Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

She had immense patience for pretty girls, especially those who were suffering from illness. After all, nowadays, the Dickbadov family was almost entirely reduced to Eliza and her eldest brother; if she could cultivate a close relationship with them, she could gain some confidence in Florence.

The term "leveraging existing resources" perfectly describes this situation.

"Please come in."

There was no indication that Charlotte was to pass, but upon hearing that she was a doctor, the standing servants stepped aside, allowing Charlotte to pass through the gate and into the flower-filled courtyard.

Stepping across the rain-soaked soil, in the open-door reception room, one can see rows of high-hanging glass lamps and smell the rich, intoxicating aroma of incense.

Upon seeing Charlotte, a stranger, the neatly dressed maids, who were bustling about, didn't ask many questions. Instead, they whispered among themselves while carrying piles of clothes and utensils.

"Sheets, sheets again... Oh my god, we have to wash new sheets every day!"

“When I used to work for Tina’s family, they only had one shared laundry day every five days at least!”

Upon hearing this, another tall maid scoffed and hurriedly pushed the former into the laundry room.

"Heh, the salary Tina's family pays is nowhere near as good as this. You'd better stop complaining, or that sullen-faced woman will hear you, hmm?"

"Oh dear... why is there blood again? How could there be so much blood on the sheets? Even if it's menstruation, this is too much."

It seemed that the topic was quite intriguing, as more maids gathered around.

"I told you, this definitely isn't menstruation. What kind of menstruation would happen for three weeks in a month, or even once a week? If you ask me, this blood is most likely from those dead rabbits and birds!"

Just as the trivial discussion was about to continue, light footsteps and a graceful figure swept away everything that had happened before, leaving everyone in complete silence.

She was still wearing a long lavender purple dress and a thin scarf woven from soft feathers. Her waist was straight, her posture was dignified, and every step she took was proper and elegant, like lines drawn by a paintbrush.

However, this static state changed the moment Charlotte was seen.

And then, in front of her abdomen, her slender, elegant hands, clasped together, hurriedly reached out. The beautiful woman with black hair seemed unable to contain herself and grasped her hand with a certain eagerness.

She raised her eyes, ignoring the maid's surprise, and simply smiled brightly, saying:

"Dr. Bella."

It is the peace of mind that I have been waiting for.

Chapter 136 Electromagnetic Theory and Illness (3k)

"Eliza".

Without responding with any more honorifics, Charlotte grasped the former's knuckles, giving the delicate man a sense of security.

In fact, she had a slightly different impression of Eliza. Given her noble birth and good education, she felt that this girl shouldn't trust her so much just because of a single meeting, leading to their current intimacy.

This is true even after the performance, when she shielded the former from the criticism of others, comforted him with words, and provided treatment through practice.

Intentional closeness and genuine friendship are inherently different. No matter how well it is disguised, for an opera star or an actor, there will always be flaws revealed by their emotions, which will be noticed by the other party.

"Did my visit tonight disturb your rest?"

"No, how could that be? Everyone in the family was busy harvesting currants and raspberries for the banquet in early March. I wanted to help, but my brother refused me. I was feeling restless and depressed when I met Dr. Bella."

Charlotte could feel Eliza gripping her hand tighter as her fingertips pressed against her palm.

She spoke softly, even her beautiful eyebrows arching slightly, saying:

"This is my good fortune."

"Don't feel lucky. We are friends who met by chance. No one should feel humble because of this relationship."

"You and I are equal."

Upon hearing this, the black-haired beauty was clearly stunned for a moment, then half-covered her lips, as if trying to suppress the slight upturn of her lips.

The negotiation continued. One was elegant and dignified, the other was beautiful and delicate. They leaned against each other, and from a distance, they looked like a pair of lovers who were deeply in love.

The scene stunned the maid who was listening, and she even slowed down her work. However, a deep voice soon broke the silence.

"Eliza, aren't you going to introduce this beautiful lady to me?"

A tall, handsome man stood on the steps between the buildings, in the middle of the staircases. He had clearly been observing for some time, seemingly investigating something.

“Ah, brother. She, she is my new friend, Isabella.”

Unlike previous encounters where Valenti was often mentioned, Eliza only emphasized the latter as a personal name.

With a gentle tug at Charlotte's sleeve, the dark-haired beauty led her into the front hall of the mansion, bringing her into the sight of her elder brother, as if showing off.

