Chapter – 15
The chief physician realized there was no way out and bit his lip.
Watching him unable to use the medicine, the Empress spoke in a low voice.
“Why are you not using it? Did you perhaps include an ingredient you shouldn’t?”
At the question spoken in a calm, firm voice, the chief physician froze.
The hand he had pressed to the floor went pale white.
“It’s not that… it’s not that!”
With hands trembling uncontrollably, he opened the lid of the medicine bottle.
The main ingredients in this medicine—Napyrim, Nabullet, and Nachillid—were highly addictive.
Even if diluted lightly, once used, it would make him crave it desperately afterward.
Once became twice, twice became three times… and if that continued, it would eventually lead to blindness. The chief physician was well aware of this.
He swallowed dryly and slowly brought the bottle to his eyes.
His hands shook violently, and his face contorted as if he were drinking poison. Even someone who knew nothing could see that this medicine was not something beneficial.
The Empress exhaled a sigh, laced with bitterness, and spoke.
“This is not a medicine to relieve pain, yet it seems you do not wish to use it either.”
“Y-Your Majesty, it is not like that.”
“Enough. There is no need to see more. I trusted you…”
The Empress’s expression was pained, though it was hard to tell whether it was physical or emotional anguish.
Finally, her command came.
“Immediately imprison this man. He will pay for this crime.”
“Your Majesty! No, please, I will use it!”
“Silence. What good does it do to not drag the sinner out?”
“See! I am using it, Your Majesty!”
The chief physician hastily poured the medicine into his eyes.
Perhaps because of his trembling hands—or to show the Empress—he poured almost recklessly. The liquid spilled down his cheeks, appearing like tears.
Guards approached and grabbed his arms, but he did not give up and crawled toward the Empress.
“Your Majesty, I have used it! Please, spare me!”
“Even if you use it now, what use is it? Your actions already explain everything.”
“No, that is not the case…”
“Bring the sinner out at once!”
At that moment, the chief physician glanced at Blanche, the head maid standing behind the Empress.
Then, with a desperate expression, he grabbed Blanche’s sleeve.
“Head Maid! You know… you know how much I’ve tried… Please, tell the Empress it was a misunderstanding!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Blanche, filled with surprise.
The chief physician looked at her, holding on to a glimmer of hope, but Blanche coldly brushed his hand away.
“What are you saying? I, too, regret trusting you and leaving the Empress in your hands.”
Blanche’s expression was merciless.
She even glared at him with contempt before turning her head sharply.
“Head Maid… how could you…”
The chief physician’s mouth hung open, shocked as if the person he had trusted had betrayed him.
“I-I…!”
Not knowing what to do, he rolled his eyes helplessly.
The Empress, seeing nothing more to consider, gave her order again.
“What are the guards waiting for? Drag him out immediately!”
“Your Majesty! No, please! Head Maid! Spare me, Head Maid!”
Even as his arms were bound and he was dragged away, the chief physician continued to call out to both the Empress and the head maid, thrashing about.
As his cries faded into the distance, the Empress let out a long sigh and closed her eyes.
“Blanche.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
There was an edge to the Empress’s voice as she called her. With eyes closed, she asked.
“Why did the chief physician seek your help?”
It was a simple question, but with weight behind it.
If Blanche continued to act suspiciously here, the Empress’s doubt would deepen.
“The chief physician’s role in treating Your Majesty was absolute. Therefore, I gave him certain conveniences.”
“Conveniences?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I ensured his position within the medical court was secure and allowed him to enter the Tishurit Palace without obstruction from the guards.”
Ordinarily, anyone entering a palace where royalty resided would have to be specially authorized or be royalty themselves; otherwise, guards would stop them. Even high-ranking nobles had to undergo inspection. So a simple physician entering without checks was a tremendous privilege.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I overstepped, allowing the chief physician to become arrogant. Please punish me.”
Blanche knelt before the Empress.
The Empress’s golden eyes grew complex as they looked down at her.
Yulion also observed Blanche with suspicion, but since she admitted her fault and sought forgiveness, there was little else to do.
Moreover, granting conveniences to a physician was not unusual, so it could not be held as a problem.
Finally, the Empress closed her eyes again and waved her hand.
“Very well. It was done for my sake. Just be careful in the future. There’s no guarantee there won’t be another chief physician like him.”
“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”
Blanche stood, overwhelmed with relief, and stepped back.
The Empress, perhaps from tension or worsening pain, rubbed her eyes and let out a groan.
“Mother!”
Yulion, who had been quietly observing, approached the Empress.
“You’ve overexerted yourself. I will conduct a thorough examination. Please rest.”
“Though I want to know the chief physician’s true intentions until the end… my body will not allow it.”
“I will investigate thoroughly and determine the fault. But first, you must be examined.”
At Yulion’s words, the Empress nodded slightly.
“Very well, Crown Princess. I’ll leave it to you.”
At last, the Empress could finally be examined.
I first instructed a maid to bring ice water and a clean cloth and placed my hands over the Empress’s eyelids.
They were feverishly hot, and her pulse was strong.
“Your Majesty, before falling ill, I heard you spent almost all your time inside the palace caring for the Emperor.”
“That’s correct. Even if I went out alone, I didn’t enjoy it. I just devoted myself to the Emperor and my duties.”
“How many times a week did you take walks, do you recall?”
The Empress furrowed her brow, recalling past memories.
“Walks… once… no, perhaps even less.”
“I see. I suspect Your Majesty has contracted Latvian Disease. It’s caused by insufficient exposure to light.”
“So… because I rarely went outside, I became like this?”
“Yes. It mainly occurs in the northern continent, where the polar night is common. In the sun-rich empire, it rarely occurs.”
The Empress let out a bitter laugh.
“Then, how is this Latvian Disease treated? I want to be free from this pain immediately.”
By now, the maid had returned with the items I requested. I soaked the cloth in ice water, wrung it out, and placed it over the Empress’s eyelids.
“Close your eyes, Your Majesty. For now, you must rest. Your eyes are overheated. And…”
I paused, considering how to explain so she would accept it with minimal resistance.
Treatment would inevitably involve pain, so the patient’s will was crucial.
I continued cautiously.
“Your eyes are severely damaged from the medicine prescribed by the chief physician. I will apply medicine to revive the dying nerves, and you must expose yourself to as much light as possible.”
“Expose myself to light? That will be unbearable.”
“It must be done. This disease cannot be cured by medicine alone.”
The Empress opened her eyes in surprise, then closed them again with a grimace.
“Is it really necessary?”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I will also prepare medicine to reduce your pain. But you cannot remain in darkness like now. Darkness is as deadly as poison for this disease.”
The Empress hesitated.
Latvian Disease was said to feel like having one’s eyes painfully gouged out. Many patients chose to stay in darkness, unable to endure the pain, even knowing it would lead to permanent blindness.
“Your Majesty, you can recover. Don’t you want to stand under the sun and feel the wind again?”
“…Of course I want to. But…”
“If you continue like this, you will go blind. Let’s start with small steps.”
Finally, the Empress spoke with a voice mixed with resignation.
“Very well. Blanche, draw the curtains slightly…”
And so, the Empress began her full-fledged battle against illness.
