LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 91
Episode 91: The Golden Ring Around the Iris (3)
****
Me and Istina decided to bow out. We’d done all we could, and now it was up to that family to sort things out on their own.
Medicine might fix the disease, but it can’t mend broken communication or fractured family relationships. For that, they’ll need someone else… not me.
“So, why do you think it happened?”
“I don’t know.”
“Any guesses?”
Hmm… there were a few clues.
First off, none of the princesses knew that the third one was adopted. So it wasn’t likely due to conflict from being an adopted child.
“The duke and duchess seemed decent enough people. Why they raised the adoptee with such care is unclear…”
Istina tilted her head.
“Huh.”
“This is purely speculation, but maybe after raising them, they realized the third one was the smartest?”
Only Erzabet never faked illness.
“Hmm, that does make sense. Was the jealousy of the other two princesses the reason for their fake illnesses?”
Honestly, I don’t see why that matters. If I had to guess, it didn’t seem like jealousy.
“If they were jealous, why fake sickness? They could’ve just mocked the third princess for being sick as a way to feel superior.”
“True?”
In fact, more importantly, the first and second princesses mimicked the symptoms of the third without showing any real interest in her condition. That’s odd.
“If they hated her so much that they mimicked her illness out of jealousy, wouldn’t they have badmouthed her or tried to sabotage her directly?”
If they were truly envious, they would’ve said something like, “I’m sicker than her,” or “She’s making others suffer.”
It felt more like some form of mass hysteria. Witnessing her illness, combined with ergot poisoning, caused shared symptoms.
“After seeing her sick and sharing some symptoms from the ergot poisoning, they probably thought, ‘Oh, being sick is normal,’ and kept up the act.”
Istina scribbled something in her notebook.
“Ergot poisoning, lead poisoning, collective delusion.”
“Hey, Istina, want a secret?”
Istina nodded eagerly.
“Yes!”
“The patient is what matters, Istina.”
“Oh, well, obviously…”
Sure, it’s obvious, but it’s easy to forget in clinical settings.
Doctors sometimes start viewing patients merely as collections of diseases.
Our job isn’t just fighting diseases—it’s ensuring the patient goes home healthy. The latter is far more important.
“Diseases are only studied to the extent they help the patient. Right now, we need to focus on how to help the patient.”
Istina still looked confused.
Unlike the two who faked illness, Erzabet is genuinely sick. If you’re curious about this case, focus on her.
“Huh?”
“You should’ve been asking about the hospitalized patient, not the cause of the fake illnesses. Erzabet is still sick.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
Istina hesitated before putting her notebook back in her pocket, looking apologetic. Whatever, let’s get ready to head back to the hospital.
****
The third princess, Erzabet, needs to return to the hospital with me for admission. It seems she still has questions before we leave.
“Doctor.”
“Yes?”
“What exactly is the disease I have? Can you explain it in detail?”
“It’s called Wilson’s Disease. It occurs when copper doesn’t metabolize properly in the body and accumulates. When it builds up in the eyes, it creates a golden ring around the iris like yours.”
“Gasp! I actually thought it looked pretty.”
“Well, whether it’s an aesthetic flaw or not, it’s a symptom of the disease.”
Erzabet sighed softly, her golden-tinged eyes gleaming.
“What’s the treatment?”
“There’s no specific cure. You need to avoid foods high in copper and take medication periodically to excrete excess copper.”
“That sounds tough.”
“I wish I had better news.”
“Is that your go-to line?”
“You caught me. Though it’s technically true—textbook stuff.”
“Figured.”
Erzabet paused for a moment.
“Do you think we’re pitiful, Doctor?”
“No.”
Not really about Erzabet. The first and second princesses faking illness? A little pathetic, yeah. But only a little.
Since I deal with critically ill patients often, the moment I meet them might be one of their worst. Judging them based on their weakest moments isn’t fair.
“Emilie mentioned something to me. She said among us three, I’m the smartest, and it would be great if I became the next head of the family.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“But I want you to understand—I don’t think my sisters were faking illness just to get attention…”
“Hm.”
The first and second princesses are psychiatric cases, while the third is neurologic. All three recently used drugs too.
It’s hard to trust anything they say now. Though their story is intriguing.
Did the older sisters pretend to be crazy to push the youngest forward? Sounds familiar, kind of like something from King Sejong’s history.
On the flip side, it’s ironic.
The youngest, who they pushed as the smartest candidate for leadership, turns out to be an adopted child with a genetic disease from a fallen clan. Or so it seems—we can’t be sure. Their narrative of self-sacrifice for the youngest is cooler and easier to believe than admitting they faked illness.
“Do you want to become the head of the family?”
“Why?”
“Just asking.”
“So what if I do?”
“After this hospital stay, I can tell the duke your illness is fully recovered.”
“Oh.”
Not stupid, huh?
Being young, maybe she hasn’t thought that far ahead, or maybe she’s just shortsighted. Either way, my word will be crucial if her illness isn’t to disqualify her.
“What do I need to do?”
“Once admitted, follow the treatment diligently. I’ll give you what you want.”
Erzabet nodded.
“Understood… though why does that sound so ominous?”
“Your family tends not to listen well to polite requests.”
Erzabet looked away awkwardly after hearing that. Seems she has nothing to add.
This whole situation made me think a lot.
With multiple overlapping illnesses and each of the three having slightly different conditions. Erzabet stared at me again.
“Can I really get better?”
“Yes.”
Wilson’s Disease isn’t curable, but all symptoms stem from accumulated copper. Removing it fixes things.
We use penicillamine to remove accumulated copper and avoid foods high in copper. Alcohol and other foods that strain the liver or kidneys should also be avoided.
“But isn’t this a hereditary disease? Isn’t it in my blood? Can it really be treated?”
“Not cured, but managed.”
“So what exactly?”
Short and sharp response. Honestly, I need to refresh my memory. No one memorizes every treatment for every disease.
For example, which foods are low or high in copper escapes me right now. I’ll figure it out when I get back to the academy.
“Take your medicine regularly, avoid certain foods, and steer clear of alcohol and tobacco since they harm the liver.”
“Is that all?”
“Yeah. What did you expect?”
Erzabet gazed into the distance.
****
Soon we arrived back at the academy. I stepped out of the carriage, and behind me, Erzabet wobbled as she tried to exit.
Ah, that’s another symptom of Wilson’s Disease. Her motor skills are affected. I rushed to her side where she was bracing herself on her knee.
“Are you okay? Need support?”
“Yes… no.”
Even though she’s at risk of falling, I can’t force her if she refuses. I scratched my head.
“Uh, if you fall, it could be serious. Once admitted, I’ll provide crutches.”
Erzabet shook her head.
“Thank you, but I’ve always been like this.”
“Exactly why you’re a patient.”
Anyway, we headed toward the academy… and someone was waiting near the entrance, holding an umbrella.
“Teacher, you’re here.”
It was Mint. I bowed politely. Mint glanced at me, then noticed Erzabet limping behind me.
“Who’s this? New grad student? Your girlfriend?”
“She’s a patient. Watch your tongue.”
“Jeez.”
Mint grabbed my sleeve and dragged me inside the academy. With a struggling patient present… can I really leave Erzabet behind?
I turned to check, and thankfully, Istina was guiding the patient toward the hospital wing.
Mint looked up at me.
“I was getting bored without you.”