episode_0169

Tia knew exactly what was needed in this unprepared treatment room. When the people of Breezedon had driven her out to the warehouse, telling her to simultaneously make medicine and manage the inventory, she had made medicine even in that cold, empty space.

Recalling that bitter experience, she began to transform the treatment room step by step.

First, she instructed the maids to bring anything that could be used as ‘cloth’. Soon, awnings, carpets, and tablecloths arrived one after another.

Tia explained.

“Cut the long cloths to completely cover the children’s bodies, and lay the remaining cloths thickly on the floor to block the cold from rising.”

Next, she placed a brazier in each corner of the room. She put water on them to boil, then dissolved finely ground herbs into the water, allowing a subtle aroma to fill the air.

In the soft and cozy atmosphere, the children soon calmed down and stopped crying.

This was merely a preliminary measure. She had only managed to turn the treatment room, which was little more than a dirty cowshed, into a ‘room where patients could be stabilized’.

Now, Tia diagnosed what was making the children sick. Generally, they were profusely sweating, complaining of abdominal pain, and frequently having diarrhea. When she asked when and where they had eaten something, they said all they did was play by the stream with other children that morning.

Hearing that, she reached a cautious conclusion.

“…The symptoms are similar to ‘plague’.”

It was a disease that wouldn’t occur in a mountain village with clean air and clear water like Breezedon, but it was often common in other villages.

“It would be good to have medical books.”

But there were no books here to reference.

There was nothing she could do. Tia took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and opened a book in her mind.

*Rustle*.

The books she had read in the Breezedon pharmacy. All the numerous contents and detailed explanations written in them came to mind. The words were preserved in Tia’s memory as if they were a copied manuscript.

Tia had always possessed an excellent memory, but she had read this book over a hundred times to save me, so she had memorized every single word without a single mistake.

“……”

She turned the pages of the imaginary book and found a medicine that could counter the ‘plague’.

Tia opened her eyes and said.

“Please boil water. Very clean water, as much as possible.”

Then she ordered various medicinal ingredients. As soon as the servants frantically brought the ingredients, she dissolved them in hot water to create a pale medicine.

“Give this medicine to everyone. Just one cup. I’ll keep track of the time, so give it to them once I tell you.”

The children disliked the bitter taste, but Tia and the servants continued to give them the medicine according to schedule.

After a full day passed like that.

The castle of Goldburg became noisy. The lord, who had briefly left for a neighboring village, had returned to the castle.

The first news the lord heard upon his arrival was that many children had fallen ill with an unknown disease.

From a noble’s perspective, a few commoner children getting sick might not have been a big deal. However, the Lord of Goldburg was furious that such an unfortunate incident had occurred in ‘his own territory’.

While it was a problem that the sons and daughters of his cherished villagers were ill, if a serious infectious disease were spreading, it could potentially halt trade in this town, where many merchants came and went, posing a serious problem.

When the startled lord rushed to the treatment room and flung the door open.

What he saw was a scene entirely different from the worst he had imagined.

Children sleeping soundly in a cozy room that felt almost a little warm.

And a red-haired girl benevolently watching over them.

“What… what happened?”

So flustered, the lord asked in bewilderment.

But Tia glanced at him, then simply brought her index finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.

“……”

He dared not even shout that she was disrespectful.

Tia’s appearance was that beautiful. She seemed divine.

The lord, who had quietly closed the door and come out without realizing it, stood there with a dazed expression for a long time, as if he had glimpsed the presence of a saintess.

* * *

The next day, the situation calmed down.

The children quickly regained their vitality and no longer whimpered.

Parents, having heard the news that their children were fully recovered, came to the castle.

“Oh my! My son—!”

“Thank you! My Lord! Thank you so much!”

They gave endless praise to the lord as they took their children.

While the ‘plague’ commotion ended safely, Tia could not return home. This was because another commotion immediately followed.

“…What did you say?”

The castle was turned upside down when it was revealed that Tia, who had been giving instructions to the castle servants and treating the children, was in fact not a ‘doctor’ but a commoner with an unclear identity.

In a way, servants were akin to the lord’s property, so it was as if some girl had suddenly appeared and used them as she pleased without permission.

Not only that, but she had also taken all the carpets, tablecloths, and tapestries to create the treatment room, leading to the issue of unauthorized appropriation and damage to the lord’s property.

The servants said they had firmly believed Tia was a doctor passing through Goldburg by chance, simply because her instructions were so precise and professional. If that were true, Tia also faced the problem of impersonating a doctor.

“Hmm…”

For the lord, who always had to mete out appropriate punishment, this was an even bigger headache. If all these issues were recognized as crimes, Tia would have to face a punishment close to execution.