"This is my brother Theodore, who has always been by my side."

It was a humble yet assertive introduction.

"Nice to meet you."

Charlotte offered only a polite greeting, never showing much interest in men; she merely nodded to them as a perfunctory gesture.

“So it’s my sister’s friend. I apologize for not greeting her in advance. Annely, please prepare some tea for this guest.”

Without Eliza's graceful and orderly gait, although he tried to maintain his composure, he appeared inferior compared to the naturally elegant Eliza.

He was an ordinary, unremarkable person, even less so than the old detective.

"I heard that you had some disagreements with Uncle Hall when you were touring the small town of Tingen."

Although he proactively pulled out seats for the two of them, in every word and action, Theodore only asked about Eliza's recent situation, as if he completely ignored Charlotte's presence.

Is this a show of force?

“It’s just a trivial matter. My uncle has always been like this, so strict with everyone.”

Ignoring the neglect from those around her, Eliza then tightened her grip on her friend's hand, or rather, she never let go from the very beginning.

"Little sister, you are already a famous opera star in Florence and even the entire empire. People who want to meet you can crowd the city's ring road. Be wary of those with ulterior motives trying to get close to you."

Clearly, these seemingly well-intentioned words are tantamount to indirectly criticizing someone.

“I know, I met Bella during that tour, just like the saying goes, ‘fate brings us together.’ Thinking back, it was you, brother, who bought that book for me to pass the time.”

By cleverly using someone else's name and offering this explanation, Theodore von Nobunaga could no longer pursue the topic, question or harass him, thus demonstrating his authority.

"That's good. If you like it, I'll buy it for you later. By the way, after saying so much, I haven't really gotten to know this... Ms. Bella yet."

The man deliberately added a pause when addressing her, as if to remind her of their respective statuses.

"I'm just an ordinary doctor, nothing special. Lately, I've been taking care of those unfortunate people suffering from the epidemic at the orphanage."

"What?! Someone, get this to me—"

Theodore's expression changed drastically, and he frowned, about to utter something unpleasant, when Eliza took Charlotte's slender hand in hers and held it to her chest as if it were a precious jewel, her eyes revealing undisguised worry and fear.

"Dr. Bella, even if it's out of duty and kindness, you must take proper precautions. I know it's unfair to anyone to give advice, but as a friend, I'm still very worried..."

With a slight upturn and a slight downturn, the servant who had received the order was about to approach when the man dismissed him. The deed was done, and he didn't want those dirty-eyed servants to see his little sister being intimate with someone else.

“Little sister, do you know how dangerous this epidemic is? The inner city is relatively safe due to the quarantine, but nearly a hundred people have died in the outer city, and several thousand are lying in bed, barely able to breathe. If you get infected, you will suffer too.”

Although not explicitly stated, every word pointed directly at Isabella herself.

Judging from their flustered demeanor, the Dikbadov family seems to have little to do with the epidemic, or at least they were not personally involved.

“If I get infected, then it’s just my bad luck. Brother, Dr. Bella is the only daughter of the Valenti family. She obtained her medical license at a young age and has some knowledge of that kind of disease.”

Eliza's calves, slightly bent beneath her long dress, met Charlotte's gaze with a hint of trepidation. She apologized for her actions in trying to learn about her friend's past.

What a wonderful girl.

"You mean, Mother's illness?"

"Ah."

Steam rose from the tea, the cream had already dissolved into the black tea, and amidst the heated exchange, the drinks were naturally set aside.

"I see, I thought..."

As if letting out a long sigh of relief, the hostility in Theodore's eyes was no longer so obvious.

He remained silent for a moment, then spoke again in the increasingly cold atmosphere, his words carrying a hint of discussion.

“Little sister, since the invention of the steam engine, Hastings has made little progress in science and technology. But recently, I heard that the old men at the Royal Academy have invented something new.”

"In the new era, new diagnostic and treatment methods are also emerging, and one of the researchers in the medical field gave me a solution."

Take out a lead wire wrapped in a glass dome. After the coil is joined, the entire dome emits a faint light, illuminating the table. However, the wire burns out completely in a short time, and the halo disappears.

Is this the prototype of an electric light bulb?

Although it cannot be kept constantly lit, having a foundation allows for continuous improvements in the future.

So, following the bizarre development of the steam engine, electromagnetic theory was ultimately discovered by the people of this world?

