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Lucia Chapter 51 [part 1]

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< — The Taran Duke’s Family Doctor — > (1)

TN: ‘Employees’ is changed to ‘servants’.

 

Several months passed since Anna and Philip’s steady exchanged continued. Anna found Philip for teaching whenever she had free time and Philip admired Anna’s great passion for learning at such an advanced age.

Once a week, Anna and Philip went to offer their medical services to the poor and needy. Just like always, they set up a simple treatment room in a remote location at the back of an alley and received a flood of patients. It was difficult but as Anna treated patients with all sorts of diverse symptoms, her skills dramatically increased.

“Look here, don’t you think the stupid thing is to say you ate mugwort to make medicine?”

The voice of a hot-tempered middle-aged wife rang out loudly. The simple treatment room had two tables set slightly apart and in between them, a thin cloth acted as a wall. So when one raised their voice a little bit, one could be heard from the other side.

On the other side of the wall, Anna payed attention to the audible voice of the patient who came to Philip.

“Did I know and eat it? I only knew it had wild herbs.”

“Are your eyes crooked? How does that thing look like herbs!”

“Why did you leave it in the kitchen then!”

Mother and daughter went back and forth, raising their voices to each other as they quarreled.

Mugwort! Anna paused treatment on her side and fixed her gaze on the obscuring wall of cloth. Then she heard Philip’s calm voice.

“So what is the matter? Did you perhaps contact an ailment?”

“Aiyo! Doctor! This one ate that thing and her monthly period didn’t come. I don’t know what to do if this lass cannot perform her duties as a woman so I can’t sleep at night.”

“Tch, I like it this way.” (Daughter speaking)

“You crazy thing, ah! Do you want to be a woman that can’t give birth?”

Anna suddenly sprang to her feet. She didn’t notice the confused expression of her patient who was being treated. Anna lifted the wall made of cloth and went into the other partition.

Philip glanced at Anna once then spoke to the patient.

“I cannot treat you if you’re making so much fuss. Quiet down. How much mugwort did you eat?”

“About as much as a side dish? I mixed it up with vegetable and ate it.” (Patient)

Her mother next to her: ‘This crazy-! How can you happily eat that foul-tasting thing and call it vegetable? Aiyo, I didn’t give birth to a human, I birthed a good-for-nothing. Ai! I can’t live in peace.’

She continued to grumble inwardly.

“When did you have your first menstruation?” (Philip)

“I think the year before last?”

“You didn’t keep eating the mugwort, did you?”

“No.”

“Then, this is just a temporary state, your menses will start again next month. So you don’t need to be worried. You too, Mother.”

Both mother and daughter were in disbelief so they had to be persuaded and promised several times before they left.

“What’s wrong, Anna? Is there a patient with a problem?” (Philip)

“…No. I’ll tell you later.”

After they finished giving free treatment and the day was darkening into night, the two returned to drink tea at Philip’s residence.

“Earlier…I mean the patient who took mugwort. That was my first time seeing a such a symptom but Sir Philip seemed to know all about it. I know mugwort has a hemostatic effect but for that to stop menstruation? How could that be when the blood from menstruation and the blood from wounds are from completely different structures?” (Anna)

“It’s rare but occasionally, it occurs in patients. It can happen when the poor hunger and don’t distinguish between what they eat. However, there’s nothing to worry about. There’s nothing wrong with the body, it’s just a temporary state.” (Philip)

“Then, by any chance, do you know of menstruation stopping entirely after eating mugwort?”

Philip’s hand lifting the teacup to his mouth paused for a moment. A mysterious glint flashed through his eyes, disappearing just as fast as it came. His relaxed smile remained unchanged and his voice was very relaxed as he spoke.

“Interesting. Do you have such a patient?”

“Yes, in state of complete amenorrhea (absence of menstrual periods). The herb intake was for quite the long time.”

In the meantime, Anna had purchased hundreds of medicinal books in order to find a cure for the Duchess. She scrapped up all the books on the market and not only that, she asked around for the doctors living in Roam (city) and went to them diligently. However, there was not one person who recognized the symptom of menstruation stopping after eating mugwort.

Anna would have rather preferred to experiment the diet on herself but unfortunately, she was already in her menopause and because she didn’t know the side effects, she couldn’t test it on another person.

So, it was both surprising and frustrating to stumble across that patient today. If she knew beforehand, she would’ve gone digging through the slums. Anna admired Philip anew.

