Chapter 21
As Grace was struggling to figure out how to take Sally to her room, several servants appeared in the hallway. Feeling relieved, Grace raised one hand and waved it frantically.
“Ma’am?”
The servants looked at Grace in confusion. She was supporting a maid by the shoulder.
“Ma’am? What are you doing right now…”?
“Th-this way! S-Sally is sick!”
When Grace cried out desperately, the servants rushed over. They quickly recognized the maid hanging onto her.
“Oh, Sally…!”
“Y-yes! Hurry!”
“Sally looks to be in a very bad condition.”
Even just standing nearby, they could feel the heat radiating from Sally’s body. One of the maids placed a hand on her flushed forehead.
“She’s burning up.”
“Was she conscious when you found her, ma’am?”
“N-no…”
Grace shook her head, distressed. Sally hadn’t responded even when she was moved or when people spoke around her. She had completely passed out.
“P-please take her to the d-doctor.”
“Yes, we’ll do that.”
“She… must get treatment. S-Sally…”
“Understood. Leave it to us.”
The servants nodded firmly, trying to reassure Grace, and swiftly moved into action.
“S-she’ll be okay… right?”
“Yes, of course. She’ll be fine with treatment. There’s a very skilled doctor named Mr. Cohen here in the Winstaine estate. If he takes care of her, she’ll recover in no time.”
“O-okay…”
As the servants took Sally away, Grace clasped her hands together and watched them go. It was such a relief that someone had appeared at just the right time to help.
‘I won’t let her die…’
I won’t let her end up like Emily. I’ll save her, no matter what.
She didn’t want to see someone leave in front of her again. Grace’s eyes were firm with determination.
“Her fever has gone down a lot now. A few days of rest should be enough for her to recover.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“She needs to keep taking the rest of the medicine and eat properly as well.”
“Yes, yes. I understand!”
The sound of voices stirred her awake. Sally blinked up at a familiar ceiling.
She felt dazed, as though she’d just woken up from a long sleep. The ceiling and blankets confirmed it was her room… but something about it still felt unfamiliar.
She turned her head.
“Mm…”
A small groan slipped from her lips. The eyes of the people sitting beside her bed turned to her.
“Oh my gosh, Sally. You’re awake?”
“Annie…? Rena…?”
The unfamiliar man was a doctor who occasionally visited the Duke’s household, and the others were her fellow maids.
Why are they in my room?
“You were bedridden for three whole days! My goodness!”
“Are you fully conscious now?”
“Yeah…”
Sally tried to sit up but found her body too heavy.
“We’ll help you, Sally.”
Annie gently supported her back and shoulders, helping her up.
“Ah…”
As she sat up, a wave of dizziness hit her. Sally let out a soft groan, and Annie’s eyes widened in concern.
“Does your head still hurt badly?”
“N-no. It’s not that bad. But… was I really out for two days?”
“Yeah… we thought we were going to lose you. The doctor worked really hard.”
“Thank you.”
Sally bowed her head to the doctor in gratitude. If she had been on the verge of death for three days, that meant he had saved her from the brink.
“No need to thank me. I simply did what I’m supposed to do.”
“But who… called the doctor?”
The question suddenly crossed her mind. She had never seen a doctor even when she was sick before. Who would call a doctor from Winstaine, someone who treats nobility, just for a mere maid?
“Of course it was the Madam! You wouldn’t believe how worried she was.”
“The Madam…?”
Sally’s eyes widened. A hazy memory surfaced in her foggy mind.
“Ma…dam?”
“S-Sally.”
Those surprised, red eyes. The cool hand on her forehead. The sensation of her burning skin being soothed. She had closed her eyes to that comforting touch… and remembered nothing after that.
‘So that wasn’t a dream.’
“They say it was lucky she found you early. The Madam…”
Annie explained what had happened. Grace had found Sally collapsed in the hallway with a high fever and immediately arranged for her to receive medical treatment through Dorota.
‘But… why?’
Sally couldn’t understand why Grace had done that.
She had always treated the Madam with a stiff, expressionless attitude. At first, she even looked down on her and secretly disrespected her.
Unless the Madam was a complete fool, she must have known Sally disliked her. So why was she so worried?
“I’m so glad the Madam is such a kind person!”
“Right? She even made sure we workers got this kind of treatment…”
“She apparently told them to use the expensive medicine without hesitation. She’s definitely an angel.”
Sally knew the Madam had been kind to the staff lately, but this still seemed like too much. She couldn’t make sense of it at all.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
The doctor stood up. Annie and Rena also rose from their chairs.
“Rest well, Sally. We’ll get back to work now.”
“We’ll come back later with your food and medicine.”
After the three of them left, Sally was alone. She stared blankly out the window.
‘How should I… see the Madam from now on?’
She let out a deep sigh. She knew she should thank her for calling the doctor and saving her life, but… since they hadn’t been on good terms, even that felt awkward and difficult.
Her tongue felt bitter, and her throat was dry—probably from the medicine she had taken over the past three days. She picked up the cup of water on the bedside table. The cold water soothed the lingering heat inside her.
Knock knock. Someone tapped on the door. Annie and Rena had already left—was it Dorota?
“Come in.”
“S-Sally.”
It was Grace who entered the room. Sally stared, dazed.
“Madam…?”
“I h-heard… you were awake.”
Grace stepped into the room with an awkward smile. Sally blinked, struggling to grasp the fact that the Duchess herself had come to a maid’s room.
“How did you…”
“Is… your body… okay?”
“Yes. I think I’m much better now…”
“H-here.”
As Sally hesitated to speak, Grace sat down on the chair and held out her hand. In her palm were several neatly wrapped brown caramels.
“T-the m-medicine is bitter. If it tastes b-bad… eat this.”
“……”
“They’re really, r-really good… I promise. N-not bitter at all.”
“Madam, I…”
Sally choked up, unable to finish her sentence. She couldn’t hold it in anymore as she looked into Grace’s clear eyes.
“Why… why are you doing all this for me?”
“S-sickness is… bad.”
Grace’s eyes sparkled, reflecting the sunlight coming through the window.
“It’s d-dangerous. Y-you mustn’t… leave.”
She couldn’t let another person end up like Emily. She couldn’t let them disappear forever from her side.
Looking at Grace, Sally thought her red eyes were like the sun—someone who shone warmly upon others.
“…I-I was wrong.”
Tears finally burst out. Sally lowered her head, her lips trembling.
“I was wrong about you. I misunderstood you. That’s why I acted arrogantly and didn’t show the respect you deserve.”
This woman had personally called a doctor to save her and had even come to visit out of concern. And what had Sally done in return all this time?
She felt ashamed—completely undeserving.
“Y-yeah…”
Sally buried her face in her hands and began to sob. Grace, flustered and unsure of what to do, placed her free hand—still not holding the caramels—gently on Sally’s shoulder.
“I-it’s okay…”
