Public health comes first 8: What is “relaxing”?
Public health comes first “There’s nothing better than going shopping to lift a sour mood, isn’t that right, Anna?” Emily said to Anna as they waited for the supply cart bound for the city, outside the back gate of the Archibald residence.
“As long as My Lady is happy,” Anna replied resignedly.
Yesterday’s meeting with Emily’s mother had left a bad taste in her mouth.
So today they planned to go into town for a walk and to visit Rio and his mother.
Emily had already packed her medical bag to check on the progress of Rio’s mother’s recovery.
Clop…Clop…Clop… Suddenly, a carriage they seemed to recognize stopped in front of them.
“Good morning, Miss.
Are you two heading into town again?” asked the man, who was none other than Alfred—the messenger who had driven them home a few days earlier.
“Good morning, Mr.
Alfred.
It’s nice to see you again,” Emily replied, bowing her head in greeting, followed by Anna.
Alfred was a little surprised by Lady Emily’s friendliness, but he tried not to show it.
‘She’s really different from most nobles,’ Alfred thought.
“Every day I go into the city and return to the Grand Duke’s residence before sundown.
Rather than waiting for the supply carts, which aren’t exactly safe, from now on I’ll just escort you myself,” Alfred offered, opening the carriage door.
“B-but won’t that be a nuisance for you, Mr.
Alfred?” Anna asked.
“Of course not, I’m happy to help such lovely young ladies,” replied Alfred with a friendly smile.
“Allow me,” said Alfred, offering his hand to help the ladies into the carriage.
“Thank you,” Emily and Anna replied without a hint of suspicion, happily taking Alfred’s hand.
‘He’s a gentle and a kind man,’ Emily thought.
============================================================== The trip into town went smoothly and without a hitch; half an hour later, they had arrived at the shopping district in the city center.
“I’m on duty around here every day.
What time would you like me to pick you up when you’re heading home?” Alfred asked, helping Emily and Anna down from the carriage.
“Hmm… If you don’t mind, let’s meet here again at 5 p.m.
Thank you,” Emily replied after thinking for a moment.
“Alright, I hope you have a pleasant trip.
I’ll be on my way,” Alfred said, driving his carriage away until it disappeared from Emily and Anna’s view.
“Let’s start our adventure, Anna!” Emily exclaimed, happily taking Anna’s hand.
For several hours, Emily and Anna went to dessert shops and pharmacies to buy general medical supplies, and Emily didn’t forget to buy a few bags of candy for Rio to share with his friends.
The two of them continued on their way to Rio and his mother’s home.
To be honest, walking into the slums was quite frightening for Emily and Anna because the atmosphere was so gloomy; it wasn’t impossible that a robber or some other bad person might suddenly appear.
But Emily’s desire to see Rio and his mother overcame her fear.
Although, in reality, Arthur and his soldiers were watching over and protecting Emily and Anna from hidden vantage points.
As they neared Rio’s house, they saw Rio and Mary playing marbles in front of the house, while his mother and her baby sat on chairs watching the children play.
“Mom, look, Sister Emily is here!” Rio called out as he ran toward Emily and Anna, followed by Mary.
Emily and Anna hugged Rio and Mary, who approached them enthusiastically.
“So adorable,” Emily said, ruffling the children’s hair.
“Miss Emily, Miss Anna, please come in!” Rio’s mother invited.
“Thank you.
We came to see how you and your baby are doing.
Is everything okay?” Emily asked, setting her suitcase and belongings on the table.
“We’re doing fine—thank you for your help back then; it’s thanks to you that we both survived,” replied Rio’s mother.
“It’s no problem; it’s our duty to help others in need,” replied Emily.
“Of course, Miss Emily’s help is greatly appreciated.
Most of the people here are refugees and migrants, as well as those without steady jobs.
So it’s very difficult for us to see a doctor,” explained Rio’s mother.
Hearing Rio’s mother’s explanation, Emily was shocked.
As a doctor who always prioritizes her patients’ lives above all else, hearing that these people couldn’t seek medical treatment due to financial constraints broke her heart.
“Then what happens if someone gets sick?” asked Emily.
“We’ll go into debt, or sell our belongings to pay for treatment if we have to, or if there’s truly nothing else we can do, we’ll just do what we can to care for the sick at home.” Thump… For some reason, Emily’s heart ached when she heard this.
Just enduring the pain at home?
It was like waiting for death to come without being able to do anything.