[How did you obtain such excellent medical skill? You know much of what is in the books and what is not in the books.]

The more she knew, the more amazed she was by Philip’s medical knowledge so one day, she asked him directly.

[There are simply a lot of miscellaneous things I picked along the way when I was wandering around.]

Philip spoke modestly but Anna thought of it as his reward for wandering the hinterland to offer his medical services. He was really an excellent doctor.

“Philip, didn’t you say you treated a lot of patients while traveling? I feel very embarrassed in comparison. True medicine should be performed with the heart yet my lowly medicine is priced with greed.”

“Anna, your medical skill is superb. You are enthusiastic and true to your patient. It is a shame you don’t receive proper recognition because you are a woman.”

“You speak too highly of me.”

Anna smiled and brought the teacup to her mouth. If Anna had seen Philip’s eyes then, she would have felt strange. The pupils of his eyes flickered silently, revealing his impatience.

“Who is the patient?” (Philip)

Anna hesitated. Keeping a patient’s confidentiality was the duty of a doctor. However, Anna couldn’t let go of the only and definite clue that she’d barely managed to fine. The longer she couldn’t grasp a clue, the more anxious she felt. No one was urging her but she felt agitated.

‘It’s okay. He’s the Duke’s doctor and one with excellent medical skills. He’s a true doctor who finds the poor to offer his medical services.’

She didn’t know why he was under surveillance, but if he was someone who would harm the Duke, it wouldn’t just end with surveillance. She made up her mind. Still, she felt too uncomfortable to readily mention the madam.

“To be honest, I came to find you at first because I wanted some advice on this symptom.”

If the Duchess’ doctor was seeking advice from another doctor, without one even saying who the patient was, it was obvious. Anna nodded her head to Philip who was quietly looking at her.

“By any chance…was the mugwort taken from the first menstrual period?”(Philip)

“You know!”

Anna yelled out cheerfully.

“Do you know a way to treat it?” (Anna)

“Fortunately, I do.” (Philip)

“My goodness!”

The cure she had been looking for all this while had been right next to her. If she had honestly asked for advice from the beginning, she would have gotten it without going through so much trouble.

However, she didn’t regret the time spent going through that trouble. Searching for books and digging through them were of great help to her skills.

“How did the patient happen to take mugwort?” (Philip)

“The patient wasn’t knowledgeable as a child and did not know of the changes in a woman. Summarily, in the patient’s young mind, it was a drug that stopped bleeding so one tried to fix the first menstruation.” (Anna)

“How long was this intake?”

“I heard it was taken for about half a year, after which there was no more menstruation. Is it really possible to treat?”

“Listen a little longer. This symptoms require special conditions to be treated. One must not be a virgin and one must not have experienced union with more than one man.”

Anna’s expression fell. The symptom itself was already strange now even the treatment condition was strange too. Because of Anna’s experience treating the Duchess, she knew of the Duchess’ purity better than anyone else.

But this matter was privately hidden and concerned the Duchess’ reputation. She hesitated for a while but in the end she chose her belief that as doctor, if one was embarrassed about their patient’s condition, one would not be able to treat their patient properly.

“That won’t be a problem. The patient was married some time ago and the first night was the patient’s first union.”

Anna stubbornly did not directly mention who the patient was but they were both understanding each other.

“Then, does this mean it can be treated?” (Anna)

Philip lowered his gaze a little and said nothing in reply. Anna waited quietly, not wanting to interfere with his thoughts. But in actuality, Philip was only trying to calm his overwhelmed and turbulent emotions. After some time, he lifted his head with a calm expression.

“It’s possible.”

“I’ll go see Milady immediately. I’m sure she will be much pleased that I have found a cure.”

Anna shuffled restlessly in her seat as if she would get up at any moment. She didn’t even realize that she had directly said who the patient was. Philip used a hand gesture to tell her to calm down.

“This treatment is one of the visions passed down in our family. The exact method of preparation is in the notebook passed down and I have to check it but I don’t have it right now. I put it someplace else. It looks like I’ll have to leave for a while.”

Anna felt regretful. She was filled with impatience as she didn’t want to lose the clue she had finally gotten.

“Will it take long? Is it possible for me to go with you?”

“I apologize but I cannot take you with me. It is a secret location passed down in our family for generations.”

“I was too impatient. I’m sorry for making an unreasonable request.”

