Chapter 53: Servant Cedric (19). Rational Inference
Claudia had almost no experience running with all her strength on her own two feet.
She wasn’t the type to enjoy physical activity to begin with, and as a noble young lady, even walking was expected to fall under the category of “etiquette.”
But at this moment, that past meant nothing—she was running with all her might.
The mansion’s servants looked on with wide, shocked eyes, trying to say something, but she didn’t care. Even the breath caught at her throat didn’t matter now.
“About Mr. Cedric... I think his condition’s gotten a lot worse lately.”
“He’s working far less than he used to, and much more slowly. Of course, he still does the work of a full person and then some, but... how should I put it? Before, it felt like ‘I could never catch up to this man,’ and now it’s more like ‘he’s one of the more competent ones among us.’”
“I figured it was just because the estate and territory have stabilized, so he was taking it a little easier... But the other day, I... I saw him cough up blood.”
“And the way he calmly erased the traces without surprise or panic—it looked like he fully understands the state he’s in.”
“I hesitated to say anything, since it’s someone’s private business... but I felt you should know, my lady.”
Claudia replayed the maid’s words over and over in her mind as she ran, clumsily but relentlessly.
Finally, she arrived at the room where Cedric stayed and yanked the door open.
Or tried to.