Sophia had expected the infirmary to be busy.
She had not expected war.
The moment she stepped through the doors, every healer in the room seemed to notice her at once.
"My Lady."
"My Lady."
"Lady Sophia."
Voices rose from every direction. The familiar scent of herbs and dried flowers barely masked the sharper smells of blood, sweat, and sickness. Healers hurried between beds carrying steaming bowls of medicine while wounded warriors groaned behind linen curtains.
Sophia paused just inside the entrance.
For a brief second, every eye waited for her.
The silence lasted only a heartbeat before the chief healer approached, several scrolls already tucked under one arm.
"My Lady," she greeted with a respectful bow. "You’re just in time."
Sophia frowned, remembering the stunt the woman had pulled. "Chief Healer, I’d like to see you after the day’s over."
The woman’s smile stiffened slightly, but she nodded. "As you wish, Luna."
The older woman immediately began walking, expecting Sophia to follow.
"We admitted seventeen new patients before dawn. Three poison cases from the eastern border, two childbirth complications, six warriors requiring stitch removal, and several children suffering from river fever."
Sophia’s smile slowly stiffened. Seventeen?
"...I see."
The chief healer stopped beside the first bed. A young warrior lay unconscious, his breathing shallow, his skin already taking on a sickly gray tint. Dark veins crept slowly from the bite wound on his calf.
"He was bitten by a marsh viper during yesterday’s eastern patrol."
She lifted two small wooden trays. "I’ve prepared frostroot and moonleaf."
Her calm eyes found Sophia’s. "Which treatment would you like us to begin with?"
Sophia stared at the herbs. Her mind went completely blank. She remembered reading about marsh vipers years ago... or had it been swamp adders?
Which herb slowed the venom?
Which one accelerated the heart?
She couldn’t remember.
Finally, she pointed at the darker bundle. "...Moonleaf."
The chief healer didn’t move. Instead, she looked carefully at Sophia. "...My Lady."
"Moonleaf increases circulation. If the venom has already entered his bloodstream, it would spread through his body much faster."
Sophia’s expression faltered for the briefest instant before hardening again.
"...Then why are you asking me if you know it already?" she snapped, her patience slipping already.
"Luna—"
"You’ve been here for years and have watched Evelyn do this same routine every single time, and yet you can’t do it yourself?"
"I can, but since Lady Evelyn’s departure, you have repeatedly reminded everyone that the Luna now leads this infirmary."
She inclined her head respectfully. "I merely sought your instruction."
Around them, the other healers suddenly found great interest in their work.
Sophia felt heat crawl up her neck. She knew what this woman was doing.
"...Use the frostroot," she said curtly.
"Yes, my Lady."
The chief healer turned immediately, crushing the pale herb into a mortar before directing two healers toward the unconscious warrior.
"Slowly. Keep his breathing steady. Prepare the suction cups." The instructions flowed from her effortlessly.
Sophia stood rooted to the spot, watching the older woman take command without hesitation.
Even though Evelyn wasn’t in the pack, the dogs she kept in her stead made sure to make Sophia’s life hell.
Before she could dwell on the woman, another healer hurried over, clutching a ledger against his chest.
"My Lady!" He bowed quickly. "The river fever ward is nearly full. We have only enough medicinal stock for either the children admitted this morning or those expected to arrive from the southern district before sunset."
Sophia blinked. "...Whichever group is sicker."
The healer exchanged a puzzled glance with the chief healer. "My Lady... we don’t yet know which group that will be."
Sophia’s jaw tightened. "Then decide."
"My Lady?"
"You’re healers, aren’t you?" she said, irritation creeping into every word. "Why must every decision come to me?"
The young healer looked genuinely taken aback. "It has always come to the Luna."
Sophia forced another tight smile.
"Then use your judgment."
The healer hesitated before bowing.
"As you wish." He left, though not with the confidence he’d arrived with.
Sophia barely had time to exhale before another voice reached her.
"My Lady." A midwife hurried toward them, worry etched across her face. "Lady Maren’s labor has stalled. The child is positioned incorrectly. We need permission to begin the emergency procedure."
Sophia frowned. "What procedure?"
The midwife stared. "The... the one Luna Evelyn authorized in cases like this."
"I asked what procedure."
The chief healer stepped forward. "We usually turn the child before delivery."
Sophia folded her arms. "Then do that."
The chief healer didn’t move. "My Lady... the procedure carries risks."
"Then why are you still standing here?" Sophia demanded. "If waiting endangers them, then go."
The chief healer studied her for a long moment before bowing. "As you command."
Sophia remained where she was, suddenly aware of how many eyes had witnessed the exchange. She didn’t care anymore. This was Kael’s fault. If only he’d taken her to the Howling Auction.
She had barely managed to steady herself when another healer hurried toward them.
"My Lady, the child with the river fever has begun convulsing."
Before Sophia could answer, another voice interrupted.
"My Lady, should we use the reserve herbs?"
"My Lady, do we authorize another blood transfusion?"
"My Lady—"
"My Lady—"
"My Lady—"
Sophia’s temples began to pound. "Enough!" she snarled.
The entire infirmary fell silent. Even the groans from the nearest beds seemed to fade.
Sophia drew a slow breath, forcing herself to smooth the anger from her features.
"One at a time," she said, though the strain under her smile was impossible to miss.
The healers exchanged uncertain glances. Before anyone could speak again, a steward rushed inside, clutching several rolled parchments against his chest.
"My Lady!"
Sophia closed her eyes for the briefest moment. "What now?"
The steward bowed hastily. "The Trading Guild requires your approval on today’s financial allocations."
She stared at him like he was a joke. "...Now?"
"The merchants are waiting, my Lady. If the documents are not signed before noon, several contracts cannot be processed until next week."
"Fine."
She snatched the stack of documents from the steward and swept into the office, slamming the door behind her.
The silence lasted all of three breaths before another knock sounded.
"What?"
The steward cautiously opened the door. "There are... quite a few documents."
Sophia looked down.
There were ledgers. Invoices. Trade agreements. Supply requests. Repair authorizations. Emergency expenditures.
Her stomach sank. Kael expected her to oversee all of this as well?
She flipped through the first pages. Most of it was meaningless columns of figures.
She signed the first document, then the second, then the third.
"Next."
The steward handed her another. "This authorizes immediate transfer from the emergency reserve."
"For what?" she asked.
"The eastern district."
She barely glanced at it. "Approved."
He gave her about five more, and she approved each one without checking. The steward hesitated before handing her the final parchment.
"This one concerns the western expansion project."
Sophia was already reaching for it. "Approved." Her name covered the page before she’d read more than the heading.
"There." She pushed the stack back toward him.
The steward bowed gratefully. "Thank you, my Luna."
The moment he left, Sophia rubbed her temples. Her head felt as though it might split open.
It was just day two of Kael’s travelling, and she was already losing her mind.