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Sophie paused in surprise. “It’s already late. She hasn’t had breakfast yet?”
“Not just breakfast. She didn’t eat last night either,” Keith replied with a weary smile.
Quickly entering the palace, Sophie saw Victoria leaning against a soft cushion, her head wrapped in a yellow embroidered headband, looking weary and worn out. As net
Sophie approached and curtseyed, the queen dowager gave a faint, strained smile and patted the space next to her.
“No need for formalities. Why are you here at this time? Come to steal a moment of peace from me, have you? Have a seat.”
Sophie moved to sit, gently asking, “Are you feeling any better?”
“Much better.” Victoria sighed, her hand resting on her forehead. “I suppose age has caught up with me. A little cold, and now I’m all aches and pains. I’ve made all of you worry for nothing.”
“Your health and wellbeing are a blessing to us younger ones,” Sophie replied.
“I’ll take better care of myself, don’t worry,” Victoria reassured her.
Sophie glanced up at Keith, smiling as she said, “I left early this morning and haven’t had breakfast yet. I wonder if Serenity Palace has any leftovers left to fill my stomach?”
Keith immediately shook his head. “How could I allow you to settle for leftovers, Your Grace? Since Her Majesty hasn’t eaten yet, why not join her for a meal?”
Without waiting for a response, he excused himself and left the room.
Victoria usually had a light breakfast. Since she hadn’t eaten the night before, the cooks had already prepared a pot of simple porridge made with sweet potaton et and millet, along with a few savory side dishes. As Sophie was present, two plates of freshly steamed honeyed cakes with dried fruits were also served.
Sophie watched as the queen dowager took only a few bites of porridge and some side dishes before putting down her cutlery. She simply couldn’t eat more. A cup of herbal infusions was brought to her instead.
With a reassuring smile, Sophie said, “Raf has already gone to fetch Sebastian. Don’t worry too much.” Victoria blinked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “If Sebastian does his best and puts his heart into it, perhaps His Majesty can live a little longer.”
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t considered asking Sebastian herself, but what happened with Sigmund previously made her hesitant. She feared Sebastian might come, but out of reluctance. In that case, he wouldn’t give his full effort, and it would be pointless.
“If Sebastian is willing to enter the palace, he will surely do everything in his power,” Sophie said softly. Victoria’s gaze became distant, and soon, tears began to fall. “He can try his hardest, but even with all his effort, there may be no hope. Now, I only wish for His Majesty to live long enough to set things in order, to secure the future of the kingdom.”
Seeing her cry, Sophie couldn’t help but feel sorrow as well. She had once heard her mom speak of Victoria as a woman of great strength, someone who wouldn’t shed a tear even in the face of the greatest challenges. Tears from her were precious, and now, seeing them fall made everything feel heavier. Sophie didn’t know how to offer comfort. It seemed that what Victoria needed wasn’t soothing words, but quiet companionship. So, Sophie sat by her side in silence.
–
Meanwhile, Rafael had gone to Arcane Sanctum, where he found Sebastian already prepared. After Rafael and Sophie had been summoned to the palace, Jacob had gone ahead to inform Sebastian. So, he had been expecting the visit.
This time, Sebastian didn’t bring any of his apprentices but went alone with Rafael. Ivy and Rowan had tried to follow but were sternly ordered back.
As they traveled in the carriage, Rafael assured, “I will ensure your safety.”
Sebastian was inspecting his medical supplies. Without looking up, he replied casually, “It doesn’t matter. If my head is to fall, it’s my own choice.”
“It won’t come to that,” Rafael insisted firmly. “Since I’m escorting you to the palace, I will make sure you return safely.”
Sebastian closed the medical chest with a click, locking it securely. He leaned back against the plush seat, his gaze dark and distant, lost in thought. For a long while, he didn’t speak, and when he finally did, his voice was low, reflective.
“His name was Jonah Claude,” Sebastian began, his eyes unfocused. “At three, he could recite the medicinal rhymes. By five, he knew every herb by name. By sixteen, he had already mastered his craft, and by twenty-five, he was renowned across the land.
