2.

Catherine knew a few facts from the book. In Helen, buildings and alleys looked similar. That’s why one needed to pay attention to the street numbers.

For example, streets were divided from Helen Street 1 to Helen Street 5, and one needed to know those numbers to avoid getting lost in Helen.

The “person” Catherine was looking for was on Helen Street 3.

‘Dr. James.’

He was briefly described in the book. A skilled doctor, but with an aggressive personality who was greedy for money and expelled from academia.

Now he provided illegal house calls in the shadows, becoming a doctor who followed money and capital.

What moved him was greed first, greed second, and greed third. And this man had established a medical clinic in the shadows called ‘Hanra Clinic.’

[Hanra Clinic]

Today, Catherine planned to find that “person” here. And it seemed she had found the right place. Just as described in the book. It was a shadow clinic run by an eccentric doctor.

The entrance looked clean as if recently replaced, and the green door still had plastic wrapping on it as if newly installed. When she turned the doorknob, a bell rang with a ding. As she opened the door, a gentle voice greeted her.

“The doctor isn’t seeing patients today.”

“But the door was open?”

“If we don’t leave the door open, those ignorant mercenaries and criminal types break it down…… Ahem! Anyway! Dr. James is busy today, so it’s not possible.”

The person screening visitors at the entrance must be James’s apprentice, Nicole? Nicole waved her hands dismissively, obviously bored, telling her to leave quickly.

Catherine actually felt reassured by this behavior.

‘I found the right place.’

The entrance door looked new because it seemed the “ignorant mercenaries” or “criminal types” frequently broke it down.

“I’m in a hurry.”

“……”

“I snuck out, so I don’t have much time.”

Nicole stopped waving her hand.

“Tell Dr. James it’s a request for an illegal house call.”

Clink—a pouch full of gold coins fell heavily onto the table. Nicole seemed to guess it was a large amount just from the sound, as she gulped dryly. When Catherine indifferently nodded toward the money pouch, Nicole checked the amount and smiled brightly.

“Customer, so who is the patient?”

“The patient is me standing right in front of you, and where should I go?”

“Just go up to the second floor, customer.”

Catherine immediately went up the stairs to the second floor. Papers and medical books were scattered messily all over the second floor. As she pushed them aside with her foot, a door creaked open from one side of the room. At that moment, a shouting voice erupted from inside.

“These guys fight every day and then come here stabbed again! I’m not a surgeon! And if you’re a criminal organization, can’t you fight more decently! If you’re the bosses of this district, why do you get hurt every day! Don’t disturb me during my research time……!”

A man in a white coat threw his glasses down and shouted loudly. Catherine clapped her hands softly in admiration. Ah…… They said he had a bad temper, and it was true.

The man pressed his eyelids firmly and frowned.

“Huff, damn it……! I thought it was those gloomy guys who got into trouble and came here injured again. I’m not seeing patients today! Come back another time!”

By “gloomy guys,” he seemed to mean the criminal organization that supported him, and they apparently came to James frequently when injured.

“What is it?”

“Master!”

Nicole quickly intervened, opening the door to the medical room.

“This is a valuable customer. Please attend to her sincerely. She says it’s a request for an illegal house call, and our safe has been empty for a long time since we haven’t accepted requests.”

Nicole brought tea and refreshments, set them in front of Catherine, and flashed an enchanting, hospitable smile.

Nicole had fluffy curly hair, cut short to give a refreshing yet mischievous impression.

Catherine sat on the sofa and slightly lifted her lace hat. James glanced at Catherine, frowning as he silently examined her.

“Then Master, please proceed with the examination.”

After Nicole left, Catherine got straight to the point.

“I want a confidential examination, is that possible?”

“Patient information is naturally kept confidential. But wait a moment……?”

James frowned and quietly murmured.

“You’re dying.”

James took Catherine’s wrist, checked her pulse, and sighed deeply.

“You really are dying.”

Catherine removed her hat and leaned back comfortably on the sofa. James approached her, sniffing hesitantly, almost like a dog searching for a scent.

“This is definitely the scent of poisonous herbs, but it’s strange.”

A moment later, Dr. James muttered quietly.

“……You look like a noble lady, but why do you smell of poisonous herbs? You don’t look poor enough to be gathering poisonous herbs from mountains for food.”

