Emily couldn’t believe there were still slums in a corner of the Grand Duchy of Leander.
Although she was aware that every country had a percentage of its population living in poverty, reading the numbers and seeing it firsthand were two different things.
They weren’t just statistics—they were living, breathing human beings.
On the way home with the boy, Emily passed through a slum, with small houses, elderly people and children in ragged clothes who looked neglected.
Emily was lost in her thoughts until she was suddenly snapped out of them by the sight of a little girl—younger than the boy—running toward them while crying.
“Big brother… where have you been?
Mom is sick, big brother!” the girl said frantically while crying.
Instantly, the boy’s face turned panicked, and he ran while holding the girl’s hand; Emily and Anna also ran after them.
They arrived at a simple wooden house, consisting of a living room that doubled as a kitchen, a small bathroom, and a bedroom where their mother lay on the bed, her face pale with pain.
“Mom… Mom, what’s wrong?” the boy asked in a panic.
But their mother could only groan in pain, unable to answer.
Sweat drenched her entire body as she clutched her heavily pregnant belly.
Seeing this, Emily immediately ran to the bathroom to wash her hands.
“Emily, where are you going?” Anna asked, confused.
“Anna, please calm the children down for a moment and keep them a little away from their mother; I need to check something,” Emily replied.
After washing her hands, Emily opened her medical kit, took out a stethoscope, and put on her latex gloves.
“I didn’t expect to have to use this so soon,” Emily muttered.
Anna and the two children could only watch Emily from the corner of the room.
“Ma’am, can you answer me?
How many months along are you?
And how long have you been feeling contractions?” Emily asked as she checked the woman’s heart rate and blood pressure.
“Ugh… nine months.
My stomach’s been hurting since this morning… arghh… ugh…” the woman replied with difficulty between moans of pain.
“Ma’am, may I check your dilation?
Are you alright with that?
” Emily asked.
The mother could only nod, trying to respond while enduring the pain of the contractions.
Emily carefully parted the mother’s thighs to examine the birth canal.
She was startled to see that the amniotic fluid had already begun flowing, and the baby’s head was already crowning.
There was no time to call the midwife.
The baby had to come out immediately.
“Hey, son, it looks like your little sibling wants to meet you soon.
Can you heat up some water to bathe the baby later?
And take your little sister to wait in the living room?” Emily asked the boy.
Not knowing what to do, the boy nodded and took his little sister by the hand, leading her out.
“Anna, please wipe down the medical supplies I bought earlier with alcohol, and try to find as many clean towels and cloths as you can in the closet,” Emily instructed with a serious expression.
Anna didn’t really understand what Emily was planning to do, but the panic of the situation left her no time to think—her body had already started moving.
“Alright, ma’am, it seems your baby is eager to come out.
Let’s work together so he can be born soon and see his beautiful mother,” Emily encouraged the mother.
——- An hour later —— The cry of a healthy baby boy finally broke the tension in the house.
The two children in the living room felt relieved to hear the voice of their new family member.
Even Anna shed a tear seeing her mother’s struggle to give birth to such a cute baby.
Emily asked Anna to help take care of and bathe the baby, while she tended to and cleaned up the mother after the birth.
Once the baby was cleaned, Anna handed the child to his mother to hold.
The children in the living room were also invited in to see their new little brother.
“Thank you, thank you so much for helping me and my baby,” said the mother, crying with emotion.
“It’s okay, ma’am.
As a doctor, it’s my duty to help others,” Emily replied without thinking.
Anna was taken aback by Emily’s words.
‘Come to think of it, since when has Lady Emily understood anything about medicine?
As far as I remember, she used to be afraid of the sight of blood,’ Anna thought to herself, completely baffled.
“My name is Laura.
My eldest son is Rio, and his younger sister is Maria.
“If I may ask, what are your names?” the woman asked.
“My name is Emily, and this is my older sister, Anna,” Emily replied, introducing herself.
Hearing Emily introduce her as her older sister made Anna feel happy and touched.
She hadn’t expected Emily to consider her a blood relative as well.
