Chapter 63: Queen Conney's Arrival
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The Royal Guards with the lead of General Fischer started inviting 5 people inside the reception hall, who had arranged on the floor some thick blankets where they had to lay on the floor. They didn't doubt the guard's intentions and settled down watching around themselves, stopping at the various buckets of steaming water, or trays of charcoal, even the ropes made them formulate questions in their minds as the wait continued.
"You all will be alright in a couple of minutes. I promise you, on my honor." added Fischer to the ones resting on the floor, while later on walking toward the partners or companions of the sickly, mentioning in an assuring tone.
"I know that what you'll see us doing to your dear ones might feel outrageous, but trust me, it's for their own good. Let our actions speak to you and the sickly. Why I am telling you this, is because I don't want us to get distracted in pacifying you."
"Lord Fischer … you don't sound so confident." added a sickly man in his middle-aged, coughing a bit.
"Never done this before, but I trust the expertise of the doctor who has successfully operated on two men already without them losing their lives. What you guys will have to endure is nothing much compared to what's behind those curtains."
"Ahh, I have no problem, General. Just heal me so I can continue watching as my little girls grow up, so I can see them marry and have children, my grandsons. This is my only hope to stay alive, unlike those old fuckers who have their pockets full of money and can't be bothered to treat us."
Fischer nods his head, observing the companions of the sickly to still have worried expressions, but without an alternative left on their hands, they agree, taking in the hand of the Devil.
The soldier getting their silent blessings, walked to the middle-aged man who spoke his mind, and crouching down to look at the tools required for the operation, he started murmuring to himself, trying to fully remember what Vlad told him.
"Pst, Cohm, come here for a bit."
"Sir?" asked Cohm who walked toward Fischer while the man continued to mumble.
"Do you remember what the doctor said? How to begin the treatment?"
"... He said to first ask the people on which leg they got bitten. I think so."
What they didn't know as they were discussing the procedure, was that someone was watching them from the air listening to their conversation, and seeing how uncertain they were, she confirmed for them.
"That is correct, you should check on the patient first. Then, you'll place under the leg some towels to sock in the water which will warm up the leg, opening up the spores in the body."
"A ghost? Who is speaking?" asked Fischer confused, only to feel something land on his silver-gray hair, followed by a slap on his forehead from above.
"I am Vlad's companion. Don't freak out … Haven't you heard of Fairies?"
"Hmm, I thought those were only children's stories. Anyway, Young Miss, can you help us with this treatment?"
"Obviously. This is why I am even here, because Vlad was expecting you to get in trouble and assigned me to be your supervisor."
"Ahh, I think I feel very relaxed now." commented the middle-aged man, who began listening to Titania's words, which reminded him of what Vlad told him initially.
"So checking on the patient is the important part?"
"Indeed, otherwise if you boil both legs for no reason it would only bring unnecessary pain for the patient."
Without further waiting, Fischer took the charge of this treatment ordeal, while the other 4 officers of his were observing quietly so they would disturb his concentration.
"Man, I will take you slowly, by asking you where you felt your leg hurting when you were climbing the mountain to pass to the rest of the regions."
"Mhmm, it's been about one month, but I will never forget that stinging pain. It happened in my right leg." replied the sickly man, who was certain in his response.
"Okay, I understand. Then … should I start, young miss?"
"Wait a minute. There's one more thing I want to tell this person." mentioned Titania, who flies toward the face of the sickly man, making her existence being known by the man.
"So the woman's voice I've been hearing belongs to you. *Cough* Nice to meet you, young miss."
"Sure. I want to warn you before the operation starts, but you'll feel a lot of pain that maybe you, a normal person might have never experienced. This is why I want you to get a towel in your mouth, and when the pains come grit your teeth, so you wouldn't cry out."
"Is this really necessary, young lady?" asked Fischer, who heard Titania's warning tone.
"If you don't want to worry the people outside, I suggest that everyone being treated will do as I tell."
"Young miss, I think you are looking down on me. I doubt this pain will be worse than the frostbites I've suffered for so many years of traversing the Yehimal.
"Take a towel close to your head, and once you realize how painful it will be. Please, clench your teeth on it, so you kill some of the pain."
"Understood." agreed the sickly man, who received from Nels a towel that he later on positioned on his chest.
