Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 189

Side Story 9: To Truly Be Free (189/200)

2024.02.05.

The medical team’s volunteer period on Leaf Island was only a month, but they didn’t waste a single day.

Fortunately, the village had no patients with major illnesses, so even after the medical team left, there would be no problem as long as they regularly went to the mainland to get medicine.

The problem was the prisoners. Charles categorized the patients’ conditions.

Even if he gave up on patients with no hope, people like Allen seemed likely to improve with proper medication.

However, the warden was reluctant to allow transfers off the island, fearing they could escape under the guise of treatment.

“I will take full responsibility.”

Approval had been granted from the home country, but without the warden’s permission to manage Leaf Island Prison, prisoner transfers were nearly impossible.

So Charles persisted and persuaded the warden.

He promised that once the illness was cured, they would either serve the rest of their sentence in a prison in the home country or be returned to Leaf Island.

“Hmph! Alright. But promise me just one thing. Promise me you will absolutely prevent the prisoner from escaping.”

“I will.”

“Tsk, well, Allen McDowell is an exemplary prisoner, so he won’t cause any major problems.”

Charles was happy to be able to treat Allen in earnest. But Allen himself didn’t seem to be.

“Dr. Fleming, I don’t want to be treated.”

“Please accept, even for the sake of your connection with Sarah. My wife is very worried about Mr. McDowell.”

“Wife?”

“Yes, Sarah and I are married.”

Allen found this situation absurd. Sarah, who couldn’t stand to kill each other, was trying to save his life.

“What exactly *was* your relationship with Sarah?”

Charles had a slightly uneasy feeling. Sarah clearly said that Allen was her lady’s fiancé.

But sometimes when he saw the two of them in the hospital room, he couldn’t help but wonder.

She said it wasn’t a big deal, but the way they looked at each other was… well…

‘It looked painful.’

When Sarah looked at Allen, she seemed to hate him very much, but she also felt deep sympathy.

On the other hand, when Allen looked at her, he was full of apology. It didn’t seem like a simple relationship.

‘No, as the Hamilton family fell, Sarah must have suffered as well, so her feelings must be bad because of that.’

Charles shook his head to clear his complicated thoughts.

“You must have heard from Sarah?”

Allen avoided answering. Hearing him say it so casually, Charles felt embarrassed for even asking.

“Tomorrow, you will leave Leaf Island with us and go to Lubeck.”

“Lubeck? I am from Galdenia.”

Allen strongly resisted.

He had nothing more to lose, but he didn’t want to go to Lubeck, where Terran and Grace were.

“That’s where my clinic is. After the treatment is finished, a decision will be made whether to transfer you to Galdenia or return you to this island.”

Charles was about to leave the hospital room after finishing his business. But Allen called out to Charles.

“Dr. Fleming, can I ask you just one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“Is it okay if it’s a personal question?”

Charles hesitated for a moment. He hadn’t had many long conversations with patients about personal matters.

“What is it?”

When Charles finally agreed, Allen couldn’t easily ask. He seemed to be pondering for a moment. Then he finally opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Do you love Sarah?”

“Excuse me?”

He thought it was a personal question, but he didn’t expect it to be *this*.

“Dr. Fleming, don’t misunderstand. I’m asking because I want someone I know to be happy.”

“Of course I love her. Sarah is a good woman.”

“A good woman… That’s right.”

He was the man who was deluded and arrogant, thinking that all the women in the world loved him and couldn’t refuse him.

By the time he realized that wasn’t the case, it was already too late.

‘Sarah was a woman who gave up everything for me.’

He was ashamed of his past self for treating such a person so badly.

But looking back now, Sarah was wise.

If she hadn’t run away from him, she would be living a tragic life by now.

“Mr. McDowell, you can pay for the sins you have committed after your body is fully recovered.”

Since the topic came up, Charles explained what kind of treatment he was going to give him in Lubeck.

He didn’t leave out the fact that he would use the new antibiotic he was developing and that he could suffer from side effects in the worst case.

Even if he was a prisoner, he had the right to refuse.

“My body is already ruined anyway. I won’t blame Dr. Fleming even if I die while receiving treatment.”

“Does that mean you will come with us to Lubeck?”

“Yes.”

‘It might be the last time, so I should do what Sarah wants.’

Allen was sorry that this was the only way to repay Sarah for the sins he had committed against her.

