Crown Prince Sells Medicine

Chapter 115

Several days had gone by.

During that period, Raciel remained dedicated to caring for the wounded soldiers. He was consistently the first to rise at dawn.

My bonus lifespan!

Regardless of his exhaustion or the sensation of his body seemingly melting away, he never skipped a day. His initial priority was assessing the condition of the injured soldiers and administering Randekasol to their wounds.

Randekasol was an ointment derived from the traditional herbal remedy Jawoongo, and its effects were naturally remarkable.

In the end, Jawoongo itself is quite a beneficial ointment.

It was an ointment used for various skin conditions, burns, and injuries. Particularly, Angelica and Rehmannia in Jawoongo had beneficial effects.

Angelica supplied nutrients to the skin and encouraged tissue regeneration. It also had mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Rehmannia could reduce fever, detoxify, and disinfect. Additionally, it contained a natural antibiotic substance provided by Queen larva of Apfros.

Its effects were remarkable.

Excellent. The swelling has noticeably reduced.

Every morning, when he inspected the injured soldiers and removed their bandages, he felt a sense of unease.

Was it because of the gruesome appearance of the wounds?

Certainly not.

His fear was that the wounds might have worsened overnight, that they might have become infected, filled with pus, or inflamed, jeopardizing the soldiers recovery and even their lives.

That was his greatest concern.

Most of the soldiers were severely injured. Bacterial infections could derail their recovery and pose a serious threat to their lives.

Randekasol effectively prevented this. It reduced swelling and soothed oozing wounds. New tissue literally sprouted.

All right, its time to apply the medicine again. Stay still.

Uh ugh

Does it sting?

Its bearable, Medical Officer.

Good. Youve endured it well again today. The stitched areas are healing nicely.

Everything was progressing as planned. The injured soldiers were recovering smoothly.

This gave him hope. He attended to their needs with even greater diligence, remaining by their side for most of the day. Consequently, his entourage also became busy. This included not only Gardin but also the knights of Anbouaz whom the princess had assigned to guard Raciel.

The knights, too, rolled up their sleeves. While caring for the wounded soldiers alongside Raciel and Gardin, they pondered,

Why is the Crown Prince of Magentano so dedicated?

These wounded soldiers arent technically his subjects, but ours from Anbouaz. Why is he so committed?

Had they ever considered caring for the wounded with such dedication? Had they ever thought that their efforts could save lives?

No.

Never.

The knights felt this deep inside and observed Raciel as he inserted a needle into a wound.

Suddenly, they felt a sense of shame.

They were knights who valued honor, yet they had never paid attention to dying soldiers. They had focused solely on protecting the royal family and enhancing their own honor.

What was true honor? Displaying bravery on the battlefield? Safeguarding the royal family and their lords?

Suddenly, they realized it was more than that. It was a strange and unfamiliar thought and feeling, but it didnt repulse them. Instead, they wanted to learn from it, to change. And they werent the only ones who felt this way.

My Lord?

Late into the night.

Gardin gently roused Raciel, who had dozed off next to an injured soldier. However, Raciel, in a deeper slumber than expected, didnt open his eyes. Eventually, Gardin softly tapped his lords shoulder.

My lord?

Hmm, ah, hmm?

Startled, the Crown Prince awoke. He looked up with a blank expression, showing vulnerability that made Gardin smile faintly.

Are you okay?

Huh? Me?

Yes.

Ah, my shoulder. I nodded off. Its fine, its fine.

But you were drooling.

No, on the other side.

Ughh!

Raciels sleeve quickly moved.

The wrists and forearms visible through the sleeves were slender. He had always had a fairly lean physique, but lately, he seemed even thinner, perhaps from exhaustion while caring for the wounded.

Gardin expressed concern.

Youve been pushing yourself too hard lately. Im worried.

Me?

Yes, you might collapse.

Oh, Im fine. I know my body well.

But, my Lord. No, Your Highness.

Gardin changed his tone.

I didnt plan to say this, but I must today.

What are you trying to say?

Raciels expression hardened.

Was Gardin going to object or offer some bitter advice?

Youve been pushing yourself quite hard lately. Youve stayed up many nights and barely had time to eat.

It was unavoidable.

There were more wounded soldiers than he could handle, and too few hands to help. By cutting down on sleep, breaks, and meals, he just managed to care for all the wounded soldiers.

Because of this, every part of his body protested daily. Youll collapse, they seemed to declare, almost going on strike. And now Gardin wanted to join them in their nagging?

If he really nags me, Ill just scold him and ignore it.

Thats what power was for, Raciel thought. But then, unexpected words came from Gardin.

Ive been doing some deep reflection recently.

What?

Im sincere.

?

What is he talking about? What is he reflecting on?

Gardin continued, When I first came here, no, even when I followed you from Imperial Capital to Anbouaz, I was skeptical of your plan.

Skeptical?

