Simmering Jams at the Edge of the Forest Volume 1 Chapter 2

This is in Dr. Daniel's POV

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In a moderately-sized country, Meesely is a town very close to the Capital City. We say town, but it's more of a village due to the small population.

I moved to this village after resigning from my post at the Royal Palace as a doctor, I gave the reason that it was due to my old age. In truth, I already passed the age of the previous king. I just thought, I would just bury myself as a doctor in the countryside, I did not know what will happen in my life.

There was this one sunny day in early spring. There were unusually few patients visiting the clinic, so we decided to take a break, I was drinking tea with my assistant Mark. When all of a sudden there was this big dog running in. "Oh, Buddy! What's wrong? Calm down a bit."

This dog who was usually quiet, bit on to the hem of my white coat tightly and then tugged desperately. For the time being, I needed to calm the dog so I gave him water, before finally settling in the clinic. "Doctor, what if Adelaide-sama…?"

Buddy, who drank the water in a blink of an eye, is now pulling the hem of Mark's pants. During that time, I prepared my bag and hung a sign on the entrance that I was called away.

"Come on Buddy, Mark is calling you."

…. What happened to Ady?

Thinking that this young man is already familiar with the dog, it was urging us to leave quickly, all this time I was a bundle of nerves while pretending to be calm. There were several "Worse Case Scenarios" playing in my head. That's why I told them to head out first; because I myself need to get it together. She seemed okay when I met her yesterday - Mark hurried ahead, telling people to clear the way and a doctor was coming through, he was never that far away ahead of me from the road, we are already accustomed to this situation.

The one who was waiting at the mansion was not an ill Adelaide, but there was a [Orison] who was severely injured.

"Doctor, I'm going to go visit Adelaide again today," Mark said after an early lunch.

It has been about two months since then. The [Orison], Margaret's injury has healed quite a lot, but we still need to do house calls for a while. When I answered yes, he began to talk about an incident about this morning, his face had an expression of a child sharing a special secret. A bright smile spills over as I heard about the content… It was that girl again. He was saying the the injury will get worse is she is not careful. 

"Once her injury is healed, I'll talk to the Royal Palace and I would need for her to go with me. But before that, an emissary from the Magic Institute will be dispatched, but until then I still to take care of her wounds here in Meesely. I still want to make sure she's fully healed."

It was written in books that there would be a strain on the body as a person crossed worlds, but her injuries didn't seem came from that. I heard little by little as not to burden her, and then she said that she thought that she had died in an accident. Indeed, It was strange injuries. It was actually a miracle that her head and internal organs were here intact with such traumatic injuries, no doubt that there was some kind of interference from the [Spirit's], their powers were exerted.

She didn't have to have the feeling of nostalgia for the original world, perhaps because she was very close to death. Nevertheless, in the beginning, I sometimes my head gets filled up with thoughts, about times likes these, if I were to miss something. If she had lost all memory, like the past  [Orisons], I would have felt less worried. Fortunately, she seems to have supple strength and adaptability. I just hope she gets used to it here; since she can't return anymore.

"Aren't you making a mistake to be twenty-eight years old? I know I'm older than him, and it can't be by much but."

"Maybe because the calendar may be counted differently, he may be a little younger, he was a student until he was twenty, and then he worked for me for the next eight years, so he's undoubtedly a good adult." 

He can already drink alcohol. I remember when the four of us had dinner the other day. Mark was smiling brightly at Margaret who seemed to be drunk with just a glass of aperitif; and was happily singing a silly song throughout. To that extent, the fine young adult seemed like a child.

Anyway, when I looked at Mark, did this disciple of mine realized that you could pretty much tell what he is thinking, he had this relaxed expression on his face when he talks about Margaret.

"Isn't it amazing that you can attend school until adulthood. I could only attend until I was 20, so I am neither a scholar nor a researcher."

"Isn't it that in this country that 20 years old is considered as an adult, and even though there are many commoners who study until 23, right. Doctors and scientist are said to study more."

This country has a higher level of educated youths than the surrounding nations, some of the children stay in school until they reach the age of 18. But most commoners start working at the age of 13 to 14.

"I would likely still be a doctor if I were in Margaret's previous world though."

"Me too."

After laughing and eating, a young mother came in with her child to visit the clinic. This was the start of the afternoon consultation.

The patient was the mother. After asking Mark, who was very awkward with the child during the consultation, he headed towards Ady's mansion. I'm not good with handling children, but so is Mark, and he has to participate in general examinations so he can fully understand and treat patients. As of now, he is still in the assistant position only because he still hasn't notified the Royal Medical Centre at the Capital City to be an independent physician. He can send his application any time, but it seems that he is using it as a trump card, depending on his family's behaviour for the fight for succession. Well, if he fails, then many young daughters who like him are happy enough to be his patients.

— Mark visits Margaret whenever he wants to check the condition of her injuries, but he is also required to report it to the Royal Palace. The Palace is interested in her condition and doing something about it, so it'ss decree we have to meet.

— On that day, after the first-aid treatment in the backyard, she was brought into the mansion and subjected to a full-scale healing magic. After completing the treatment the young lady was still unconscious but we were trying to bring her back to the clinic, Ady wanting to change from her blood-soaked clothes, stopped.

"What are you doing? I can take care of that child here."

"What are you saying? Ady, you could say that she is your guest, but you don't know what kind of person she is. She could do you harm or she could be a burden to you."

