.
Dorothy felt a surge of flattery and delight at being shown such respect by a man of his refined appearance. I hope my grandchildren grow up to be like him, she thought. Dorothy, who prayed each morning for a peaceful day amidst the troublemakers, glanced at the clock on the wall beside the window and remarked,
“Ktf qgfrlvfca rtbeiv yf jgglnlcu rbbc. P erfv ab nlrla tlr gfrlvfcmf obg mtfmxeqr, yea rlcmf ws jgglnji lc atf Swqlgf, tf tjr yffc mbwlcu ab ws tbwf. Lf ilnfv mbwobgajyis lc atf Qfrafgc Blcuvbw yfobgf jygeqais wbnlcu ab atf Swqlgf klatbea fzqijcjalbc. P kbcvfg lo la kjr kbgx-gfijafv.”
With a contemplative gaze, Dorothy looked out the window, her hand absently smoothing her cheek. The relentless snowfall that began with Chloe’s arrival showed no signs of stopping, casting doubt on whether Dorothy could embark on her journey tomorrow, or even today.
Chloe, noticing a slight imperfection on the diploma he had meticulously forged, carefully smoothed it out and continued his essential task of gathering information about Aeon Worth.
“What does your patient do for a living?”
I wonder what occupation allows that man to resist the sleeping incense and make such cryptic remarks about Dawn.
Curiosity about one’s patients is natural for a doctor. Yet, Dorothy found herself at a loss for words, embarrassed by such a simple inquiry.
“Oh… Oh my… A bit of this and that. Was that too vague? My apologies. It might be best to get the details from the president. I’m not sure what I’m at liberty to discuss… But before you’re taken aback, let me preface this: the president…”
“Grandma, you have a visitor!”
A small child ushered someone into the parlor. The man following the child was Aeon. Apparently not noticing Chloe on the couch, he walked straight to Dorothy, shaking off the snow from his hair.
“The heavy snowfall caused an accident on my way here.”
His tone carried a slight irritation. Dorothy, taken aback, stood up and went to him.
“An accident? Are you injured?”
“The horses got a little spooked. But those fellows never miss a beat. It’s quite something.”
“Those fellows…”
Dorothy’s expression of concern quickly shifted to one of gravity. Chloe, on edge, was desperate to hear what she would say next, but her sentence trailed off.
Those fellows? What fellows?
Turning to Chloe, Aeon inquired, “Well, let’s move on from that. What about the one over there?”
Chloe, who had been attentively absorbing their expressions, tone, and every word, stood up straight and introduced himself, “My name is Chloe Evanchester, Monsieur Worth.”
“Ah, you’re the young man who suffered a crow attack a few days ago.”
The phrase ‘the young man who suffered a crow attack’ was accurate, yet somehow unsettling to hear. Dorothy, responsible for teaching manners to her spirited grandchildren, felt compelled to correct this.
“Mr. President, referring to him as the young man who suffered a crow attack is somewhat…”
“What do you expect? The presence of this young man indicates he has been chosen as the attending physician, does it not?”
“You are correct, but…”
Chloe perceived a subtle shift in his manner as he immediately abandoned courtesy upon hiring someone. It seemed that what Dorothy had been attempting to convey to Chloe, but halted due to Aeon’s arrival, was akin to ‘The president is somewhat abrupt.’
Aeon settled on the couch opposite Chloe and perused the documents laid out on the table. After briefly examining six papers, Aeon flung them to the table’s edge, found nothing unusual, and declared,
“I won’t comment further as this is Dorothy’s decision. We shall convene here weekly at this time. Dorothy, this will be your final inspection within the empire.”
Having spoken, Aeon glanced at Dorothy and started to loosen and adjust his cravat. This act was the cue to commence the examination. He methodically removed his upper clothing, stacking them next to him. Without warning, an impromptu burlesque performance ensued.
“If it were to occur weekly here…”
Events unfolded rapidly and without explanation. As Chloe gaped in disbelief, Aeon’s skilled hands swiftly unbuttoned his shirt, leaving him bare from the waist up.
His robust torso, illuminated by the light, revealed a muscular physique at first glance, but Chloe’s gaze quickly shifted to the white scars marring his skin. These marks, remnants of a tumultuous past, had left his flesh in tatters.
