Abi froze on the spot and Dion growled. He had hinted at this fool well. But he just did not pay attention.
Now he had to fake the rage again. Or perhaps, he did not need to fake the rage after all.
"Check again. Who made you a physician? I checked her in the carriage, and she was breathing. Though her pulse was slow, it was there." he harrumphed with a cold glare on his face. His eyes were full of threats that the physician took a step back. He gulped and held the woman's hands again. It was so cold that it must have been hours before she had died.
He checked her eyes, her tongue, the way her body had swollen and she looked fatter now. The air must have been collecting for hours. At least, six hours. She had died of ill health. She had been suffering from pneumonia for two weeks at least.
Her lungs were shrunk badly. Her oxygen level must have been down for a long time. He cursed. There were so many signs that the woman had died a long time ago. Yet Braydon knew Dion would not listen to anyone.
And if he was forced, Dion would lose his temper and throw them out of this building. It was not like they had nowhere to go. But… they could not bear animosity with him. Though there were many loyal followers of the duke, the physician knew that Dion would win this battle and be the next duke.
He would lie if he had to. Braydon closed his eyes and apologized to the goddess. He had promised that he would never lie when it came to his profession and always tell the truth to his patients. But then, he was not lying to a patient. No, this woman was not his patient from the start. She was only brought here as a corpse.
The thought relaxed him a little and he collected his courage. And when he opened his eyes again, he was fully prepared for spinning the tale.
"Umm, my lord... I checked her again and there is no doubt that she is dead." he could see Dion raging again. So she continued hurriedly, "but I also deduced that she had died just fifteen minutes ago. So you were right when you told me that she was alive when she embarked on the journey. We are just a little late." he stared at Dion intently as he spun his lies and when the new duke nodded a little with a look of satisfaction. He knew he had done a good job.
But why did Dion want to prove that the woman was alive when he found her? Could it be a hit-and-run case? Did he hit the woman from his carriage? But the woman did not die because of that. He could easily prove it. Why lie?
Curiosity made his stomach bloat. But he was startled when the woman standing beside Dion fell on the ground. Her knees gave away. And she started screaming and sobbing hard, startling everyone. A woman could never behave like that in public!!
Even if she was sad, she could only cry with rare sobbing voices. But this woman was so vulgar.
Braydon looked at Dion in confusion. But was shocked to see that he did not look irked. But he sighed and closed his eyes as if he was hurt too. The great Dion Burke who did not feel anything when his own father died was upset for a stranger. That sounded strange.
Braydon stared at the woman again. There was no way Dion had known him. But oh well, it was not like he could stop her in the middle of her cries and ask her identity. Yes, identity? Braydon felt proud of himself as the idea struck his mind.
"My lord. The woman had died in my clinic. I need to report it to the local knights for the procedure of the funeral. May I please know her name and identity?" he asked in a submissive voice, making sure his intention did not show on his face.
Dion frowned. His face twisted as if he were struggling to reply. His eyes went to the woman on the ground again. She looked like a mess. If he opened his identity now, it would be disadvantageous for her. But if he got her identity out, people would start knowing about her and he had sufficient audience waiting when he would take her in public.
"Braydon, we have been together for a long time. Can I trust you with the identity of this woman?" he asked in a solemn voice. His face went grim as if he was conflicted when Braydon nodded again and again.
"My lips are sealed, my lord. I will only speak as required." Ha! Dion wanted to laugh at his act. Everyone knew that Braydon liked to brag about his skills. And he had a loose tongue. People still come to him because he had good skills and he treated anyone if threatened or paid well.
So, he was a perfect person when nobles dealt with their mistresses they could not take home. And show them to their personal physician. He was sure the man was already entertaining many thoughts when it came to Abi.
Abi… for the first time, he had seen a woman crying like that. She looked so broken-hearted. Has anyone ever felt that pain when a nobleman died? Had they ever been close enough to feel pain from the start?
When his father died… Dion closed his eyes. It was not the time to roam in memory lanes. Braydon was waiting. He signaled the man to follow him in a corner as if he wanted to give some privacy to mourners. But in reality, he was still not ready to let Abi know the truth.
She needed to be sober, he reasoned.
"The woman who died is the nanny of that woman." he pointed at Abi, "and that woman is… the lost princess of the ducal house."