Time Healer Ceres

“Mom...”

“Oh my God, Jen!”

However, not long after Ceres fed the child the medicine, she became certain that her judgment was correct.

At the child’s faint but steady voice, tears welled up in the woman’s eyes. The burning heat that had consumed the child’s body only moments ago had already faded.

“It’s only settled down for now, so don’t let your guard down. It’ll take time to fully recover. You need to keep giving the medicine for about fifteen days. I’ll tell you what you need, so go to a nearby herbal shop and have it prepared.”

“Thank you so much!”

No matter how many physicians she had visited, there was no improvement.

How could this be?

Though confused, the woman repeatedly bowed in both relief and gratitude. Ceres watched her with a curious look and tossed out a question.

“You’ve been near an Aple tree before, haven’t you?”

“An Aple tree?”

The woman nodded.

Aple trees were common in the nearby mountains. They bore small red fruits no bigger than a fingernail all year round. Their sweetness made them popular with both children and adults.

“There’s a parasite that lives on those trees.”

It was so small that it was nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.

“Occasionally, people end up suffering if bitten by it.”

In most cases, even if someone was bitten, the symptoms would pass mildly without much issue. But in very rare instances, there were those whose condition worsened rapidly.

Since it wasn’t a common case, no matter how often they visited ordinary physicians, they would likely have been prescribed cold medicine over and over again.

“Thank you so much. As for the consultation fee...”

“There’s no need.”

“...Pardon?”

When the woman hurried to take out payment, Ceres shook her head. She wasn’t officially practicing as a physician, so accepting money would only cause trouble.

“Instead, answer me something.”

“Yes! Please, ask anything.”

The woman nodded, her eyes filled with sincerity.

“Are the people of House Ellesia always like that?”

“Like that...?”

“Do they always prioritize nobles and make everyone else wait without regard for the patients’ condition?”

Even though Ceres already knew the answer, she asked with a faint hope. Perhaps today was just an unfortunate exception, and things weren’t usually like this.

“This is my first time lining up, but from what others said, it has always been like this. They say you have to be prepared to wait for several days at the very least.”

The woman’s shoulders slumped. Although it’s already known, seeing a noble walk in calmly while a critically ill child was turned away had caused her to lose her composure.

“And that attendant, this isn’t his first time either? He shows up like this every time?”

“Yes.”

“...D*mn.”

Ceres barely managed to swallow the curse rising to her lips.

Her gaze met the child’s, who stared blankly at her from within his mother’s arms. She clicked her tongue quietly.

They put someone who isn’t a physician in charge of the front gate?

Even back then, the line had always been long. The difference was that no one was treated differently, no matter how high their status. That included members of the imperial family. They had to wait their turn if they wanted treatment from House Ellesia.

There had only been one exception: patients in critical condition. Even if they arrived late, they were seen immediately if their condition was severe.

That’s why the gatekeeper matters so much.

Back when she was the head of House Ellesia, she treated the position at the front gate as one of utmost importance.

Treatment was only possible while the patient was still alive, and judging a patient’s condition to decide priority wasn’t something just anyone could do. That was why the role was always entrusted to someone with exceptional medical skill.

And this one doesn’t know the first thing about healing?

Thinking back to the man she had just met, Ceres laughed incredulously. He wasn’t a one-time substitute either. From the sound of it, this was how things were handled every time.

“What a joke.”

“...Pardon?”

Antonian, who had been standing at the side the whole time, stepped closer to the startled mother.

“She wasn’t talking to you. It happens sometimes, so don’t mind her.”

“Ah... I see.”

Even after that, Ceres continued muttering under her breath, her eyes flashing with irritation.

Antonian let out a long sigh. What had set his sister off this badly now? Was it because of that attendant earlier?

“Whatever the Ellesia family is doing, it’s none of our business. So calm down a little...”

“My head’s already a mess. I’ll give you some candy, so go over there and keep yourself busy for a bit.”

“Are you treating me like a child?”

Antonian snapped back on instinct. But when he saw Ceres’s expression, he swallowed the rest of his words.

Ceres, you do remember we came to get treatment from House Ellesia, right? We walked for an hour to get here...

“By the way, how did you know that child was sick because of a parasite from the Aple tree?”

Before losing her memory, Ceres had lived a life completely unrelated to healing. So how—

“I picked it up while studying to make medicine for Julia.”

Ceres brushed it off like it was nothing. If you acted confidently enough, a lie could pass for the truth.

If I say that’s what it is, what’s he going to do about it?

Just as expected, Antonian’s expression turned uncertain.

After a moment, he sighed heavily and decided to set everything else aside, focusing only on why they had come to House Ellesia in the first place.

Maybe I should at least tell her to go get treated now—

“Those motherf*ckers.”

“....”

...On second thought, never mind.

Seeing the dangerous glint still burning in Ceres’s eyes, Antonian shut his mouth. His small resolve was swiftly crushed beneath her anger.

***

“Jay.”

“Yes?”

“Did something happen to Lady Ceres?”

“I’m not sure. She’s been like that ever since she came back from going out with Lord Antonian yesterday.”

Mark, who had broken his arm, was finally back at the shop to help out here and there. His arm was still a bit stiff, but small tasks were fine. It looked like he would be back in the kitchen before long.

“She really doesn’t look to be in a good mood.”

“I know.”

The problem was that Ceres was in an exceptionally foul mood today.

It wasn’t like she was glaring at them or acting any differently than usual. However, even when standing still, she gave off a chilling air that was hard to ignore.

“Hey, is Grand Duke Persia here right now?”

“No.”

“Then why does it feel like this here?”

“Oi, keep your voice down.”

Even the customers seemed to pick up on the tension. They glanced at Ceres while minding their behavior around her.

Jingle.

Just then, the door opened and a small figure stepped inside.

“Ceres.”

It was her younger sister, Julia. She ran straight to Ceres and threw herself into her arms.

At the sight of the child, the cold edge on Ceres’s face melted away, replaced by a faint smile.

A wave of relief passed through the room, as if everyone could finally breathe again.

“Julia?”

But as soon as Ceres got a proper look at her, she frowned slightly. The corners of Julia’s eyes were red.

“Have you been crying?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Ceres...”

Ceres lifted her gaze to the butler Colin, who stood just behind the sniffling girl.

“Um...”

A short sigh slipped from the man who had brought Julia back from the academy.

“I hear Dave’s father has been taken into custody.”

At those words, Ceres immediately understood.

Not long ago, Knox had been dragged away by the guards after repeated reports from the neighbors. Morning and night, he would run out of the house, wailing like a madman. What he shouted was anything but normal.

“I was wrong! I... I was wrong! I didn’t mean to kill you, I swear!”

“Ahh! Fine! I killed you! I killed you! So please, just stop already!”

“P-please... just... stop...!”

Once taken in, Knox confessed to everything. He admitted he had killed both his wife and his son, as if he had already reached his breaking point and had no intention of making excuses.

“Ceres...”

“Yes.”

“Dave... Dave...”

“....”

It seemed the whole story had reached Julia’s ears as well, including the fact that Dave had lost his life at the hands of his own father.

Are there no secrets at the academy?

How did something like that reach a child so young?

Even the rumor about Dave’s mother running off after an affair had spread among the children before this.

None of that is anything children should be hearing.

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