Erdene, who had lowered her head, burst into laughter again. It seemed that she had no strength left to be angry.
“Go back, Arkan.”
There was too much going on today. Erdene thought. Montiel Zelma’s despairing expression flashed before her eyes.
It suddenly felt like a hundred years ago when she had made Arkan angry in order to root out the cause of the trouble and had returned to the palace with him on horseback.
The moment she felt her head hot, Erdene’s body swayed.
“Erdene!”
Arkan quickly held her up. However, Erdene’s consciousness had already drifted far away.
The moment Erdene lost consciousness, Arkan moved his body without even having time to think about what he had been talking about with her just a moment ago. When he picked up the fallen Erdene, he felt her body temperature as hot as a fireball.
No matter how he thought about it, cold sweat ran down her back because of her abnormal physical condition.
When he shouted, Sophia was the first to come running in, followed by the maids from the Queen’s palace.
While the palace doctor was called in and the maids were busy moving around, Arkan chewed his lips and paced around Erdene’s feet.
The palace doctor, who had examined her unconscious state, diagnosed that Erdene had a fever.
“Fever!”
Arkan raised his voice as if he was shocked, and the palace doctor’s expression darkened with worry.
Sophia, who had been guarding by his side, also looked at the palace doctor with bewildered eyes.
“Fever? Are you talking about autumn fever?”
“Yes, Miss Fiddler.”
Arkan asked again.
“I have never heard of anyone collapsing due to autumn fever. I don’t know if it was a very weak old person or a newborn baby, but you must not be saying this because you don’t know how strong the Queen is. The temperature I felt when I supported the collapsing Queen was not at all at the level of a fever. You will re-diagnose.”
The palace doctor said in an awkward voice.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. According to my diagnosis, it is definitely autumn fever. There is a sharp crackling sound from the windpipe and chest, and Her Majesty’s throat is severely swollen. The temperature is high, but the fever continues to rise because she cannot sweat, which is the same symptom as other people. However...”
“However?”
Arkan urged him first, unable to wait for the palace doctor to finish his hesitant words.
The palace doctor looked at the Queen, who was lying quietly with a red fever that had not subsided, with an awkward gaze.
“I think, Your Majesty. The people of the inland, including Vetor, have suffered from autumn fever for a long time and have been getting it often, so they have the strength to fight the disease. However, Her Majesty is from Hirschsten, and as far as I know, there is no disease like autumn fever there.”
“So?”
The palace doctor swallowed dry saliva.
“...The Queen has suffered from autumn fever for the first time since birth, so the symptoms are severe and the recovery process may be very slow. It would be fortunate if she recovers, but if she doesn’t...”
“There is no such thing as an unfavorable case.”
At Arkan’s words, the court doctor, Sophia, and those around her all looked at him.
Arkan, whose tightly shut lips were trembling slightly, said,
“Do you understand what I mean? There is no such thing as an unfavorable case for the Queen. Autumn fever is not a serious illness. Most of the people of Vetor suffer from autumn fever, but in the entire kingdom, only a few dozen people die, and even then, they are either chronically ill or extremely weak. The Queen does not fall into either of those two categories. So don’t talk about an unfavorable case for the Queen. It is impossible.”
The court doctor was so flustered that he couldn’t say a word in response. Sophia was also surprised by Arkan’s attitude.
It wasn’t just firm, it was almost reckless.
“Your Majesty, the Privy Councilor is waiting to see you.”
As Plat carefully spoke, Arkan looked back at Erdene with a complicated expression.
Her pale cheeks were still like fireballs with a sickly flush, and her hair which was disheveled on the sheets urged his anxiety.
Sophia said,
“Your Majesty, this place will be guarded by me and the maids of the Queen’s Palace in turns, so don’t worry too much and take care of the affairs.”
Don’t worry, Arkan thought. How could that be possible?
“...I understand. If the Queen’s condition improves, let me know right away. Don’t bother anyone else. Just let me know.”
“I will.”
Arkan looked back at Erdene’s face, who was quietly closing her eyes, one last time before leaving the Queen’s Palace. The palace doctor looked back at Erdene, wiping the sweat on his forehead without hiding his embarrassed expression.
