Doctor Elise

Chapter 8

Part 2 An Unfair Bet-4

Marquess Earl’s face was dark as he pondered.

Yes, there’s definitely a possibility, and if it happens, that’s it for our expedition. How could I have missed this?

The emperor and the crown prince both had the same thought.

It was a terrifying idea, and yet it was more than possible.

After a long silence, the emperor opened his mouth.

“Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Discuss this with the minister of military affairs first thing tomorrow.”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”

“We may not know if Monchel will really participate, but we must prepare for the possibility that Lady Elise proposed. Linden, have the Intelligence Bureau keep an eye on Monchel’s every movement.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The emperor quickly ordered that necessary measures be taken.

Then, with a mix of shock and admiration, he turned to Elise, who was demurely drinking her tea.

Truly incredible. How did she come up with such an idea?

To think a pretty, doll-like girl would have such thoughts. He could hardly believe it.

In order to come up with such a thought, one would need to understand the international situation surrounding the Crimean Peninsula and the relationships between all involved nations, as well as see beyond what was there. One would need to be a prodigy of a military strategist.

Have I completely misjudged this girl? Truly incredible.

“Marquess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“When did you educate your daughter so admirably?”

“Haha...” The marquess gave an awkward laugh.

He was just as astonished.

It was true that his daughter had shown a different side of herself lately, and he had seen her reading quite a bit... But for her to have insight at this level?

“Lady Elise.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Didn’t you say there were two things to consider earlier? Then what is the other?”

“That would be endemic disease.”

“Endemic disease?”

Elise nodded her head politely.

This was actually far more important than Monchel’s participation in the war.

The expeditionary forces are eventually wiped out by disease.

She recalled her past. After being isolated within the peninsula by the troops from the Kingdom of Monchel, the expeditionary forces struggled without supplies and eventually crumbled after a widespread disease outbreak.

I don’t know which disease spreads, but if we can prepare ahead of time, we’ll be able to reduce the damage.

“The Crimean Peninsula has a different environment and temperature from the empire. It will be at its most hot and humid when the war begins. I believe we should be cautious of a disease outbreak.”

The emperor nodded. “Yes, you’re correct. Citizens of the empire aren’t familiar with the environment of the Crimean Peninsula. It’s true that disease could break out. What would be the best way to prepare?”

“For starters, we should ready plenty of medicinal equipment, and most importantly, we have to pay close attention to hygiene.”

“Hygiene?” The emperor looked puzzled.

Elise hit a realization. The importance of hygiene hasn’t set in yet.

Of course, there were those in the empire who knew the importance of hygiene at this point in time: the doctors who treated patients by hand. However, it still hadn’t been normalized.

“Yes, that’s right. They say that many diseases are transmitted in unhygienic environments. This means that if we were to pay closer attention to hygiene within our forces, it should help stem the spread of disease.”

The emperor looked impressed once again.

“I see. Incredible. Where did you learn such things?”

Elise could only give a shallow excuse.

“I have been doing some reading because I’ve developed an interest in medicine. I’m embarrassed to say that it’s merely shallow knowledge.”

“It doesn’t seem very shallow to me.”

Elise turned her gaze away with an awkward expression.

She couldn’t help but worry that she had overstepped, but she shook her head to herself.

It wasn’t as though she could avert her eyes from innumerable casualties in order to avoid suspicion.

While the best method would have been to avoid war, that was impossible, so she wanted to at least reduce the number of lives claimed.

If this can reduce the casualties...

The emperor spoke.

“I will look into what Lady Elise said today first, but then I will actively make plans around it. If her advice provides assistance on the war front, I will bestow the Britia Order of Martial Merit upon her.”

Elise was shocked.

The Britia Order of Martial Merit!

Also called the Order of the Imperial Cross, it was the most powerful of the empire’s orders. Just receiving the order granted one the title of a knight. Thus, receiving the Britia Order of Martial Merit was considered the greatest honor for nobles.

“It was merely a foolish opinion. This is too much. Please rescind it.”

“If your opinion is foolish, who could hold their head high? And this isn’t too much at all. If we can prepare according to your words and prevent a catastrophe, it would actually be the order that is insufficient.”

Elise had nothing to say in response.

That was when the emperor asked in a mischievous tone, “Anyhow, young lady.”

“Yes?”

“What is that beside you? Is that not for myself?”

“Ah...!”

It was a gift she had readied for the emperor after requesting that the butler search for it.

She had been trying to find an opportunity to present it to him, but she hadn’t been able to find the right timing because of the drawn-out conversation.

“This is a candle from Qing.”

“A candle?”

“Yes, this candle is used by the noble people of Qing. It is said to have a deep, clean scent that relieves fatigue and revitalizes the body, so I sought it out for Your Majesty.”

The emperor looked very happy.

He had been feeling exhausted and listless, perhaps due to his mysterious chronic illness.

He inhaled the scent of the candle and looked pleased.

“Just a slight whiff is enough to clear my head. Incredible. How did you get something perfectly needed for me, Lady Elise?”

“I’m grateful that you’re pleased.”

“I had been feeling tired and lacking energy as it was, so I’ll be sure to make good use of it.”

At those words, Elise met the emperor’s eyes.

A deep sense of fatigue.

It was at that moment that a diagnosis came to mind.

Could it be?

“Your Majesty, have you been tired even after getting enough sleep?”

“That’s right.”

“Have you been drinking water frequently?”

“Mm, I believe I have.”

“Do you continue to feel thirst even after drinking lots of water?”

“That’s true as well. I still feel thirsty no matter how much water I drink.”

“Then have you woken up in the middle of the night because of a need to urinate?”

“That has also happened.”

The emperor looked shocked that she knew.

Elise clapped inwardly.

She remembered that, before the emperor passed, he had been taking deep, rapid breaths to compensate for the acidosis that caused his blood pH to drop below normal.

Yes, that’s what His Majesty’s chronic illness was!

A single diagnosis came to mind.

He wasn’t treated for it, so that’s why he fell into a coma!

And yet, she felt disappointed.

To think the emperor of the great empire of Britia died of a silly illness like this.

It wasn’t even a severe illness. It was a common disease, one that could be survived if treated.