Angelus Carduus

Chapter 6: Sympathy Was Never Wanted

Valeria headed around the mansion, talking with the workers. By the time she finished her rounds and completed her work, she was exhausted. She double checked the documents before handing it back to Vincent.

"Let the duke check it once more." she said.

Vincent nodded and bowed, "Thank you for your hard work, your grace, dinner will be served soon."

Valeria nodded, too tired to answer back to him. He then left her office. She let out a yawn before leaving her office to take a bath.

She returned to her room and saw Myra inside. She briefly smiled at her before looking away.

"Myra could you please prepare a bath for me?"

"..Right away your grace.."

Valeria noticed the way Myra replied to her. It sounded quite melancholy. She wanted to ask what was wrong but the urge to cough came back. Holding it in, she reached into her dress pocket for her handkerchief but felt nothing.

She frowned at the lost feeling of her handkerchief. Unable to hold it in any longer, she coughed into her hand, letting blood drop onto it.

"Your grace the bath is ready.." Myra spoke, walking over to her.

Valeria took a tissue and wiped it away before turning to her. "Alright."

She stripped her clothes away and sat inside the bathtub as Myra washed her hair. She was about to fall asleep due to how good Myra washed her hair but a voice suddenly spoke to her.

"Your grace there is something I would like to ask you..." Myra stiffly spoke, rinsing the soap out of her hair.

"What is it?"

"Are you..ill?"

"Yes that's right."

"!"

Valeria gave her answer straight forward. Myra's hands froze in shock.

"You didn't know?"

"No your grace...s-so the handkerchief,"

"Ah so you have it."

"Your grace...then those medications beside your bed.."

Valeria tipped her head up, looking over at Myra, "Keith gave those to me since I requested for some to reduce my headaches."

"Your grace is your illness bad?"

Valeria paused, wondering if she should admit everything to her maid.

"Your grace please don't hide anything from me! I'm your personal maid so I must know!" Myra insisted after seeing her hesitate slightly.

"..Yes, it is the Angelus Carduus."

Myra burst into tears once she heard the name of the illness. Valeria didn't know how to comfort someone who was crying so she awkwardly stroked the top of Myra's head with her damp hand, remembering how her mother did when she used to cry a lot from the pain.

"Your grace...how long have you.." Myra choked up on her words.

Valeria who was awkwardly resting inside the bathtub, scratch the tip of her nose before answering her,

"Before I became the duchess."

Myra wailed out loudly. "Your grace!!!"

Valeria continued stroking her head, unable to do anything else. She didn't get it. Why did Myra and Keith start crying after they found out about her illness? It happens to anyone, not only her. If it was her family she would understand but people she rarely knew? It felt weird.