I Was Happy to Be Dumped by My Fiancé, But Something Seems Off - Episode 22

Even adults can drown in the worst cases if they enter the lake, so entering the lake is basically prohibited. Come to think of it, I don’t know why Riet went into the lake. Bertina realized there were many things she didn’t know, but since they weren’t in a relationship where they could discuss everything, it was only natural. She hugged herself in front of the pharmacist’s house. She erased Riet from her mind for the moment and focused on what was in front of her.

She knocked on the door knocker, which was a round steel plate with eyes and a mouth drawn on it, sticking out its tongue in a taunting gesture, and it opened immediately. The person who came out was a woman in the prime of her life. Her messy dark brown hair was tied up in a single bundle, and her clothing was very neat. Before Bertina could speak, she said, “I heard from Inanna. Come in,” and ushered her inside.

“The sedative Inanna requested is this one.”

What was shown to her was a dark green medicine in a glass bottle. It looked so bitter that it made her lose any desire to drink it.

“If we administer this sedative, will it prevent the mental breakdown of someone released from the charm?”

“Yeah. However, it won’t work on those who’ve been under it for a long time. If the charm has eroded deep into their heart, half-hearted methods won’t restore their shattered mind.”

“The way you say that makes it sound like there are other methods.”

“Ultimately, it depends on the person’s mental strength.”

“Mental strength…”

If the person’s mental strength is strong and resilient, there’s a possibility they could miraculously recover even if the charm has eroded deep into their subconscious. But in most cases, if the charm has seeped that deeply, it’s safe to say no one maintains a normal mind.

In the end, only those who’ve been under the charm for a short time can have it broken and their minds restored to normal.

Restoring her parents’ minds after breaking the charm was nearly hopeless. After hearing this, Bertina pondered for a moment before saying, “I understand,” and accepting the medicine from the pharmacist.

“By the way, are you the daughter of Duke Annaloro?”

“You know my father?”

“Yeah. It was about eighteen years ago, I think. He heard about me from Inanna and came all the way from the royal capital.”

Eighteen years ago, her mother gave birth to twin sisters. The first girl born was already dead, and the second girl born wandered on the brink of death but miraculously recovered.

Due to the strain of childbirth and the shock of losing one daughter, her mother’s postpartum recovery was poor, and she was mentally worn out. Desperate to save his wife and his daughter, who was named Bertina and was weak, often falling ill, her father visited the pharmacist, an acquaintance of Inanna.

He was crying even before being asked to leave, begging for medicine to make his wife and daughter healthy, and the pharmacist reluctantly made it, she was told.

This was the first time Bertina had heard she had a twin sister who died right after birth, and that her father had personally visited the pharmacist and begged with tears for her sake. It was all so unbelievable that her eyes wavered.

“Whether you believe it or not, it’s the truth.”

“…Has Father changed because of the charm?”

“I’m not interested in the world of nobles, so I don’t know the details. But Inanna often talks to me about it. Thanks to that, I remember some strange noble clients.”

“Strange nobles?”

When she asked who, she shuddered upon hearing the name.

The pharmacist mentioned Duke Moldio, Luigi.

What he came seeking was a contraceptive.

“I think it was for men.”

“For men?”

Bertina had assumed it was for her aunt Agnes. The pharmacist’s words filled her with strong doubt.

When confirmed it was indeed a male contraceptive, her doubts only grew stronger.

The two thanked the pharmacist and left the shop. While having Argent carry the medicine, she thought about how to use it.

“It’s not for Auntie, right? Auntie is a woman.”

“For himself?”

“Why would he? That would mean he can’t have children. Oh.”

An idea occurred to her, sending a chill down her spine.

“For Auntie, to have a child with Father?”

“…Or maybe it’s the opposite.”

“Huh?”

“So that Madame Moldio doesn’t get pregnant with Duke Annaloro’s child.”

“With Father!?”

Argent’s unexpected idea was that the contraceptive was meant for her father Crow, not Luigi.

“Think about the age difference between Bertina and Clarissa. They’re two years apart, and Duke Annaloro and his wife haven’t had any children since Bertina was born.”

If the pharmacist’s story was true, her mother had twins in her second pregnancy, one of whom died, and her mother’s condition was poor after childbirth, so they would hesitate to have a third child.

That must have reached Agnes’s ears, and if Agnes heard, Luigi would too.

Even if he was fine with his wife being close with her biological brother, if he opposed them having children, it would be easy for him to somehow administer a contraceptive to Crow to ensure Agnes didn’t get pregnant.

As for how to administer it, he could just tell Agnes it was tea good for Crow’s health and have him drink it.

If that were the case, Clarissa wouldn’t be the child of her father and aunt/siblings, but the child of the Duke and Duchess Moldio.

“If Argent’s idea is correct… no, it’s impossible. I can’t believe it.”

“It’s just a guess, so I can’t say for sure… But contrary to his gentle appearance, Duke Moldio’s true nature might be something a sane person can’t hope to match.”

“How are we supposed to deal with him?”

“Maybe by emptying your mind, or by going as crazy as he is.”

“I refuse.”

What benefit would we gain by confronting him head-on, even at the cost of losing our sanity? If we face him, we’ll be the ones taking significant damage. Let’s leave dealing with Luigi for last. First, we should contact Inanna to let her know we’ve obtained the sedative.

She asked Argent to send a magical homing pigeon to Inanna at the cathedral.