“Thank you, Miss Emily, Miss Anna.
I don’t know how to repay your kindness.” “Don’t worry about it; you should just focus on getting better,” Emily replied with a friendly smile.
Then she packed up her things and said goodbye to go home.
“Rio, take this money and use it to buy food and supplies for the baby while your mother rests, okay?
Take care of your mother and your siblings,” Emily said as she placed a small pouch of silver coins into Rio’s hand.
“Thank you, sis.
When will you come back?” Rio asked with a pleading look on his face.
“I can’t promise anything, but I know I can count on you,” Emily replied, ruffling his hair.
By the time they said their goodbyes and left the house, it was already dark.
The lights at the shopping center were on.
Although the area was still bustling, Emily and Anna should have returned to the grand duke’s residence before nightfall to avoid arousing suspicion.
“Anna, this is bad.
It looks like we’ve been out too long,” said Emily, gazing at the dark sky.
Anna nodded, her face panicked.
‘If we’re this late, are there still carriage horses passing by?
What should we do?’ thought Anna.
Amid their confusion by the roadside, a simple carriage with the Archibald family crest suddenly stopped in front of them.
A male soldier was seen driving it.
“Judging by the uniforms you’re wearing, are you servants at the Grand Duke’s residence?” the man asked.
“Y-yes, that’s right, but who are you?” Emily asked.
“My name is Alfred.
I’m a soldier assigned to deliver messages at the Grand Duke’s residence.
It looks like you’re having trouble finding a ride home—get in, and I’ll take you back,” he said, offering his help.
Emily and Anna exchanged glances upon hearing the offer of help; though hesitant, this was their only way to get back.
Finally, they got into the carriage to return to the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Anna… don’t messengers usually just use horses?
Why is he using a carriage?,” Emily asked curiously.
“I’m not quite sure either, Lady Emily,” Anna replied, equally confused.
But despite the many questions swirling in their minds, half an hour later they arrived safely at the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Thank you, Alfred,” said Emily and Anna, bowing as they stepped down from the carriage.
“You’re welcome, Miss Emily, Miss Anna.
See you again,” he replied as he walked away.
After the soldier was out of sight, Emily realized something very strange.
“Anna, I don’t think we introduced ourselves.
How did he know our names?” ================================================================ Meanwhile, on that night in Grand Duke Cedric’s office, Arthur was reporting the information he had gathered after spending the entire day following Lady Emily.
“So you’re saying she didn’t just help a child—she even helped his mother give birth?” Cedric asked in disbelief.
Helping someone is one thing and still possible, but helping someone give birth?
That’s not a simple medical procedure.
Where did Emily acquire medical knowledge?
According to the background check Cedric had obtained, Emily was merely an ordinary noblewoman with no medical education.
“That is correct, My Lord.
Currently, one of our soldiers, Victor, is still on duty near that house, monitoring the condition of the mother and child whom Lady Emily assisted.
And I have assigned Alfred to escort Lady Emily and Miss Anna home,” Arthur explained.
“What do you think, Philip?” Cedric asked Philip, who stood beside him with an equally puzzled expression.
“I also don’t understand where Lady Emily acquired her medical knowledge, My Lord.
However, that does not diminish the essence of the kindness she has shown.
We should continue to monitor Lady Emily’s movements more closely to gather evidence before taking any action,” Philip replied.
Cedric thought that what Philip said was true; he couldn’t act or draw conclusions rashly.
“So, what about that troublesome man—have you dealt with him yet?” Cedric asked Arthur, clenching his fists on the table.
The man who had caused a disturbance in his territory certainly couldn’t be left unchecked, but hearing that he’d been violent towards Emily somehow made his blood boil with rage.
“Hugh has taken care of him, My Lord.
This is the necklace Lady Emily gave to that man.” Arthur replied, handing a blue jewelry box to Cedric.
“Good work,” Cedric said as he accepted the jewelry box, then ordered Philip and Arthur to leave his office.
“Emily… who are you, really?
Why are you different from what people say about you?” Cedric muttered, gazing at Emily’s silver necklace with its blue gemstone pendant.