Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 294 – : Grandmother Ulla

 "Dame Csille? Wake up…"

 I groan and face the other side. I'm still sleepy, and I want to sleep more. 

 "Five more minutes, Brother…"

 I try to sleep again, but someone wakes me up. "Dame Csille, Doctor Pascal already visit the old woman. Are you sure you want to stay and sleep here?"

 My eyes widened when I realized what that person was trying to say. Brother Pascal is now in the house of the old woman?

 I immediately get up and look at Gisbert, who is the one waking me up. "What did you say? Brother Pascal is now in the house of the old woman?"

 I look around, trying to find Brother Pascal, but he is nowhere to be found. He really went there alone. Why did he leave me behind?

 I immediately stand up and look for my clothes. Although I am not wearing sleeping wear, I still don't think it's right to wear clothes I used for sleeping.

 "Yes, Dame Csille. He said he couldn't wait for you anymore, so he'll go check it first. He also reminds me to make sure you eat breakfast first before you leave."

 Our conversation with Nahale ended up late at night, and I couldn't sleep because my mind couldn't help but think about the welcoming banquet of Prince Fraser. What would be Prince Fraser's reaction when he received the letter. Will he be relieved, sad or happy? Those thoughts keep running to my mind, making it difficult for me to sleep.

 "Dame Csille, I will leave first to prepare your breakfast. I will bring you to Grandmother Ulla after you finish your breakfast."

 Grandmother Ulla? I didn't get the chance to ask Gisbert who is this Grandmother Ulla he is referring to because he had already left the room.

 I frown and look at the closed door before I start to change my clothes. I'll probably ask him about that Grandmother later. 

 After changing my clothes to something decent, I immediately look for Gisbert and found him preparing the table. He looks up and smiles politely at me. "Breakfast is all ready, Dame Csille. However, I'm not sure if it'll suit your taste."

 I looked at the table and found rice and a dish I couldn't name. "Apologies, Dame Csille. I know you're not used to rice, but I don't have much money to buy bread. Bread costs a fortune here, and you need to pay in advance if you want bread in the morning."

 I really didn't mind eating rice, though. I used to eat rice in the real world too, so I don't really have a problem with it. I just didn't expect that the people from Mount Carmen would rather eat rice.

 "But isn't rice more expensive than flour?" I remember hearing my Mother complain about how expensive rice is. I know that there is rice that can be bought at a low price, but that's still cheaper than flour.

 Gisbert shakes his head. "We have farmers who plant rice in Mount Carmen, so we don't need to buy rice at the town, and it's way cheaper compared to flour that you can only buy at the town. Most people also don't have enough energy to go down the mountain just to buy flour. It's the reason why most of us prefer rice here. Also, we need heavy meals because our jobs require strength and energy. No one will survive the morning by just eating bread. The people who eat bread here are their wives and their young daughters."

 That makes sense. I look at Gisbert and smile at him. "Thank you for the food."

 Gisbert and I both eat our meal in silence. He initially planned to eat outside because he thought he didn't have the right to eat with me. But I stop him. I'm not used to eating alone because oftentimes, Mother and Father are waiting for me to eat our breakfast. 

 I also didn't try skipping meals even though I already wanted to go to where Brother Pascal is because I knew he would be mad at me again if I didn't eat my breakfast. I just didn't eat much because I'm not used to eating heavy meals for breakfast. 

 I finished the food in just a few minutes and waited for Gisbert to finish his breakfast because he was the only one who was willing to send me to where the old woman was living.

 "Dame Csille. Doctor Pascal asked me to give you this before we leave." Gisbert hands me a protective suit. He is also holding one. "He said you need to wear this once we leave. It will keep you safe from tuberculosis. He also said that you should take your things with you because once we convince Grandmother Ulla, we will immediately get down the mountain."

 I look at the protective suit. I know that tuberculosis is an infectious disease too, but we just also experienced infectious illness, and they didn't wear any protective suits. Is it more contagious? I definitely need to ask Brother Pascal about this.

 I didn't say anything and followed the instructions of Brother Pascal. I move as fast as I can because I'm worried Brother Pascal might be having trouble convincing the old woman to come with us. We need to make sure to bring her with us, or else it might be the end for her.

 In just a few minutes, Gisbert and I immediately set off to the old woman's house. Gisbert said that the old woman and her granddaughter are living in the most isolated part of the mountain. Although it's not that far from the other houses. It only has enough distance from other houses, which is actually good because it prevents the spread of tuberculosis.

 "Gisbert, you keep mentioning Grandmother Ulla. Is it the name of the old woman?"

 Although Nahale mentioned a lot of information about the old woman, she didn't even mention once the name of the old woman, and we didn't ask for the old woman's name.

 Gisbert looks at me. "Oh, have I forgotten to mention her name? Apologies, I thought you already knew. Yes, her name is Grandmother Ulla. She is called Grandmother because she is one of the oldest healers on Mount Carmen. You can say that she is the head healer here."

