Chapter 32 - The Poison
Whether he was born with the personality or not, it was his duty.
“But…”
What would happen to that pitiful person?’ Gail sighed again as he thought.
Despite having the appearance of an old man with a long white beard, he didn’t look kindly.
That was a good thing. As a doctor, he had to be strict with his patients. He couldn’t do just what his patients wanted and had to ensure his patients’ confidentiality.
No one could tell that it was Laila Estevan he was thinking about. If anyone knew that he was thinking of Laila Estevan, then, the negative situation she was in wouldn’t be a secret.
“Poison.”
The Master’s voice echoed in his ears like thunder.
‘Even without poison, she will pass away soon.’
That was his professional assessment, and he was in the ranks of highly-skilled doctors. Laila Estevan will die soon.
‘Giving her poison is nothing more than adding to the pain.’
It was a terrible thing. The pain caused by poison alone was unbearable. The young lady was bearing pain on so many different levels.
The painkiller that Laila was taking was actually a poison that could cause a temporary hallucination, making her forget about the pain for a while. But after that, it would intensify the pain a little more.
Gail thought about the young and delicate lady. His heart throbbed painfully. He was insensitive towards others who were not his patients, but he remembered how Laila always tried her best with a smile, her enthusiasm, and her breathlessness.
She was always like this, even as she tried to disguise the terrible pain she was bearing. But still, still he…
‘Lady, forgive me. No matter what I do, I cannot refuse the Master’s orders.’
But he couldn’t help but be shaken the moment he entered Laila’s dwelling to switch her medicine.
She must have been unable to own anything, but this did not even fulfill the minimum requirements to be fit for a human to live in. The air was different too; it smelled like horrible rotten corpses. Any beast will die and be broken.
But what caught his eye more than anything else was…
“…”
Suppressing a cry, Gail clenched his teeth and his lips trembled. He approached the old chest of drawers cautiously.
A package of painkillers was on it. There was not a single particle of dust on it, and half-hidden under the package was a piece of paper that showed signs of being held tightly in someone’s hand.
Gail looked at it and sighed. He knew the moment he saw it. The creases on the paper revealed the behavior of the girl holding it, and also how she was feeling.
After looking at it for a while, Gail left the place with a very contorted expression. Then, he murmured in front of the dwelling, “I’m old and out of my mind. I didn’t bring any medicine.”
Gail moved his aged body quickly. Eventually, he returned, and left a new note and new medicine. It was poison, but not poison.
A poison that, if fused with the poison that Laila had been taking, could have miraculous effects once in a while.
“…”
It was the best he could do. After looking at them for a moment, he left Laila’s place soundlessly. There was one sentence on the piece of paper he left behind.
<May God watch over you.>
* * *
The Grand Duke, Venio de Arsen was engaged.
It was said that he was never going to get engaged, but he did. They heard that Laila and Venio only exchanged vows in the temple’s courtyard like commoners. Rumors began to spread in the capital, and the nobles began to talk everywhere.
“Brother!”
“…”
Laos, who stood stunned and was looking out the window, looked back. He was met with the sight of his younger brother, who was groaning and stomping his feet.
“What’s going on?”
“What do you mean what’s going on! I’m hearing bad news everywhere because of that beggar!”
“It shouldn’t be bad news, isn’t it?” asked Laos before turning away again.
Most of the voices everywhere were about the rumors of the Archduke’s engagement. It was not yet known that the other party was Laila.
“How did that girl get involved with someone like him? Urghh!”
“What are you so mad about?”
“Because! Because…!” Rakiel was at a loss for words. A fire was blazing fast inside of him, but he couldn’t make out its cause.