Titania knew what she was speaking, having a different style compared to Vlad, being in her own right a meticulous girl who liked to do things step by step.
She was a gentle and careful girl that wouldn't bear to see people suffering for no reason, unlike Vlad who would simply take in a cup of boiling water and pour it on the legs of the sickly like they were worth nothing in his eyes.
Emotionless and with a sinister psychology about his acts, as if he was the biggest tortioner in the World.
Having received the warning from Titania, the middle-aged man whose treatment began didn't find anything impressive pain-wise, since Fischer tied down the ropes on his leg, numbing it in the process from the stopped blood flow. Yet, when the cups of boiling water started pouring, he opened his eyes, getting goggled, releasing the first scream of pain.
"Grab the towel in your mouth and stop screaming. It will affect those waiting to be treated."
"Arghh, I understand now, young miss." replied the one called Aril, who quickly took the towel from his chest and placed it in his mouth to grit his teeth on it, stuffing the excruciating pain.
In this manner, the kind-hearted Fairy diminished the impact the screams of the patient would have on those waiting or the partners of the sickly people waiting for their dear ones, allowing them to be at peace that the people trying to heal their husbands, fathers or friends, weren't trying to harm them on purpose.
Fischer who began the treatment procedure, couldn't help but explain to the sickly ones what he was doing, and in doing so reinforced the information he received from Vlad, besides getting Titania to give extra details on certain aspects she understood better.
Overall, in about 15 minutes even though the first patient under the general suffered plenty, he was shown the being which infected him causing the sickness, an ugly and bloody worm constantly clashing with the glass jar and shrieking in a primal way.
"Guys, have you watched properly? This is how you extract the worm from the sick. We might not have the professional tools the doctor has, but using those chopsticks we can catch them easily. Remember, the doctor requires those worms alive, so don't kill them."
"It's okay if there are some of them dying from accidents. As long as the patient is safe." remarked Titania, telling them to not take Vlad so seriously when he requested them to have all the worms alive.
"Roger! We will begin immediately."
Catching some courage in doing a foreign job for them belonging to the medical path, the officers under Fischer also started their treatment on the sickly, with their superior watching them and assisting them as he wanted to wait and work in the same work rate like the rest.
Yet, Cohm and Nels turned their heads at their General, telling him with annoyance, finding him annoying as he was all worried so they wouldn't fuck up.
"Sir, this isn't so complicated. Stop breathing behind my neck so much, it's creepy. The people watching would think you are some person interested in men."
"Bullshit! I have a wife and even a little boy. I just want to make sure you don't screw up."
"There's no need to. Go relax for a few minutes if you want to wait for us." replied Cohm, who was fully focused on the treatment.
It didn't take long for the first batch of patients to be treated, people who showed signs of recovery immediately, with the one called Aril already being on his feet, as if nothing ever happened, beside the right leg that was wrapped in bandages. Meanwhile, the rest of the sickly ones who were treated by the officers were made to wait 5 minutes by Titania.
"Those 5 minutes will be enough to monitor you in case complications might appear. It shouldn't be the case, but better stay precocious then sleeping on certain dangers."
"Yes, little angel. We'll listen to you and remain here." added an old man, who was found off the small beautiful woman, constantly flying around them to check on their pulse and doing other health checks.
When those sick guys made their way out of the Hotel accompanied by their companions, being able to walk on their own feet, with clear signs of recovery on their initial sickly appearance, it built the assurance that the rest will be treated.
With time passing by, batches after batches of sickly people were being treated by Fischer and his officers who increased in size from 5 of them, now being 10, while Vlad was working on a set timeframe of 20-30 minutes for each operation of his, while 10 minutes were reserved for condition check before being transported to the waiting room to lay there, as they slept peacefully.
Vlad rescued from the Death's Door in this style 15 lives who would be otherwise be lost in the hands of the mediocre and insignificant medical skills of the doctors on this island, even though over the period various events took place inside Ursus Hotel that he didn't expect to happen since gifting some of the Maggris Worms to Viril and his acolytes.
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On the other hand, Viril who struggled to get a carriage started noticing the changes happening in his body as he was being shaken around by the cheaply and barely maintained carriage. His spirit started getting eaten slowly, the same could be said for the other 4 old doctors who started seeing those changes in their bodies.
