The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 38: The Special Blood

Chapter 38: The Special Blood

The unexpected soft voice from the person entering the main tent made all the men turn their heads.

Filling their sights, the commander’s little wife stood before the tent flap with a severe face. She stepped up to the front as the men’s eyes darted at her. The princess had heard the knights’ arguments and raced in, fearing the outcome of wiping out the innocents.

"My lady, what are you doing here?" Eli stood up and asked her.

Being a civilian, the commander’s wife had no right to attend any knights’ meetings or interfere with military affairs.

"I’ve something crucial to tell you!" she said as she rushed ahead to the men.

"My lady, you shouldn’t be here. It’s best if you return to your tent. Let me escort you back," said Damon.

He rose and strode fast to her, blocking the commander’s wife from stepping further.

"No, wait! Hear me first! I have a suggestion that can help!" she insisted.

Her round eyes darted to the knight, sparkling with determination. She was not intimidated by the taller man, who had a larger build than she did.

"Sir McQuinn, please give way to the lady. Let us listen to her suggestion," requested Ayden. Knowing Anna was an intelligent lady, the assistant healer wanted her opinion. If there were better ways to solve the problem, it would benefit them.

Adhering to the assistant healer’s wish, the knight moved aside, allowing the princess to approach the rectangular table where the men were sitting.

"If the disease is Laradie, then we can cure it!" she spat the words that surprised them all.

The assistant healer looked at the princess with incredulity.

"We can? But how?" asked the assistant healer.

"Ardel had established the cure for the plague when it affected the kingdom. I’ve read about it in detail," she began explaining.

"The kingdom’s cure is effective. But it contains ingredients that are very hard to get and impossible to make quickly," said Ayden, who knew the famous story.

"You’re right. But the cure I’m talking about is not the openly distributed standard drug. I’m talking about the pure serum. We can use it for your immunity, too," she told him.

Her statement began to attract the men’s attention. Damon, who stood further away, came near to hear more.

"The pure serum?" the assistant healer repeated as he squinted his eyes.

The pure serum, the highest quality of Laradie’s cure, had never been revealed to the public. It was said that the drug with the highest concentration could cure the disease almost immediately, and those who took it were resistant to the plague for a lifetime.

Nevertheless, no one could obtain it as it was Ardel’s national treasure. All who studied in the medical field on the continent were aware of it.

"Yes. I have it," Anna straightened her face as she replied. Her statement piqued everyone’s interest.

"How did you get it? The serum is well-kept by Ardel’s government. No one has access to it!" Ayden asked excitedly.

"That’s not important to be discussed now. The main point is that we can administer it to the infected people and save them. At the same time, we can prevent the disease from spreading," Anna continued.

"How effective is the cure?" asked Luke, not bothering with the assistant healer’s excitement. For him, it was more important to know the efficacy of the treatment rather than how it was obtained.

"I can promise you that it’s very effective. Even those with red spots symptoms can be saved by it," Anna answered the knight confidently.

"Still, we cannot treat the patients. We’ll be exposed to the disease in close contact. We can’t even confirm the diagnosis because of that," Ayden disagreed and shook his head.

"We can. You must send me. Let me diagnose and treat the patients," the princess refuted.

"Why would we send my lady to the foragers?" Eli asked cluelessly.

"Because I’m immune to Laradie," Anna revealed another unexpected information to them.

Everyone’s eyes widened, and they looked at her perplexedly.

"That means... It’s in your blood. Your blood is the cure..." Ayden’s voice dwindled as he processed the information. His onyx eyes were dazzling as he spoke.

Eli listened, mouth agape in surprise.

"My lady, are you serious about this?" Garin’s husky voice shook the conversation.

"Of course, I’m dead serious! I won’t joke around over people’s lives!" The firm response of the commander’s wife silenced the knight.

"I was administered the pure serum. That’s why I’m immune to it," she revealed.

"How do we apply it to the others?" asked Ayden with interest.

"You need to make an open wound and put a few droplets of my blood on it. Once it enters the body, we must wait at least an hour. It would react within that time. As for the immunity, it will take at least a day to build," Anna explained the procedure based on her memories of reading her grandfather’s journal in the library.

The pure serum was given to all members of Ardel’s royal family. Even Anna, whose father did not favour, still received the drug as it was a royal decree made by her grandfather before his demise.

"How long will it take for the patients to be cured?" asked Luke.

"Several days. The patients will no longer infect others after a day from the administration," she replied.

"Can we dilute it?" the assistant healer rubbed his chin with a sharp impression.

"No, we can’t," Anna responded firmly.

"Then, can their blood be used to treat others after the administration, too? " Ayden asked Anna.

"I’m afraid not. Even the pure serum mixed in my blood has less effect than the original. The immunity would only last for a year. But it is still effective as the cure," she replied.