"I know how much I am taking on myself. That child, I can't seem to leave alone, she is not a bad child. I know we just met a moment ago but as soon as I have seen her, I just know."

I was vehemently rejected when I recommended that she would stay with me. Also, the Ady that I have known for a very long time is stubborn and won't change her mind easily. I told her that I would often visit her house to supervise and also to stay vigilant… but I knew immediately that she was absolutely unconcerned.

Margaret was a calm child. She was quite sociable, she treated everyone with a polite smile and does not cause anyone awkwardness. On the other hand, in front of me and Ady, Margaret is honest with her thoughts that you can see it in her face. Secretly, I was afraid that if she were to speak that she would be deceitful. Now I feel sorry for thinking that she would be.

At first, she and Mark seemed to be wary of each other. It was interesting to see that this normal girl with a lovely appearance, that it looks like he could turn into mush. "I know she could be popular." I was interested to see them start a friendship like this.

Did he care for Margaret, who had no interest in his appearance or the fact that he has the blood of an influential nobleman from the capital city? Or was he attracted to the sad smile of that child that she could only show me and Ady - maybe both. In any case, the fact that this disciple of mine has taken interest in someone; is very much welcomed.

I knew that she was already an adult woman, but when I heard that she was already twenty-eight, I couldn't believe it and I had to confirm it many times. I still was suspicious. It was natural for us to think that by this time that people would be married and have children by this age. But she was still single, and apparently, it is not unusual in her world.

With black hair up to the shoulders, her heterochromatic eyes, one dark brown and the other light amber; sparked with intellect. Though the colour may have changed due to the influence of crossing worlds. Sometimes she's calm and sometimes childish. Somehow, she is this contradicting lovely woman.

Because of her poor eyesight and the need for paper or palms to convey her thoughts, they have close proximity when talking. I don't want the villagers to have the wrong idea, and told her many many times to be careful, but does she really know? She intends to be an independent person, but there is still a danger. I think I'm basically a good person and I don't like to doubt others. Well, I rarely see anyone who would do evil here in this village, this place is very peaceful. But I would rather if she would start being cautious before we go to the capital.

Ady's expression became brighter and softer since Margaret started to live with her. She had this lively air that she used to have before when she got married. Margaret would have to go to the Capital City when her injuries heal, but she was fortunate enough that she can stay with Ady for as long as she wished.

- Ady's way of life is simply outdated. Today, it is rare to find a house without magic tools, and in that house, she was completely alone. Cooking, cleaning and even fieldwork. I don't know how to do, because I was a country aristocrat.

Still, it would be her will and the will to live in the so-called unsuitable Capital City until her husband Earl died and her only son married. I know that she did not have any resident servants because I had spent days in the Earl's family mansion, that I were to say was hardly reassuring.

"It's such an inconvenient life, but Margaret unexpectedly loved those hassles. Since she has lived in a world without magic, she seems to feel strange about magic and the magic tools."

In a life surrounded by convenient things back from her original world, Ady's life here is really like starting a new one in a different world ~ Still, I feel closer than magic tools, and I don't hate the troublesome work from the beginning. Over there, Margaret was forced to work outside and was neglecting her health, so she expressed with a smile that she wanted to live with her hands and live in a more relaxed way. 

I was harder to persuade Ady. The [Orison] is a precious being from a different world that the spirits called to these lands, she did not give up on saying that if the injuries are healed, she was insistent that it would have been better if Margaret left for the Capital City, it was her proper place. 

"She can go anywhere if she wishes for it. The Royal Palace will be happy to welcome her. It's much better than staying with an old woman like me."

"I don't know how to say this, but you're being rude to that child."

Since she found Margaret and she wasn't able to speak, it touched something in her that filled her with loneliness. Given her past marriage to the Earl's family as a basis, she can't afford to be.

"Ady, to me you feel like her true mother, I can't believe it's only been a month when Margaret appeared in your backyard."

"Daniel…"

"Don't worry, for her being here makes her happy."

It was in favour of Margaret that eventually Ady reluctantly agreed.

A sweet scent drifts from the kitchen as soon as you arrive at the residence. It has the feel of refreshing acidity, and I can see that Margaret has realized it herself, she was smiling.

"Hello, are you finally making strawberry jam?"

"I'm glad, we will be splitting them up soon. I'm happy you're here Daniel."

They looked like a good pair of mother and daughter, two people dressed alike in old yet tasteful dresses, both were laughing. It was a lovely picture. It is something so kind that flows to the heart along with that longing of that nostalgia that can not be obtained.

I called Margaret, when they finished bottling the jams, and spoke quietly while consulting. "When this injury heals, this grandfather will be with you anyway, so please wait a little longer before you practise dancing."

"It's hardly noticeable from the fields, but there is a path at the edge of the forest. Mark often uses it to pick medicinal plants." I laughed wickedly… I can't be misled. I patted her head with her child-like expression.

When I was about to go home, I was given freshly baked bread and two jars of strawberry jam. With a wink, the index finger was put in front of the well-shaped lips with a hush. Now, whether to pass half of it to Mark is a bit troublesome.

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Special thanks to Shokūtsu-san for proofreading as always, I very much appreciate your hard work!

T/N: Is it just me or am I getting the vibes that the doctor is shipping Mark and Margaret.

Chapter end