With a thorn planted in her heart, Charlotte decided to investigate further later.

"He calls it a new kind of energy, and he says that if pharmacological harmonization doesn't work, then you can try mild stimulation at the material level."

"If it were you, young lady, who were to receive treatment, that gentleman would be willing to hold a public consultation for you. After all, it's a rare opportunity, both for the medical community and for the Dickbadov family..."

Emboldening his words, Theodore glanced tentatively at Eliza, but seeing her indifferent expression, he withdrew and did not press the matter further.

As soon as the words reached her ears, Charlotte felt a slight tremor from the clasped fingers and the close proximity of their bodies. She turned her head to look at her friend, who still maintained her composure, but whose slender legs involuntarily pressed together, creating a fluttering crease in her dress.

Stripped of her outward titles and disregarding her aristocratic airs, her body instinctively revealed fear.

So Charlotte withdrew her fingers, and under the ripples of Eliza's eyes, she grasped Eliza's smooth, white hand again, not to clasp it, but to envelop it in a reassuring embrace.

Gradually, the black-haired beauty stopped trembling, but leaned somewhat uncomfortably on her shoulder.

“Mr. Theodore von, Eliza seems to have caught a cold. It’s getting late, so I’ll help her to her bedroom to rest. Whatever her condition may be, we can talk about it tomorrow. This is a friend’s concern and a doctor’s advice.”

No longer remaining silent or merely listening, Charlotte helped Eliza up, letting her soft body lean against hers. She too broke her silence, turning her back with composure and walking towards the end of the corridor.

Behind him, Theodore von's face grew increasingly gloomy, unaware that the glass he was gripping was cracking.

Before her, Eliza's hair brushed against her neck, and her warm breath brushed against her earlobe, causing her skin to blush slightly.

With her lips pursed, the black-haired woman spoke softly.

"Thank you, doctor..."

Because of their extremely close proximity, the action resembled a lover whispering in each other's ears, intimate and inseparable.

"I will not stand by and watch my friend suffer."

Perhaps due to the unusual environment, Charlotte's spiritual senses swept over her, and the servants' trivial remarks continued.

“Yesterday, Es disposed of another batch of corpses... there were birds and cats, but most of them were rabbits. I have no idea what these little guys did to deserve this.”

“Ever since Miss Farlinger’s first performance last year, those apple rolls and flowers have been replaced more and more frequently. Could there be something wrong with the feed she’s eating?”

A new sound has been inserted.

"No, they didn't die of natural causes. Those little creatures died horribly. Some coughed up blood, some had their heads shattered, and some were crushed to pieces. I heard that Madam was like that for a while before."

"Look, the abnormal bloodstains match up perfectly!"

"No way, Miss won't end up like that too, will she?"

Click.

The carved door was pushed open with fingertips, and they arrived at the young lady's bedroom as planned.

A delicate rose scent lingers, infused with the aroma of parchment and ink. Deep within the room, a carved four-poster bed stands quietly, its purple and white velvet curtains draped down, creating a sense of abundance.

Looking further inside, on a dressing table in the corner, an ivory-inlaid mirror reflected soft light. In front of the mirror were several exquisite glass bottles, filled with rose essential oil and amber perfume. A pearl-encrusted comb lay quietly beside a handkerchief embroidered with lavender, as if it had just been placed down by its owner.

Eliza bent down, picked up the little rabbit from the cage, and handed it to Charlotte, as if it were a girl's small pride.

The lively little creature was full of curiosity but indifferent to the conversation between the two, licking Charlotte's fingers and intently gnawing on her deerskin gloves.

Their fur is soft, the fur that the cubs are born with, not yet replaced by the smooth, soft fur of adults. But when you part this layer of fur, a little bit of blood that hasn't been washed away is visible.

Without using many words, the dark-haired beauty's eyes were filled with tenderness, a tenderness bordering on the sickly. She sat down on the edge of the bed and softly called out again:

"Dr. Bella."

Chapter 137 Tears Like a Mirror

The bloodstains, the fragmented words, the torn rabbit—all of this undoubtedly indicates that Eliza does indeed suffer from a mental illness.

This naturally required caution, but whether it was emotional breakdown or hysteria, the person in front of her had never shown it to her. Therefore, Charlotte would not speak openly, nor would she reveal her disgust and retreat.