“Though there are others who hold the title of Miracle Healer, including me, Jonah was the true Miracle Healer.”
Rafael sat up straighter, his expression serious, quietly listening.
“Physicians are supposed to be compassionate, treating all who come to them without prejudice, be it beggars or nobles. Jonah did just that. If a patient couldn’t afford the fee, he’d still offer his medicine at no charge. That’s why he was always poor.
“In his most destitute year, he had to pawn his winter coat. I scolded him for it, but he just grinned and said it didn’t matter how poor or miserable he was. The more he saw, the more he learned. It was all part of his journey.
“There were actually many ways he could have made money. When nobles came to him for treatment, he could’ve taken advantage and charged exorbitant fees. But he didn’t. He always said the prices were fixed, and he couldn’t bring himself to overcharge.
“For patients who couldn’t afford the cost of medicine, he refused to turn them away, even if it meant his own suffering. He couldn’t bear the thought of watching someone die simply because they were poor.” Sebastian’s voice faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained control, continuing, “When King Sigmund called him to the palace for treatment, I was in Yorandia gathering herbs to make Snowdrop Pills.
“By the time I returned to the capital and went to see him, his medical establishment had been destroyed The sign was shattered and had been trampled by others. King Sigmund called him a quack, so no one dared to speak his name after that. Slowly, the world forgot about him.”
Sebastian lifted his gaze, his eyes bloodshot and filled with a quiet fury. “This time, I’m going to the palace with a purpose. I intend to clear his name. Jonah Claude was a Miracle Healer, not a quack.”
Rafael felt a wave of guilt wash over him as he listened.
When Sigmund passed away, Rafael had been too young to fully comprehend the situation. He remembered meeting Jonah once but his memory of him wasn’t very clear The only thing he remembered was that the man had been very thin and wore a faded blue cloak with several patches.
This impression stuck with him because Helen had privately muttered, “What kind of renowned doctor wears patched clothes?”
It was only much later that he learned Jonah had been executed.
“I will speak to His Majesty. I’ll convince him to clear Mr. Claude’s name,” the prince said softly.
“Don’t bother,” Sebastian replied coldly. “As I said, Jonah treated
I every illness, regardless of who came to him. To gain more experience, he even treated many cases of lung disease. The methods I use to treat such condition@are his. If the king refuses to clear his name, I won’t use that method.”
Rafael felt both excited and conflicted.
If there was a prescription, even if it couldn’t cure the illness, it might at least extend the king’s life for a while. What made it complicated was that Sigmund had killed Jonah, and now Salvador needed his treatment method to survive.
It was a cycle of cause and effect, but the true victim of it was only Jonah.
Inside Salvador’s residence, Dawnspire Palace, Desmond and Robert stood silently to the side. Meanwhile, Rafael and Derek remained at the king’s bedside, waiting as Sebastian examined him. After a long moment, Sebastian withdrew his hand and asked for the previous examination records and prescriptions.
Robert immediately retrieved them and handed them over with great respect. “Here, Mr. Dalton, please have a look.”
Though Sebastian held the title of Miracle Healer and should have been called Healer Dalton, barely anyone dared to use that term of address after the Royal Medical Department had previously been purged of all Miracle Healers.
Sebastian accepted the records, flipping through them page by page. The room was so silent that even the faintest sound of turning parchment seemed deafening.
Everyone held their breath. This was their last hope. If even Sebastian said Salvador only had three months left, then that would be the final word.
Salvador appeared calm, but his eyes were slightly narrowed and his palms were damp with sweat. He was waiting for his sentence.
After carefully examining every detail, Sebastian looked up and stated, “The records indicate that His Majesty has suffered pain for over a month, is unable to sleep at night, and has lost his appetite.”
It was a simple observation-nothing more than what was already written in the records. The others nodded in confirmation, but what they truly wanted to hear was whether he had a solution.