"Madam was here before she went to the tea house room."
Samuel nodded. "Okay."
But it took him monts to process her words, and then realization struck him, and he exclaid, "What!?"
"Uhhh..." Lily hesitated to speak, unsure of how to tell him the truth. When she saw Samuel’s expression, sowhere between surprise and anger, she couldn’t decide whether he was shocked or furious. Maybe both. There was much closer to the truth and his reaction told her she must not tell him everything.
"You told her? Did she see the patient?" Samuel questioned; he was getting anxious. Although they can manage ordering Liora to keep quiet, but again, what if she had a big mouth and told everyone?.
After a mont of hesitation, Lily nodded.
Samuel’s eyes darkened. "Haven’t I told you not to tell anyone? You promised when I helped you with your problem. Are you not a person of your word?"
Lily flinched at his gritted tone. "I...I had no choice; she was here already," she stamred, backing away behind the doctor, using her as a shield to cover her from Samuel’s anger. She murmured, "It was not like I told her or brought her here."
Samuel let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples. "I warned you, didn’t I, to keep watch and see if anyone is following you here or not? Even if you were not the one to bring Madam here, that does not an she cannot follow you."
"Y...yes," Lily squeaked and nudged the doctor, asking to speak for her.
Samuel’s gaze shifted to the doctor, who was standing tensely, watching the exchange.
"Doctor," he said, demanding an answer from her with authority. "Can you explain?"
The doctor swallowed nervously, her eyes darting toward the dagger strapped to Samuel’s waist.
Samuel noticed her stare and smirked. "Rest assured, I won’t hurt you... as long as you tell the truth."
The doctor stuttered... "It was not like Lily here brought that lady here; she ca by herself..." She took a pause for a while and continued. "Asking for a loo and then...."
Flashback-
Liora and the doctor had been in the room when Liora stepped forward, standing near the injured woman on the bed. Her body was riddled with wounds beyond counting. Though the patient had been covered with a blanket, Liora placed her fingers on her wrist, feeling for her pulse.
She wasn’t trying to show off, but the doctor wouldn’t have told her anything otherwise. Lily, anwhile, was still clutching the doctor’s hand tightly.
"She’s getting weaker," Liora thought when she examined the pulse, her brows furrowing. "The dicine being used is too slow in treating her wounds."
She glanced at the table filled with ointnts and asked, "What are you using to treat her?"
The doctor’s expression turned rigid. "I cannot answer that, lady."
Lily’s grip on the doctor’s hand tightened.
"Stop clutching my hand like that; you’re going to leave a mark," the lady doctor scolded Lily.
Lily quickly loosened her hold. "Sorry," she mumbled and apologized.
"Given these wounds...umm..." Liora mumbled while folding her arms and scratched her chin in thought. "Lily, do you rember the backyard had white flowers?"
Lily blinked in confusion before nodding. "Yes, but... I don’t understand, madam. What does that have to do with... her?" She pointed at the woman lying on the bed.
Liora raised a hand to stop Lily, who was about to say sothing, and then flicked her wrist down. Lily shut her mouth instantly.
"I think I saw snow petals there," Liora mumbled to herself again, then suddenly clapped her fist into her palm. "I’m sure of it!" A grin spread across her face.
Lily and the doctor exchanged glances, clueless about what Liora was thinking.
Liora turned to the doctor, who was now watching her with a frown and a wrinkled nose. She ignored the expression and asked, "Have you tried using snow petal tea?"
The doctor slowly shook her head to no.
Lily remained clueless about the topic; her eyes were dancing from Liora to the doctor and back to Liora.
Clearing her throat, Liora straightened her posture. "As you have let use your washroom, I would like to return the favor."
The doctor shot a questioning glance at Lily, who had no idea what her madam was planning, so she simply gave an awkward smile.
The doctor hesitated. "Lady, I cannot...."
Liora reached out and gently took the doctor’s hand. "Rest assured, it will be fine."
The doctor wasn’t convinced. "But do you have the qualifications?"
Liora hesitated for a brief mont, then nodded. "Yes, I do."
The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Really?" She almost spoke too fast before quickly pressing her lips together. "Forgive , lady. I forgot that you must co from a noble house. My apologies for asking such a thing." She bowed slightly.
Liora quickly waved her hands. "No, no, don’t do that, please," she said awkwardly.
The doctor humd, considering her words. Finally, she relented. "Fine."
She turned to Lily. "You are the witness here. If this doesn’t work, don’t turn your back on ," she warned, though a small smile played on her lips as she glanced at Liora.
Liora grinned, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Lily, go to the garden and bring the snow petal flower, okay?"
Lily looked confused. "But madam, how would I know which one it is?"
"It’s white in color."
Lily deadpanned. "Madam, all the flowers there are white. You were the one who just told us that."
Liora blinked, her lips forming an "O" as she realized her mistake. She started looking around in thought. "Wait a mont."
She turned to the doctor. "Do you have a pen and paper?"
The doctor nodded. "Excuse ."
She stepped aside and walked to a chair where her dical bag sat. After rummaging through it, she retrieved a small notepad and a quill. Handing them to Liora, she said, "Here."
"Thank you, lady!" Liora responded cheerfully but kept her voice low so as not to disturb the patient.
The doctor tilted her head. "What are you using them for?"
Lily chid in. "Yes, I’d like to know too."
Liora smirked. "Wait and see."
She walked to the table, placed the paper down, and scrunched up her sleeves before leaning over.
The doctor and Lily peeked over her shoulder as Liora focused on the paper, her tongue poking out slightly from the corner of her lips.
After a few monts, Liora lifted the paper high and grinned. "And... it’s done!"
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