40 – Hiking with the Count? Or a treatment?
Count Roland’s pace gradually slowed down.
Sweating profusely, it seems climbing the mountain is challenging for him.
“Are you lacking stamina?”
Count’s irregular steps hinted at a possible illness or something of the sort.
It resembled an illness I had seen before.
“Kim Cheolsu.”
But I couldn’t connect the dots to an illness upon hearing the Count’s voice!
“Yes, yes… Count.”
“What do you like about our Catherine?”
“Well…”
The hike that began with issues related to Miss Catherine.
Count Roland seemed very curious about the relationship between me and Miss Catherine!
I shrugged.
It would be best to give a response that wouldn’t cause any problems even if my father were to overhear, right?
“Probably her kind heart. Miss Catherine is truly kind.”
“Hmm, Catherine is indeed kind.”
Count Roland subtly nodded.
Phew, dodged a bullet.
The knights following us seemed subtly intrigued, indicating that the situation between me and Miss Catherine hasn’t fully unfolded yet.
“What kind of son-in-law test is this!”
I felt extremely uncomfortable!
It’s not even a formal meeting.
I was nervous about making a mistake in my actions or words.
Why do son-in-laws feel uncomfortable meeting their in-laws?
I feel like I understand why future daughters-in-law find it hard to visit their in-laws..!
Count Roland, while diligently climbing the mountain, kept asking me questions.
“Kim Chul-soo, come to think of it, I don’t know your age. How old are you?”
“I am 30.”
“Hmm… since you’re a man, I can be lenient. So, where is your hometown?”
“Oh, it’s in Korea, a faraway land.”
“Hmm…”
It feels like I’m a contestant on an audition program!
With sunglasses on, Judge Count Roland, fiddling with his fingers, seemed to be deliberating between the “pass” and “fail” buttons.
Although he didn’t aggressively interrogate me, I somehow managed to answer.
As Count Roland struggled to climb further, he suggested resting by the riverside.
Conveniently, there was a valley nearby with the sound of a stream.
“Phew! Let’s take a break.”
Count Roland, sweating profusely, sat on a wide rock to catch his breath.
I watched Count Roland discreetly.
It seems like there may be something wrong with his body.
“Count, are you feeling very tired?”
“Hmm… I’ve invited you for a hike, yet I lack grace. I’m usually busy with paperwork, so I can’t hike often.”
“Is there any part of you that’s hurting?”
“My ankle is a bit sore.”
“Your ankle?”
Oh, Count’s ankle isn’t sprained, is it?
It’s a disease where the ankle swells from walking incorrectly!
More precisely, it’s due to ligament strain.
“May I take a look?”
“Sure.”
Count Roland took off his right shoe.
Indeed, his right ankle was swollen and red.
The swelling was noticeable.
It’s definitely a sprained ankle!
“Oh my, Count, are you not in pain? If it’s like this, you shouldn’t go hiking!”
“…Is it a serious illness?”
“It’s not, but rest is crucial!”
As I spoke, I raised my authority!
Authority doesn’t have an effect on swelling, but it does have a disinfecting effect.
From Noble mtl dot com
First of all, I applied sacred power to the ankle joint to prevent infection.
I took out Kim Cheol-soo’s special patch!
“Kim Cheol-soo’s special patch is made of cypress wood ash. It’s effective for swelling!”
Truly a versatile herbal remedy.
I explained to Viscount Roland and applied the gray Kim Cheol-soo’s special patch to the swollen area on his ankle.
“Ugh!”
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah… I can bear it.”
“Does anyone have a bandage!?”
I asked the knights, looking around!
The treatment for the ankle joint injury is important to “rest, cold compress, compression, elevation.”
For “rest,” it would be best to stop hiking and have the viscount lie down in bed now.
“Cold compress” is not necessary as it’s winter.
I want to apply “compression” with a bandage to reduce the swelling appropriately.
Fortunately, Senior Knight Sword had a bandage, so I wrapped it around the viscount’s ankle.
“Don’t use your right foot from now on, Viscount. Sword, can you help the Viscount walk?”
“Of course. Cheol-soo.”
“Then please.”
After asking Sword, I laid Viscount Roland on the rock and raised his leg for a moment.
Raising the ankle higher than the heart helps reduce swelling faster!
This is the last part of the treatment for the ankle joint injury, “elevation.”
“Phew… much better.”
The viscount’s condition noticeably improves!
But I felt inadequate.
‘I’m not sure if I can continue treatment here, but I can’t treat him here indefinitely. It’s better for the viscount to descend.’
The most fundamental treatment for the ankle joint injury is to let the right ankle rest.
Because it’s a disease caused by a torn ligament.
“Viscount, how about descending now?”
“Descending…?”
“Yes, Viscount, resting is essential for the swollen ankle.”
“Sigh… I guess I have no choice. Senior Knight Sword!”
“Yes, Viscount.”
“Take the knights and search for bandits. And one knight will carry me.”