However, the lord had already made his decision in his heart.

“Enough. I will no longer question that woman’s crimes. After all, wasn’t it resolved favorably?”

“But too many items were damaged. To uphold your dignity, wouldn’t it be better to impose at least a minimal penalty?”

“Hmph. If I had failed to repel the sickness, that would have been a greater blow to my dignity.”

He lightly dismissed his vassal’s words and told Tia, who was sitting like a criminal, to raise her head.

“Who are you and where do you live?”

“I am Tia, living in a small house near the East Gate.”

“You seem young. But hearing the servants’ words, your medical skills appear quite excellent. Where did you learn them?”

Tia lowered her head and replied.

“My friend… was an excellent pharmacist. I merely learned a little from him.”

“Is that so? You have a very good friend.”

“…Yes.”

“As it happens, I am in need of a doctor. I will offer good treatment, so can you write a letter to your friend and bring him here? You two can even live together.”

“My Lord. I am truly grateful for your words, but…”

As if trying to swallow the rising sorrow, Tia clenched her teeth.

“That friend… is no longer of this world.”

“Oh. My condolences.”

The lord did not inquire further.

He gestured to a nearby vassal to bring something, and soon, a thick document was presented.

Tia knew what it was.

It was identical to the document the tax collector had carried when he visited before.

The lord, flipping through the pages, looked at the text on the document, then glanced at Tia with a suspicious gaze.

“You said your name was ‘Tia’?”

“Yes.”

“Fosao Modaless. One woman cohabiting with him, Tia, tax of 400 Gold. The deadline is… tomorrow.”

“……”

“Explain what this is about, Mohaim.”

The tax collector standing nearby replied.

“Yes. Fosao Modaless moved in mid-February but failed to report within one week. He has also been living idly without any occupation until now, and we have secured numerous testimonies stating that he frequently visits gambling dens, so we have applied the punishment for idleness as per your special command.”

“Is this true?”

She couldn’t bring herself to refute it.

Because it was all true.

“…Yes.”

“Hmm.”

“However, there were unavoidable circumstances, My Lord. I earnestly beg you to listen.”

“Speak.”

Tia began to tell the story of what happened after they moved to Goldburg.

She explained that although Fosao had diligently looked for work, things hadn’t gone as planned. So Tia had taken over earning the meager living expenses, and having gained everyone’s recognition, she had even become a teacher.

“You contributed so diligently, yet this Fosao fellow was just gambling all that time?”

“It’s because of me. His health isn’t good, and the more diligently I worked, the more pressure he felt from those around him. He couldn’t overcome that frustration, so I think he turned to gambling.”

It was a tearful defense.

Everyone was condemning Fosao with their gazes, but only Tia defended him, not blaming him.

The lord had seen such cases countless times while governing Goldburg. Every year, one or two women would come to the castle, lamenting their plight and claiming they couldn’t live because of their husbands. He had encountered it so often that he even had a book detailing how to rule on such matters.

But a woman defending a worthless man with no abilities?

It was something he had never seen in his life.

The lord asked.

“What is your relationship with Fosao Modaless?”

“We have no relationship yet, but…”

Tia replied calmly.

“…I will soon be his wife.”

“Hmph. He’s a fortunate young man.”

The lord, who had not yet met Fosao, seemed to think he was a handsome young man. It was only natural to assume so, given that he could captivate such a young, beautiful, and devoted woman.

The lord pondered for a moment.

He picked up a quill and dipped it deeply into the ink.

*Scratch scratch*.

Then he crossed out the word ‘Gold’ written on the document and rewrote it as ‘Copper’.

“Come to the castle tomorrow and pay 400 copper coins.”

“…What?”

Tia looked up in surprise.

400 Copper coins were worth 40 Silver coins.

A tax of less than 1 Gold coin had been levied.

The lord commanded in a solemn voice.

“Mohaim, acknowledge this and rectify it.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“And Graham.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

“Take Fosao to the market tomorrow and give him a decent job. If anyone asks, tell them I have given him my trust.”

“Yes! I will follow your command.”

Everything happened so suddenly and quickly.

Not just smoothly, but remarkably extravagant benefits poured down. The lord’s vassals replied loudly and began to move busily to follow his instructions.

Tia, stunned speechless, couldn’t utter a word.

“M-my Lord, thank you, but… isn’t this… too much?”

“No. It is well-deserved.”

He said it as if it were no big deal.

“I always repay those who bring glory to my land, and more. The talent you displayed today was certainly worth that much.”

This was the value the lord of this land placed on Tia.

“Welcome as a resident of Goldburg, Tia.”