As my stepparents were led outside by Royal knights, I looked at them. "My Lady, now that the Trial is over, is there anything else you want to discuss?" King Baldwin inquired. "I understand that today was difficult for you because Lord Chatillon was your only family member here; we will bring you to Antioch to your brother Prince Bohemond because your stepmother is being held prisoner until your stepfather returns; if you prefer, we could prepare a carriage for you and accompany you back to Antioch."
"The thing is," I told the king, "I don't intend to return to my brother in Antioch."
The King gave me a glance. I promptly responded, "I would like to stay here in Jerusalem and be with you."
"P-pardon?" the King stuttered, dumbfounded.
I felt blood rush to my cheek from embarrassment, I realised I might have given the king the wrong impression. "It's not what you think; I- I just like to serve his Grace, and since I have no other family here except...," I explain to King Baldwin, looking at William of Tyre. "My Godfather, I would like to propose Lord William of Tyre as my legal guardian, as he is a very close family friend and should be able to care for me in my family's absence," I continued.
"My- my King, the child is certainly my godchild, and I am concerned for her well-being," he stuttered as he looked at me. "W-we could send her to an abbey that can surely watch over her," he added.
"I am no longer a child, uncle... I am capable of caring for myself, and I thought you would be able to look after me as my godfather, to think that I was wrong, and you also wanted to send me away," I pondered. "What would my poor deceased father say, his only friend couldn't help her precious daughter?" I pouted as I tried to guilt trip him.
"Please... don't do that... you know that I am a clergyman and I am not capable caring for a girl and..." as he tried to explain but I still looked at him with puppy eyes, he sighed, "you are truly your father's daughter," he said, "alright, I will do it, but you will have to stay with a female governess in the palace," William added.
"Thank you, uncle," I said with a smile.
As I turned to face his highness, I remarked, "Your Highness, I really have one more thing to talk with you," as I stared at him.
"Please go ahead and tell me," King Baldwin replied.
I took a deep breath and clasped my hands as I stared at him. "I'd like to make three requests of you, my King; please hear me out," I said.
"Well, since I was planning to compensate you for what happened today," King Baldwin replied, "please continue."
"My first request is that you accept me as a member of your royal court," I said.
King Baldwin was taken aback since he was unable to respond as quickly as possible.
My godfather was also in disbelief of what I've just requested " are you sure my child on what you've just requested just now? I just wanted you to know that there is no woman that was ever part of the royal court" William explained
"Yes, I understand that women have no significance in this time and are constantly looked down upon by men; we are simply a flock that produces offspring for you man; it is not just a simple request; it is a demand in exchange for something that our King will require," I explained.
"Then tell me why you want to be a part of my royal court and what you have to offer in exchange," King Baldwin inquires, intrigued.
"To put it simply, I want to be independent, and being a member of your royal court will allow me to do so; this is also for your benefit, my King, because what I am about to give you is a remedy that will prevent further harm from your leprosy," I explained.
The Court was bewildered by what I had to offer His Highness; it was silent, but I could tell that they were judging me and looking at me with scepticism.
"This is scandalous! Everyone knows that leprosy cannot be cured! What atrocity are you saying? Leprosy is a divine punishment from God it is not something that can be easily spoken here especially since you know that our King has these diseases. you should be punished for heresy and trying to deceive his Royal Highness," the enraged Bishop yelled.
King Baldwin demanded, "Tell me what do you mean you can help me," "Your Eminence Henry, Bishop of Toulouse, please calm yourself and let Lady Philippa explain."
"Thank you, your highness., it appears that his Eminence is not paying attention to what I just said, so let me say it again: I am here to treat what I can to prevent further damage from the leprosy of his Highness. " I said
"I absolutely agree that Leprosy are cannot be cured in other means But we can prevent or cure further damage. For example, his Highness suffer in painless wounds but if we left it untreated in the worst case scenario, additional complications could include painful or tender nerves, redness and pain around the affected area, a burning sensation in the skin, paralysis and crippling of the hands and feet, shortening of toes and fingers due to reabsorption, blindness and disfigurement, and eventually death. I want to stop it from happening, so I'm offering my services to help" I added
Everyone was in awe of what I had to say; the bishop himself was surprised.
