Depraved Noble: Forced To Live The Debaucherous Life Of An Evil Noble!

Chapter 188: Healing Grace

The hospital was a battlefield in it's own right, its vast corridors pulsating with the urgency of a fortress under siege.

Doctors in white coats moved with purposeful steps, their clipboards clutched like shields, while nurses darted through the rooms, arms filled with bandages, syringes, and steaming basins. The air was thick with the sharp sting of antiseptic, along with the metallic tang of blood and the faint musk of sweat-soaked clothes.

In one corner, a soldier, his arm mangled from a recent skirmish, gritted his teeth as a nurse cleaned a deep gash, his curses muffled by pain.

Nearby, a young girl with a fever whimpered, her mother stroking her hair as a doctor adjusted a damp cloth on her forehead.

At the heart of this chaotic building lay a sprawling ward. Rows of beds stretched across the room, each occupied by patients of every age and ailment: children clutching tattered toys, their eyes wide with hope; adults with bandaged limbs, exchanging weary nods; and elderly figures, their faces etched with time, whispering to themselves or staring into the bustle.

And in one corner of that ward, a heated exchange drew curious glances.

A burly man, his head covered in a bandage, sat upright on his bed, his face flushed with stubborn determination as he argued with a young female doctor.

Her white coat was slightly messed up, her hair pulled into a practical bun, and her expression teetered between patience and exasperation, one hand planted on her hip as she faced the man's relentless demands.

"I'm not letting you poke at my head!" The man bellowed, his voice carrying over the entire ward. "I want Lady Diana to treat me!"

"I know she's here since everyone talks about her. They say her presence alone can soothe any pain, that her voice, all soft and graceful, can hush you to sleep, even if you're haunted by the screams of war."

"Soldiers who've crawled back from death's door swear she's a goddess, that just standing near her can heal your soul."

"...And I got hit on the head at the docks, so give me her, not some greenhorn like you!"

The young doctor sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Sir, I've told you, Lady Diana is with other patients right now. I'm the doctor assigned to this ward, and I'm fully qualified to treat your injury. You've got a head wound, so let me check it, and we'll get you fixed up."

The man shook his head, crossing his arms like a stubborn child.

"No way! I want Lady Diana! I'll pay extra—triple, whatever it takes! I heard she's the best, and I ain't settling for less!" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a fervent whisper. "I got bashed good at work and I thought maybe I'd luck out, since I could get her to look at me. So, come on, doc, make it happen!"

Her patience frayed, the doctor crossed her arms, her tone sharp.

"Money won't get you anywhere here. This hospital is free, funded entirely by Lady Diana herself. So, you can't buy her time since she's busy, and I'm your doctor."

"...Now, can we get on with this, or do you want to sit there whining all day?"

The man deflated, his shoulders slumping as the truth hit him.

"Free?" He muttered, rubbing his bandage. "All this and no cost? Damn...I really thought I'd see her." His voice turned sad, almost pleading. "There's gotta be some way to meet her, right? Just a glimpse, a word? I'll do anything!"

The doctor's lips twitched, a spark of mischief in her eyes as she decided to humor him.

"Well..." She said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You could try smashing your head a few more times. Keep showing up here, and maybe, one day, you'll catch her between rounds. Might take a dozen concussions, but who knows?"

But to her astonishment, the man's face lit up, his eyes gleaming with reckless enthusiasm.

"That's it!" He exclaimed, slamming a fist into his palm. "I'll keep coming back! Genius, doc! I'll make it work, just you wait!" His grin was almost manic, as if he were already planning his next accident.

She stared at him, her jaw dropping slightly.

"You're not actually going to—That was a joke! Don't go breaking your skull on purpose!"

But his eager nod told her he was half-serious, and she shook her head, muttering, "Madman."

Turning away, she strode toward a group of young female doctors clustered near the ward's entrance, their white coats bright under the flickering lanterns, their faces alight with amusement as they'd watched the exchange unfold.

As she joined them, one of the doctors, a woman with a mischievous grin, let out a soft laugh.

