25. Bloodletting (2)  

I calmly approached Rose’s bedside. I needed to keep my composure first. If the caregiver panicked while the patient was unconscious, it would only make everyone else in the room anxious as well.  

“The sheets are soaked with sweat. That must be uncomfortable. Let’s change them first. Use ones that have been dried under the sun, nice and fresh. And since they might get soaked again soon, bring two if possible.”  

A maid fetched fresh sheets and blankets from the cabinet and replaced them.  

“Has she been given a fever reducer? She must be thirsty from sweating so much.”  

She needed to drink water.  

‘Wait, instead of just plain water, maybe I should add glucose…’  

I didn’t know the exact formula for oral rehydration solutions, but I remembered hearing that excessive sweating could disrupt the body’s electrolytes.  

‘The exact ratio was something like how much salt and sugar per liter of water… I don’t remember, so for now, I’ll just mix a small amount of salt and sugar into plenty of water.’  

Not cold water, but lukewarm, close to body temperature.  

“Give her water mixed with sugar and salt.”  

“My lady, we have water here, but for sugar and salt… we’ll need to go to the kitchen.”  

The maid looked at me with a flustered expression.  

Bang, bang.  

Outside the door, Sir Lucion continued to tirelessly demand the return of his sister.  

“Please, my lady! Rose needs to receive treatment!”  

If I opened the door now, who knows when Rose might end up under the quack doctor’s knife.  

“Fine, I’ll open the door.”  

“My lady!”  

“I’ll convince Sir Lucion. Bloodletting is absolutely not an option.”  

I glanced at Lady Temeri, who was clutching Rose’s hand tightly, and gave her a reassuring smile.  

“Apple, open the door.”  

* * *

“Lady Annette!”  

As soon as the door opened, the sight that greeted me was Sir Lucion kneeling as if he had made up his mind about something.  

I signaled to Apple with my eyes. With a determined expression, Apple nodded and quietly left the room.  

“Please stand, Sir Lucion.”  

“I am aware that my younger sister has shown you countless acts of disrespect, my lady. If you hold me accountable for failing to discipline her, I have no excuse. I will accept any punishment you deem fit, so please, do not deprive her of the chance to receive treatment.”  

“Sir Lucion, it was I who saved Rose Temeri last night in the Ash Tree Forest.”  

To the people of this era, bloodletting was considered cutting-edge medical technology, practiced by learned physicians.  

Sir Lucion’s current attitude was akin to someone advocating for administering an experimental drug to a dying sibling, even if the outcome was uncertain.  

That made it difficult to sway his desperate resolve.  

“Sir Lucion, how many days has it been since you swore your honor to me? Are you now doubting your lady?”  

“My lady, I understand that bloodletting may seem dangerous to ladies unfamiliar with such procedures. However, Dr. Orwell is not just any mediocre physician. He is experienced and has treated many patients.”  

No. It’s not about being mediocre or not. Bloodletting is just a method to kill people, no matter who performs it.  

“If I intended to kill Rose, it would have been easier to leave her to die in the Ash Tree Forest last night. If I had done nothing, your sister would have died of hypothermia.”  

I clasped Sir Lucion’s hands.  

“I beg you. Sir Lucion, I truly want to save Rose. So please, entrust her to me.”  

“What are you saying?! This isn’t child’s play. Every moment you delay, Lady Rose’s condition worsens!”  

At that moment, Dr. Orwell criticized me.  

“If Lady Rose dies because you interfered with her treatment, will you take responsibility, my lady?”  

“No matter what you say, I cannot allow you to cut into Rose’s body!”  

The truth is, I’m scared.  

This wasn’t something from the original story. I didn’t know of any magical solutions.  

But I did know for certain that bloodletting would kill Rose.  

Of course, who knows? This is a fantasy world, after all. Maybe the method that kills people in my world could actually work here.  

But what if my efforts don’t help Rose recover?  

What if her family later regrets not using bloodletting at the time?  

“Annette.”  

It wasn’t the voice of Orwell or Sir Lucion, who were doubting and criticizing me.  

“Do you have another way to treat Rose?”  

Darius’s voice nearly made my knees give out.  

“Yes.”  

He asked only one thing. Whether I had the intention to try.  

“Your Grace!”  

Sir Lucion bit his lip.  