Even when he arrived at the large castle covered in a veil of white from the snow, which had the appearance of a 16th century European Castle, containing various towers where the black tiles gave a grander touch to it, Viril couldn't rush as he usually was doing to report to his Queen.
The castle was built on a cliff which had a perfect view over the Everfall City, and not taking their time to admire the breathtaking views as they used to do on a weekly basis, they passed past the guards who recognized them, and after being forced to climb to the first level of the castle where the Throne Room was located, some of them whispered between one another.
"Senior Viril, do you believe Her Majesty would believe your story this time?"
"She will trust me. That hateful brat. I will teach him what it means to mess around with the Royal Court Physician."
"We better show that brat. Also, I am worried about what the bug that entered our body. Those changes to my body aren't normal. I lose my breath too easily." mentioned another doctor while struggling on the stairway to the Throne Room.
"Don't worry guys, we'll have that Devil remove those bugs of his from our body at the Queen's order. No one can ignore Her Majesty's will, especially after those harsh times where she gained full power over the Country from the Nobles."
Whispering various schemes on how to deal with Vlad and Fischer, they stopped talking and straightened up their luxurious robes when reaching a long hallway taken to a closed room guarded by a contingency of Royal Guards.
Walking slowly, and stopping to explain to the Royal Guards their desire for an audience with the Queen, who entered the room, a voice of an old lady was heard from the room, calling out calmly.
"The Royal Physicians can enter the Throne Room."
Having their way opened to the person they were counting on solving all their troubles, they stepped slowly holding themselves in confidence and some arrogance, later on bowing slightly to the woman seated on the Monarch Throne.
"I, Viril Petagavar, greet the Esteemed, Enlightened Majesty, Queen Conney. I come rushing toward you because this humble subject of yours has stumbled on a shocking incident that I must report immediately."
"..."
The woman sitting on the throne, was a short old lady with tied pink hair that looked to be whiting up, a mark of old age showing supremacy over the human, an outcome that no human being was able to escape, except to certain cursed beings.
Nevertheless, the old woman seated on the throne gave you the impression of a kind grandma, watching over some old friends. She was wearing a thick blue winter dress, along with some black trousers, clothes that gave off a stylish appearance to the dignified Queen.
Viril could only drop his head lower when he felt the purple eyes of the woman seated on the Throne touching his body, bringing on some of the pressure only an experienced Monarch could give off to their subjects.
"What now, sir Viril? What trouble has your little heart come with now? You know that at this time, it's my tea break and I take time from my personal time to talk with you." mentioned the old woman, with clear annoyance in her tone, since she was taking from her personal free time to deal with those old guys causing trouble for her Kingdom.
"Besides the shocking thing I've seen in the city. Your Majesty, I was poisoned by an enemy of the Kingdom, a Devil coming from foreigner lands to our Kingdom. Also, I saw with my own eyes how this Devil was assisted by General Fischer to poison us since it was he who summoned us in Hotel Ursus."
"Even the General entered in the plot along with the Devil."
Close to the Throne Chair, at the old woman's right side, a man with golden hair and a large frame, similar to Fischer, frowned and stared at the old doctor with angry eyes, telling him.
"Careful with what you are claiming, old doctor!"
"It is the truth General Garald. I've been poisoned by the worms of that Devil, who started draining me of my powers. I barely was able to make it to the Castle to announce it to her Majesty. What's more, I can swear his laughter when he poisoned me, was akin to a heartless monster, which made me realize I don't have far longer to live on this land."
"..."
The old woman remained quiet as she studied the facial expression done by Viril and the other doctors, who placed on a great display of theatrical talent.
"Your Majesty, I only ask you now a small request for all the services I've done for the Cormac House. Take revenge for me."
"You are poisoned, Old Friend? It doesn't seem like it, but..." asked the old woman, watching over the 5 doctors with a heavy gaze, making them forget a bit about their arrogance and instead act a bit pathetic.
"Exactly, Your Majesty." replied Viril, with full agreement.
"I understand your situation. Then … What stops you from preparing a cure for the poison? It should be easy work for you. Aren't you the greatest doctor in Sorbet Kingdom?"
"Your Majesty!! This is where the problem can be found. I don't have sufficient time to prepare a cure for the poison. This is the reason I will soon reach closer to the ancestors and cheer with them from the Heavens."