He checked her temperature again, but it was still the same, not going down at all.
Sophia said,
“Is there anything that can help Her Majesty?”
“In her current state, it’s not much... Her Majesty should wake up and take medicine, but since she hasn’t regained consciousness, that won’t work either. First, lowering her body temperature is the top priority, so keep wiping Her Majesty’s body. Don’t open the window, and don’t take off the sheets.”
“It’s something that needs to be sweaty.”
“Yes. I’ll go back to the letter of resignation and try to do something with the other palace doctors to reduce the swelling in her throat. Autumn fever is an inflammation that starts in the throat and spreads, causing a fever and pain. As I said before, people in the interior have suffered from this disease for a very long time. So, it’s easy to get over it in a day or two, but I can’t guarantee it for Her Majesty. The climate in the empire is very different from the interior.”
Sophia looked down at Erdene with a worried expression.
“The winters in the empire are said to be harsher than inland, so why is Her Majesty so susceptible to fever?”
“It’s not simply a matter of temperature differences. The empire is dry all year round, and the temperature difference between fall and winter isn’t that big. Even in summer, it’s not scorching hot. However, it’s different once you get inland. Her body has a hard time adjusting. Her diet must have changed, too.”
Sophia sighed and said.
“First, please think of a way to bring down her fever as much as possible. As I said, the maids and I will take turns lowering Your Majesty’s body temperature.”
“It can be contagious, so be careful. Even if it is contagious, it won’t be very dangerous, but we need to think about what to do.”
After the doctor left, Sophia called Anne and Sabnake in first. Anne was relatively calm, but Sabnake kept stamping her feet and her big eyes were filled with tears.
“Oh my God, what should I do about this? What if Her Majesty doesn’t wake up?”
“Be careful what you say, Sabnake. Her Majesty wakes up. Don’t say anything ominous.”
When Sophia scolded her, Sabnake pursed her lips with a sad expression.
Anne, who usually didn’t speak, also had a gloomy face.
None of her attendants would have thought that Erdene, of all people, would collapse so easily and not regain consciousness.
“The palace doctor said that we need to wash Her Majesty’s body and lower her body temperature, so it would be good for the three of us to take turns. Anne, tells the other children to quietly do their own things so that rumors about Her Majesty’s illness don’t spread. Sabnake, you go and bring a clean towel and lukewarm water. Not too hot.”
“Understood, Miss.”
Anne hurriedly dragged Sabnake’s wrist, who was reluctant to leave the bedside, and went outside.
Sophia bit her lips with an anxious expression and touched Erdene’s forehead and nape, then withdrew her hand in surprise.
Her entire body was hot as fire.
But since she didn’t sweat a single drop, she had a terrible feeling that the fire was starting from within her body.
Sophia sighed and lifted the sheet slightly over Erdene’s shoulders.
As Arkan had said, autumn fever was not a serious illness for the people of Vetor. However, her anxiety only continued to grow.
The Privy Councilor had come to Arkan to report something about the records that Count Zelma had attempted to forge a month or two ago.
“I have confirmed that the Count did not simply incite or pressure the archivists, but rather gave them money or objects that constituted a kind of bribe.”
Before the Privy Councilor could finish speaking, Plat glanced at Arkan.
Arkan, who had been furrowing his brow with his mouth shut, tilted his head and rubbed his forehead.
“Who are they?”
“Royal Archivist Petri, and his subordinate archivist Kiter, and Kirsten, who was in charge of organizing the records at the time.”
“Archiver.”
Arkan laughed and quietly closed his eyes.
The archivist was an important position that oversaw the records of various events that occurred in the palace.
There were documents that even high-ranking officials, not to mention fellow archivists, could not access without permission from the archivist and the Privy Council.
A person in such a position took bribes and personally tampered with the records...
Arkan had no reason not to be angry.
“I will demote all archivists belonging to the Privy Council related to Count Zelma’s case. The election of a new archivist will be urgently discussed at the bureaucrat meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
“And, in addition to the assassination involving Etonhorn and Kensilom, I will also review all records related to the Queen. And have me confirm it.”