"If you're wondering where I got this information, I read Arab medical books because they're more advanced than ours," I explained in an effort to convince them. "I've always believed that prevention is better than cure," I added.
William remarked with concern, "But my child, I hate to interrupt. His highness is seeing the greatest Arab physician the empire can provide."
"This preposterous! Your highness, please don't listen to her any longer. She is delusional! How can we even believe her, she has no evidence that she can help in preventing damage to leprosy. It's all talk. William is right. We have Royal physicians who are more experienced in this matter why listen to amateurs like her," the Bishop said.
"I am aware that they can assist his highness due to their medical knowledge, but if they are the greatest, why can't they properly cure him and stop the progression of his leprosy?" I inquire.
William and the other were unable to respond to my query: "If his highness permits I can assist him; there is no problem with their skill as physicians; the only difference is that they don't approach it from a different perspective."
"How confident are you that you can help me?" Baldwin asks coldly.
"I know you'll ask that, Abu," I said when I called.
Abu led a young girl next to me, and thanks to a week of preparation before the banquet, I was able to help her.
I was busy creating antibiotics, but once I had one, I needed to find a subject to test its effectiveness on; it seemed strange to use lab rats; I needed a human as soon as possible. Abu and I travelled to the outskirts of the city to look for a leprosy village until I found one; everyone there has severe leprosy and wears a bell around their necks so that people will be aware that they are approaching. One of them was this small child; she had no name or family, and when I came across her, she was malnourished and ill. Since no one in the leprosy community recognised her parents, I decided to take her in.
After a week of treatment, she gradually gained weight and her skin condition is getting better. Most of her sores are already drying up and closing. She had mild to severe leprosy, so I named her Sara and fed her. I also used the first antibiotic on her.
"Her name is Sara, and she is one of my people; she has leprosy, like his highness, but because I prevent and cure everything I can to prevent further damage, her condition is currently improving; the disease is still present, but the medication I made helps her condition and improves her health."
The bishop said, "You bought a leper! here in the royal court."
I thought to myself as I was trying to control my temper, "Bloody hell, this bishop is really bothersome one more time. I might punch this son of a bitch back to his coffin."
The angry-looking black-haired knight remarked, "You should be careful with your remarks, your Eminence, that child is not the only leper in this chamber."
William of Tyre remarked, "I am sure that his Eminence did not intend what he just said. Lord Roger, please calm yourself down.
You asked for a proof, so I provided one, I added.
"Your offer is tempting, my Lady, but it is not that I do not trust you, but the Bishop is right. My disease is something that cannot be cured, both the Saracens and the royal physician cannot cure my illness, and I do understand your willingness to help, but I cannot accept it because I have already accepted my fate, and I do not want to hope for nothing," King Baldwin explains.
"All right, your highness, how about giving me six months to prove my worth?" I insist.
"But, my lady, what are you attempting to prove?" the King inquires.
" I'm trying to prove you that I can help you," I said as I looked him in the eyes.
"But, my lady..." he reasoned, but I didn't wait for his highness to finish his sentence. "Just give me a chance to prove myself, and if I fail to heal you within six months, I will gladly give you my head," I said.
" Philippa! don't be unreasonable!" William exclaimed. "Your Highness, don't listen to her, please spare her recklessness!" William begged King Baldwin.
"I am dead serious, and I will prove it to you, my king, and that is a risk I am willing to take."
"Philippa, enough of this!" William begged out of concern.
King Baldwin raised his hands as the nobles began to speak and the noise from the court hall became unbearable. "Silence!" he demanded.