“Mom, we’re back!”
Kiran’s granddaughter tugged on Kiran’s arm as they returned home together.
Kiran’s daughter spotted her elderly father and walked over, her brows furrowed.
“Father, why have you been drinking outside again? Didn’t you promise me you’d control your drinking?”
“I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“This is the fifth time you’ve said that this month… Be serious about it this time.”
Kiran felt somewhat embarrassed. He set the wine bottle down on the table. Being chided by his daughter like this left him quite awkward.
“Sigh, I really can’t understand why you insisted on resigning back then. No one was forcing you. Now you stay home every day, always drinking. How many years has it been?”
“Anyway, I still have my pension, and it’s quite substantial!”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m worried about your mental state.”
“Mom, are we heading out now?” Kiran’s granddaughter interjected, asking her mother.
“Oh, right. Father, my husband has the carriage ready. Would you like to join us to the neighboring city to see the new Saintess?”
“No need. I’ll stay here and watch the house.”
“Alright then, take care. I’ve prepared the food; it’s in the pot. Just heat it up when you want to eat. And really, you need to drink less.”
After her instructions, Kiran’s daughter took her granddaughter and left the house together. They boarded the carriage and headed toward the neighboring city, planning to see the new Saintess along with the other citizens.
The house quickly fell silent, leaving Kiran alone.
Kiran let out a long sigh. He instinctively grabbed the wine bottle and tilted his head back to drink.
However, the bottle had already been emptied. Nothing remained.
He had once been a quite famous physician in the Saint Luo Empire. His medical skills were highly respected among the nobility.
But after one incident, he had voluntarily resigned and returned to his hometown of Gar City to retire.
Although some nobles he knew from before would still visit his door seeking medical help, he had decided not to return to practice. He only assisted his old acquaintances who came by, muddling through his days in a hazy manner.
By now, many people had forgotten that there was once an outstanding physician in the Saint Luo Empire.
It’s not that I don’t want to see her. It’s that I have no face to meet her.
Kiran held his head, feeling dizzy as the effects of the alcohol had not yet faded. Supporting himself along the staircase, he walked step by step toward his bedroom.
Since he was not hungry for the time being, he might as well sleep first and deal with things after waking up.
With that in mind, he reached his room and opened the door.
Yet upon seeing a shadowy figure standing by the window in the dark room, he felt puzzled.
“My wine… I still haven’t sobered up?”
Kiran muttered, rubbing his eyes.
However, the figure did not disappear. Instead, its form became increasingly clear.
When he saw the long red hair and the beautiful eyes resembling roses, he stood frozen in place, as if he had even forgotten to breathe.
“Is… is that you? Sylvia?”
Kiran’s voice trembled.
Although Sylvia had passed away many years ago, he still remembered what happened that night. No matter how much wine he drank in this lifetime, he probably would never forget it.
“Mr. Kiran, it really is you.”
Sophie smiled faintly at Kiran and greeted him politely.
“I am not my mother. I am my mother’s daughter, Sophie Shirleyford, the current Saintess from the Holy Land.”
This was not a dream. It was reality. He pinched his thigh hard. The sharp pain confirmed it was real, leaving him greatly surprised.
“It’s actually… Sylvia’s daughter!?”
“Yes,” Sophie nodded. “According to my investigations, after retiring, you have been living in Gar City. I happened to be in the area for some activities and wanted to meet you, so I slipped over secretly to see you privately.”
“What is there worth seeing in me.”
Kiran avoided Sophie’s gaze, his hand moving elsewhere. His hand was shaking.
“Miss Sophie, congratulations on inheriting from Lady Sylvia and becoming the new Saintess. But your time is extremely precious. There is no need to waste it on an old retired man like me, nor is it worth you coming here specially to meet me!”
“No. I believe meeting you is very necessary.”
Sophie paused for a moment.
After careful consideration, she decided not to beat around the bush with Kiran and directly stated her purpose for coming.
“Mr. Kiran, I will ask directly. You once treated my mother, correct?”
Kiran’s hand trembled even more violently, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
“I suspect there are many suspicious points regarding my mother’s death. Could you tell me what happened to my mother?”
Sophie stared directly at Kiran. Even as he avoided her eyes, she applied considerable mental pressure through her gaze.
“That was…”
Kiran was deeply conflicted. He had never dreamed that Sophie would actually come looking for him.
He closed his eyes, as if seeing Sylvia’s face once more.
Finally, with a certain resolve in his heart, he opened his eyes. His cloudy pupils became noticeably clearer.
“Child, the truth is very cruel. Are you certain you want to investigate the truth regarding Lady Sylvia?”
“I am certain, Mr. Kiran. The reason I came to see you is to look into the hidden details.”
“Miss Sophie, please sit down first.”
After turning on the lights in the room, Kiran invited Sophie to sit on his messy sofa.
“Miss Sophie, to tell you the truth, back then I did participate in treating Lady Sylvia. When I saw her, she was already heavily injured.”
“At that time, was it only you, Mr. Kiran?”
“No. Besides me, there were other physicians. We were all summoned from across the country at the fastest possible speed upon receiving orders from above, to save Lady Sylvia’s life.” Kiran paused. “When I received that order, I was utterly shocked. I couldn’t understand why Lady Sylvia would be injured so severely.”
Sophie did not know either. She was currently investigating this matter as well.
“Upon seeing Lady Sylvia for the first time, based on my years of experience, I immediately realized her condition was extremely dire—almost beyond saving.”
Recalling this made Kiran’s heart feel heavy with pain.
“But even so, I still chose to fulfill my duty as a physician. I didn’t want to give up any chance to save a life, especially when it was our Saintess.”
“What happened after that?” Sophie asked, pressing further.
“Just as I was about to begin, I received an order that was utterly incomprehensible—not to provide full treatment to Lady Sylvia.”