“Is Her Majesty the Empress’ disease being treated well?”
“Hmm. Are you referring to Her Majesty’s eye disease?”
The chief physician stroked his beard a few times and chuckled awkwardly.
“Your Highness, it is natural that you are concerned about the Empress. However, her eye disease is not the type that can be cured.”
“You mean it is an incurable disease?”
“It would be more accurate to say it’s a naturally occurring disease due to aging.”
“Then why don’t others get the same disease as Her Majesty the Empress?”
“It’s quite impressive to see that Your Highness has quite an interest in medical matters. It’s a complex field, and it’s not uncommon for people to have misconceptions about diseases caused by aging. However, it’s important to note that these types of diseases can vary from person to person, and it takes a skilled medical professional to properly diagnose and treat them.”
“That’s interesting. I once saw someone with the same symptoms as Her Majesty, but it was a child only seven years old. Was that child also suffering because of aging?”
“Well… that…”
My unexpected question seemed to catch the chief physician off guard. He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
In the meantime, Zenid had brought the tray with tea and placed the cups on the table.
The fragrant scent of jasmine tea filled the air, and I slowly picked up the teacup.
The chief physician also took a long sip of tea to clear his throat, then let out a soft sigh.
“Your Highness, that was probably a different disease. As a medical practitioner, I cannot provide a definite answer since I didn’t personally examine the child, but surely it’s unlikely for such a young child to have a disease caused by aging.”
“Indeed. However, the symptoms were the same as Her Majesty’s.”
“…It must have been different. After all, Your Highness, you are not a certified medical practitioner, and it’s important to rely on the expertise of trained professionals when it comes to matters of health.”
The chief physician took another sip of tea.
Watching his Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallowed, I took a sip as well.
“So, Her Majesty the Empress’ eye disease is indeed a result of aging, and currently, there is no known cure for such conditions. However, the medicine that you formulated could potentially be the best option for managing the symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The chief physician nodded, as if we were finally understanding each other.
I smiled lightly and stood up from my seat.
“Alright then. Please take good care of Her Majesty the Empress in the future as well.”
I turned and left the chief physician’s office.
Now, my work is done.
All that was left was to wait..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A few days later, a small rumor began circulating within the palace.
“Did you hear that? About the chief physician…….”
“Are you going to see the chief physician now, Arthur? The chief physician is…….”
“Do you know why the chief physician has been keeping a low profile these days?”
“They say he replaced the curtains in his office with light-blocking ones.”
The small rumor grew and spread beyond the confines of the palace infirmary to the Crown Prince’s palace, Garnet Palace, and even to Tishrit Palace where the Empress resided.
“What do you mean, the chief physician is suffering from the same disease as mine?”
“It seems that way. Perhaps that’s why he hasn’t come to personally examine Her Majesty recently…”
“Why would even the chief physician…”
“It seems that ominous rumors have started circulating in the palace, Your Majesty.”
“Rumors?”
The head maid Blanche dropped to her knees as if in distress, her forehead touching the ground.
“How dare they suggest that the Empress’ eye disease is contagious……!”
Looking down at Blanche’s trembling back, the Empress let out a deep sigh.
The chief physician said it was just simply a disease caused by aging.
Her eye disease appeared about a year ago.
During that time, no one else had fallen ill.
No one else exhibited similar symptoms.
Thus, they steadfastly believed that it was just an ordinary disease without any contagious nature, akin to a solid rock.
Even though some nobles, who were even older and frailer than the Empress, remained perfectly healthy, the Chief physician had said that diseases caused by aging manifest differently in each person.
“Your Majesty, I absolutely refuse to believe such baseless rumors. You are the Moon of the Empire, our beloved Empress. There is no way you could be afflicted with such a disease!”
“……Blanche.”
“It’s true that there’s an air of unease among the people in the palace… But I’m also considering that retreating to seclusion might be one way to handle this before it becomes a bigger problem.”
Seclusion.
A person who withdraws from public affairs for various reasons, such as serious disease or training that led someone to withdraw from courtly duties and close the palace gates, cutting off all external activities.
If one becomes secluded due to a disease, it typically continues until death, and especially if the disease was contagious, one would remain secluded for the rest of their life, avoiding contact with anyone else.
“I blame my inadequacies for allowing such a dire situation to arise. And for you, Your Majesty…”
Tears welled up in the Empress’ golden eyes.
She reached out and held the Emperor’s hand, lying on his sickbed.
Their passionate love hadn’t been the result of a romantic courtship, but over the years of their marriage, her feelings for him had deepened.
She thought they had a calm and uneventful life.
But when and from where did everything start to crumble like this?
“How futile it all is.”
The Empress lamented, her voice dripping with regret, but then she shut her mouth and shook her head firmly.
“Keep the rumors under tight control, lest they leak out of the palace. And as quickly as possible… prepare for seclusion. I will be with His Majesty.”
There was a tremor in the empress’ voice that she couldn’t hide.
It had been several years since the Emperor had fallen, and there was no hope of recovery, according to the chief physician.
Now, she had to make a choice as the Empress of the Empire.
A choice not driven by her personal desires, but for the sake of the Empire’s stability.
