[Celia's POV]
She was woken up by insistent knocks on the door. She had barely gotten any sleep. Her form this time was not severe, in comparison, it was one of the less horrifying forms she had taken in some time, but somehow her whole body ached once she went back to normal.
It was not only the soft light of the dawn that had peeked through the horizon that she could finally let her eyes shut close, despite the dull ache and all. However, maybe after a while, the knocks had woken her up.
She checked herself quickly to make sure no evidence of her form was there. She hurriedly got dressed and prayed that it was not Mrs. Gibson on the other side of the room.
When she opened the door, it was Lucian aka Enzo standing.
"I apologize for the delay," Celia said with a deep, apologetic bow.
"I am sure you must have been tired. It is alright. I did not want you to wake up." He began hesitantly. Celia straightened and looked at him quizzically.
"I have to visit a patient, she is an old patient of mine and very ill. I wanted you to visit another person on my behalf," he continued, equally reluctant.
"Who?" Celia did not want to sound too excited at the prospect of being given a task other than doing normal house chores.
"I know this is your first task, but it is nothing more than handing this vial to them. Can you do that?" He asked, and so gently that for a moment, Celia almost forgot what she had overheard the night before in the kitchen.
She nodded. "Yes, I can."
Enzo smiled and he looked just like the man she had known ever since he came to the Wilson manor introducing himself as Austin's friend.
He handed her a small bag containing the medicine. "The butler of the said patient is waiting outside. You can hand it to him, but then again you have to tell him the instruction and if he jumbles them up then it would be problematic."
"No, I will accompany him," Celia interjected.
Enzo smiled again. "Thank you."
"May I know how it should be administered?" Celia said as she moved around the room to get hold of a paper and a fountain pen.
"Yes, I was about to tell you that," Enzo said with a chuckle. Celia felt herself blush. She kept her gaze on the paper, her pen poised on the blank piece.
"First, if the elixir is taken orally then no more than two drops mixed with water or any other drink such as… wine, or tea should be given, once a day until the vial is empty," Enzo began, hesitating slightly when he said the choice of the drinks.
Even though Celia found it odd, she pushed back the thought to ponder on later. She noted the instructions carefully.
"Second, if it is applied topically then four to five drops should be used, only on the designated wound, once a day until the wound heals," he continued.
Celia raised her hand when she finished writing the second point. Enzo nodded for her to ask.
"Will the dosage change if the wound is severe or less severe?" She asked.
Enzo smiled. "This patient has been one of my old ones, so I know the type of injury just by the butler's description."
Celia nodded, feeling a little embarrassed.
"It is good that you are asking questions. This way you will learn more, so don't feel shy about it," Enzo said gently.
Celia inclined her head, keeping her gaze lowered. Once Enzo had given her additional instruction, she was ready to go.
"Wait," Enzo said as she came out of her room with a cloak draped over her shoulder and her satchel that contained the vial and the instruction.
She looked at him, waiting for him to say. Enzo looked hesitant again. He opened his mouth then closed and then he fished out a small pouch from his coat pocket.
"This contains some money. Get yourself something to eat," he said.
"It's―"
"Required because at the moment there is no one in the house to make food. So I am going out without eating as well." Celia's eyes widened after hearing this.
"Can the butler wait for a few minutes?" She asked.
"Celia―"
"I can make something quick. We can both leave the house not starved," Celia interjected this time.
Enzo looked at her for a while then nodded. She saw something flash across his gaze but she wasn't able to read it.
"Wait for me in the dining hall please." Celia gave him a brief smile as she rushed to the kitchen.
Porridge was the only easy thing she could think of and within some time, she was serving two bowls of the same.
"Eat with me," Enzo said when she was about to take hers back to the kitchen. Reluctantly she did so, and the two ate silently.
Celia felt awkward and slightly dazed, firstly because she was eating with the person for whom she had harbored some romantic notion despite the mystery that surrounded him. Secondly, this was the first time she was being treated like a gentlewoman instead of a servant. She didn't know why but it felt nice, to be treated like this.
Enzo thanked her once they were done, and then he left. Celia stood there for some time with a flaming face as she thought of Enzo's blinding smile.
When she finally left the house, only Fredrick remained to see her off, or more like impatiently wait so he could shut the door.
Her eyes widened at the ornate-looking carriage that stood outside. It looked so out of proportion that she was sure that it might have roused quite several murmurs among their neighborhood.
She spotted a man standing outside the carriage door. Even though his expression was impassive, when his gaze met Celia's she knew that he was annoyed.
"Good morning. I apologize for the delay. I hope Doctor O'Neil has informed you about the change in plans?" Celia asked, and to her surprise, the man looked at her as if he knew nothing!
Celia felt a bit nervous. "I am supposed to deliver the medicine instead of him as he has already left to visit another patient of his."
The man looked perplexed now. "Left?"
Celia nodded. "A while ago. I think you might have missed him."
Celia noted the man's frown before he looked at her and asked, "And you are?"
"His apprentice," she replied promptly. Celia began to wonder if Enzo had even mentioned to him about her. Now, she didn't know whether to feel angry at him or just give him the benefit of the doubt.
The man said, "Pleased to meet you, Miss Celia. I am Artemis Dumond."
Celia bowed curtly.
"Please get in," Artemis said as he opened the shiny wooden door of the carriage.
Celia got in even though now she did not want to, what with all the confusion and miscommunication.
However, she put back the thoughts of resentment at the back of her mind as the carriage lurched forward. Even if there was a miscommunication she was at least going to get a first-hand experience of treating or at least monitoring a patient. She was grateful to Enzo for that.
The feeling of this thankfulness, however, did not last long because when she stepped out of the carriage she could only gape at the palace that stood in front of her. The carriage had already entered the main gate and had come to a halt in front of a huge fountain.
"Who… who is my patient?" She asked apprehensively Artemis as he came to stand beside her.
The man gave her a wistful smile. "Duke Vladimir Mercei."