50 - The Time of the Blind Beast (15+ Revised Edition)
Ezekiel let out a wry smile.
As expected, that scoundrel wouldn't miss such news.
Achenaus had a habit of flaunting Valdemara's wealth, wielding expensive treasures and his mistresses.
"They say he competed with us in the bidding until the very end. Apparently, he was furious after failing to win the bid. Perhaps he's found another woman he fancies."
Madam Serva also clicked her tongue in disbelief.
"No matter how vast Valdemara's fortune may be, if he were to lead the Valdemara family, he would squander all that immense wealth on mere pleasures."
It was a prediction that wasn't particularly surprising. However, the possibility that Achenaus might investigate who had won the diamond bid was something to keep in mind. It seemed safest to schedule the surgery as soon as possible, and once Rose had recovered, to have her stay at the new mansion for a while until things settled down.
"Serva, a ring is best for a proposal, wouldn't you agree?"
Honestly, Ezekiel felt it was a waste of even the slightest interest to spare for Achenaus right now. The one Ezekiel wanted to focus his heart and mind on was not that scoundrel, but Rose.
"A ring is certainly more traditional."
Bolstered by Madam Serva's affirmation, Ezekiel made his decision.
"Then, for now, we'll prepare a ring, and if Rose finds it uncomfortable, we can reset it. The jewelry should be adapted to the wearer's convenience."
"Yes, I will place the order accordingly."
"I will personally deliver the ring to Rose on the day she wakes up after the surgery."
"You mean to bring it in secretly?"
Madam Serva shrewdly gauged his intentions. Ever since he had given the order to scout for a new mansion, Ezekiel had consistently emphasized the need for absolute secrecy. His true feelings were so transparent, and rather unexpected, that Madam Serva found herself constantly trying to suppress her involuntary laughter.
My goodness, to think that the great Ezekiel would become like this.
Love is truly a mysterious magic, isn't it?
In the memories of many, Ezekiel had been a boy who, from a young age, possessed a maturity far beyond his years. Unlike Achenaus, who was selfish yet had a certain pliancy, Ezekiel, with his cold demeanor and taciturn personality, was considered difficult to approach by everyone except Madam Serva, who had raised him. No one had expected him to grow into an adult who would excitedly plan a proposal.
And that wasn't all.
He had gotten angry when the employees kept calling for Rose, yet he himself had monopolized her to such an extent, and with his natural stamina, had tormented her night after night so consistently that Rose had recently lost a lot of weight.
Still, Ezekiel, who was preparing the house and the ring without Rose's knowledge, and pondering how to surprise her even more, seemed like a playful and vibrant boy.
If a person could change this much even without being able to see, how much more would she change after the surgery and regaining her sight?
Since Rose appeared at this mansion, new vitality had bloomed and good fortune had followed for the master who had been going through the darkest period of his life. She was truly Ezekiel's benefactor.
Madam Serva recalled Rose's pale face as she cautiously knocked on the mansion's door on a cold, dark winter night, begging for a job. She shuddered to imagine what kind of time Ezekiel would be having now if Rose had been turned away and refused that day.
It was fortunate that she had judged the person correctly.
Feeling proud of her discernment, Madam Serva began to organize the plans that were to be implemented soon.
She would have to prepare to welcome the new Mistress of the house to the mansion soon.
"I'm here after receiving a call from Doctor Briman. I am Polina."
As autumn deepened, the surgeon introduced by Doctor Briman arrived at the mansion. Rose, who had gone to the entrance to greet her, inadvertently looked at the doctor standing there with a large travel bag and a doctor's bag, and quickly lowered her gaze.
This was because the doctor's face was covered in mottled burn scars. Worried that her gaze might have been impolite, Rose quickly composed her expression.
"Please come in. You must have had a long journey."
Fortunately, her greeting came out quite calmly. The doctor also accepted Rose's guidance with a composed demeanor.
The doctor was a tall, young woman with a striking appearance. Doctor Briman had mentioned she was a young doctor, and Rose had assumed she would be around forty, similar to other doctors who had visited the mansion, but she actually appeared to be in her early thirties, about ten years younger.
"And I know the most capable doctor in this field. I trust that she is a doctor with the ability to do so."