This was something that could happen anywhere to the poor.
It wasn’t something new to Emily.
But whether in her original world or in this second chance, was it really true that she couldn’t do anything?, Emily wondered.
“A few years ago, there was a charity clinic for poor people like us, built by Grand Duke Cedric, but after the doctor assigned there left, the clinic closed down,” continued Rio’s mother.
Actually, that wasn’t surprising; becoming a doctor requires significant tuition fees and a great deal of effort.
It’s only natural that doctors choose to leave and work as physicians in noble households or open their own clinics, which offer greater financial rewards and prestige.
Emily couldn’t blame them, because everyone has their own priorities and goals in life.
“Rio, can you take me to see that clinic?” Emily asked.
“I can take you there.” Before Rio could answer, the voice of a woman around Anna’s age, dressed like a boy, was heard from the direction of the door.
“Iris!” Rio called out as he ran toward the woman.
‘So she’s Iris?
The folk hero of the poor that Lily always talks about,’ Emily muttered.
============================================================== About a 10-minute walk from Rio’s house, the group—consisting of Emily, Anna, Iris, Rio, and Mary—had arrived at the front door of a clinic building that appeared to be abandoned.
It was a simple one-story building located near a small playground in the middle of the village.
Click… click… creak… Iris unlocked the door.
Cough.
Cough.
Cough… Dust immediately rushed out of the abandoned house.
“Emily, are you sure you want to do this?” Anna asked, holding Emily’s hand.
“Of course.
We can’t just leave sick people without help,” Emily replied firmly.
Iris just listened to their conversation; actually, she wanted to know who these two strangers were who had suddenly arrived and wanted to help the poor people in this place.
“Alright, let’s clean this place up!” Emily exclaimed.
“Let’s do this!!!” echoed Anna, Rio, and Mary.
“We’ll help too,” a man’s voice suddenly called out from outside.
As soon as Emily turned toward the door, she saw that several villagers had already gathered in front of it, carrying cleaning supplies and buckets.
“I asked them to come here to help us,” Iris added.
Emily was deeply moved by the villagers’ offer of help.
“Thank you all; we’re counting on you,” Emily replied, bowing her head in gratitude.
That day, Emily and her friends were helped by the villagers as they worked together to clean the clinic building.
At noon, several female villagers, including Rio’s mother, came to bring lunch for those working at the clinic.
They ate together at the clinic, getting to know one another.
‘Was Lady Emily always this open and sociable before?’ Anna wondered.
She was even surprised to see how easily Emily blended in with the villagers.
The Emily she had known all this time was a quiet and shy girl.
Let alone interacting with ordinary people, Emily rarely socialized even with her fellow nobles.
She mostly spent her time shut away at home.
By the afternoon, the clinic was finally cleaned up.
The clinic had two inpatient wards, each with four beds.
There was an examination room, two separate bathrooms for men and women, a kitchen, and a well in the back as a water source.
It would have been impossible to finish all this in a single day without the villagers’ help.
“All that’s left is to buy medical equipment, medicines, and find additional staff,” Emily said after finishing her inspection of all the rooms.
“That sounds difficult, Emily.
We’ll need a lot of funds to buy the medications, especially since not all of them are available over the counter without a prescription.
And finding a doctor or nurse willing to work at a remote clinic like this seems impossible,” Anna replied slowly, not wanting to dampen Emily’s enthusiasm.
“You’re right, Anna…” Emily began to think it over.
“Finding extra staff might be difficult, but we’ll do what we can for now.
Rather than not operating at all, at least for the time being, I can come here once every three days to check on the patients.
” “But we have to figure out how to get the necessary medications without a doctor’s prescription,” Emily asked, confused.
“I can introduce you to someone who can sell you the medications,” Iris said, breaking the confusion.
“Really?
When can we meet?” Emily asked, her spirits lifting again.
“Make a list of all the medicines you might need.
In three days, we’ll meet at Rio’s house and meet that person together.
But I’ll warn you in advance that the price won’t be cheap, since it’s through an illegal channel.
Do you have the money for that?” Iris asked.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it!
Thank you, Iris.
You’ve helped us so much,” Emily replied enthusiastically, happily holding Iris’s hands.
Iris’s face flushed at the unexpected thanks from Emily.
‘This girl is like a puppy, wagging her tail when she’s happy,’ Iris thought.
Emily then began making a list of the medications and the quantities that might be needed.