Medicine | King Baldwin

27

That evening, once Isabel confirmed that the soaps had dried completely, she carefully selected one and gathered the necessary supplies. She made her way to the king's chamber, her steps measured and deliberate.

As she entered the dimly lit room, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the walls. Isabel's eyes quickly found Baldwin seated at a large wooden table. He was hunched over, his posture rigid, holding a letter in his gloved hand. The room was silent, save for the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth.

Baldwin did not acknowledge her entrance immediately, his attention fully absorbed by the contents of the letter. The piercing intensity of his gaze was evident even through the mask.

Isabel paused for a moment, observing the king. His silent stillness and the way he gripped the letter spoke volumes about the burden he carried. She hesitated briefly, not wanting to intrude, but then took a deep breath, reminding herself why she had come.

"Your Majesty." she said softly, her voice breaking the silence but remaining gentle.

Baldwin's eyes lifted slowly from the letter, meeting Isabel's with a piercing gaze that softened slightly upon recognizing her.

"My lady." Baldwin greeted her, his voice tinged with fatigue. He let out a heavy sigh, then leaned back in his chair, the letter now held loosely in his hand.

Isabel noticed that the king seemed a bit agitated, perhaps even restless. She couldn't pinpoint what might have caused this, but she decided it was best to address it after tending to his needs.

"Your Majesty." she began softly, her voice soothing. "I brought something." she said, holding up the freshly made soap.

Baldwin's eyes flickered with interest as he looked at the soap. "What is it?" he asked, his curiosity momentarily distracting him from his troubles.

"Soap." Isabel smiled, her face lighting up with the joy of a happy child. Seeing the enormous smile on her face, the king couldn't help but smile as well, even beneath his mask.

"Soap." he repeated softly, his eyes crinkling with a hidden smile. "And where did you get soap?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

"I made it." Isabel reiterated, a sense of accomplishment evident in her voice as she held up the bar of soap. Baldwin's eyebrows lifted in surprise, his interest piqued.

"You made it yourself?" he echoed, a mix of admiration and curiosity coloring his tone.

"Yes." Isabel replied as Baldwin carefully took the soap from her and examined it between his hands.

"How?" he asked, curious.

"I suppose some secrets are best kept close." the girl continued with a mischievous glint in her eye, her tone light-hearted. "After all, a little mystery adds intrigue to life, wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?" She flashed a playful smile.

"Ah, but where's the fun in that?" he teased, leaning in conspiratorially. "Besides, secrets have a way of finding their way out eventually." The man chuckled.

"True enough." she admitted, her smile widening. "But until then, I'll enjoy the suspense." She said.

"I won't pry." Baldwin interjected defensively, a hint of amusement in his voice as he raised his hands in a placating gesture.

Isabel proceeded with her usual routine, but before doing so, she submerged the soap into a bucket of water to soften it. Meanwhile, the man removed his mask, along with his white coat and gloves, revealing himself in a brown pair of trousers and a loose white linen tunic.