Last Chance [Extra #2]

Part 17

King Ramil looked at the woman before him with curiosity and suspicion. One glance at her told him she wasn't an ordinary woman and judging by the knowing look in her eyes, she also noticed his condition. Even the best healers in the kingdom couldn't identify the King's illness, and yet it seemed that the foreign woman knew exactly what was wrong with him.

King Ramil didn't like it, so he decided to be blunt with the Herouxes. "Your eyes tell me you have something to say," he directed his stare at Celosia, getting a small smile in response. She expected that he would notice her stare, and she wanted him to ask her to get closer.

"I do. However, I believe Your Majesty should hear it alone."

"You may speak here. My chamberlain cannot reveal secrets even if he tried," the King gestures at the older man beside him, who then casually opened his mouth to show that he had no tongue. "I don't keep people who can't keep secrets."

"What a splendid idea, Your Majesty," Celosia smiled in approval, getting a proud grin from the King. He was glad the lady didn't show any fear or disgust at the sight of his chamberlain's cut tongue. She was an intriguing woman and the King wanted to get to know her more. She caught his attention when she told him she possessed technology that was beyond their time and could help the kingdom prosper. And then, she recognized his illness by just looking at him. He had no doubt she would be able to tell him what was wrong with him, but in order to do that, he would have to get closer to her. Only then would she reveal her secrets.

"As you see, he cannot say anything, so you can freely tell me what's on your mind."

"Very well. I can see that Your Majesty is seriously ill. I have encountered this illness before, although I have never suffered from it. There is a way to treat it, but it is unavailable here."

"Then why are you telling me about this?! Are you mocking me?!" the King was enraged. Why would she even mention treatment if it was impossible to get?

"I would not dare mock a royal, Your Majesty. What I'm trying to say is that although the medicine for your illness doesn't exist here yet, as it hasn't been identified, there is a way to get it. And that way is me. I have the medication you need, Your Majesty. And I guarantee it will cure you."

"How sure are you?" King Ramil was shocked and intrigued at the same time. What was this woman saying?

"I am willing to bet my life on it," Celosia said casually, earning a frightened gasp from Edgar.

The King remained silent for a short while, then beckoned at Celosia to come closer. "Show me the medicine."

Celosia simply opened her hand and summoned a bottle of antibiotics she knew from her previous lives. She was a doctor in her twenty-seventh life, one that specialized in infectious diseases. With her expertise, she could easily tell that King Ramil suffered from tuberculosis, commonly called TB. In the modern world, it was no longer a threat, as there were vaccines, but Celosia encountered the disease more than once. The treatment was simple – antibiotics. The only issue was that they needed to be taken for six months.

It gave Celosia the leverage she needed against the King. For six months, he would be completely at Celosia's mercy.

The King looked at the magic before him with a gleeful grin. The woman was a mage. How surprising. And exhilarating at the same time. She would be a great ally if he played his cards right. Mages were beyond rare, as their tribe was completely annihilated a thousand years ago by the first Emperor of the Forbandelse Empire.

King Ramil had never thought he'd see a mage in his life, especially one that was a citizen of the Empire.

'This woman is interesting,' he thought to himself and made the decision to make Celosia stay at his kingdom. She was an invaluable asset to have.