Chapter 254

Ah, of course, I didn’t just sit back and do nothing while waiting for Jeanne to decide whether to become my nanny.

***

Imperial Medical Center—

Jeanne looked around in confusion at the more than ten doctors standing before her.

The small hospital room was completely packed with medical professionals.

“So… all of you are…?”

“Yes! We are the attending physicians!”

She had never seen so many doctors gathered at once.

Normally, a resident doctor would be assigned under the supervision of a professor.

For someone like Jeanne’s family, a trainee doctor had been acting as the primary physician.

Her older sister, Roxanne, suffered from a rare disease.

Under normal circumstances, she would have required meticulous care.

However, their medical bills had been overdue for months, so the fact that they hadn’t been kicked out of the hospital was already a blessing.

Since it was a rare disease, the trainee doctor assigned to Roxanne’s case had never treated anything similar before.

At most, he could prescribe medicine to alleviate symptoms, but he had never attempted a more in-depth treatment.

But today—professors had arrived.

Roxanne looked bewildered as she spoke.

“What… what is happening all of a sudden…?”

“We received a request from House Astra. Since you are the sister of someone important, we were instructed to provide the best care possible.”

“House Astra…?”

The sisters exchanged wide-eyed glances.

The doctors explained the upcoming treatment plan, then left the room.

Click.

As the hospital room door closed, Roxanne turned to Jeanne.

“What is going on?”

“I… don’t know.”

Roxanne grabbed Jeanne’s hands, concern written all over her face.

Jeanne gently pulled the blanket up over her sister and said,

“Well, whatever it is… it’s good news.”

“Yes, but… I’m terrified of this kind of luck.”

Roxanne let out a low sigh.

She had been so happy when Jeanne, a low-ranking noblewoman, became an Imperial Knight.

They had struggled for so long, and she had believed that was their one stroke of luck.

But five years later, Jeanne had become a convict.

Roxanne had always thought that her sister’s misfortune had been caused by undeserved fortune.

And now, this new streak of good luck frightened her.

“Did Count Astra’s family take a liking to you? You said you had an interview there.”

“……”

“But even that doesn’t add up. You went to Count Astra’s estate—so why did the Duke’s estate contact the hospital?”

Jeanne hesitated at Roxanne’s words.

‘It must have been because of her.’

That child—the one who had been far too intelligent for a ten-year-old.

Jeanne had been a knight known for both her skill and her character.

Even after her imprisonment, she still had admirers who spread news about her.

That’s how she had heard the rumors—

That Erylotte Astra was the most precious treasure of House Astra.

Even the Duke of Astra himself  showed preferential treatment to her.

She must have been the one to arrange this medical treatment.

Jeanne felt both deep gratitude and guilt toward her.

But the surprises didn’t end there.

“We will be moving you to a new room.”

Roxanne’s hospital room was upgraded to an ultra-luxury suite—the kind usually reserved for high-ranking nobles.

“This will be your dedicated head nurse.”

A head nurse, responsible for managing an entire ward, was now exclusively assigned to Roxanne.

“This will be your personal caregiver.”

A private caregiver, usually reserved for only the wealthiest nobles, was also assigned to her.

“The medical bills have already been settled.”

Even high-ranking nobles would hesitate at the sheer cost—but it had already been paid in full.

“I am a real estate agent. We have selected several properties near the hospital for you to choose from. Payment? Haha, House Astra will cover everything.”

“……”

“……”

Roxanne turned to Jeanne, her face pale with shock.

“This isn’t just luck, Jeanne…!”

“……”

“What happened?! What is going on?!”

I don’t know either…

Jeanne recalled what the child had said.

“If this isn’t what you expected and you’re feeling overwhelmed, take your time. Think about it, and let me know your decision.”

She had said she would give Jeanne time to think.

But this wasn’t “time to think”—

This was creating a situation where Jeanne had no choice but to accept.

***

[ Manor of the Astra Countdom ]

I looked up at the newly installed nameplate on the gate and barely resisted the urge to jump for joy.

‘The renovations are complete, and the nameplate is up.’

Now, my new life in the capital was truly beginning!

As I grinned to myself, Michelan approached.

“The servants from our domain have arrived.”

“What about Heidi and Betty?”

“They are delighted and are currently unpacking their belongings.”

“Good.”

I had brought the servants from my own fold.

I could have hired new ones from the capital, but I chose not to.

I wanted to prevent rumors about our household from spreading through the capital’s servant networks.

“It’s best to prepare for the party now.”

“Right. Oh, and what about that?”

At my question, Michelan glanced around, then whispered to me.

“We searched the entire basement, but there was no sign of the former emperor’s hidden assets.”

“There weren’t any in the rooms, either?”

“No.”

So they’re not here…

But no matter how I thought about it, there was nowhere else they could have been hidden.

“Keep investigating for now.”

With that, I stepped inside the mansion.

Tonight was the Lily Garden gathering.

I needed to get ready, and I didn’t have much time.

The Lily Garden gathering was incredibly important.

There were several reasons, but the most critical was—

‘I need to restore Michelan’s noble status.’

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