"Is one gold coin per month enough?" Rion asked when Odette didn't give any response.
"What?"
Rion glanced at the woman next to him, because her mouth had been gaping ever since. Was she a very poor person in the world? But she had once told him proudly that she had a job and her salary was enough to support her life.
"Is it still not enough?"
"What?"
Rion finally turned his head to look at the young woman with furrowed brows.
"If you keep your mouth open like that, your mouth will be filled with flies," he said, which made Odette immediately cover her mouth, and turn her face away from Rion. Why did she always do embarrassing things?
"So?" Rion was waiting for an answer.
Odette cleared her throat then turned back to look at Rion. The salary of one gold coin was huge, but on second thought, it was worth the risk Odette had to face. She could lose her life in this job.
She recalled Lucifer strangling her.
She was still thinking, and made Rion wait a long time for the answer. When she thought of Lucifer, a little fear haunted Odette. It made her feel hesitant to accept the job as Rion's personal doctor, but she soon realized her duty as a doctor.
She couldn't possibly ignore someone who needed her help just because she was afraid to die.
"Okay, one gold coin," she agreed.
After hearing Odette's answer, Rion took a scroll from the drawer while Odette just watched the man unroll the scroll and write something on it. After a while, Rion gave the pen and parchment to Odette.
"Since you have nothing to guarantee, I want you to make a statement that you are willing to be my personal doctor for three months," he explained.
Odette looked at the parchment and immediately understood that it was an affidavit of employment agreement. Odette's eyes glint on the terms of the agreement.
Odette must not divulge any information to other people about the state of the king, if Odette violated the applicable conditions, then Odette would be sentenced a punishment to have her tongue cut off.
Odette gulped while reading that. Instead of being called a work agreement letter, it was more suitable to be called a threat letter.
"Why three months?" Odette frowned when she saw the timeframe written by Rion.
"Why? Can't you cure me in three months?"
Odette took a deep breath and explained that DID was chronic, so it would take a long time to treat it. A patient couldn't recover quickly like someone recovering from a fever.
"Well, consider this three-month period as a probationary period. If my condition improves after undergoing your treatment, I will extend it."
After hearing that, Odette started writing the statement that she agreed to be Rion's personal doctor for three months with a salary of one gold coin each month.
Odette had a hard time writing with a quill, and she noticed the parchment she was writing on was made of leather.
"Your handwriting is so bad," Rion commented when he saw Odette's barely legible handwriting.
Odette clicked her tongue and showed an annoyed expression on her face. After writing down her statement, she gave the parchment to Rion and the king stamped it as a sign of validity.
Odette stared at Rion, who was putting all the stationery back into the drawer, then remembered the conditions given by Rion in the agreement letter. Rion just wanted Odette not to tell anyone about his situation. Odette could understand that because Rion was a king, Odette really had to be careful, one little bit of her life was at stake.
"You can cash it when we go to the capital," said Rion, handing Odette a check.
"Salary up front? Aren't you afraid I'll run away with this money? It's not written in the agreement that I have to pay a fine or be punished if I run away before the probation period is over."
"You can try. If you can escape from me, you will make history."
From Rion's words, Odette could immediately understand that no one could ever escape from him.
This man was terrible.
"You can leave now."
Odette took the check on the desk then stood up to leave but as she turned Rion said "I'll pretend I don't remember that you tried to peek into my room."
It made Odette surprised and embarrassed at the same time. She glanced at Rion sharply then looked away in annoyance. When she opened the door and was about to walk towards her room, she was startled by Anwen and Trish who were standing at the end, staring at her. The two of them had seen Odette come out of the king's room.
The two of them would definitely ask Odette about what Odette was doing in the king's room.
"Miss Ody, what were you doing in my brother's room?"
Just as Odette had guessed. Anwen immediately asked when Odette went near her with Trish, although he didn't say anything, but his gaze clearly showed that he also wanted to know what Odette was doing in the king's room.
Odette showed her the check that Rion had given her.
"A check?" Anwen had a confused expression.
"Rion and I just made a deal," Odette explained.
"What deal?" This time, it was Trish who asked. Odette wanted to explain but Anwen stopped her. Anwen said there was no need to tell Trish anything, because Trish didn't want to tell them anything either.
After saying that, Anwen immediately pulled Odette away from Trish.
***
"Is that true?!" Anwen looked at Odette in disbelief after hearing that her brother asked Odette to be his personal doctor. At first, she was worried because her brother didn't want to be treated at all.
Anwen looked very happy, but she suddenly fell silent when Odette asked about her relationship with Rion. After knowing Rion's condition, Anwen was still hurt. So, she shook her head.
Odette explained that Anwen would also play a role in Rion's recovery. Those who had DID desperately needed support from those around them. They should not be stressed and feel pressured, because that would make their alter appear more often.
Odette knew that Rion's mind was quite heavy when she remembered his relationship with Anwen.
"Anwen, make up with your brother. He will definitely be very happy."
"I want to do this too but…"
"But?"
"I don't know where to start and how to talk to my brother." Anwen scratched the back of her head.
Odette didn't think that Anwen would bother with it, but it was understandable. After six years of not talking to each other, of course they would feel awkward if they wanted to start a conversation.
Odette thought that after the trip from Verde Village to Green Castle, the relationship between the siblings would return to normal, but it wasn't as easy as Odette thought. Anwen said when they rode the horse, she and Rion didn't talk to each other at all.
"I will help you," said Odette, who was greeted with joy by Anwen.
Anwen hugged Odette and said, "Thank you, sis. Sister-in-law."
"Huh?!" Odette's eyes opened wide when she heard Anwen call her sister-in-law.
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From the author:
It's so nice to get approval from your future sister-in-law XD