The next morning, Sophia got up and immediately packed her medicine and got ready to go out. Erica had just come in with a bowl of wash water and was surprised to see Sophia already dressed and picking a hat.
“My lady, where are you going?”
Since Sophia had started waking up much later after suffering from the smell issue, Erica hadn’t expected her to be up already. But it seemed Sophia had gotten help from another maid and was fully dressed. Her hair was neatly braided, and she wore a simple green dress with a soft shine. Judging by her appearance, it didn’t seem like she had a meeting with the Duke.
Sophia picked a bonnet decorated with a green ribbon and said,
“Tell everyone I went out to pick some stationery.”
“So… that’s not really where you’re going?”
Erica asked, confused. Sophia frowned and said,
“Of course not. Why would I go pick out stationery? It’s not like I’m writing letters to anyone.”
“Then where are you going, my lady?”
“You should hurry up and get changed, too.”
“Huh…? I’m going with you, my lady?”
Erica was so confused her head felt dizzy. She wanted to say, “Stop joking,” but Sophia’s face looked strangely serious—almost solemn—so Erica kept quiet.
“Well, what else can I do? I can’t walk around the city alone. I wish I could go by myself. Yesterday, going with Ronald was nothing but trouble.”
Sophia quickly returned to her usual tone. Erica hesitated, then helped tie the ribbon under Sophia’s hat.
“Oh, right. Earlier, Young Master Ronald came by and asked if you were still asleep. He looked like he had something to say.”
“Tell him I fell asleep forever. He’s so annoying, I swear.”
Sophia gave Erica a look that clearly asked, Why are you still here not getting ready? Erica stared at her for a moment, then hurried downstairs to change her clothes.
Sophia headed to the largest hospital in the city. Erica didn’t have the nerve to ask, Are you sick, my lady?—but the bag full of medicine said enough.
What Sophia wanted was to find out the truth about that medicine. She didn’t quite understand why herself.
Why is she suspicious? Sometimes nobles are just oddly picky and sensitive like that.
That was Erica’s secret thought. She’d served Sophia for a long time and truly cared about her. But moments like this reminded her that Sophia was still a noble.
What was there to doubt about the medicine, anyway? The Duke had brought in a team of famous doctors. And judging by how well the medicine worked, there was no reason to question it.
After all, Sophia had been running around like a madwoman spraying perfume everywhere, and now she could live normally after taking the medicine.
Still, Erica kept her thoughts to herself and did everything properly. Sophia hadn’t even explained clearly, but Erica managed to arrange a consultation with a doctor in the crowded hospital, saying they had questions about a medicine.
The doctor sat down, looking tired. He smelled strongly of disinfectant and gave off a slightly cautious vibe.
“What brings you here?”
“I want to know what ingredients are in this medicine.”
“If it’s something you’re taking, wouldn’t it be better to ask the doctor who prescribed it?”
The doctor replied curtly. Asking about medicine from another doctor sounded like they didn’t trust their own doctor. Besides, doctors working in hospitals like this—unlike those who made home visits to nobles—were always busy and easily irritated.
At his grumpy tone, Erica silently pulled out a coin pouch and handed it over. People like him usually softened at the sight of money.
“We didn’t want to waste your valuable time. We just hope you’ll share your wisdom for a moment.”
The doctor didn’t look pleased, but in the end, he sighed and gave in.
“All right. What medicine is it?”
“This one.”
Sophia took the medicine out of her handbag. The doctor held up the medicine that numbed her nose and checked its color. Sophia explained,
“I once took poison, and ever since, strange things keep happening. A while ago, I was the only one who smelled something awful while everyone else was fine. I got this medicine then. It’s supposed to numb my sense of smell.”
“I’ve heard of that. It’s probably Phuatamin. I remember it causes numbness when mixed with Ilbrie. Do you take it often?”
“About three times a day.”
“That’s quite frequent. What did your doctor say about the smell?”
“He said the poison messed up my brain.”
The doctor paused for a moment. He was surprised at how calmly Sophia said that. She noticed the sympathy in his eyes and said,
“No need to look at me like that. I’m mostly fine.”
“But if the poison affected your nervous system, it means a disease could show up at any time, even if there are no signs yet.”
“How dare you say something like that to my lady!”
Erica shouted, furious, as if cursed words had been spoken. But neither Sophia nor the doctor paid attention.
The doctor seemed to think for a moment, then asked,
“Do you know what kind of poison it was?”
“No. All I know is I was poisoned and then slept for five months.”
“…Unbelievable.”
The doctor sighed. It wasn’t clear whether he sighed because Sophia didn’t know what the poison was, or because she had been unconscious for five months.
“I asked my family, but none of them knew what the poison was either. Isn’t that strange? They don’t remember the poison that kept me asleep for five months. That’s why I came here. I want to know exactly what’s happening to me.”
After her words, there was a brief silence. The doctor looked at her serious face and nodded.
“All right. I’ll do my best, though I’m not a poison expert, so I may not be able to tell you much. But I’ll try to make this visit worthwhile. What’s this other medicine?”
“That’s the one I take at night. It’s supposed to help me sleep.”
“Do you have trouble sleeping?”
“At night…”
Sophia hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she should talk about her sleepwalking. But she quickly decided to be honest.
“I’ve walked around like a sleepwalker a couple of times. I’d come to and find myself somewhere other than my bed.”
“Oh no. That probably means there’s definitely some nerve damage.”
“My lady!”
Erica was shocked—both by the news and the doctor’s serious tone. She even knelt next to Sophia and held her hand tightly. Her voice trembled with tears.
“As for the medicine, I can’t analyze it here right now. I’d need to run some tests. If you leave the medicine and an address, I’ll send a letter later. But even then, we probably won’t find much. The best thing is still to go to the doctor who prescribed it.”
“I understand. Thank you for your kindness.”
Sophia answered calmly. Erica couldn’t understand how she could stay so composed. She stared at her blankly, then quickly stood up as Sophia did. Erica sniffled and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
“Then.”
Sophia gave a graceful nod and turned to leave. Erica followed her, thinking Sophia looked different somehow.
Erica loved Sophia, but it was the kind of love you feel for a beautiful doll you dress up. She had admired her laugh, her glow when dancing or talking—but she had never thought about Sophia as a full person.
“Are you really okay, my lady?”
Erica asked. Sophia sighed and turned to look at her.
“Yes. So stop acting so awkward. Go get the carriage ready.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Erica bowed and left. Sophia watched her walk away, then stared down the hallway. Nurses and doctors were busy moving among the patients. At the end of the hallway, sunlight shone through the windows.
There was a large oak tree with its leaves rustling in the breeze.
“Right… waking up after five months probably doesn’t look that pleasant.”
Sophia thought.
But she believed there was something more than just poison. As she turned her head with that thought, someone came up the stairs and into view from the other side of the hall—a familiar face.
She couldn’t remember the name exactly, but she was sure she had seen him a couple of times.
Who is that?
Sophia wondered. She knew all the noble names and faces, so it wasn’t that. Maybe he was a distant relative of a noble, or a school friend someone had brought to a party.
Sophia, who rarely experienced men forgetting her, prepared to greet him and tried to recall who he was. When there were only about three steps left between them, she finally remembered.
He was a doctor—one of the three who had seen her the day she went crazy from a strange smell.
“The best thing is to go to the doctor who examined you,” she had just heard that earlier—and now, here he was. Wasn’t this fate?
Sophia smiled and stepped forward to greet him.
But the doctor walked right past her without even looking, like she was a complete stranger.