“While Your Grace’s wife is Lady Annette, Rose is my sister!”  

“Are you saying that my trust in Annette is only because she’s my wife, Lucion?”  

“Lady Annette has no knowledge of medicine.”  

Even in this tense moment, Darius remained as composed as ever.  

“Lucion, it was Annette who found Rose last night. No one else.”  

The one person who supported me unwaveringly.  

“Annette, I trust you. Please take care of Rose.”  

The person who gave strength to my faltering knees, my reliable male lead.  

‘Yes, I’ll protect Rose from that quack. Just as Darius trusts me, I won’t betray his faith.’  

I swallowed back the sob that nearly escaped. Now wasn’t the time to cry.  

It had been quite some time since I left Darius in the bedroom and rushed straight to Rose’s room. With all this commotion, it seemed even Darius couldn’t stay asleep any longer.  

“But still…”  

“What does a noble lady know about medicine to act like this?! If you refuse to acknowledge my methods, why even keep me at the castle?”  

Dr. Orwell stroked his thick beard in frustration as he voiced his complaints. His face flushed red as he tried to assert his authority as a physician.  

Zap. Darius glared at Orwell with a displeased expression, clearly not appreciating his condescending tone toward me.  

“Don’t worry. If Annette treats Rose, there will no longer be any need for someone who tried to perform such a dangerous procedure.”  

“What?! Not trusting the physician is the same as killing the patient! Patients always think they know their illnesses best!”  

‘This might be the one time that statement is absolutely true.’  

I ignored Orwell’s grumbling and focused solely on Sir Lucion.  

“Sir Lucion. When I repaired the training grounds, you told me that you had misjudged me. That I was someone who truly cared for the North, despite your initial impression.”  

Sir Lucion flinched.  

“Just as you changed your mind then, I ask you to reconsider now. You might not understand my actions right away, but I’m doing this for Rose. Please, trust me. I’ll do my utmost to care for her.”  

I gripped Sir Lucion’s cold, trembling hands tightly.  

Once again, I spoke firmly.  

“Please, abandon the idea of bloodletting and allow me to take full responsibility for her care.”  

“…I entrust my little sister, Rose, to you.”  

At last, Sir Lucion lowered his head and agreed to my request.  

“Well! This is outrageous! You’re saying you don’t need a physician? Fine, fine! I’ll leave the castle today! Let’s see how well you manage without any medical knowledge!”  

Orwell was so furious that he yanked at his beard and stormed out.  

But no one, except his assistant, paid him any attention.  

“Doctor!”  

“My lady, here’s the salt and sugar!”  

“Well done! Now bring the water!”  

Apple, who had been sent out earlier, returned with the salt and sugar from the kitchen. There was no time to waste.  

“Only family members are allowed in the patient’s room. Too many people can spread illness and cause distractions, so everyone, please leave!”  

Following my instructions, the room quickly cleared.  

“Annette, if there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word. I’ll do it.”  

Darius rolled up his sleeves, ready to assist, but I gestured for him to leave. It was a signal to go outside.  

Darius’s eyes widened in disbelief.  

“Anne…tte?”  

“Your Grace, you’re not part of Rose’s family.”  

“But it’s me…”  

“If you’re not family, I’m sorry, but please leave.”  

“Rose has been like a little sister to me since childhood.”  

“She’s like a sister, but not your actual sister. I’m sorry, Your Grace! Let’s talk tonight!”  

With Rose’s three family members and the maids assisting me, the room was already full.  

Though I felt sorry for Darius, who had supported me while I convinced Lucion, stepping out was the best way he could help.  

“My lady, everything you asked for is ready. The water has been warmed, and the salt and sugar have been mixed in. What should we do next?”  

When I returned to the room, everyone was looking at me. My palms were damp with sweat from the tension.  

“Haa… It’s cold… haa, haa.”  

Rose, delirious from the fever, continued to mutter incoherently.  

Even under thick blankets, she shivered. Watching her tremble broke my heart.  

“It’s okay now, Rose. Thank you for holding on as I asked. I’ll help you now.”  

That night in the forest, I could do nothing as Rose’s body grew colder. All I could do was hold her tightly and desperately beg her to survive, shouting childishly that I’d kill her if she dared to die.  

But now, things were different.  

‘I’ll save you. I’ll use every bit of knowledge I have.’