Ly Giai and Sa Mi

The doctor's mention of "murderous intent" caught me off guard, leaving me bewildered. "Murderous intent? Me?" I questioned, unsure if I'd heard him correctly.

The man observed me for a moment with an intense look, then dropped it and smiled gently. "Never mind this old man's rumbling. My judgment is getting affected by old age. Let us begin your health check. Let me see your palms."

Still puzzled by his initial remark, I hesitantly extended my hands, first the right, then the left. The doctor examined them closely, his fingers probing gently, his eyes scrutinizing every detail. He noted his observations to his pupils, who watched intently, absorbing his every word.

"Can you stand up?" he requested next. I got up, and then he continued checking my waist, thighs, and calves. 

He handed me a peculiar device with two prongs—one for the base of my thumb and the other for my remaining fingers. "Give this a squeeze," he instructed. "Let's see how strong your grip is."

I clenched the device and was surprised by how much resistance it offered. It required some effort, but I was able to compress it fully.

"I see…" the doctor hummed thoughtfully, while his pupils looked amazed.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, seeing such strange reactions.

"Not at all," he reassured me. "It just means you are very healthy."

Just then, Princess Sa Mi's approached. "Are we finished here?" she inquired as she and Ly Giai stepped out of the horse cart. 

All of us turned, and the doctors kept their heads low. "Yes, Your Highness," the white hair doctor said. "Mister Do here is in good health."

"Good," the princess nodded her head. "There is no problem with Ly Giai either," she told me. "The doctors should have assessed Si by now. You might want to check on him," she suggested, subtly urging us to leave.

Ly Giai and I exchanged gazes. Both of us felt strange why she wanted us to be away, but we kept our suspicion unspoken. "We will go then," we replied and went inside the house. When we turned our backs away, the side of my eyes saw the white hair doctor leaning in close and whispering something to Princess Sa Mi. Other intentions made the princess come to our home this late. It wasn't just solely because she was worried about Si But I held the suspicion in mind since there was no point in confronting them right then.

As we navigated the crowded space, filled with doctors sitting everywhere, the floor, couch, dinner table, etc. discussing Si's condition. It was difficult excusing ourselves through the ocean of doctors in our small home. By the time Ly Giai and I reached Si's room, we were both out of breath.

"Hu hu! Ly Giai! Do!" our little boy ran to us when we stepped into the room. He was genuinely afraid. "Who are all these scary people? They suddenly rushed in and touched me everywhere and didn't explain anything."

"You don't need to be afraid," Ly Giai tried to calm him. "They are doctors Her Highness brought to do a health check on you. They are not bad people."

But that wasn't enough to make the little boy less afraid immediately. Ly Giai and I had to spend some time to get him to stop crying. By the time he settled down, the doctors outside were starting to leave.

Since Si was so tired from staying awake so late and crying that much, it was easy for us to get him to bed. Then we quickly went to meet the princess again.

"It looks like the checkup is complete," Princess Sa Mi said when seeing the doctors coming out of the house.

One of them, representing the group, stepped up and reported, "Your Highness. We have carefully checked young master Si's conditions and symptoms, even listening to his description of the periodic pains. But even after careful discussion among each other, we couldn't diagnose what illness he is having."

"That…" Ly Giai and I were speechless. If even the royal doctors couldn't know what that strange illness Si is having, then who can?

"Hm!?" Princess Sa Mi gave a death glare that made the surrounding temperature fall rapidly. She slowly approached the group of doctors, each step made them more anxious than the last. "I brought with me fifty of the best doctors in Sa, and these brilliant individuals are telling me they can't diagnose an insignificant illness? Who are you kidding with?"

"Y…Your Highness, w…we do not dare to take this lightly! We have tried our best!" the doctor representing the group panicked. His voice shook as the princess stood in front of him.

Princess Sa Mi violently stared at the doctors, who had their heads as low as possible to avoid her eye contact. Her quietness made the atmosphere suffocating. Even those that are not involved like Ly Giai and I held our breath unconsciously. That was the first time I saw how one person can command such intense pressure at will.

"Your Highness," I spoke up at last, trying to resolve the situation. "Please don't be harsh on the doctors. I am sure they have tried their best." But that wasn't enough to lower the intensity. She didn't even turn to look at me. I wasn't sure if the princess heard me at all.

"Your Highness. Please calm down," Ly Giai also spoke up. Somehow, Ly Giai's voice reached her, and she put away her killing stare.

*Haiz. "I couldn't believe this," she finally took back the murderous intent and shook her head. "I thought the diagnosis would be quick and easy. Who would have thought Si is having such a strange unknown illness?"

"You don't have to feel guilty, Your Highness," Ly Giai gently spoke. "It is… just a reality we have to accept," she said devastated. 

Princess Sa Mi held her hand. "Si is a good boy. The heavens don't punish good people."

"Thank you," Ly Giai replied. At that moment, her guard was down, so she felt comfortable looking up and meeting eyes with the princess. When that happened, both ladies opened their eyes wide, like they had just experienced something magical.

"Ly Giai, are you…" Princess Sa Mi shockly uttered but was cut.

"Your Highness! You must be very tired right now. It's been a long day. Please treasure your health and return to your palace," Ly Giai quickly intervened, breathing heavily from speaking too fast.

The princess was half stunned, probably from the earlier experience, but she eventually agreed. "Yes. Have some rest. I will leave now," she said and got up the horse, racing away. The doctors followed and they left soon after.

When it was just the two of us left standing outside the house, I was about to ask Ly Giai how she was feeling, but she quickly turned away and went inside. I took that as a hint and didn't say anything afterward. We quietly lay in bed, next to each other, and let the crazy day end.