"Sure, sure. And, where did this happen exactly?" asked the Queen, not buying on the story delivered by this shrewd old friend of hers, who she knew for more than half of a century.
"The Ursus Hotel owned by that cheap Baron, Bernt. That person is also a traitor if you ask me because he allowed that Devil to make a nest to plan the destruction of the kingdom."
"Ursus Hotel, you say? I understand. Then, I will have to see it for myself if the trouble over my kingdom has gotten so serious." remarked the Queen with sarcasm in her tone, which she masked with her dignity that she cultivated for an entire life.
Raising slowly from her Throne Chair, she grabbed on a walking cane that looked to be made from an oak tree containing only some carvings which didn't look professional at all, as if being done by the hand of a child.
Garald, prepare my carriage. I will see it with my own eyes, what sir Fischer plans, and what the intentions of this so-called "Devil" truly are. If everything sir Viril has mentioned to be true, he deserves a reward for the chivalrous act of sacrificing himself for the Kingdom."
"I wouldn't dare to lie to you, Your Majesty. When have I ever lied to you? It's beneath me and my status as a doctor to lie to people."
"... Heh? When? I wonder when, too. Anyway, Garald, have the carriage ready!"
The old lady who was on her feet, started climbing down on the stairs leading up the Throne Chair covered in various comfortable wild beast pelts to keep herself warm the entire time inside this cold castle.
Then using the assistance of that walking cane she started walking out of the Throne Room, while the middle-aged man with golden hair and a large frame, with a speed, that Viril and the other 4 doctors couldn't comprehend, made its disappearance from the room, like a phantom.
Yet, Viril was still as arrogant as ever, not thinking that the Queen would suspect anything from what he was saying, and following her, he asked her with a pleading tone.
"Your Majesty, would you be so kind to allow us to journey with your esteemed self?"
"... Where's your carriage, old friend? Have you gotten here on your own feet? … I highly doubt that someone like you would try this. Anyway, follow me, but keep your distance from me."
The Queen didn't find any problem in that and allowed those 5 old pricks to join her, even though on the way she started regretting her choice of allowing those old guys to join her, because she couldn't even have some silence on the way. Viril was constantly badmouthing Fischer and acted like a petty guy focusing on what Vlad did to him, but spinning around the whole truth of the events, to paint a better picture of himself for the old Queen.
With Garald acting like a Carriage Driver, in about 30 minutes since getting out from the Castle, she was making her way to Ursus Hotel, where her ears could pick on the conversation of her citizens, being enthusiastic about something happening in the central zone of the city, but because of Viril she was having a hard time.
The people were so captured by the news spreading out like wildfire inside Everfall City, that they ignored the Royal Carriage passing by.
Even though the carriage of Queen Conney was of a simple style, the ornaments of the Cormac House and other symbols representing the Sorbet Kingdom Royalty, one of the oldest royal houses in the World, which joined among the first kingdoms after the founding 20 Kingdoms, to the Organization maintaining the peace of the World, … the World Government.
She only smiled a bit, not minding the citizens ignoring her, since she didn't view herself like some narcissistic ruler who required the full attention of the citizens, her role as Monarch was to take care of those people and bring prosperity.
Ignoring Viril and his petty remarks, she focused on the people outside, and the piece of conversation got clear in her mind.
["If you go to Ursus Hotel, and you struggle with an illness or problem, even back pain, regardless of illness, the magical doctor from outside of the Kingdom who arrived recently at the invitation of her Majesty the Queen to offer his services and treat the sick people."]
["Let's get going. I don't want to be the last on the waiting line. My back was always making me struggle to work in my workshop causing me to take too many breaks. Maybe, this doctor will help me heal up if he is said to have magical powers."]
[-"Yes, yes! I heard it myself in the tavern from some of the ones who got treated from even that incurable sickness. That doctor is a true magician, like the ones from the Legends the old ones were passing from word to word."]
[-"What are you saying man?]
[-"Simple, that person was suffering from the 'Curse of the Mountain Spirit' but shocked everyone in the tavern when he looked fine, like nothing happened to him. He told us about the magical doctor and how he was able to cure the curse of the Mountain Spirit.]
The queen was filtering all the information she was catching from the people discussing openly about the new events taking part in the city, but she had a nuisance not far from her, making it harder, until she looked at him with an annoyed expression, sending a slap on his bearded face, telling him with a cold tone.
