WIFA Ch 7

Thinking to herself, Melissa quietly took a spoonful of soup.

“Then, even if Dr. Melissa likes a patient, she’ll never date them?”

“I’m a surgeon. Of course, that would be problematic.”

“Why would that matter?”

At Mona’s question, Melissa paused before putting the small piece of cut meat into her mouth, then put it back down.

“Imagine operating on someone you love. Ugh, I think my hands would tremble. It would be difficult to make objective judgments too.”

Then Carol, as if reminiscing, stirred her soup absently.

“That’s true. When Baron was injured and came in, my hands were shaking too. My mind went blank, and I almost grabbed the doctor by the collar and yelled at them to do something.”

“See, Mona? Even an experienced nurse like Carol feels this way. I don’t have the confidence.”

“Hmm.”

Listening to their conversation, Mona pouted and stirred her salad vigorously with her fork.

“Nurse Carol is married, so she’s an exception. I’ll keep a close eye on you, Dr. Melissa. Whether you date a patient or not.”

Mona’s pointed remark was aimed squarely at Melissa.

“Why do you think I would even try to date in this dangerous place? It’s hard enough just to survive.”

Melissa grumbled discontentedly.

“Melissa, I think you’ll survive just fine as long as you don’t act recklessly.”

“Recklessly? What are you talking about?”

As Melissa bristled, Theo slammed his fork down.

Matching his large build, the sound was loud enough to resonate through the mess hall.

“Do I really have to spell it out for you? Why did you run out of the protective wall when you’re not even a soldier? Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“……Wasn’t I already scolded enough for that?”

Melissa flinched slightly as Theo’s expression turned serious.

Theo rarely got angry, as he was generally easygoing, but when he did, he was quite formidable.

“Try that one more time. Next time, it’s you or me.”

“Alright, alright. Stop it already. You’d be perfect if you just toned down the nagging.”

“You made me do it.”

Mona watched Melissa and Theo bicker, a familiar sight.

She had met them during a joint field training session with the medical school while attending nursing school.

Even back then, the two were very close.

They were always together, often arguing, but they also looked out for each other whenever something happened.

“You two care deeply for each other. Why don’t you two just get together?”

“Don’t say such cruel things. Do you want to drive me crazy?”

“That’s what family is for.”

Melissa and Theo glared at Mona.

This, too, was just like old times, and Mona giggled.

“The medical staff seems to be at leisure today?”

A staff member, wiping a vacant table, spoke to Mrs. Harrison, the mess hall cook, also known as Auntie.

“There are times like this. Yesterday, I didn’t see a single member of the medical staff, but today it seems they at least have time to eat?”

Before Mrs. Harrison could finish her sentence, an alarm went off.

It was one of several alarms designed for emergency preparedness and emergency calls for medical personnel.

Almost simultaneously, the four of them jumped up, leaving the table where they had been sitting completely empty.

“Wow, they’re fast.”

The staff member expressed genuine admiration, and Mrs. Harrison clicked her tongue with a pitying expression.

“You have to be a good runner to be a doctor or a nurse.”

₊˚🦢✩

Emerging from the operating room, Melissa took off her surgical cap and ran a hand through her disheveled hair.

“Ah, I was supposed to go see Viscount Ferris.”

Looking at her watch, it was already past 10 PM.

The grace period for her attending physician position ended today.

So she had planned to visit Viscount Ferris to finalize things.

However, in addition to the surgery she performed, she also assisted Daniel with another surgery, which made her late.

“I’ll have to tell him tomorrow.”

Melissa yawned as she headed to the locker room.

She was determined to return to her quarters and get a good night’s sleep no matter what.

“Are you finished now?”

“…….”

Someone spoke to her in front of the locker room.

Thinking she might have seen wrong because the face looked familiar, Melissa rubbed her eyes and looked again.

It was indeed Alex.

“What brings you here, Duke Norton? Are you feeling unwell? Oh, the doctor on duty should be on the second floor.”

“Why the doctor on duty?”

“Well……”

Melissa trailed off.

Was he seriously asking because he didn’t know?

She was sure she had told him last week that she would be resigning as his physician after a week.

“Here.”

Alex held something out.

He placed a key in Melissa’s outstretched hand.

“What is this?”

“The key to my quarters.”

“Why are you giving me this?”

“You can’t climb through the window every time I have to pay the price.”

“So why are you giving it to me……”

As Melissa looked at him quizzically, Alex mirrored her expression.

“I heard you didn’t say you were resigning as my physician. Wasn’t today the last day of the grace period?”

