“Whew, you should’ve just listened to me yesterday. Now that it’s come to this, just rest a bit.”
I dusted off my hands and nodded toward Annie.
“Alright, Annie, let’s move him.”
“Uh… miss, are you sure this is okay? He’s not really… dead, right?”
“Oh, definitely not. He just fainted temporarily. We have to move him to my room before he wakes up. Hurry, now!”
I pulled Verdick’s arm over my shoulder and urged the anxious Annie.
She nodded and helped me move him to the sofa in my room.
As soon as we laid Verdick down, I confirmed the instructions with Annie again.
“Annie, what did I tell you earlier?”
“Um… to tell Verdick you’re sorry when he wakes up, and that he doesn’t need to worry… What else was it?”
“To tell him Dad is in good hands and not to worry.”
“Oh right, yes! I’ll definitely tell him that!”
Annie nodded with determined eyes.
I gave her a smile, then made my way downstairs to talk to Dad.
***
“…Do you think he’s awake by now…?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ah, nothing.”
I smiled sweetly at my father, who sat gracefully in the carriage reading a book on herbs.
“Oh, Dad. Things were hectic earlier, so I forgot to ask… Who exactly are we going to treat at the Duke’s mansion?”
Since it would still be a while before we arrived, I decided to gather some background information.
Was it really the duke’s daughter we were treating? If so, what kind of illness did she have?
It was better to be prepared in advance.
Dad looked up from his book and met my gaze.
“The current duke has two children, and we’re going to treat the youngest daughter.”
So far, it matched what I expected.
“I see. Do you know what symptoms she’s showing?”
“Well, she’s been complaining of ongoing indigestion and headaches. She hasn’t been eating well, and she also suffers from body pain, especially in her arms.”
My father’s face looked genuinely concerned.
If it’s body pain… could it be neurological?
I started mentally reviewing illnesses that matched the symptoms he mentioned.
If she were in pain, my homemade version of aspirin might help…
“Hmm… Do you know when the symptoms started?”
“About four months ago. Poor thing. She’s still so young…”
“How old is she?”
“She’s not even ten yet.”
“Wait, what? Ten years old?”
I widened my eyes in surprise. I hadn’t expected her to be that young.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Ah, no. I just didn’t expect her to be so young…”
Everyone, including Room 406 and Dad, had spoken so formally about the duke’s daughter that I had assumed she was much older. That was my mistake.
This is bad. It’ll be hard to use the medicine I made now…
Aspirin can cause rare but severe side effects in children.
Especially if they have a fever or cold symptoms—it could even lead to a coma.
My plan to trick them using a painkiller was falling apart, and I let out a dry sigh.
Just my luck…
A ten-year-old girl… What illnesses are common in kids?
I thought back to my time rotating in the ER and pediatrics, recalling young patients I had seen.
A child’s abdominal pain isn’t always simple. Sometimes they complain of pain in one area even if the issue is elsewhere.
And it had already been going on for four months. Quite a long time for a child to be sick.
As I was deep in thought with my eyes closed—
I suddenly heard the horses snorting wildly, followed by the coachman shouting as he tried to calm them.
The carriage shook roughly and came to a stop. Dad and I looked at each other, startled.
“What’s going on?”
Dad opened the small window in the carriage and called out to the coachman, Traven.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Viscount. A child suddenly ran out and blocked the road…”
A child?
I couldn’t believe my ears.
Outside was a snowy mountain. There were no houses around, and the road was barely wide enough for a carriage.
A child wandering out here alone?
“A child?”
Even Dad looked like he had the same thought.
Then we heard it.
“Please help us!”
A young voice rang out clearly through the small window.
Both Dad and I blinked in shock and quickly got out of the carriage without needing to say anything.
The moment the door opened, freezing northern winds and snow blew into the carriage.
Gosh, it’s cold.
But there was no time to think about that. I quickly followed Dad out.
And the moment I saw what was in front of me, I had to cover my mouth.
Oh my god…
A child who looked no older than ten was standing in the snow, having stopped the carriage.
There was a long cut on the child’s forehead, and from the dried blood, it seemed the injury had happened a while ago.
Dad rushed over and examined the wound first.
“Ria! We need to get this child into the carriage.”
“Okay! I’ll get ready!”
I opened the carriage door to lay the child down.
But just then—
“No! It’s not me!”
The child’s sudden cry made Dad and me freeze and stare at her.
“It’s not me… Please save my mom… Please!”
***
After learning where the child’s mother was, Dad quickly gave me instructions.
“Ria, you stay here in the carriage and look after her. I’ll go with Traven to bring her mother.”
“Yes!”
I obediently grabbed the child’s hand and led her into the carriage. I helped her sit and checked the wound on her forehead.
It looked like she’d been hit by something blunt—there were clear bruises around the wound.
Thankfully, the cold slowed the infection…
But if it stayed exposed to air much longer, it could lead to sepsis—a life-threatening infection.
And since her immune system was weak, being a child, I had to disinfect and close the wound immediately.
I stood up and rummaged through the medical supplies in the carriage.
“Ugh…”
I needed disinfectant, gauze, bandages, a needle holder, tweezers, needle, and thread—but just as I expected, none of it was properly prepared.
At least I found some tweezers, bandages, strong alcohol, a needle…
I picked out a small needle and began preparing the tools I’d need.
The child watched me nervously and murmured,
“Um… I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.”
I turned to her and gently held her hands.
“What’s your name?”
“Ah… I’m Lala.”
“Okay, Lala. I’m going to treat your wound now.”
Lala’s eyes widened, either in fear or surprise.
I gave her the most reassuring smile I could and explained,
“It might hurt a little. But I’ll take full responsibility. Once we finish this treatment, you won’t hurt anymore. So will you trust me?”
I spoke in simple, gentle words, avoiding anything scary.
Lala’s big eyes trembled slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, she lowered her head and gave a small nod.
Alright, let’s do this.
I stood up, disinfected my hands and tools with the strong alcohol, then cleaned Lala’s wound.
“Hngh…”
She gripped her dress and endured the pain. I bit my lip sympathetically.
But this thread… I don’t think it’ll work…
Lala, huh…