The empire’s medicine was not yet firmly established.
This was partly because people had only started taking interest in medicine less than a hundred years ago, so information was scarce.
Thus, the empire’s doctors decided to regularly gather once in a while.
To piece together scattered info and dig deeper into the field of medicine.
That was the original intent.
But as time passed, the purpose got twisted.
Instead of discussing scholarly matters, they ended up complaining about how tough their jobs were or focused on building connections by working as house physicians for noble families.
Somewhere along the line, the gatherings lost their essence. And it had been like that for quite some time.
Still, Griselle always attended these meetings.
Not out of groveling to get her share from those house physicians.
Just a small hope that she might stumble upon something new.
Even if she returned empty-handed every time, there wasn’t much else she could do.
After all, aside from these gatherings, there weren’t many other places where medical knowledge came together.
It was utterly unpleasant, but she had no choice but to show up.
At the most recent meeting, Griselle didn’t come across anything worthwhile.
Instead, she had to endure nonsense spouted by quacks.
“Hey, Griselle! Still practicing in the countryside? How about you join my family instead? I can’t keep up alone—I need rest.”
“And who will treat the commoners if I leave?”
“Does it really matter if you’re gone? Besides, incompetent ones just leech off citizens’ money anyway. They’ll handle it.”
Griselle was momentarily speechless at such blunt remarks.
Not because there wasn’t a counterargument, but because his words hit too close to home.
Most skilled doctors end up becoming house physicians for noble families.
Conversely, less experienced or less talented ones are left to treat the commoners.
Isn’t that messed up?
All lives should be equally precious, right?
Yet here they were, experimenting on the common folk to improve results for nobles’ flattery.
And calling themselves doctors while doing this.
What a despicable world.
Griselle was one of its doctors.
Bang!
She slammed her fist onto the table.
“If you’re a doctor, you should save people—not waste your time licking nobles’ asses!”
Her anger boiled over suddenly, despite not usually being this fiery. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the pent-up frustration finally bubbling over.
Whatever the reason, she was just plain pissed.
“Calm down! What if someone hears you…”
The colleague who had been talking to her panicked.
They were in a rented tavern for the meeting, and naturally, everyone else at other tables were medics too. Words needed to be chosen carefully.
“…Hmph.”
Griselle gritted her teeth and swallowed her rage, knowing she’d risk expulsion from the group if things escalated.
Seeing this, the colleague cleared his throat repeatedly before cautiously speaking again.
“I’ve got some pretty good info. Want to make a deal with me?”
“What?”
He glanced around nervously before lowering his voice.
“Remember when Lord Arhan went east recently? I tagged along. Turns out he bought tons of drugs from there.”
“Drugs?”
“They call it a universal cure over there—it’s supposed to work wonders.”
“There’s no way…”
Griselle looked skeptical, but her colleague pressed on insistently.
“It’s not just Lord Arhan! All the high-ranking nobles have already gotten their hands on it. Rumor has it even someone close to the royal family went east to fetch it.”
“Huh…”
“This Gordon Viscount you know—he was sick for a while, right? After taking that drug, his fever disappeared completely. His family called it a miracle!”
Midway through the story, Griselle interrupted with suspicion.
“Why are you telling me this? You seem to want something if you mentioned a deal.”
With a weary glance from Griselle, he cleared his throat again before getting to the point.
“So, if you become my assistant in the Arhan household, I’ll get you a few doses. Sound tempting?”
“Save it. Let’s drink.”
Griselle’s firm rejection baffled her colleague.
“But why? You can still see patients during your free time!”
“Who plans injuries around a schedule? People show up unexpectedly. Find someone else.”
Though intrigued by the eastern medicine, Griselle ultimately refused.
Working exclusively for a noble house would mean less time available for village treatments.
However, watching Emily and Iden made Griselle realize something.
No matter how much time there was, if nothing could be fixed, it was pointless.