The surgery ended late, so she couldn’t help but postpone it. She was going to tell him she was resigning tomorrow.

…That’s what Melissa was about to say.

‘Wait a minute. The fact that he’s acting like this means there’s room for improvement, right?’

Melissa stared intently at Alex.

“Are you giving me this to tell me to continue being your physician?”

“……Something like that.”

“Why?”

“Hmm.”

Alex closed his mouth, a troubled look on his face.

She waited silently, and this time he hesitated with an embarrassed expression.

As he opened and closed his mouth without speaking, Melissa, growing impatient, spoke first.

“Are you really asking me to continue being your physician?”

“Yes.”

An immediate answer.

Could a person’s attitude change so drastically in just a few days?

Melissa looked at Alex suspiciously.

“Then can I visit you even if you don’t call for me?”

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with my work.”

“Can I draw your blood? For tests.”

“Okay.”

“What about touching Your Grace’s body? Is it okay for me to touch you?”

“Where are you planning to touch?”

“Your forehead when you have a fever, your neck when you lose consciousness, your wrist to check your pulse, your chest if you need CPR…. Oh, and also your internal organs, in case there’s a need for surgery. And….”

Melissa pondered seriously, checking if she had missed any body parts.

Alex chuckled, wondering if it was something to think so hard about.

“You can touch me anywhere you want.”

“…….”

But Melissa still had a dubious expression.

“Why that look? I’m letting you do whatever you want.”

“That’s why it’s more suspicious. Why? Why are you suddenly so compliant? Are you hiding something?”

“……It’s not so much hiding as it is asking a favor.”

“What is it?”

Alex hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a white pill bottle from his jacket pocket.

“Don’t let me take this.”

Melissa took the bottle from him.

“Does this have any side effects?”

“It makes me feel drowsy. It’s not a good feeling.”

“Oh.”

Melissa looked down at the pill bottle with a serious face.

She thought she’d have to hurry and have the ingredients analyzed at the pharmaceutical lab where she worked to earn a living during medical school.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Should I hold onto this?”

“Okay.”

Alex silently watched her put the pill bottle in her pocket.

“Actually, I was a bit apprehensive too. I wondered if it was right to prescribe a medicine I didn’t know well.”

Melissa raised her head.

However, her gaze subtly missed Alex’s.

“But there was nothing I could do that day. You were in so much pain. As you know, regular medicine doesn’t work on you at all.”

Alex listened silently to Melissa’s excuse.

She was a bad liar.

Alex knew that Melissa hadn’t given him that medicine that day.

While the medicine helped reduce fever and pain, it made him drowsy and unable to think clearly for several days.

He had never woken up with a clear head after taking it.

So, Melissa was definitely hiding something.

Something Alex desperately needed.

“I understand that. But, Doctor.”

“Yes.”

“I would appreciate it if you could think of a different method next time.”

Show me the real method, the one without a price.

Alex smiled faintly.

“…….”

Melissa stared blankly at his face.

His blue eyes, meeting hers, were still sharp like jagged ice, but this was the first time he had offered her a friendly smile.

It was a very nice smile.

Enough to make her forget for a moment the serious conversation they had just had.

“Doctor?”

At Alex’s call, Melissa realized she had been lost in thought.

Ahem.

Clearing her throat awkwardly, Melissa waited for Alex to continue.

“It would be good to share your schedule. I wouldn’t want to call you when you’re resting.”

“Yes, I will. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Focus on general medical practice except in special cases. I rarely get hurt.”

Melissa suddenly frowned.

Having witnessed him fighting firsthand, she found it difficult to imagine him being careful with his body.

“Don’t be so sure. You’re bound to get seriously injured one of these days.”

Alex chuckled, seemingly surprised by Melissa’s concern.

It was a new experience for him to be on the receiving end of such worry.

Everyone took it for granted that he would lead and be at the forefront.

“Oh, and don’t hide it when you’re hurt. That’s the most important thing.”

“…….”

“If you’re hurt, if something feels wrong with your body, come to me right away. Understood?”

“……Don’t you think there are a lot of conditions?”

“Not at all. These are the basic attitudes a patient should have. I think Your Grace has been too harsh.”

“Harsh….”

Alex was speechless, but he didn’t say anything.

He had something to find out from her, so he couldn’t let her run away anymore.

“Alright.”

Alex answered as kindly as he could.

It came across to Melissa as a reluctant response, causing her to frown, but…

At least the atmosphere was much better than before.