“There’s no need to be in a rush. I will definitely give you the treatment. Therefore, in the meantime, don’t tell the patient. There’s no need to make one wait in vain.”

“You’re right. When do you expect to be back?”

“At the latest, I will be back in a week.”

 

Translator’s Corner:

Just as a side note, Patreon rewards have been greatly upgraded. More tiers and more rewards per tiers! Also, if I don’t respond for a while, it’s cuz I’m busy aka midterms. New comments will have to wait much longer to be approved. Bye!

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46 thoughts on “Lucia Chapter 51 [part 1]”

  1. Am I the only one really hoping Lucia doesn’t get kids? And she, her husband, and adopted son live happily together? I hate how everything is so “perfectly aligned” for her to have kids, and that whole theme of “a woman will never truly be happy unless she’s a wife and a mother”. Thats bull!
    Not to mention its rude towards women who cant have kids even if they really really want. It gives off the vibe that they’ll never be a true “woman”.
    I hope Lucia flips sh** at both doctors and fires Maria for disclosing her personal information (not to mention, someone who is being monitored by the duke).
    You can be happy without giving birth to kids! Or getting married! You’re still a woman! Stop chalking women down to baby-making machines without lives and ambitions of their own! It’s not romantic at all! Ah… I really wish I could say that to the author >.

    1. If I could rewrite this story I would make it so that Lucia was the one with a magical family history (from her mother’s side). And she slowly figures out how to use it/channel it to become strong while still marrying the Duke to escape. Then they become a power couple while dealing with all the intricacies of the high life and living in a male dominated society.

      1. I’d say having a prophetic dream of your entire life is pretty magical… and maybe it is from her mother? Why would a noble lady decide to go live as a peasant, especially when her family didn’t seem so bad, unless she had something to fear?

    2. I agree that the whole -you need to become a mother to become a true woman- is complete bull, but in this case I don’t see a problem, since Lucia actually said that she does want to have a child, that was the reason she had that fight with the Duke.
      She hasn’t gotten treatment herself as a way to stop her own desires, but she said it herself “If I get treated, I want to have a child”.

      1. I totally agree with you! When I read comments said that they didn’t want Lucia get pregnant, I feel it is unfair because that’s just their subjective desire. And as you said, she did want have a baby!

    3. Lucia has been repeatedly express her interest of having a child. She fine with not having one, but from what I read, her interest lean toward of having a child compare to not having one.

      Also about the cure, i think its been 2 times she did think if Anna able to find the cure, she wont refuse having a child.

    4. I’m happy she has Damien because she so clearly wanted kids. My dearest wish for this story would be adopting a bunch more kids not even a little bit related by blood. Especially since society’s treatment of “illegitimate” children is so cruel. She’s shown to be warm and loving – let that be a strength that helps set a new precedent!

    5. Although i get where u are coming from, u are missing the point here, Lucia herself wants children, since her past life it was her life obsession that accompanied her to her death even when she had no partner she never gave up on finding a cure, it has nothing to do with her position as a woman in society or that being her only duty as a woman, she gave up that idea at the beginning in order to save her future from the misery awaiting her, then she got a bit of hope of having a child with the duke but was once again disappointed and gave up after knowing his background story and because she loves him she just decided to give up on the idea, because of his words about not wanting to leave his mark, but u see, deep down that was her genuine wish, even raising a child alone was okay for her, she didn’t want a child for recognition or for solidifying her position as a noble wife, so here with your remarks u r actually disregarding the woman who truly desire for kids but can’t have them for whatever reason. And don’t forget the setting of the story, it’s a historical one with a kingdom ruling system, woman at that time didn’t have much of freedom as it is in a modern world. Even the money they receive is based on their husband’s favor. So judging a woman’s worth according her ability to birth children was the norm.

  2. What should we do.. I hope Lucia remembers the taste of medicine.. At least Lucia is taken medicine with her knowledge.. I don’t want something like accidental baby…and of course if Author want drama.. Lucia will taken the medicine without knowing and sometimes her monthly situation reoccur she knows what she eats and will avoid Hugo.. but I want Hugo know about this not as the last person knows..

    Thanks for the chapter

    1. I think in earlier chapters (when she first moved to Roam?) She recalled the medicine tasted like vanilla. She could even recall how to make it to treat herself, but since the Duke doesn’t want kids… she’s not gonna “magically recall it”. So, if this is the right stuff Lucia would know.

