booktalesy Chapter 46 It's Hard to Guard Against a Thief Within Your Own Family
Chapter 46 It's Hard to Guard Against a Thief Within Your Own Family
A sudden crisis has subsided for the time being, but bigger trouble is just beginning.
Emily became an "assassin".
Green wished he could slap the other guy across the face right now.
"It's true what they say, you can guard against anything day or night, but it's hard to guard against a thief
Finally, he gritted his teeth, picked up Emily from the floor, and put her on the bed. After carefully observing her condition and confirming that she was just asleep, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Just then, hurried, noisy footsteps came from downstairs.
It was Aunt Sylvia leading the doctor upstairs.
Green quickly stood up and hid the empty crystal bottle on the floor and the notebook on the desk in Emily's dressing table drawer.
These things must never be seen by anyone else.
He took a deep breath, walked to the door, and unlocked the door.
Outside the door stood Aunt Sylvia, her face pale and tears streaming down her face, and a middle-aged doctor carrying a medicine box, looking puzzled.
"Green, Emily, she..." Auntie tried to rush in anxiously.
Green stepped aside, his face showing exhaustion despite his efforts to remain calm: "Doctor, please come in. My cousin... she suddenly fainted and had convulsions. She seems to be a little more stable now, but she's still unconscious."
The doctor nodded and quickly walked into the room to begin the examination.
Sylvia gripped Green's arm tightly, her voice trembling, "What happened? Green, tell me, what's wrong with Emily?"
Looking at his aunt's terrified and helpless eyes, and then at Emily lying unconscious on the bed, Green took a deep breath.
He didn't know how to explain it, but Green knew he had to reassure her first, so he gently patted Aunt Sylvia's hand and whispered:
"Don't worry, Auntie. The doctor will check her up. Emily will be fine, trust me."
He said this with extreme guilt.
Because he knew that from today onwards, Emily and their family would probably never be able to return to the 'stable' state they once were.
The source of everything is himself.
He ultimately brought the 'disaster' back.
How ironic.
Green was always careful to avoid putting his family in danger, so he made a deal with the Garden of Fading and with the Night's Watch.
But the result was... danger struck in a different way.
The doctor carefully examined Emily's heartbeat and breathing, and inquired about what happened to Green, before finally shaking his head.
"There are no obvious abnormalities in the physical signs at present. The heart rate is slightly fast, which may be a reaction to fright or pain."
The doctor packed his medicine kit, somewhat puzzled:
"There was no external injury, nor fever or other signs of infection. The sudden convulsions and fainting... could be due to excessive mental stress, or... we cannot rule out some kind of atypical epileptic seizure. However, the latter requires observation of symptoms during the seizure for a definitive diagnosis."
The word "epilepsy" made Aunt Sylvia's heart clench. No one in the family had ever had this condition, and she simply couldn't understand why her daughter would become like this.
Her face was pale, and she clutched her handkerchief tightly. "Doctor, what... what should we do? Will she...?"
"We can only observe for now."
The doctor sighed. "Rest well, keep quiet, and avoid stimulation. If it recurs, carefully record the specific symptoms and duration, and it would be best to notify me immediately."
He paused, then added, "Of course, it could be temporary. Young people sometimes experience similar symptoms due to emotional excitement, low blood sugar, or other reasons. Don't worry too much, madam."
To Aunt Sylvia, these words sounded more like a consolation. But she still forced herself to thank the doctor and paid the consultation fee of 3 sous and 6 pence.
This was the best doctor she knew, and it was another significant expense, especially given the family's limited budget.
After the doctor left, only Green, Aunt Sylvia, and Emily, who was unconscious upstairs, remained in the living room.
The maid had finished her work and left before the doctor arrived, leaving the house unusually quiet, even somewhat oppressive.
"Auntie, you should go and rest. You don't look well."
Seeing Sylvia swaying precariously, Green helped her to an armchair in the living room. "I'll watch over Emily."
"No, I..." Sylvia wanted to refuse, but the physical exhaustion and mental shock made her unable to hold on any longer.
"Let me do it, Aunt. You need to calm down. Besides, if Emily wakes up and sees you like this, she'll be even more frightened."
He paused, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, where's Sula? I haven't seen her."
Normally, if there's any noise at home, Sula would immediately appear around the scene; she has a very strong curiosity and thirst for knowledge. But at this moment, she seemed unusually quiet.
"Oh, Sura... Not long after she finished lunch, her classmate Lina came to find her, saying she was going to the library to study and might be back late. I didn't think much of it and let her go."
Green breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that Sura wasn't home.
If she saw Emily looking like that just now, or overheard the doctor and aunt's conversation, she might tell others or start overthinking things.
"It's good that he's not home," Green said softly, but it sounded more like he was talking to himself.
He then looked at Aunt Sylvia, his expression serious. "Aunt, about Emily... I think it's best not to tell anyone until the doctor makes a diagnosis. Including Uncle."
Sylvia looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes: "Including your uncle? But..."
"Especially your uncle," Green interrupted her.
"You know your uncle; he's... a bit suspicious and values his reputation. If he knew Emily had suddenly developed a 'strange illness,' which might even be... a mental health issue, he would definitely investigate thoroughly."
"He'll hire more doctors, interrogate Emily repeatedly, worry about the family's reputation, and might even..."
Green didn't continue, but Sylvia already understood what he meant.
Victor's obsession with maintaining a "decent" family life sometimes borders on paranoia. If he believes Emily's situation could become a "stain," his reaction can be unpredictable and could put even more pressure on Emily, who is already suffering.
"Moreover, Emily needs quiet and rest right now, not interrogation and anxiety. If she says something even more worrying under pressure, or if things get worse, that would be a real problem."
Sylvia fell silent, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief. She was certainly worried about her husband's reaction, but even more worried about her daughter's condition.
While Green's words were somewhat arbitrary, they weren't entirely without merit. At that moment, she was in a state of utter turmoil, wanting everything to calm down quickly and for Emily to recover.
"...You're right."
Finally, she nodded, her voice a little hoarse, "Let's... let's not tell your uncle yet. We'll see how things are after Emily wakes up. But, if she has another attack..."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Green immediately interjected. "I'll be in her room. You should lie down for a while, or have some hot tea. I'll call you immediately if you need anything."
Sylvia felt a little relieved when she saw Green's gaze.
Although this nephew sometimes worries her, he always seems to be reliable in crucial moments.
She nodded and didn't insist any further.
Green watched his aunt slowly walk towards his bedroom before turning around, going upstairs again, gently pushing open his bedroom door, and hurriedly checking the locked drawer deep inside the wardrobe.
Investigating the origin of the potion is important.
The result actually relieved his anxiety; the lock was pried open, and the potion inside was gone.
In Green's view, this was actually the best outcome. If she had obtained it from somewhere else, it would have been more troublesome, as the potion was extremely precious and would definitely have drawn the attention of other forces.
This spoiled young lady can't even beat herself, so how can she possibly contend with those extraordinary individuals?
Green went to Emily's door again.
Inside the room, Emily was still fast asleep, her breathing much more even, but her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she couldn't find peace even in her dreams.
Green dragged a chair over and sat down on the edge of the bed. He didn't immediately check the hidden potion bottle and notebook, but simply gazed quietly at her slightly pale face.