Doctor Hailey

Nadia quickly turned her head.

Hailey covered her mouth with her hand.

Nadia placed one end of the wooden tube against the patient’s chest.

Then, she put the other end to her ear and listened.

‘It’s embarrassing to even call this a stethoscope.’

Hailey lowered her hand from her mouth.

It wasn’t surprising to see a patient in the prison.

Rats roamed freely, dirty water was everywhere, and proper nutrition was lacking.

It was more surprising to see someone like Nadia examining a patient so naturally.

Hailey watched Nadia while standing next to the patient, examining the patient’s complexion.

The area around the eyes was very dark, deeply sunken, making him look like a skull.

Hailey’s expression hardened as she observed the patient.

His skin was dry and flaky.

It wasn’t unusual for a prisoner’s skin to be dry, but this was extreme.

No matter how much of a prisoner he was, this was too much.

Hailey quickly approached the patient.

“What are you doing?”

Nadia shouted while listening to the patient.

Hailey pushed Nadia aside.

She immediately opened the prisoner’s mouth. His lips were completely cracked and his mouth was dry without a drop of saliva.

“How much diarrhea has he had?”

Hailey asked urgently.

The prisoners all turned to look at Nadia.

“How long has he had diarrhea and how much?”

She shouted.

“Since a few days ago…”

“And the others?”

Hailey clenched her fist at the sight of the prisoners avoiding eye contact.

“Anyone else having diarrhea or vomiting…”

“Many have already died.”

Nadia interrupted her.

Hailey’s gaze naturally shifted to Nadia.

Despite her harsh words, Nadia’s face was young, and her eyes looking down at the prisoner were filled with tears.

“Do you think the high-ranking nobles care if these criminals die?”

Nadia’s voice was filled with anger.

“The patient is severely dehydrated.”

“Dehydrated?”

“It means his body lacks water, but in this case, it’s not just a lack… it’s dangerous.”

“I know what dehydration is! I’ve been giving him as much water as I could.”

Hailey looked around. She saw a container holding water in the prison.

“That water?”

“It’s dirty… but there’s nothing else to drink.”

Nadia’s voice grew quieter.

Hailey swallowed a sigh with difficulty.

“Is there no clean drinking water supplied?”

Even if they didn’t provide proper food, water was essential for survival.

“They supply drinking water sometimes… but it’s not regular, so we store it in containers and drink it.”

“What about the other patients? Cholera is contagious. Especially in these conditions, it spreads more easily.”

“Cholera?”

“I’ll explain the disease later. First, how many people on this floor have diarrhea and vomiting? Please find that out.”

Nadia narrowed her eyes at Hailey before standing up.

“Fine! Follow me.”

Without waiting for a response, Nadia headed into the corridor.

Hailey looked down at the prisoner. He would be in danger if left unattended for much longer.

But what worried her more was how far it had spread.

“Do we count only those with both symptoms or also those with just one?”

Nadia asked.

“Even if they have just one symptom.”

“Anyone with diarrhea or vomiting, raise your hand in each cell!”

Nadia shouted, and Hailey headed towards the end of the corridor.

‘I need to make oral rehydration solution. And… if the outside water supply is contaminated…’

She shook her head. She didn’t want to think of such terrible possibilities.

Cholera could kill hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people.

Historically, cholera had caused numerous deaths worldwide.

In modern times, it was easy to treat with antibiotics and rehydration therapy, but in countries lacking doctors and supplies, cholera still claimed many lives.

And in the Empire,

‘There’s no cholera vaccine, and the treatment standards are even lower.’

* * *

Hailey climbed the stairs without hesitation. There were no guards to stop her.

Even when she reached the first floor, only darkness greeted her, the surroundings as quiet as a mouse.

Moonlight shone through the door leading outside.

Judging by the moonlight, it wasn’t dawn yet.

She paused in front of the door.

She frowned and pursed her lips. She lightly slapped her cheeks and brushed her hair back.

She checked her appearance in the glass.

Her clothes were indistinguishable from rags, no different from the other prisoners.

She chuckled to herself and walked towards the door.

‘It feels like I’m escaping.’

Suppressing her tension, she stepped outside, and the dawn breeze brushed her shoulders.

She shivered for a moment but thought of the patient.

‘Urgent.’

Dehydration from cholera became increasingly dangerous over time.

She looked around. No other buildings were in sight.

She saw torches flickering at regular intervals along the distant walls.

She ran towards the torches without hesitation.

“Ouch!”

Hailey fell but quickly got up. She bit her lip to suppress a groan.

“Who’s there!”

“Who goes there!”

At the sound of voices, she slowly raised her head.

Two guards approached, their footsteps echoing.

She tried to stand, but two spears stopped her.

“Escaping from prison? You must be mad!”

One guard said.

“I’m not escaping.”

Hailey raised her hands, but the guards’ stern expressions didn’t change.

If they were so alarmed, why did they manage the prison so poorly? The prisoners could easily unlock the locks.

“There’s a patient whose life is in danger without immediate treatment. Maybe…”

“Shut up!”

At the guard’s harsh words, Hailey closed her mouth.

She gathered her thoughts and tried to speak again, but the guard pricked her neck with the spear.

“Ugh.”

“You deserve instant execution, but I’ll let it pass once. Follow me!”

The guard pulled back the spear and said.

Hailey touched her neck. Her skin was hot.

She shook her head.

“I’m not asking to be freed, just for some sugar, salt, and clean water.”

“Open your mouth one more time and…”

The guard raised the spear again.

“I’m not trying to escape!”

She said. Then,

“What’s all this commotion!”

The guards’ eyes widened.

Hailey followed their gaze.

Two men were walking slowly from a distance.

As they got closer, their faces became clearer.

“Captain!”

The two guards shouted in unison and bowed.

Hailey stared at them blankly.

The man they called Captain was someone she hadn’t seen before.

But the man walking beside him made her doubt her eyes.