"Then, the cure might not be enough. We’re facing countless people who may have been exposed to Laradie. We can’t be draining my lady’s blood for that. It’s dangerous!" Eli’s voice resonated in the tent.

A sudden silence enveloped the group.

"What if it’s not even Laradie? My lady could be infected with an unknown disease if we send you to the patients," Luke conjectured.

"The fatality of other diseases is way lower, and we have time to treat it. As we all know, Laradie is fastly contagious and deadly. I’m willing to take the risk," Anna insisted firmly.

The men glanced at each other with clamped mouths. Though they were concerned, they knew that the princess was right.

"I suggest we go with the lady’s proposal. Apply the blood to our men who will be on this task first," Damon suddenly proposed.

He looked at the men and continued, "My lady can help to confirm the disease. If it is, we can trace their contact with anyone since one of the foragers is still conscious."

"I agree. That sounds more reassuring. In that way, we can use my lady’s blood sparingly. Those who are not infected don’t require it." Garin nodded lightly to the suggestion.

"Great! Then we can start now!" the princess replied with enthusiasm.

Ayden pondered momentarily before telling Anna, "I need to take a pint of your blood before sending you to them. It’s the safest amount and fine for a healthy person. However, you have a delicate constitution."

"Would it threaten the lady’s health?" asked Luke worriedly to Ayden.

"No. But she’ll be weary for a few days," uttered the assistant healer with concern.

"Then you shouldn’t be worrying about me. I’ll be fine and won’t be at risk. But the lives of many others will if we keep on dilly-dallying," Anna was set on going through with it.

"Sir Parker, what do you say?" asked Garin to Luke, turning to the knight.

Luke had a brooding expression on his face. Everyone stared at him, waiting for a decisive answer.

"The commander won’t be pleased with this..." he slowly muttered.

When Kyren left, the grand duke sternly reminded him to ensure Anna’s safety.

"Put aside the thought about the commander’s wrath. This is a national security matter, Sir Parker. You should know what’s best to solve this matter," Garin persuaded him.

The unexpected suggestion by the commander’s wife bewildered Luke and everyone else. Simultaneously, it brought a glimpse of hope that they could suppress the waves of infections, thus preventing a worse massacre.

"You’re the commanding officer of the camp now. It’s your call," Garin urged.

He strongly agreed with the princess’s idea as it was the best option to save the people’s lives against the plague.

"We’ll go ahead with the lady’s suggestion. Let’s discuss a thorough plan before briefing everyone. We’ll need to allocate the resources for this task," Luke finally decided.

All of them nodded at Luke’s behest.

There was no time to lose. After the plan was constructed, Anna and Ayden went to the infirmary for the blood withdrawal, escorted by Damon, while the rest of the camp’s occupants were gathered for the briefing.

***

"Don’t rush for it," Ayden advised the princess when he saw her attempts to rise after the blood withdrawal.

The dizziness began to surge when she hastened her move. She put her palm to her temple, pressing her head to relieve the spinning sensation and nearly lost her balance.

"Lie down first, my lady!" Damon quickly held her shoulders and pushed her down to the bed.

"I can’t be wasting time like this. I must be quick!" she said, trying to lift her body again.

"You’ll faint if you keep on forcing yourself. Give your body some time. Here, drink this. It will help to replenish your energy."

Ayden took a medicinal tea from the table and approached the lady. As Damon slowly reclined her over several pillows, the assistant healer carefully put the glass’s tip to her mouth.

Anna sipped the drink without hesitation. She needed to regain her strength to attend to the foragers. However, her face still crumpled, innately opposing the bitter taste that spread on her tongue.

"How are the foragers right now?" she asked in worry.

"They’re still alive. We’ve erected a tent near them. Once we’re immune, we’ll move them there," said Damon.

She nodded in relief.

"Please prepare some water and food as well. They need to consume something." The knight agreed to her request.

"How did you get the serum, my lady?" Ayden questioned the princess.

He had been so curious since she told them about her special blood.

"That..." Anna’s voice hesitated as she glanced at them. Both men looked at her, eager for her reply.

"I can’t speak of it. It was supposed to be a secret," she hesitantly answered.

The royal family of Ardel’s use of the pure serum was to be kept secret from others.

"I understand. You don’t have to tell us if that’s so."

Ayden did not push ahead. Now was not the time to force her to reveal it.

"My lady, thank you very much! We’re very grateful for your help," Damon suddenly said.

His eyes were a bit watery as he looked at the princess. When she opened her mouth to speak, the knight quickly looked away.

"We indeed are. You’re truly a blessing to us!"

Ayden’s words stirred Anna’s heart. Their appreciation made her feel like a part of the group and a worthy person acknowledged by them.

Now, she really felt that she belonged here, in Gerhard’s dispatched team.

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