“Do you think they have done this before?”
“Go back, Arkan.”
There was too much going on today. Erdene thought. Montiel Zelma’s despairing expression flashed before her eyes.
It suddenly felt like a hundred years ago when she had made Arkan angry in order to root out the cause of the trouble and had returned to the palace with him on horseback.
The moment she felt her head hot, Erdene’s body swayed.
“Erdene!”
Arkan quickly held her up. However, Erdene’s consciousness had already drifted far away.
***
The moment Erdene lost consciousness, Arkan moved his body without even having time to think about what he had been talking about with her just a moment ago. When he picked up the fallen Erdene, he felt her body temperature as hot as a fireball.
No matter how he thought about it, cold sweat ran down her back because of her abnormal physical condition.
When he shouted, Sophia was the first to come running in, followed by the maids from the Queen’s palace.
While the palace doctor was called in and the maids were busy moving around, Arkan chewed his lips and paced around Erdene’s feet.
The palace doctor, who had examined her unconscious state, diagnosed that Erdene had a fever.
“Fever!”
Arkan raised his voice as if he was shocked, and the palace doctor’s expression darkened with worry.
Sophia, who had been guarding by his side, also looked at the palace doctor with bewildered eyes.
“Fever? Are you talking about autumn fever?”
“Yes, Miss Fiddler.”
Arkan asked again.
“I have never heard of anyone collapsing due to autumn fever. I don’t know if it was a very weak old person or a newborn baby, but you must not be saying this because you don’t know how strong the Queen is. The temperature I felt when I supported the collapsing Queen was not at all at the level of a fever. You will re-diagnose.”
The palace doctor said in an awkward voice.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. According to my diagnosis, it is definitely autumn fever. There is a sharp crackling sound from the windpipe and chest, and Her Majesty’s throat is severely swollen. The temperature is high, but the fever continues to rise because she cannot sweat, which is the same symptom as other people. However...”
“However?”
Arkan urged him first, unable to wait for the palace doctor to finish his hesitant words.
The palace doctor looked at the Queen, who was lying quietly with a red fever that had not subsided, with an awkward gaze.
“I think, Your Majesty. The people of the inland, including Vetor, have suffered from autumn fever for a long time and have been getting it often, so they have the strength to fight the disease. However, Her Majesty is from Hirschsten, and as far as I know, there is no disease like autumn fever there.”
“So?”
The palace doctor swallowed dry saliva.
“...The Queen has suffered from autumn fever for the first time since birth, so the symptoms are severe and the recovery process may be very slow. It would be fortunate if she recovers, but if she doesn’t...”
“There is no such thing as an unfavorable case.”
At Arkan’s words, the court doctor, Sophia, and those around her all looked at him.
Arkan, whose tightly shut lips were trembling slightly, said,
“Do you understand what I mean? There is no such thing as an unfavorable case for the Queen. Autumn fever is not a serious illness. Most of the people of Vetor suffer from autumn fever, but in the entire kingdom, only a few dozen people die, and even then, they are either chronically ill or extremely weak. The Queen does not fall into either of those two categories. So don’t talk about an unfavorable case for the Queen. It is impossible.”
The court doctor was so flustered that he couldn’t say a word in response. Sophia was also surprised by Arkan’s attitude.
It wasn’t just firm, it was almost reckless.
“Your Majesty, the Privy Councilor is waiting to see you.”
As Plat carefully spoke, Arkan looked back at Erdene with a complicated expression.
Her pale cheeks were still like fireballs with a sickly flush, and her hair which was disheveled on the sheets urged his anxiety.
Sophia said,
“Your Majesty, this place will be guarded by me and the maids of the Queen’s Palace in turns, so don’t worry too much and take care of the affairs.”
Don’t worry, Arkan thought. How could that be possible?
“...I understand. If the Queen’s condition improves, let me know right away. Don’t bother anyone else. Just let me know.”
“I will.”
Arkan looked back at Erdene’s face, who was quietly closing her eyes, one last time before leaving the Queen’s Palace. The palace doctor looked back at Erdene, wiping the sweat on his forehead without hiding his embarrassed expression.