Resolved, Griselle spoke up.
“Miss Emily.”
“Yes?”
“I have a proposal.”
After finishing her rounds, Griselle left the village.
She explained to Emily about a new treatment coming from the east.
Since it wasn’t widely available yet, she asked Emily to wait until she could secure it.
And to take care of Iden until then so he wouldn’t die.
This was Griselle’s request—and plea.
Late at night, Emily sat on the steps outside her house, staring at the sky to calm herself.
As Sirius moved to approach her, an old man stopped her.
“Let her be. She needs some time alone.”
Understanding, Sirius halted her steps and observed Emily from afar.
The old man smiled faintly and quietly stepped away, reassured that someone was nearby.
Emily sat there for a while, gazing blankly at the sky.
Sirius watched her silently.
After what felt like ages, Emily slowly stood up and spoke to Sirius standing alone.
“Did you wait long?”
Sirius shook her head.
“Come sit beside me.”
Emily’s invitation prompted Sirius to finally move and sit next to her.
“I… am I a bad person?”
Sirius remained silent.
Knowing Emily wasn’t seeking a direct answer, she listened quietly.
Eventually, Emily began explaining why she thought she was a terrible person.
The day she packed to run away, abandoning her brother,
The days she skipped making breakfast because she was too lazy,
The nights she tried to suffocate Iden while he slept,
The times she bribed peddlers to poison him,
She listed her wrongdoings relentlessly.
Sirius listened without interruption.
“But you know… when Iden finally closed his eyes… I was terrified.”
Emily lowered her head as she continued.
“It was so… so pitiful… The only person he could trust was me, and I was the one trying to kill him… It broke my heart.”
Tears streamed down her face again.
“If he died… I could be the good sister who stayed till the end… But I didn’t want that… I’m a bad person… I tried to kill him… That’s not allowed…”
Bad people shouldn’t be happy…
So…
“I wish Iden would survive… Get better, and I’ll tell him everything… So he can hate me forever! That feels right…”
Sniffle. Emily buried her face in Sirius’s arms.
Her crying didn’t subside easily.
She berated herself endlessly, punishing herself for her sins.
She wanted to pay for her evil deeds.
That’s why she wished Iden wouldn’t die.
Because dead people can’t hate you.
Because death erases everything.
Only by living could Iden ensure Emily paid her dues.
Good vs Evil…
To Sirius, such distinctions held no meaning.
She couldn’t judge Emily’s actions as good or bad.
What is righteousness?
What is wickedness?
She couldn’t define them either.
Thus, Sirius couldn’t offer any advice.
All she could do for the weeping girl was gently pat her back and whisper softly:
“It’s okay.”
Emily looked up tearfully.
Sirius placed her finger on Emily’s lips and slowly curved it upward.
“Smile.”
Because smiling Emily looked radiant to Sirius.
Despite her tears, Emily kept smiling.
Even after Sirius removed her hand.
After another wave of emotion, Emily calmed down.
Then she softly said to Sirius:
“I’m sorry.”
Finally, Emily understood why Iden always expressed gratitude.
“And thank you…”
Sirius nodded slightly.
For Emily, that was enough.
Sirius stood up and picked up the sword resting by the door.
“Are you leaving?”
Again, Sirius nodded slightly in response.
Emily wanted to stop her but refrained.
Because she owed her too much.
Everything—from offering her hand in the forest to today’s events.
Sirius had done enough to protect Emily.
She couldn’t rely on her forever, so now was the time to stand on her own again.
Even if just for a little while, Emily indulged in acting her age.
That was plenty.
Under the starry early morning sky,
Emily watched Sirius’s retreating figure grow distant.
To Emily, Sirius was a star.
A quiet, brilliant one that appeared unexpectedly.
“Farewell.”
My star, Sirius.
The next day, when Emily woke up, piles of muddy herbs were neatly stacked in a corner of her porch.
*
