26. Bloodletting (3)

“We need to replenish what you lost in sweat. Add salt and sugar to the water. Just a tiny bit. So little you can barely taste it.”

I had no idea about the proper ratio of salt and sugar, let alone how many liters were in one water bottle.

I knew that excessive sweating could lead to dehydration, but determining the right proportion of salt and sugar remained a challenge.

“Good heavens! After driving away the doctor, all you’re doing is giving her water? We should have done the bloodletting instead!”

“It’s not just water. It’s water with a tiny bit of salt and sugar.”

“That’s practically the same thing! Even if you are the lady of the house, this is unacceptable. This won’t do. We should call Mr. Orwell back right now. Lucion, what are you waiting for? Quickly, get on your horse and bring Mr. Orwell!”

Rose’s father shouted, unable to hide his agitation.

I responded coldly.

“Don’t you see those sheets over there? Those are all soaked with Rose’s sweat from last night. After losing this much fluid, of course she needs water.”

I questioned while giving water through Rose’s parched lips.

The concentration was just as I wanted, barely noticeable in terms of saltiness and sweetness.

“Rather, I should ask you this. With her lips this dry from sweating, hasn’t Mr. Orwell given the patient even a single glass of water until now?”

Although I carefully gave her water spoonful by spoonful, Rose couldn’t drink properly.

“Cough, cough!”

Half of it spilled out.

“Rose!”

Rose’s father clutched his chest in distress.

‘If you’re going to be this heartbroken watching her struggle with a spoonful of water, how could you even consider bloodletting?’

“Come here and support her head! We don’t need to give her too much, but she must finish this bowl!”

It wasn’t medicine I was prescribing. She didn’t need much. Just enough to replace what was lost. One or two bowls at most. But that much was absolutely necessary.

“The air is stuffy. Open the windows for ventilation.”

“But Miss Rose has been feeling cold. Is it alright to let in the wind?”

“It’s fine, she’s tucked in tightly up to her neck. If you’re worried, just open it a little. This stagnant, humid air isn’t good either.”

Though Rose couldn’t swallow properly at first, with persistence, we managed to give her the amount she needed.

‘Whew, hydration is taken care of now.’

“She hasn’t eaten anything all night, right?”

“No, she’s been unconscious the whole time.”

Rose’s mother answered promptly.

Since the time she was lost, Rose hadn’t eaten anything, meaning she had been starving for almost a day and a half.

“Please prepare some honey water and thin porridge, no, make it a light soup. Unseasoned soup.”

“I’ll ask the kitchen right away!”

Something easily digestible that would provide immediate calories—that’s what Rose needed most in her feverish state.

“My lady… Rose’s breathing seems better! Just a while ago, it seemed like she might stop breathing at any moment!”

After most of the treatment was done, Rose’s condition improved significantly. Lady Temeri grabbed my hands with tears in her eyes.

“Thank you so much. Thank you, my lady! You were right that bloodletting was the wrong approach!”

“My lady…”

Even Lucion and Rose’s father, who had been adamantly supporting bloodletting, looked at me with confused expressions. However, I shook my head.

“No, although the fever has gone down, I’m worried because evening is approaching.”

Fever patients typically improved during the day but worsened at night. For Rose to fully recover, she needed to get through this night.

‘Is there anything else I can do…’

Thud. As I sat down in a chair for the first time all day, something caught my eye.

“What’s that?”

“Ah, that’s the whiskey that Dr. Owen brought as a pain reliever. He said we should give her alcohol to calm her during the bloodletting procedure if she couldn’t bear the pain.”

If you have alcohol, you should think about using it to sterilize surgical tools, not giving it to the patient!

“Alcohol, yes! We can use alcohol!”

Still, I excitedly told everyone.

“Bring all the alcohol from the castle! The higher the proof, the better!”

After driving out Lucion, Rose’s father, and all the male family members from the room, we soaked towels in alcohol. Then we used these alcohol-soaked towels to wipe Rose’s body.

“Oh no, this is whiskey that the previous grand duke personally distilled…! Oh well, never mind!”

“Good, if it’s aged, the alcohol content must be high. Perfect for evaporation!”

“Th-th-this is alcohol that His Majesty the King bestowed upon us long ago! Forgive us, ancestors!”