He checked her temperature again, but it was still the same, not going down at all.
Sophia said,
“Is there anything that can help Her Majesty?”
“In her current state, it’s not much... Her Majesty should wake up and take medicine, but since she hasn’t regained consciousness, that won’t work either. First, lowering her body temperature is the top priority, so keep wiping Her Majesty’s body. Don’t open the window, and don’t take off the sheets.”
“It’s something that needs to be sweaty.”
“Yes. I’ll go back to the letter of resignation and try to do something with the other palace doctors to reduce the swelling in her throat. Autumn fever is an inflammation that starts in the throat and spreads, causing a fever and pain. As I said before, people in the interior have suffered from this disease for a very long time. So, it’s easy to get over it in a day or two, but I can’t guarantee it for Her Majesty. The climate in the empire is very different from the interior.”
Sophia looked down at Erdene with a worried expression.
“The winters in the empire are said to be harsher than inland, so why is Her Majesty so susceptible to fever?”
“It’s not simply a matter of temperature differences. The empire is dry all year round, and the temperature difference between fall and winter isn’t that big. Even in summer, it’s not scorching hot. However, it’s different once you get inland. Her body has a hard time adjusting. Her diet must have changed, too.”
Sophia sighed and said.
“First, please think of a way to bring down her fever as much as possible. As I said, the maids and I will take turns lowering Your Majesty’s body temperature.”
“It can be contagious, so be careful. Even if it is contagious, it won’t be very dangerous, but we need to think about what to do.”
After the doctor left, Sophia called Anne and Sabnake in first. Anne was relatively calm, but Sabnake kept stamping her feet and her big eyes were filled with tears.
“Oh my God, what should I do about this? What if Her Majesty doesn’t wake up?”
“Be careful what you say, Sabnake. Her Majesty wakes up. Don’t say anything ominous.”
When Sophia scolded her, Sabnake pursed her lips with a sad expression.
Anne, who usually didn’t speak, also had a gloomy face.
None of her attendants would have thought that Erdene, of all people, would collapse so easily and not regain consciousness.
“The palace doctor said that we need to wash Her Majesty’s body and lower her body temperature, so it would be good for the three of us to take turns. Anne, tells the other children to quietly do their own things so that rumors about Her Majesty’s illness don’t spread. Sabnake, you go and bring a clean towel and lukewarm water. Not too hot.”
“Understood, Miss.”
Anne hurriedly dragged Sabnake’s wrist, who was reluctant to leave the bedside, and went outside.
Sophia bit her lips with an anxious expression and touched Erdene’s forehead and nape, then withdrew her hand in surprise.
Her entire body was hot as fire.
But since she didn’t sweat a single drop, she had a terrible feeling that the fire was starting from within her body.
Sophia sighed and lifted the sheet slightly over Erdene’s shoulders.
As Arkan had said, autumn fever was not a serious illness for the people of Vetor. However, her anxiety only continued to grow.
***
The Privy Councilor had come to Arkan to report something about the records that Count Zelma had attempted to forge a month or two ago.
“I have confirmed that the Count did not simply incite or pressure the archivists, but rather gave them money or objects that constituted a kind of bribe.”
Before the Privy Councilor could finish speaking, Plat glanced at Arkan.
Arkan, who had been furrowing his brow with his mouth shut, tilted his head and rubbed his forehead.
“Who are they?”
“Royal Archivist Petri, and his subordinate archivist Kiter, and Kirsten, who was in charge of organizing the records at the time.”
“Archiver.”
Arkan laughed and quietly closed his eyes.
The archivist was an important position that oversaw the records of various events that occurred in the palace.
There were documents that even high-ranking officials, not to mention fellow archivists, could not access without permission from the archivist and the Privy Council.
A person in such a position took bribes and personally tampered with the records...
Arkan had no reason not to be angry.
“I will demote all archivists belonging to the Privy Council related to Count Zelma’s case. The election of a new archivist will be urgently discussed at the bureaucrat meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
“And, in addition to the assassination involving Etonhorn and Kensilom, I will also review all records related to the Queen. And have me confirm it.”
“Do you think they have done this before?”
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