Doctor Briman, in his sixties, had vouched for the doctor, who was half his age, as the most capable person with the ability to fix eyes.
How often would one find someone so young, with their own specialized field, and so trusted by others?
She would certainly not be common. Of course, there was one more person within Rose's circle of acquaintances.
Ezekiel.
He had soared to greater heights at an even younger age, gaining national fame. And the people of Astria revered him as a war hero.
Similarly, Polina would be a hero to her patients, no less than Ezekiel. Moreover, if she succeeded in fixing his eyes with this surgery, she could become a hero to Ezekiel and the Valdemara family.
It was remarkable.
And at the same time, she felt envious.
The fact that she had studied extensively enough to become a doctor, that she had earned the trust of experienced colleagues like Doctor Briman, and most importantly, that she was engaged in the noble profession of saving lives, was enough to make her jealous, as it perfectly embodied the ideal of a saint she had always dreamed of.
Rose bit her lip tightly.
She had wanted to become someone like that after graduating from school.
She had believed she would live a life that contributed to society, somewhere, or to someone. Looking back, it was a huge misconception.
"To be perfectly honest, this will be a very delicate surgery."
Polina did not mince words, even when facing Ezekiel.
"To explain the procedure in more detail, we will use instruments to fix the eyes so they cannot blink, and then, relying on a magnifying glass, we will incise both pupils and remove the cloudy tissue. Unlike many other surgical procedures, it does not involve sawing, nor does it outwardly bleed profusely, so it might seem easy, but it is not."
"It doesn't sound easy at all."
Rose took a deep breath as she looked at the surgical method Polina had drawn to help the guardian understand. Just imagining it for a moment made her heart clench.
"I didn't realize such a surgery existed."
"It's natural that you wouldn't know. It's not a commonly performed surgery yet. In particular, the method of incising and removing the pupil was something I devised myself. Doctor Briman was one of the few doctors who showed interest in the surgical method I presented."
Rose glanced at Ezekiel. Even without seeing the drawing, he must have fully understood the procedure for eye surgery, yet he remained unfazed.
"Will there be no pain?"
As if nothing else mattered as long as the surgery was successful, Rose asked on behalf of the indifferent Ezekiel.
"Of course, it will be immense. The pain will be severe, and when the eyes are touched, tears will naturally flow. Therefore, for such surgeries, a surgical assistant to continuously wipe away tears to prevent blurring of the surgical field, and servants to restrain the limbs, are mobilized. We plan to use a small dose of opium just before the surgery to alleviate some of the pain, but the pain will not disappear completely. Major, you have likely seen emergency treatments by military surgeons on the battlefield, so you would know better..."
Ezekiel, who had shown no reaction until then, interrupted Polina for the first time and spoke.
"I don't need any of that."
His voice was calm, with almost no discernible inflection.
"Do not use opium. Proceed with the surgery as is."
Polina was taken aback by his decision, and Rose flinched.
Aren't eyes a vital point that instinctively blink when something approaches? To probe such a vulnerable part of the body with a blade while fully conscious would be akin to torture.
"Even with your tolerance, this is not a surgery that can be endured without opium."
Polina immediately began to persuade him.
She had seen many patients who wanted more potent opium because they feared pain, but this was the first time in her medical career she had encountered someone who wanted to undergo surgery while fully conscious. Even with extensive experience in eye surgery, it was right to minimize the possibility of unforeseen circumstances. Given that most patients, even when drugged with opium, would scream and cause a commotion about how much they were suffering, Ezekiel's request was out of the question.
"I heard from Doctor Briman that you suffered severely from withdrawal symptoms, but using opium occasionally will not result in the same level of addiction as before. Furthermore, if a strong and large man like yourself were to struggle during the surgery, neither I nor the Doctor would be able to stop you. If, due to your struggles, the surgical needle were to accidentally pierce the wrong part of the pupil..."
This was, quite literally, the most horrific outcome that could occur during surgery.
Polina added weight to her paused words.
"There will be no turning back. You will regret not having the surgery at all."
"I will endure it."
However, Ezekiel's answer was equally resolute.
"Because Rose will be by my side."