“Never mind, the ancestors will understand!”

Without considering taste, price, or who made it, we focused solely on strong, high-proof alcohol to rub on Rose’s body.

The maids trembled with each bottle we emptied, and Lady Temeri, who had shared Inkheart’s history, prayed to the heavens.

And the expensive ones clearly had an effect.

“Miss Rose isn’t talking nonsense anymore. The fever seizures must have stopped.”

“She couldn’t handle it when we wiped her with water.”

By midnight, Rose’s temperature had completely normalized. Her breathing became comfortable, and she just looked like a young lady with slightly flushed cheeks. The maids who had worked through the night shed tears at Rose’s recovery.

“To think we almost cut into a child who could recover so quickly… Where would we even make incisions on such a small body.”

Lady Temeri sniffled. After dabbing her tears with a handkerchief, she suddenly raised her head and trembled with anger.

“Those people! I told them bloodletting was absolutely not the answer! I’m going to bury those people right now!”

Just after saving one patient, it seemed we might have another. This time, even I couldn’t help.

* * *

As I wiped the sweat from my forehead and stepped outside, Darius was waiting for me.

“Have you been waiting all this time?”

“I believed you would succeed.”

Even though I was the one who drove him out.

“Thank you. For saving a child who is precious to me as well.”

“No, I should thank you.”

In the end, it was Darius, the highest authority in this castle, who suppressed the doctor’s opposition. It was because Darius advised Lucion to reconsider that Rose’s family also compromised.

“Thank you for trusting me and letting me handle it.”

We smiled at each other and embraced. The refreshing satisfaction of putting down a heavy burden. And the fatigue from not sleeping properly since last night hit me instantly.

“Darius, I know you get worried when I fall asleep like this, but…”

My vision blurred.

Once the tension released, I couldn’t help falling asleep immediately.

“How much more are you going to make me worry about you… But it’s alright. I’m here now.”

As my eyes closed, Darius whispered something in my ear. I smiled faintly at his gentle voice.

* * *

Annette’s body fell into Darius’s arms like a thread unraveling.

Darius held the sleeping Annette as if handling something fragile.

White skin, a straight nose.

The blue eyes that always conveyed so many messages with just a glance were now hidden behind eyelids.

This woman had saved Rose.

His friend’s mischievous little sister from childhood. Breaking through everyone’s criticism.

“My lady saved my sister.”

“You almost lost your sister because of your wrong choice.”

Lucion’s face went pale. Darius ignored him.

All his senses were focused on the sensation of Annette in his arms.

Something soft, gentle, and warm.

With this small body, Annette had ridden through the dangerous forest and stayed up all night by the patient’s side as soon as she woke up.

“Still too reckless.”

The advice he had given her when they saw the wild boar, he now realized, was what she needed to hear.

This woman who bustled around Inkheart Castle all day with energy, yet when her eyes were closed, looked so small and fragile.

Just holding her made him smile involuntarily, but seeing her collapse from exhaustion like this…

A sharp pain.

His chest tightened just as it had when Annette collapsed in the forest recently.

Why? Why did looking at her make him smile and make his chest hurt at the same time?

While Darius was lost in thought…

“Your Grace, we will take care of the lady.”

At the servant’s natural suggestion, Darius stared at him blankly.

“She is my wife, I will do it.”

Yes, wife.

Although it was a political marriage born of necessity, they had decided on this marriage entirely by themselves, without anyone’s interference.

That’s how Annette became his wife and only family.

‘But how did you feel when you first intended to take Annette as your wife? You had no interest at all. All your vassals cared about was the dowry Annette would bring.’

The voice inside Darius spoke to him.

‘What have you done while Annette has done so much for you?’

Another sharp pain.

His chest tightened again.

Although he had tried his best to treat her well, seeing her work so hard for the North made his efforts seem insufficient.

He wanted to treat her better. Even more so to make up for how he hadn’t in the beginning.

“Mmm.”

“Shh.”

As Annette showed signs of waking from her disturbed comfort, Darius soothed her fretful sleep.

‘What kind of future will Annette and I create together?’

The thought made his heart race.

“Give me a role too, Annette.”

Darius gently soothed Annette as she fussed in her sleep.