The origin of the scars was ambiguous; they could have been inflicted by a wild beast or a sharp blade. The web-like scars provided only a glimpse into his history. Some scars appeared fresh, as if inflicted only days prior. Dorothy, standing behind Aeon, signaled to Chloe, who was still speechless.
“Monsieur. Come here.”
Chloe approached hesitantly, taking in the sight of the man’s broad shoulders as he sat on the sofa. Aeon reached for a teacup on the table, exposing his back previously concealed by the sofa.
A violet tattoo overlaid a single scar on his expansive back. The design, roughly the size of a hand, featured an intricate pattern of triangles, circles, and squares that intertwined complexly. It was the emblem of the Temple of Tipurya.
“…Is this the curse of Tipurya?”
“It’s actually a characteristic of Hannarai, to be precise.”
The stab wound inflicted by the Ashtarte brought the symbols of Tipurya to Dorothy’s mind. As she traced it with a heavy gaze, she brought a fist to her lips, lost in thought.
Chloe, whose interest lay more with Aeon than Hannarai, feigned attention to the pattern alongside Dorothy and inquired,
“What have you been involved in, Mr. President? These gashes seem to be a greater concern than the marks of Hannarai on your body. Have you been in a war? What on earth have you done to receive such wounds?”
“Ah, you. It seems the doctor made the right choice. I see you’ve started to nag me already. Those who have seen my body are usually left speechless. Dorothy has indeed chosen the right successor, someone who bears her resemblance.”
Aeon’s shoulders shook with amusement. Dorothy, puzzled by what was so humorous, closed her eyes and shook her head in bewilderment.
“If you don’t want to be nagged, you shouldn’t have gotten into trouble. Anyway, wait here; I’ll prepare an herbal decoction for you.”
With that, Dorothy stormed out of the living room. The awkwardness intensified after her departure, as she had been the one to lighten the mood. However, Chloe seized the moment, refusing to let silence take over. He inquired,
“What are all these scars from?”
Aeon, who was staring straight ahead and thus couldn’t see Chloe’s intense gaze fixed on the back of his head, took a sip of tea and responded chillingly,
“It’s the crowning achievement of a fool just before his demise.”
…Who in the world is this man?
***
“Aeon Worth. You mentioned he’s from the Western Kingdom.”
[Right. Did you discover anything?]
“Unfortunately, no. It seems I might need to delve into the Fog’s archives in the Western Kingdom, or else take to the streets.”
[Ha, not this again. You’ve never failed to uncover information before. I can’t believe I’m stuck here.]
Vivianne couldn’t see Chloe, but she imagined him rubbing the back of his head in frustration.
“However, I did learn something about Dorothy Gasser. She was a protégé of my great-grandfather, Professor Jean. He always said she was his most eager pupil when it came to Hannarai disease. He lost track of her after she graduated, but I suspect she went to the Western Kingdom. By the way, did you manage to find out how he contracted Hannarai disease? Who was it that stabbed him with the Ashtarte?”
[No, he won’t even disclose to the doctor what he’s doing or the reason for his scars, so why would he confide in me? Perhaps it’s not the right time. Astar has infiltrated, regardless. Eventually, we’ll uncover the truth and understand why he mentioned Dawn.]
“By the way, where are you now? You usually visit my studio. It’s been a few days since I’ve heard from you….”
Just then, Shan’s voice came through the receiver Vivianne was holding.
[It’s Astar! I’ve found him!]
[Oh, my. Shan is maturing. He’s becoming adept at locating things.]
Subsequently, the background noise escalated to the point where Chloe’s voice was drowned out. Vivianne clutched the receiver and yelled.
“What do you mean? Where exactly are you, Chloe? Chloe?”
Just as Vivianne could barely hear Chloe’s answer, the signal was lost. After a long wait with no response despite her shouts, Vivianne set the receiver down, gazed out the window at the sky, and sighed deeply.
“Up in the sky, again. I wonder what he’s up to this time.”
– – –
Translator’s Corner:
Our little phantom thief can’t keep his mittens to himself for a minute 
Ngl Aeon’s scars are kinda hot. Also, poor Vivianne, she probably needs a mega dose of headache relievers because of Chloe’s antics.
Hot, but painful. Chloe’s shit-stirring personality is so winsome ☺️