    1. Thanks for the chapter~
      The fact that he’s being monitored should have sill raised some big red flags! Especially when he told her not to say anything to Lucia. She isn’t some common patient, she’s a Duchess! Did it never cross her mind that he might try to poison her? There has to be a reason he’s being watched!!! In the upper classes betrayal is common, even if you think he’s so saint that can’t be boughg off, think of revenge! He’s still human!

      1. Sadly, as a reader we know Phillip is just being watched because he wa s the Taran’s house to continue on. If anyone wants Lucia to get knocked up… it is this dude. Haiz~ Still not cool. Then there was something about sibling and keeping the bloodline pure… so Phillip will then try and push the new kid off onto poor Damian. Don’t know why this family isn’t inbred yet.

  3. There’s never a time I wanted to bash someone in this novel before… well Anna, damn! And that symptom “must not have experienced union with more than one man”, how does that even help for curing X.X Thank you

      1. In her defense, she received really vague guidelines from the steward. She was ok’d to consult with Phillip but she just couldn’t say to duchess that treatments came from him. She’s actually followed all instructions given. If she wasn’t supposed to trust him professionally Jerome would have said so.

  4. Well dumb Anna just made a path for evil doctors evil plans. Dumb Anna smh.
    Think more about why he was put on under heavy surveillance before justifying it.

    Thanks for the translation. ♥

    1. We know he’s up to no good, but the extent that she’s receiving advice from Phillip was ok’d by Jerome the stewart. And Phillip has only ever acted selflessly around her as a teacher and healer.

  5. I feel like ive abstained from this novel for a long time when its only not more than a week xD

    Thanks for the chap TL .. Hope you get a break soon

    Dang Anna’s being roasted in the comments

    Thinking about it in a dfferent perspctive, i think she just exhausted her resources and she’s hanging on to someone’s advise she thinks is probbly her last hope..

  6. For a moment, I forgot who Anna and Phillip were lol. They haven’t appeared for so long while Lucia was busy fawning over Damian etc. Though I want her to have a baby, I don’t want her to have a baby via accident because of all the misunderstandings (and heart break) it’ll surely bring T_T If it does happen though, hopefully Hugo won’t be a butt.

    Thanks for the chapter!

  7. What is the deal with this Phillip doctor?
    Is he a good person? Is he a bad one? Is he both?
    I can never figure out what.
    I just find him odd.

  8. Well, except for the fact that Anna totally brushed off the ‘under strict surveillance’ of Philip, I can’t really fault her. She had ran around seemingly non-stop to find a cure to her patient’s condition. She was doing her job to the best of her abilities. The Duke was the one who wanted to treat Lucia in the first place.
    On the other hand, darn Philip must felt himself really lucky and thinking ‘one can’t really escape fate’ with a smug maniacal grin in his head.
    I mean, to him, who’s obsesses continuing the bloodline, how the odds have completely aligned.
    According to process, Taran (real Hugo) + Taran (half-sister) = Taran Boy (Damian)
    The second part is Taran (Hugh) + Virgin human girl under mugwort influence (Lucia) = Taran girl
    And by the looks of things, the process in the second part is already halfway done.
    A Taran boy and a Taran girl was more than enough to continue the bloodline. Darn Philip be a happy old man. He’s probably skipping his way to the notebook in happiness. XD

  9. Lucia knows the treatment so if she suddenly gets it, she’ll investigate. I just hope she will know instead of accidentally ingesting it

  10. Dude i just dont want her to have kids cuz Philip here supports incest. So, if it turns out that lucia has girl. That kid gonna marry her cousin whose parents were half siblings.

  11. As long as they’re not careless and give Phillip an opportunity to kidnap the baby girl and try to trick Damien into dating her when she gets older, then nothing will come of it. It’s not like they have an uncontrollable desire to sleep with their half-sisters. As long as they grow up together, there will be no nooky. Although I wander if it’ll even work with cousins.

  12. There are many people in the comments saying that Lúcia does not want to have children, but she does, so much so that she commented that if the doctor found out about the treatment she would do it. She ate that herb not because she didn’t want to have a child, but because she didn’t want to have “the earl’s children”, but that’s different with the duke.

    So much so that they (Duke and Lucia) argued about children, and she said that if she were treated she would want children.

    But I agree that the doctor (Philip) will give the treatment in bad faith, because he really wants the Taran lineage to continue.

    I wish she had a child or not, by her choice, not for ulterior motives hidden from that doctor.

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