“Is that related to my body? I mean, why did you say I was dying as soon as you saw me?”

Catherine had one reason for finding James. She wanted to hear why she would suddenly die young. But is this doctor a hidden medical genius? He’s unexpectedly competent. Too competent for someone living by providing illegal house calls in the shadows……?

“There’s a poisonous herb called salsa. Where is it, it’s a plant that often grows in southwestern mountains…… Although its scent is sweet, it’s dangerous because it’s poisonous.”

“You smell that on me?”

“I briefly ran a clinic in the southwestern shadows. Some children there showed toxic reactions to this herb…… It’s strange. It’s a poisonous herb that poor children eat unknowingly like digging for arrowroot when they have nothing to eat, but why would its scent be on a noble lady?”

The scent of poisonous herbs sounds like the scent of death. Is that why he said she was dying when she took off her hat?

“It’s deeply embedded in your body. Haven’t you noticed it? You’ve been exposed to it for a very long time.”

“Can you confirm it?”

“First, let’s draw some blood. Whatever it is, we need to do a blood test first before prescribing medicine…… The bitter scent from your body is definitely from poisonous herbs.”

Though rejected by academic doctors and even had his medical license suspended for being eccentric, he was competent. James drew blood, put it in a container, put on some glasses, and shook the container vigorously.

“I don’t know the cure. I can only prescribe suppressants or painkillers.”

“I already knew I had limited time when I came here…… Focus on pain suppression rather than treatment.”

This future isn’t something she knows because she’s in pain somewhere. She’s just guessing roughly from what she read in the book.

If there’s no cure, it means she’s really going to die. I’m going to die. Catherine put her hat back on and slowly stood up.

“When will the test results be ready?”

“The results will be ready next week. So which family are you from? If you tell me your family, I’ll secretly visit you there in a week.”

Catherine nodded a couple of times.

“Catherine Milden. Ah, soon to be Catherine Helen. I’m going to marry Duke Lorendis Helen. When the test results are ready, come to the Helen ducal mansion.”

James quietly asked, “Is that so?” and then murmured quietly. Helen…… Duke Helen, he said. His murmuring voice suddenly stopped, and he asked again, “Duke Helen?” When Catherine confirmed, James turned pale.

“But it’s still a secret from my husband and family members, so come quietly. There are various interests entangled in our marriage. If rumors spread about my illness and the marriage falls apart…… Your head will be the first to go.”

* * *

The final preparations for her limited time were complete. She had found a doctor to examine her body, and since there might be troublesome issues if this news spread in Helen, she had also sworn James to secrecy.

“Poisonous herbs, that’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

As a noble lady who mostly stayed at home, how would she have come in contact with poisonous herbs? Even if she had encountered poisonous herbs, it would have been at home. And home was her stepmother’s domain……

“Hmm. It must be Mother’s doing.”

Perhaps because she had already anticipated this possibility, even her last remaining attachment was crushed at the very end.

It’s a very short life. The time allowed is also short. One year. It’s too fleeting.

‘Dad, I think I need to be a little spiteful.’

Dad, please forgive me. I’m going to be an unworthy daughter. I’ll drive out my stepmother and stepsister…… I’ll just take the residence to my grave.

Even if my life ends with limited time, I want to play one small spiteful trick on those family members before I leave. That much spite is okay, right?

This is a confession. A sense of guilt offered to a father who is no longer by her side.

“Miss!”

Catherine reunited with her companions whom she had lost in the main street.

“Where have you been?”

“Um, I got lost……”

Catherine made up an excuse and returned to the carriage. The day was already fading. The sunset was sinking over the horizon. As the sun set, the air grew even colder.

“Helen is famous for its good security, but still, it’s your first time here. Please be careful.”

Deborah gave a lengthy lecture. As the lecture was ending, Catherine pulled back the curtain and looked outside. The sky was growing cloudy as it absorbed the sunset.

“Is it going to rain?”

“At this time of year, it’s more likely to snow than rain.”

Helen barely experiences spring, summer, and autumn before winter arrives. The northern winter is that harsh.

Is this the time of year when snow falls?

She had only heard rumors about Helen’s snow, never had the chance to see it directly. They say it’s like a natural disaster…… But if white snow falls like snowflakes, it would be beautiful. It would be nice to spend the rest of her life buried in snow, drawing angels and making snowmen.