Queen of the Scalpel - Chapter 29 - Apprentice

Chapter 29: Apprentice

If it wasn’t for her advice, the empire’s forces would’ve been stabbed in the back. No, it wouldn’t have ended at their backs, but at their neck. ‘How amazing.’ He remembered the last time he saw Elise. She had a calm attitude, wise opinions, and a nice mind that was completely different from her immature past. He loved her like a niece, but that day, he really wanted her.

‘I must make her the Crown Princess. And make her quit that hospital quickly.’ After that, the Emperor and the prince began to speak about politics in the empire. The Emperor asked.

“When is your next undercover leave?”

“I’m thinking soon.”

Undercover leave. It was the mysterious secret of those who ruled the empire, as well as a tradition.

“Where are you going to go?”

“Heranro.”

Heranro was where the new bourgeoisie class lived. But the Emperor shook his head.

“How about Fier instead?”

“Fier?”

It was where all the poor people lived.

“I will. Is there a special reason why?”

“Isn’t that where Teresa Hospital is located?”

The Emperor smiled.

“There hasn’t been any news….go check how that child Elise is doing.”

***

Elise started to learn from Grayam as an official apprentice. He didn’t teach her things, she was just supposed to watch. She followed him like a shadow. Grayam occasionally asked her things like he remembered she was there.

“Do you know what this illness is?”

Elise replied with a polite voice.

“It is bacterial pneumonia.”

“How do you know? What if it’s just filled with water?”

“Based on the phlegm and results of observation, it is more likely it is pneumonia than it is filled with water.”

It was the correct answer. After her short response, Grayam turned away from her and focused on his diagnoses again. Elise just quietly watched. ‘I feel like I’m a medical student again.’ She thought to herself. During her time at Seoul Medical University, she waddled after her professors like this too. She was nervous and surprised from meeting patients for the first time…Thinking of her past, she smiled.

‘I better get my license quickly so I can make my own diagnoses soon.’ It was nice to watch like this, but she wanted to see patients herself. And do surgeries. ‘I’m sure there will be a chance.’ On the other hand, her teacher Grayam, was silently being shocked.

‘Just what is this kid?’ Even though he didn’t look interested, he was carefully observing her. ‘How can this be?’ At first, he asked questions about medical knowledge. They weren’t easy. You needed to know everything about the situation to answer. But she answered all his questions. Like she was reading off of a textbook. ‘So I raised the difficulty and asked about the patients’ diagnoses….’ And the results were more shocking. Her answers were as precise as an experienced doctor.

Even on the diagnoses he was confused on, she answered, and even when their opinions didn’t match up, her diagnosis was correct after the results came out. “How can this be?’

Grayam fell in confusion. ‘Has she diagnosed patients before?’ But how would a young girl like this have experienced this? ‘Or…a genius?’ There were some people like this in the world. Geniuses of the century who surpassed their age and experience. Great Alchemist Fleming was like that, and Count Graham who had rewritten medical history 80 years was like that too.

‘I don’t know. I don’t. That girl is one of those geniuses?’ Grayam sighed. His prejudice that a noble lady had taken to coming to the hospital as a hobby had changed. He was only confused looking at this unbelievable girl.

“Um, sir. What should I do?”

After he was done, Elise asked a question.

“There’s nothing special today. Go home.”

“Ok, thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She bowed and stepped back. And it was then.

“Wait. Rose.”

“Yes?”

“…”

Grayam didn’t immediately speak, and hesitated for a moment.

“Sir?”

When Elise made a strange face, he answered in an embarrassed voice.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

“I looked at you with prejudice and thought you were annoying.”

“…!”

At the unexpected apology, she was taken aback.

“N-No, it’s fine, teacher.”

“No. I judged you based on appearances. Sorry.”

She wasn’t the picky noble lady that he thought she was. ‘Rather….’ He thought of everything she had done, from the patients’ ward. They were patients that were neglected because they didn’t have any hope. Who would’ve treated them like she did?

“Anyways, let’s work harder from now on.”

At his genuine apology, she smiled.

“It’s fine, sir. I’ll work harder in the future, so please take good care of me.”

Grayam coughed like it was awkward.

“Tomorrow, don’t come here, but to the medical relief station.”

“…!”

Elise’s eyes became bigger.

“The medical relief station?”

“Yes.”

The medical relief station was like the emergency room back on earth. It was a place for emergency patients to be treated. In other words, there would be critical patients there.