Yes.

Gardin nodded slowly.

I wondered how many soldiers we could save, even if you took charge and I helped. Thats how I felt when I saw the camp after arriving here. To me, these were all soldiers doomed to die. But

But?

You were different.

Gardin spoke with an unusual confidence.

You never gave up. You didnt compromise with reality or retreat. If there was no way, you desperately found a new one; if that path was treacherous, you led without hesitation. Thats why Ive been feeling a lot and reflecting.

I see?

Yes, Your Highness. I will continue to feel and learn more. So, I want to take even better care of your health.

Gardin spoke with a solemn expression.

He was genuine.

He used to think that the wounded were best left to their fate, but that perspective had changed. As he followed his master and cared for the injured, and as he witnessed these treated soldiers gradually leaving their sickbeds, he deeply regretted his past indifference. He felt he had never put in enough effort to find ways to save more lives.

Please dont leave me behind. I have the audacity to ask this.

Uh, can I be brutally honest?

Yes, Your Highness.

I almost died from cringing just now.

My limbs nearly vanished, seriously.

Im already exhausted, and here we are in the middle of the night. If you have time to say such things, why dont you go around the camp and check on the wounded? See if any soldiers have a fever, if their breathing is stable, if there are any other emergencies.

Shall we get to work? Right?

Yes, Your Highness.

And so, Gardins slightly cringe-worthy sincerity was promptly suppressed(?).

******

The days of treatment continued.

They poured their utmost effort into it.

Emergency surgeries were performed, stitches were sewn, lidocaine was applied, ointments were prescribed, and acupuncture was administered to those who needed it. Balanced meals and thorough hygiene were the basics. Day by day, as fatigue accumulated, the scorching summer days passed by.

One day, two days, ten days, a fortnight, a month.

During this time, many injured soldiers got up and left. Tiery, the senior soldier who was the first to receive emergency surgery in the camp, was also one of them.

I cant believe I can walk again.

Is this really happening?

On the first day he was able to stand on his own, Tiery lifted his face in deep emotion. The hot sunlight touching his forehead seemed unbelievable. Just the fact that he could walk properly again filled his heart with overwhelming emotion.

I never thought this day would come

He had given up on himself. When he was lying on that filthy bed, it truly felt like the end. There was no hope of survival. The festering wound was unbearably painful.

I wish this pain would end soon, he had thought. Just hoping that the end would not be too painful, he waited for death, panting day by day.

But now, everything had changed.

His terrible wound had healed. They didnt have to amputate his arm. His side had also healed. Now he could walk on both legs. He could even dare to dream of a future.

Such emotions werent his alone. Many other wounded soldiers also rose, one by one, sharing in the joy of recovery, embracing each other. The entire camp was filled with smiles of relief and happiness.

However, there was one person who did not share in this joy: Raciel.

On the evening when the thirtieth injured soldier walked away healed, a modest feast was underway in the camp. Raciel discreetly slipped away from the boisterous celebrations among the soldiers and returned to his humble tent. He opened a chest.

Inside, he kept an assortment of odds and ends. More accurately, they were keepsakes. Remembrances of the soldiers who couldnt be saved in the camp, whose wounds ran too deep, or who had received treatment too late, or despite every possible effort, had sadly passed away.

A glove marked by someones sweat.

A poignant necklace from another.

All were items Raciel had gathered from deceased soldiers, intended to be sent to their families as tokens in lieu of their bodies.

His eyes drifted over these keepsakes.

With each one he examined, he recalled the final moments of the soldiers who had possessed them. The labored breathing that had ceased, the vacant stares they couldnt focus, the trembling hands that had clung to his own. It all felt as though it had just occurred.

If only my skills had been a bit better, could I have saved them?

There was no way to know.

Though he had given his all, his best had fallen short. These were the patients under his care, yet he couldnt ultimately rescue them. This was unfamiliar territory; in his clinic, patients rarely succumbed because they were typically transferred to larger hospitals.

But here, the story was different.

The experience of witnessing patients he was treating pass away, helpless to prevent it, was a new and harrowing reality. Each time a person closed their eyes, it felt like a nail being driven into his hearta nail that would never be removed.

It hurt.

He felt remorse.

So there he sat, alone, tears streaming down his face as he handled the keepsakes of those who had departed.

Raciel wiped his tears away silently, sitting alone for an extended period.

Meanwhile, numerous eyes outside the tent were fixed on him. These were the injured soldiers who had wanted to express their gratitude to the medical officer, who had quietly slipped away during the feast. None of them could muster the courage to approach him. Seeing the medical officer dealing with the keepsakes of their fallen comrades and finally shedding tears, the soldiers own eyes welled up with emotion.

Everyone made a solemn commitment.

Regardless of what lay ahead, even if they had to face the depths of hell, they would unfailingly follow that medical officer. They pledged unwavering loyalty, forever.

(To be Continued)

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