“I will follow your orders.”
Sword bowed his head.
The viscount let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh… even so, I can’t postpone raiding the bandits.”
* * * *
Being carried on the back of the youngest knight, Viscount Roland looked at Kim Cheol-soo with fiery eyes.
Kim Cheol-soo, the viscount’s passionate healer who is always dedicated to treating patients.
‘He’s truly a reliable guy.’
Kim Cheolsu, who appeared like a solver every time Roland Viscount fell ill and treated him.
Honestly, when Viscount Roland realized that Catherine wanted to marry Kim Cheolsu, he disliked Kim Cheolsu.
Catherine, the one and only daughter whom Viscount Roland cherished dearly.
Catherine had been adorable since she was young, so Viscount Roland raised her, carrying her on his back.
She was truly the daughter who received plenty of affection from Viscount Roland!
In that sense, if someone like Nam Jeong interfered with Catherine, Viscount Roland would be furious.
It was less unpleasant because it was Kim Cheolsu, whom he usually had a favorable impression of.
If it had been someone ambiguous, he would have been furious.
‘You’re receiving your treatment again.’
Viscount Roland felt his heart melting.
Once again, Kim Cheolsu treated Viscount Roland when he fell ill.
Just like a solver who helps Viscount Roland whenever he’s in trouble.
…But he still hasn’t allowed the marriage with his daughter.
Viscount Roland felt secure in Kim Cheolsu’s presence.
‘Perhaps I can think of my relationship with my daughter… more positively.’
Viscount Roland’s heart stirred.
Viscount Roland leaned on the back of his youngest knight and looked at Kim Cheolsu endlessly as he descended.
* * * *
In the end, Viscount Roland retired and began recuperating in the lord’s bedroom.
The bedroom was warm with a fireplace.
A cold cloth was placed on Viscount Roland’s right ankle to reduce the swelling.
His right leg was elevated higher than his heart.
An ideal position to heal an ankle sprain!
“I’ll come check on you every time I finish work. If it gets worse or something happens, please call me, Viscount.”
“You have no mercy… suggesting we go hiking.”
“Oh, please don’t say that!”
Honestly, I was thrilled that we didn’t go hiking.
Since we descended quickly, can’t I have a restful afternoon?
This Kim Cheolsu, he’s going to enjoy his vacation now!
“I received your help this time too.”
“Haha, I’m glad I could be of help to you, Viscount.”
No matter what, Viscount Roland is the highest authority in the Roland Viscount’s household.
If you make a good impression on Viscount Roland, it becomes easier to stay in the Viscount’s household.
I explained the method of managing an ankle sprain to Viscount Roland.
“Please keep your right ankle elevated lower than your heart, Viscount. Keep it elevated until the swelling subsides.”
“I will do so.”
“And please apply Kim Cheolsu’s special paste.”
“That paste is really effective. It feels refreshing, and the pain disappears.”
Viscount Roland’s eyes sparkled.
Hehe, it’s because you have seen the effects of the bird tree flour paste that I developed.
“Could I get more later? I want to show it to my friends too.”
“Oh, of course, my lord! I will even package it for you.”
I can’t refuse if it’s for my lord’s friends!
I should give it to them like a special gift set from Kim Chul-soo, with a ribbon tied around it.
The corners of my lord’s mouth lifted! He looked happy.
“Thank you, Kim Chul-soo.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I don’t know about repaying, but when I’m all better, we must go hiking together.”
“….”
My lord came out with a bright expression and suggested going hiking together again.
It seems that my lord thinks repaying means hiking.
The truth is, I don’t like moving my body.
Am I just wasting my happiness by lying in bed and using my phone?
I don’t want to go hiking…
“I understand.”
I couldn’t refuse!
But my lord still has a long way to go to recover, so it should be okay, right?
* * * *
One week later.
On a golden holiday, I, who wanted to be cocooned in my bed, climbed to the top of the mountain with Lord Roland.
“Heuk, heuk… heuk.”
I’m out of breath.
Lord Roland, who has fully recovered from his ankle sprain, climbed up faster than me!
He said his walking had been strange and that he had received corrections from the knights.
“Well, it’s a good thing.”
I feel like my lungs are going to burst!
I miss being inside my blanket… Today was definitely a holiday.
The holiday melts away like ice.
“Hahaha! Come up quickly, Kim Chul-soo. The air at the summit is refreshing!”
Lord Roland, who has recovered from his illness and is radiating good health.
I couldn’t help but climb to the top at Lord Roland’s urging and breathe in the fresh air.
Being at the summit feels fulfilling.
The view of Lord Roland looking down from above is unexpectedly beautiful.
“Hehe, isn’t it nice?”
“Heuk… heuk… the view is nice.”
“Yes, come whenever you have time.”
“….”
Lord Roland said with a face full of affection.
It’s nice to have Lord Roland’s favor, but…
I had a creepy imagination of going hiking every holiday.