Chapter 147

[ 1,366 words ]

Ivy’s Point of View

I was inside my private office, and I just finished checking the papers for our new Azure Pharmacy branch in the Lilypine Pack territory. I had just finished measuring a batch of dried Cent-lily roots when the door opened.

Ophelia stepped inside. “Physician Lin,” she called quietly.

I looked up from my papers. “What happened?”

She closed the door behind her before walking toward my desk. “The same woman who came yesterday when we were about closing, just came to the pharmacy. She wants to pay ten thousand gold coins to have the divine doctor visit someone privately.”

“Ten thousand?” I asked.

“Yes,” Ophelia replied. “She said she is willing to pay the entire amount immediately if you agree to visit her patient.”

“What kind of patient needs ten thousand gold coins just for a house visit?” Dominic asked.

Ophelia shook her head. “She did not give me much information. She only said the patient is a young man wearing a mask, and he needs a doctor.”

Wearing a mask? Dominic and I exchanged a look. My suspicion immediately returned to the one person we had been searching for since leaving the Kingdom of Howling Ashes. Boran.

“Did she tell you the patient’s name?” I asked.

“No, Physician Lin. She refused to give me his name and said she would only discuss his condition with the doctor directly.”

Dominic slowly walked toward my desk. “That is suspicious.” He lowered his voice. “It could be who we’re searching for.”

“That is what I am thinking too.” I said

Boran had escaped from the Kingdom of Howling Ashes and crossed toward Evernight. We had been searching for him around the border, but he had managed to disappear without leaving a clear trail. Now, a woman had suddenly appeared at our pharmacy, offering ten thousand gold coins for a physician to treat a mysterious masked man. It was too convenient.

“Tell her Physician Lin accepts the request,” I said.

Ophelia looked surprised. “Are you certain?”

“Yes. Tell her to return tomorrow and take us to the patient.” I said. She nodded and left.

The moment the door closed behind her, Dominic came to stand in front of me. “If that patient is Boran, walking into his hiding place could be dangerous. He may have guards surrounding him. We need to be extra careful.”

The Next Morning:

Ophelia came to my office again before the pharmacy became busy. “Physician Lin, the woman from yesterday is here.”

Dominic and I immediately looked at each other. “So soon?” I asked.

“She said the patient’s condition became worse during the night and she wants you to come immediately.”

I stood up. “Let her wait for us.”

We quickly changed into men’s clothing and covered our faces with our masks. I adjusted my clothes carefully, making sure there was nothing about my appearance that could reveal my true identity. Dominic did the same.

A few minutes later, Gigi was waiting for us outside the pharmacy. “Physician Lin,” she said anxiously. “Thank you for agreeing to come.”

“You offered ten thousand gold coins for my visit,” I replied. “You should understand that I need to know what I am walking into.”

She hesitated, and glanced around before lowering her voice. “He is a young man who has been suffering from a strange illness. His condition keeps getting worse, and ordinary medicine is no longer helping him.”

Gigi quickly turned and began walking. “Please follow me. We are already wasting time.”

We followed her through several narrow roads until we reached a hidden courtyard surrounded by tall stone walls. The moment we entered, I knew we had been right to remain cautious.

There were warriors everywhere. Some stood near the entrance, while others were hidden beneath the shadows of the surrounding buildings. Their clothes made them look like ordinary guards, but their movements were too disciplined.

Gigi led us through another gate and into a smaller courtyard where several armed men immediately looked at us.

One of them stepped forward. “They are the physicians?”

“Yes,” Gigi answered.

The guard moved aside. We entered the inner room. A man was lying on a large bed near the window. His face was completely covered by a mask, and several blankets had been placed over his body. His breathing was rough.

“Physician Lin is here,” Gigi announced.

The masked man slowly turned his head toward me. “Come closer.”

I walked toward the bed. “I need to examine your face.” I told him.

The man immediately refused. “No.”

I stopped. “I cannot properly examine you if you keep your face covered.”

“You can check my pulse.” He insisted.

“I can, but that will not tell me everything I need to know.” I told him.

“I don’t want anyone seeing my face.” He was stubborn, but I won’t back down.

“That is your choice,” I replied calmly. “But if you want me to treat you, I need to examine you properly. I am not going to guess what is wrong with your body.”

The man remained silent. I crossed my arms. “If you refuse, we can leave.”

He looked toward Gigi. She quickly stepped between us. “Please cooperate with him.”

The man slowly raised his hand. His fingers trembled as he reached for the mask, he unfastened it and pulled it away from his face. The moment I saw him, I remained still. Dominic was standing behind me, he did not say a single word, but his entire expression changed.

His eyes met mine, and that was enough to tell me that this man was actually Boran. We had finally found him. The escaped prince was lying directly in front of us, too sick to realize that the physicians he had invited into his hiding place were the very people who had been hunting him.

I kept my expression calm. I could not let him know that we recognized him. I stepped closer to the bed. “Lie still.”

Boran watched me suspiciously. I placed two fingers against his wrist and began examining his condition. I pressed gently against one area.

Boran immediately clenched his teeth. So I asked him, “does it hurts there?”

“Yes.” He responded.

I examined him for several more moments before finally pulling my hand away. “This is not a minor illness.”

Gigi frowned. “What do you mean?”

I looked at her. “His condition is dangerous. The damage has already affected his internal channels.”

“Then treat him.” Gigi said.

I closed my medical case. “There is one problem. The problem is price.”

Gigi stared at me. “You agreed to ten thousand gold coins. Then why are you changing the price now?”

“Because I have examined the patient.” I looked directly at her. “This is not a simple fever or infection. He is suffering from Blood-Rot Disease, a dangerous condition that is damaging his internal channels and causing the poisoned areas of his body to break down. Very few physicians can treat it successfully.”

Gigi’s face went pale. “How much do you want?”

“Twenty thousand gold coins.” I said.

“Twenty thousand?” She immediately stood up. “That is twice what we agreed on. You cannot suddenly double your price just because the illness is more serious than you expected.”

I remained calm. “You invited me because you believed I was capable of treating difficult patients. Now you know exactly how difficult this patient is.”

Gigi shook her head angrily. “Ten thousand was already an enormous amount. We could find another doctor for less.”

I nodded. “Then you should.” I turned away from her. “If you think my price is too high, replace me with another physician.”

Dominic immediately understood. “Should I pack our things?”

“Yes.” I replied, and we turned toward the door. We had barely taken a few steps when Boran suddenly spoke. “Wait.”

I stopped but did not turn around immediately. His voice sounded weaker than before. “I agree.”

Gigi turned toward him. “Are you se—”

“Pay him the twenty thousand gold coins.” Boran interrupted her.

I slowly turned back. Boran was staring at me. “I need treatment.”

A small smile formed on my lips beneath my mask. “Very well.”

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