The attention of the entire gathering had shifted to the unfolding drama, the murmurs of the noblewomen growing louder. Sensing the growing tension, the prince addressed the crowd, his voice calm but authoritative. "I apologize for the disturbance. Please, enjoy the rest of your afternoon. I will ensure everyone is compensated for the inconvenience."

  With that, he signaled the knight to escort Jana to the royal physician’s room. As they walked away, the onlookers began to buzz with curiosity and speculation, the incident becoming the talk of the day.

  The walk to the physician’s room was steeped in awkward silence. The knight, sensing Jana’s discomfort, maintained a respectful distance but stayed close enough to offer support if needed. As they entered the nursery, the physician, a middle-aged man with a stern demeanor, and a nurse approached them.

  The nurse, a kind-eyed woman, looked between Jana and the knight before addressing him directly. "Thank you, but I’ll take it from here. You can leave us now."

  The knight quickly caught on, nodding. "Oh, of course. My apologies," he mumbled, stepping back with a slight bow before leaving the room, closing the door softly behind him.

  Once alone with the nurse and physician, Jana tried to maintain her composure. The physician looked her over, his expression serious. "What exactly happened?" he asked, his voice carrying a tone that suggested he wouldn’t be easily brushed off.

  Jana, trying to remain respectful and deflect the situation, replied, "I just need some ointment for a burn. It’s nothing serious."

  The physician’s brow furrowed as he studied her more closely. "The prince's orders were clear. I was told to treat you thoroughly—I can’t do any less."

  A wave of nervousness washed over Jana. She glanced around the room, considering her options, before leaning in slightly and lowering her voice. "Perhaps we can keep this between us," she suggested, trying to bribe him subtly. "A small token of my gratitude for your discretion."

  The physician’s eyes narrowed at first, but after a moment of thought, his expression softened. He believed he understood what she was trying to conceal. "Fine," he said, taking the money she offered. "I’ll treat you, and I won’t say a word about what I find." Inwardly, he was convinced she was hiding a pregnancy, and he thought he had won easy money by keeping quiet.

  Reluctantly, Jana agreed to the arrangement, though her mind was racing. She took a deep breath and decided to press further. "There’s… one more thing," she said cryptically, handing him more money. "I need you to treat another issue as well."

  The physician, growing more curious, nodded. "Very well. I’ll examine you completely."

  As he and the nurse prepared, Jana began to undress, starting with her upper garments. The physician turned to give her privacy, but Jana, now resigned to the situation, didn’t mind if he saw.

  When she finally revealed the bruises covering her body, the room fell into stunned silence. Both the nurse and the physician were left dumbfounded by the extent of the injuries Jana had been hiding. The nurse gasped quietly, covering her mouth in shock, while the physician’s stern expression faltered, replaced by a look of concern and confusion.

  The physician, now realizing that this was far more serious than he had initially thought, hesitated before speaking. "These… these are not from a simple accident," he finally said, his voice softer, as if the severity of the situation demanded a quieter tone. He exchanged a glance with the nurse, who looked equally alarmed.

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  Jana remained silent, her expression a mix of resignation and resolve, waiting to see how the physician would handle what he now knew.

  The nurse, visibly shaken by the sight of Jana’s bruises, hesitated before asking softly, "How did you get these?"

  Jana, her voice steady despite the situation, responded, "I paid you to treat me, not to ask questions."

  The physician, who had initially taken the money under a different assumption, stepped forward, his tone more serious now. "I took the money because I thought I’d be hiding something less... complicated. But I don’t need the money. I’m the royal physician, and this looks like trouble I want no part in."

  Seeing that bribery wasn’t working, Jana’s tone shifted to one of genuine desperation. "Please," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "If word gets out, people will start pitying me, and those who hurt me might hear of this and come back for me."

  The physician exchanged a troubled glance with the nurse, both clearly conflicted. Jana, sensing their hesitation, continued to plead silently, her thoughts racing. She knew that if they didn’t agree to keep quiet, she might have no choice but to revert to the dangerous life she had worked so hard to leave behind—and silencing the royal physician would create far more problems than it solved.After a tense moment, the physician nodded slightly, relenting. He began examining her injuries more thoroughly, noting a broken rib and several other minor wounds. His expression softened with a mixture of pity and professionalism as he turned to the nurse. "Tend to her carefully."

  The nurse approached Jana, her voice gentle. "I can’t imagine what you’ve been through... at least you’re not pregnant. These men..." She trailed off, her assumption clear.

  Jana, not wanting the misunderstanding to go further, quickly corrected her. "It wasn’t that. Debt collectors... they don’t care who they hurt to get what they want." The lie slipped out smoothly, a necessary cover for the truth she couldn’t afford to reveal.

  The nurse nodded, a look of sympathy crossing her face. "I’m sorry. It must have been awful."

  Jana bit her tongue, realizing her mistake; complaining about debt collectors while she was in the middle of bribing them—how ironic, she thought. She glanced sideways at the nurse, who only showed simple pity, and the relief was immediate. What luck that this woman was so inept and lacking in insight, she thought, the money given was almost a monthly wage, and that should have raised suspicion.

  Once the treatment was finished, Jana carefully put her clothes back on. The physician, a bit more kindly now, advised her, "Come back in three days so I can see how you’re healing."

  Jana nodded, thanking him quietly. She could have avoided all this if she had access to the timekeeper’s resources, but most of the supplies and personnel were in the safehouses in the woods, and she didn’t have time to go there or call for help.

  As she left the room, she reflected that the situation hadn’t turned out as badly as it could have. If the story did leak, it would just seem like another commoner dealing with rough debt collectors—something not uncommon in these times. It was a manageable cover, one that wouldn’t draw too much attention to her true identity or the dangerous world she was entangled in.

  Somewhere in the ocean, a deep voice broke the silence. "It's very deep. Many have tried to fetch it—some returned, others did not. Sending more is suicidal."

  "Shut up. You're not here to give your opinion," a man in a dirty uniform snapped. "You’ve already brought me to the treasure. I don’t know why I’m keeping you alive anymore. You’re just wasting provisions." He eyed the young man with black hair, who stood surrounded by men in the dimly lit cabin, all of whom radiated murderous intent.

  The young man, sensing the danger, tried to mask his fear with a grin. "Well, I can help you bring it up."

  The captain, a rough-looking man with a heavy belt, approached the young man, placing a strong, almost threatening pat on his shoulder. "Oh yes," the captain grinned, "I’ve already taken that for granted."

  The young man, still trying to hide his emotions, placed his hand on the table, which was scattered with maps. He looked down, his mind racing, while the captain kept his hand firmly on his shoulder, smiling broadly at his shipmates, who exchanged knowing glances.