Why do humans only realize it after falling to the bottom? Just in time, Sarah came in with the medicine.

“Sarah, I’m going to the clinic.”

“Okay, Charles.”

After he left, the awkward atmosphere lingered for a while.

“I’m glad you married a good man.”

“Yes? I’m lucky.”

If the life that was messed up by Allen was Act 1, then meeting Charles and having a new goal and a stepping stone to leap forward was Act 2.

“Marrying Charles is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Yeah, you look very good to me.”

“It’s my marriage, so it’s not something you should be pleased about.”

Sarah drew a firm line with Allen.

If she could take him to Lubeck and treat him, she could correct some of her past mistakes. Her intention to treat Allen was solely for her own peace of mind.

* * *

Charles and Sarah brought Allen to the clinic in Lubeck.

The journey from Leaf Island to Rebon [Likely a region or country where Lubeck is located] was not easy, but Charles was excited to be able to use his new treatment on his patient.

“Don’t worry too much. The success rate was high both theoretically and in clinical trials.”

Charles reassured Allen.

“Dr. Fleming, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m glad that a serious criminal like me can contribute to medical development even a little bit.”

Allen spoke as if he had given up on life.

After that, Charles did his best to treat Allen.

He hadn’t finished his research yet, so he hadn’t finished writing the paper, but this would be an opportunity for his research to bear fruit.

Allen took his medicine and injections at set times every day.

Some injections made him feel nauseous, and he even had severe diarrhea at one point. But each time, Charles provided appropriate treatment and prescriptions.

“All diseases depend on how well you take your medicine.”

“Is that so?”

“Even if you take your medicine on time, you have cured half of the disease.”

Charles and Sarah put their heart and soul into Allen. In particular, Sarah only showed her professional side as a nurse after coming to Lubeck.

For the first few weeks, there seemed to be no improvement, but at some point, his cough and fever decreased and his health improved.

Charles frequently tested Allen’s blood and urine.

“The inflammation level has dropped significantly. Now it’s down to the level of a cold.”

Even Sarah could see that Allen’s complexion had improved a lot. Now he rarely coughed up blood.

“Charles, the medicine you made was a success.”

“It’s too early to be happy; the side effects were significant.”

The medicine was so strong that it caused gastrointestinal problems.

“I think it’s a matter of dosage.”

Charles nodded in agreement with Sarah’s words.

He had to check each person’s weight, constitution, age, and whether they had any underlying diseases.

If he could compensate for that and adjust the amount of medicine used, he would see much better results.

Not only that, but Allen, who had become healthier, had shed a lot of his pessimistic thinking. Only then did he realize that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body.

It was only natural to not want to live in such severe pain.

Sarah had many thoughts as she watched Allen’s body gradually improve.

‘Allen must not be sent back to Leaf Island.’

If he does hard labor there, malnutrition and pneumonia will recur.

Leaf Island itself is warm and pleasant, but the prison is the perfect place for people to get sick.

Sarah pondered for days. What is the best way for Allen to pay for his sins properly in a healthy state?

So she sent a letter to Leah, saying that she would visit soon. She judged that Allen’s atonement was not a matter that she could decide on her own.

* * *

Leah greeted Sarah, whom she had met in three months, with joy.

“Did you finish your medical service well?”

“Yes.”

Sarah told her everything that had happened, from meeting Allen there to the present.

Among them, Leah was very pleased that Charles’ new drug was successful. But she didn’t show much interest in Allen’s news.

“Madam, I don’t want to send Allen back to Leaf Island.”

“Sarah, you don’t have to get my permission for everything. If you’ve made a decision, there must be a good reason.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, but I hope that once you cure Allen this time, you will be free from now on.”

“Madam.”

Sarah burst into tears. Leah understood her as if she could see through her heart, even if no one else did.

Also, Leah seems to have already escaped from the past caused by Allen.

“I will respect your decision whether Sarah kills or saves Allen.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Frankly, she thought that Leah was the only one who could condemn Allen.

But she was glad that Leah seemed to be freed from the pain of the past.

Just in time, Terran appeared in the drawing room. Sarah now had something to ask of him.

“Duke, I have something to ask for your advice.”

“What is it?”

He kissed Leah on the cheek and sat next to her.

“I think you need to use your power to help Empress Theresa.”

“Is it about Allen?”

Terran’s brow furrowed slightly.

If you were to name people in this world who hate Allen, Terran would be included.