Doctor Hailey - Chapter 8

Faello slowly opened his eyes, and she cautiously assessed his condition.

“If only I had a stethoscope.”

She turned her gaze back to Faello.

“Are you okay? Are you awake?”

“Ugh… Brother.”

Hailey patted his chest as Faello spoke.

Seeing Faello recognize Hethos, it was clear that he was coming to his senses.

“Good, Faello! Do you recognize me?”

“Another… demon again… it seems.”

He struggled to sit up.

“Can you sit?”

Hethos immediately supported Faello so he could lean against the wall.

Faello buried his face in his hands with a pale expression, lips tightly sealed shut.

Hailey looked at Faello’s face, observing his dilated pupils as they began to swell.

“Do you remember anything from the seizure?”

Faello didn’t respond.

“I’m a doctor. I told Hethos too, but Faello isn’t possessed by a demon, so there’s no need to hide.”

After a sip, Faello sealed his lips again and covered his face with both hands, still not speaking.

“Faello.”

She called him again.

“Faello, you’re from Salisbury. You knew a lot about your illness.”

Only then, with Hethos’s words, did Faello remove his hands from his face and raise his head.

“Young Lady… Salisbury?”

Hailey raised the corner of her mouth slightly.

“Yes. I’m Doctor Hailey Salisbury. I was kidnapped while working in the Medical Academy lab. I wonder if all this happened to meet Faello.”

Hailey smiled subtly.

There was no reason to force the patient to talk about their symptoms when they didn’t want to.

The emergency situation had been successfully dealt with.

She just didn’t want to hear that damn demon talk again.

“I’ll say it again, Faello’s illness has nothing to do with demons.”

Her voice was firm.

“Miss…”

Faello’s voice trailed off.

“Both of you listen carefully. It’s not a demon, but a disease called epilepsy. And epilepsy can be treated.”

“Banish the demon…”

Faello raised his head urgently.

“Tre, treatable?”

Faello’s reaction was similar to Hethos’s. A mixture of joy and doubt, with a desperate desire to hold onto hope.

“Epilepsy can definitely improve. But first, we need both of you to help with an accurate diagnosis. First!”

Hailey paused for a moment.

It was very positive for both the patient and the patient’s guardian to actively change their minds.

“During this last seizure, did you have any memories from the seizure itself?”

She asked again what she had asked before.

“I… don’t remember.”

Faello answered this time.

Not remembering the seizure was a typical symptom of epilepsy.

She turned to Hethos.

“How old were you when you had your first seizure?”

“I don’t remember exactly, but I was young. I remember being over ten years old.”

How difficult it must have been.

Her medical history continued. For now, all she could do was confirm through medical history.

Faello occasionally had seizures that he remembered.

As their explanations grew longer, she gradually got a sense of it.

“Alright. Once we’re out of here, we’ll start with medication.”

“Th, then the demon… I mean, the seizures won’t happen again?”

Faello’s words made Hailey shake her head.

“No. We’ll have to monitor the progress while starting medication.”

Hethos patted Faello’s drooping shoulders.

“Still, there has never been anyone who spoke like you did. Even if you dedicate offerings to the Temple of Sun Religion… they always say to pray, or that demons will retreat if you drink holy water, but it was always just talk, wasn’t it?”

Hethos added while looking at Hailey.

“An extravagant sum was dedicated as a donation. The money received from making swords… most of it was donated to the Temple of Sun Religion.”

He sharpened the blade. Flames seemed to spew from his eyes.

“Whenever rumors about Faello’s condition spread, investigations were launched first at the nearby Temple of Sun Religion. Each time, I made substantial donations. Thanks to that, I didn’t receive a death sentence or get beaten up.”

Agony crept onto Faello’s face. Hethos patted his chest.

“At first, those who claimed they would drive out demons as if to instantly cure Faello only ended up offering a few prayers. Then, when Faello showed symptoms again…”

“They treated me not just as someone possessed but as the demon itself.”

Hailey’s voice chilled.

There are various religions, but in the Empire, the Temple of Sun Religion holds the greatest sway.

“It’s the most corrupt. Of course, there are good priests too.”

She pushed thoughts of the Temple of Sun Religion out of her mind.

“Anyway, once we leave here, we’ll start with medicinal treatments.”

Both Hethos and Faello nodded at Hailey’s words.

“Thank you so much, miss. I will definitely make those swords you mentioned!”

“Brother!”

Faello shot up.

Before she could say anything, Faello spoke, his voice trembling.

“You can’t make swords again because of me! You don’t need to do that for me. Miss, you don’t have to undergo treatment.”

She touched her forehead with her hand.

Why don’t these foolish brothers listen to the end?

“How much agony did you go through making swords again? I know that very well, yet you try to make swords for my sake.”

Faello’s voice grew louder.

Hailey couldn’t help but laugh now. It was uncontrollable.

“Miss, even if you’re from the Solzberry family, you can’t receive swords from our brother. When we decided to settle in the Solzberry territory and went to see the Count, we already made a promise!”

Hailey’s eyes sparkled.

“You met father?”

“He came first! And he promised not to take any weapon-making requests!”

“Of course. Father is like that. Didn’t he say he would even stop other nobles from coming?”

“That’s right! The Count is such an amazing person. How could you think of using Miss here to get a sword…”

Faello fell silent, catching her gaze.

Hailey was now laughing until tears streamed down her face.

“After all that yelling, do you realize you were too harsh on nobles?”

Hailey looked at Hethos.

“Do you understand what I was feeling earlier?”

“I’m sorry, Miss. He takes after me, he’s impulsive and doesn’t listen to the end.”

“Brother!”

“If you yell one more time, I won’t stand still!”

Faello trembled at Hethos’s words.

“Apologize to the Miss quickly! She saved your life regardless of her nobility, yet you’re so rude!”

“Brother… even so, making swords again…”

“I’m not making a sword, I’m making a medical knife! Thanks to this Miss, I finally have a chance to wash off the blood on my hands, figuratively speaking!”

“They’re truly siblings.”

Hailey said bluntly.

Hethos lowered his head, looking at Faello’s widened eyes.

“By the way, why were we dragged here when we’ve already decided to settle on the estate and met our father?”

Hethos hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“…I think I might be the bait to lure out the Count.”