 I nod my head. How devastating it is to learn that your act of kindness will be the reason for your demise. If she didn't go down the mountain to heal a patient, then she wouldn't have it. What did she feel after she knew she had tuberculosis? 

 I'm sure she feels disappointed and disheartened. Especially she still has a grandchild to take care of. 

 Don't worry, Grandmother Ulla. I will make sure to cure you so you can live with your grandchild happily. I wouldn't let anything happen to you or to your granddaughter.

 A moment after, we arrived in front of a bamboo house. The house is surrounded by different herbs and plants. Grandmother Ulla probably used this to heal people. 

 The first thing you can also notice once you arrive here is the strong stench of medicine. I look at Gisbert to ask him what's the smell, but he immediately explains it to me.

 "Since Grandmother Ulla doesn't have enough money to visit the Doctor, she ends up using herbal medicine to treat herself. That strong stench is the medicine she is using to make her feel better."

 That made sense. But can herbal medicine cure tuberculosis? I don't think so. 

 Gisbert knocks on the door. "Grandmother Ulla, this is Gisbert, and I am here with Dame Csille. She is here to check on your condition. Can we come inside?"

 We didn't hear anything inside the house. I look at Gisbert to ask what is happening, but he just shakes his head at me. 

 A moment after, the door was opened by a little girl. She's probably six to eight years old. "Brother Gisbert, you're back." The little girl looks at Gisbert and me before she smiles. "Are you Dame Csille? You are really beautiful. I now understand why you were considered the most beautiful lady among the Kingdom."

 I just smile warmly at her. I really feel awkward every time people will describe me like that. Probably because I was so used to being an average person in the real world.

 "Are you the granddaughter of Grandmother Ulla?" I kneel on the ground to meet her eyes. 

 The little girl nods her head. "Yes, I am. My name is Louisa. Are you here to save my grandmother? I heard the man in our house right now is a Doctor. Can he really cure my Grandmother?"

 I can hear the anxiety in her voice. She's probably worried that something might happen to her Grandmother. 

 I smile reassuringly at her. "Yes, the man who is currently with your Grandmother is one of the well known Doctors in the Vrawyth Kingdom. So, you can rest assured that nothing will happen to your Grandmother. However, can you do me a favor?"

 Louisa frowns at me before she nods her head. "I will do anything as long as you can save my Grandmother. She is the only relative I have, and I couldn't live without her. So, please save her."

 I gently caress her head. "We will save her. But you need to help us. If you want us to save her, we need to bring her to an isolated area. Your Grandmother's illness is contagious, and we need to keep her away from everyone so it won't spread. So, can you help us convince her to come with us? I heard from Lady Nahale that she doesn't want to leave the mountain."

 Louisa bites her lips before she looks inside the house. "My Grandmother doesn't want to leave the mountain because she is worried about me. But if it's the only thing that will cure here, then I will help you. I just hope you can promise me that you will not let anything happen to her no matter what." She then shows me her pinky finger.

 I smile reassuringly at her before I link my pinky finger to hers. "I promise you. As long as you can convince your Grandmother, then we will do everything to save her."

 Louisa nods her head and smiles, but I can see tears starting to roll down her little face. "Thank you, Dame Csille."

 She then runs inside the house while shouting her Grandmother's name. I look at Gisbert, and he just smiles at me. "I'm sure Grandmother Ulla will come with you now. Her only weakness is her Granddaughter, and she will do anything her Granddaughter says to her."

 I really hope so. We really need to convince Grandmother Ulla to go down the mountain so we can treat her illness. The first thing we need to do is to put her in an isolated place before we can start her treatment.

 "Dame Csille, let's go inside. I'm sure Doctor Pascal is already waiting for you."

 Gisbert leads the way to Grandmother Ulla's room, and I immediately see Brother Pascal checking the condition of Grandmother Ulla, who is currently lying on the bed. There are herbs tied on some part of her body. While her Granddaughter is sitting on the floor and holding Grandmother Ulla's hand.

 "Grandmother, do you know that this man here is well known Doctor in the Vrawyth Kingdom? Dame Csille said he can cure your illness as long you will go with the—"

 Grandmother Ulla frowns. "What? Haven't I told you I wouldn't leave the mountain? I was born here, and I will definitely die here too." She then glares at Brother Pascal. "You can leave this place and never come back. I don't need your help—"

 While Grandmother Ulla is speaking, I am intently looking at Louisa, and I can see that she was disappointed with her Grandmother's words.

 "You don't need it, but your Granddaughter does. I know you already resigned yourself with death but have you ever thought about what will happen to your Granddaughter? What if she is already infected with tuberculosis? If you die, who will take care of her? If you don't want to live, then we can't do anything about that. But I couldn't stand still and watch Louisa's life be endangered because her grandmother wouldn't let us heal her."

 Brother Pascal looks at me and shakes his head. It seems like he didn't like my approach. However, it's the only thing I can think of to convince her.

 Grandmother Ulla looks at me. "Who are you? Gisbert, why did you bring another stranger into my house?"

 Gisbert is about to explain himself, but I stop him. "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is, are you willing to undergo treatment for your granddaughter?"