"Got yourself a lively one there." She teased, nudging her colleague. "Another poor soul chasing the myth of Lady Diana?"

The first doctor scoffed, leaning against a wall as she tucked her clipboard under her arm.

"Same old story." She said, her tone full of exasperation and amusement. "He heard the rumors and thinks Lady Diana's going to glide in and heal him with a smile. Third one this week."

"...You'd think they'd trust us to do our jobs, but no—they all want the saint doctor herself."

Another doctor, her eyes crinkling with a smile, nodded.

"I had two today." She said. "Both soldiers, fresh from the front. One kept raving about how her voice banished his nightmares, and the other swore her touch could stitch a broken heart...Took forever to get them to let me bandage their wounds."

A third chimed in, her voice bright.

"Six for me. Six! One tried to bribe me with some old knife, said it was a family treasure, I told him to keep it and let me sew his leg shut. Honestly, it's getting out of hand."

The fourth doctor laughed, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

"Ten for me." She said, her tone almost boastful. "Ten men, all singing her praises—her grace, her beauty, her healing aura. One nearly wept when I said she was in surgery."

"...I felt bad, but come on, we can't all just wait for her to show up."

The group fell into a brief, reflective silence, their gazes softening as they exchanged knowing looks.

The first doctor then sighed, her exasperation giving way to a fond smile.

"It's only natural, though, isn't it?" She said, her voice quieter now. "Lady Diana's...Well, she's Lady Diana. People would break their own bones for a chance to meet her, and I can't say I blame them."

"I was one of those starry-eyed admirers once and her work, her heart—it's why I became a doctor. She's the reason I'm here, trying to live up to her legacy."

The second doctor nodded, her expression earnest.

"Me too..." She said. "I was just a girl when I heard about her, how she built this hospital from nothing, made it free for everyone. I thought, 'If she can do that, I can make a difference too'."

"...She's not just a doctor, she's an inspiration, a light for all of us."

One of the doctors, her eyes gleaming with admiration, leaned forward, her voice soft but animated.

"You know, her story—it's like something out of a hero's tale, isn't it? The kind of legend you'd hear bards sing about, only she's real, walking among us. I mean, think about it: Lady Diana's life, everything she's done, it's almost mythical."

The others nodded, their expressions full of awe and curiosity, and another doctor picked up the thread, her tone rich with storytelling fervor.

"She was born into the Langley family, wasn't she? One of the most powerful noble houses, right at the top tier of society. That alone set her apart from the start—her status, her reputation, it was like she was untouchable, a star shining above the rest of us."

"And then, to top it all off, she married the young master of the Arwald family, a direct vassal of the Holyfield dynasty."

"Can you imagine? So young, and already wielding influence that could shake the continent. Most women in her position would've basked in that power, lived a life of luxury...but not her."

The first doctor nodded, her hands gesturing animatedly as she continued,

"Exactly! That's what makes her so extraordinary. Any other noblewoman with that kind of influence would've spent her days at balls, flirting with suitors, or throwing lavish parties to flaunt their wealth...But Lady Diana? She turned her back on all that."

"She used her influence for good—built orphanages, funded charities, poured her heart into helping the downtrodden. Everyone who's met her says the same thing: she's gentle, kind, gracious, the kind of person who makes you feel seen, no matter who you are."

"...The masses adore her, and it's not hard to see why. She's practically a saint walking among us."

A third doctor's voice softened, a wistful sadness creeping into her tone as she leaned against a nearby wall, her arms crossed.

"But even saints face tragedy don't they? For all her good deeds, all her kindness, fate dealt her a cruel hand."

"Her only child, young Lady Vivi, fell ill when she was just a girl—so terribly ill, with a disease no doctor could cure...I heard the Langley and Arwald families turned the continent upside down, searching for anyone who could help."

"Lady Diana herself took it the hardest. She didn't just sit back and let others handle it—she traveled the world, seeking out every healer, every scholar, anyone who might save her daughter. But no matter where she went, the answer was always the same."

"...Vivi had only a few years left, and there was nothing anyone could do."