"Sir Viril, I would wish from the bottom of my heart, shut up for a moment, you keep talking about things I am not interested in."
"Your Majesty??"
"Don't give me that stupid face of yours. Viril, listen outside. Listen carefully Viril. Does this seem like a dejected city? A city where someone is threatening the people and the future of the Kingdom as you said?"
"They don't know what the plans of that Devil are. I am sure of what I am telling you."
Passing by many other citizens who were journeying on their feet to the Ursus Hotel, the Carriage made its way slowly even thought the Royal Guards were quick to act to make way for the carriage after noticing it was the Queen's Carriage.
She nodded with a small smile seeing how Fischer's boys were so disciplined and acted based on their own judgment instead of always relying on their superiors for commands.
'He raised some good lads, that scrawny brat, Fischer.'
The citizens also noticed by now thanks to the actions of the Royal Guards to who the carriage belonged, and with full cooperation from the people, the Queen's Carriage reached the courtyard of the Hotel, taking a stop as the guards created a protective perimeter.
Waiting with their breaths slowed, wanting to thank the Queen for bringing the magical doctor to their icy kingdom, their expressions crumbled a bit when they noticed who walked out first from the carriage, Viril and his Acolytes who held on their smirk faces a victorious grin as they watched everyone else.
'I will show you, damned peasants. That you simply don't mess with the Royal Physician.'
"HUO!! HUO!! TO HELL WITH YOU OLD BASTARDS!!"
"CRIMINALS!! TO THE GALLOWS WITH YOU!!"
Various booing ensued in the courtyard of the Hotel, from calling the 5 doctors all sorts of bad words they knew in their vocabulary, the citizens didn't stop, especially those who were dissatisfied with the gall and arrogance of those incompetent doctors who couldn't even compare with the small toe of the foreigner doctor.
This was a real reaction coming from the pent-up emotions which the queen was quick to understand that something important happened in her Kingdom today.
'Could it be? The curse of the mountain isn't a thing?' asked the old queen, being made to ponder about what she understood about the sickness most people would gain after traversing the Yehimal Mountain on foot.
The booing was getting louder and louder, making the 5 doctors nervous and only thanks to the Royal Guards they weren't harmed by the public, ready to tear down those old incompetent doctors. Their booing only stopped when noticing the door of the carriage opening up again, revealing the figure of an old lady wearing some simple clothes decorated a little bit with the royal symbols of her kingdom and family.
Her pink-silvery hair was enough to tell the public who came to visit the hotel, and silence settled down in the central zone and the courtyard of the Ursus Hotel.
"I greet you my dear subjects. I apologize for taking some spots ahead of you waiting peacefully in line to be checked by the doctor, but I will not hold the line too long."
"WE GREET YOU, YOUR MAJESTY THE QUEEN!" saluted the entire gathering of citizens which numbered about 10.000 of people since the news spread out like wildfire, from a decent gathering of 500-1000 people, reaching a gathering you could fit an Arena with.
"At ease, my dear subjects."
"NOO YOUR MAJESTY!! Thank you for bringing the magical doctor and sacrificing so much for us to keep us healthy and safe. We will never forget your kindness to us simple people!" shouted a man who was healed by Vlad himself,, resting on a bench to recover his strength, being a source of information for the ones curious about what was happening inside the hotel.
The Queen was confused herself, but since she was a political figurehead for half a century or even more, it was easy for her to adapt to what the perception of the public was, and with a kind grandma expression smiling at the man, she started advancing toward the Hotel.
Still, on her way to the hotel, she felt a pair of eyes staring at her from the side with a specific temperament she was familiar with, and turning her head to the right side of the courtyard where the garden was located, she noticed the figure of a person wearing a brown coat covering the whole body, while the hood was veiling the hair of this person.
The queen couldn't help but grasp a bit harder the walking cane she was having when seeing the figure of this person, especially the strands of bright pink hair that escaped from the hood.
'Heh, little girl, how long do you plan on playing cat and mouse with me? If I ever want, I can catch you in a couple of days, especially if I place Fischer and Garald at work.'
'Nevertheless, if it was you who brought this doctor, I applaud you granddaughter. I really want to find out the story of how you convinced such a doctor to cure the curse of the spirit … which killed so many innocent people over the course of history.'
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A/N: Royal Drama is upon us, everyone!