Chapter 4 I Will Save You

“Brother, what nonsense are you talking about all of a sudden? This is not something you can play cool and joke about with!” Tiffania was first to react.

Prickly as ever, even though the situation is dire.

“I’m serious, do you think this is something I can joke around with? I will see her.” Thomas’s stance was resolute but his sister still doesn’t believe him.

The royal doctor already said there was no cure for tuberculosis. The royal doctors are the best in the empire, if they were to conclude that it was impossible, then it’s impossible. They just have to accept it.

But to Thomas, it’s not impossible. There is a way to save her.

“Even if you say you are serious, just how will you be able to save her? You’re not even a doctor,” Tiffania countered bitterly, not budging an inch. “The royal doctors already said there’s no cure for her disease, not even penicillin, a revolutionary medicine that can save her.”

Did she just say penicillin? So that medicine has already been introduced in this world? It is indeed a revolutionary medicine that cures a variety of diseases caused by bacteria such as pneumonia, meningitis, syphilis, gonorrhea, et cetera. But penicillin is ineffective against tuberculosis because the mycobacterium tuberculosis has a different cell wall made of mycolic acid, which is hydrophobic in nature. Penicillin is hydrophilic, so it won’t go through the cell walls of M. tuberculosis.

“Penicillin won’t work against tuberculosis because the cell wall of mycobacterium s much thicker and more hydrophobic, due to the presence of a wide array of different lipids that include mycolic acids. The lipid-rich nature renders the cell wall extremely hydrophobic and prevents the permeation of hydrophilic compounds such as penicillin.” Alexander explained.

There was a brief silence after that.

“How do you know about that?!” Tiffania was at a loss for words.

“You lost me there, brother,” Christina added.

“I read it in a medical journal during my free time.” Thomas came up with a lie. “Anyways, I need to see her.”

After hearing a plausible excuse from him, his sister won’t have a reason not to let him see her anymore.

So they took him to see Anastasia.

Anastasia was lying weakly on the bed, coughing.

Alexander’s eyes were filled with sadness and sympathy. A part of him died seeing his little sister like this.

She’s thin and looks so pale. Her once beautiful face is now distorted because of her illness.

As for Tiffania and Christina, they had a sad look on their face.

“Make sure you wear a mask dear brother. The doctor told us that tuberculosis is spread through the air.” Christina advised.

Alexander nodded, she couldn’t be more wrong. So before approaching Anastasia, he wore a facemask.

Then he walked over to Anastasia’s bed. Having a closer look, he noticed that Anastasia’s face was so thin and she was so pale that she appears sickly.

She’s lying there, coughing. Her body is covered with sweat and her flimsy body convulsed due to her cough. She looked so pitiful.

It was indeed tuberculosis, he can tell by just a glance.

There’s a puddle of sweat on Anastasia’s pillow. She’s having a hard time breathing, she’s suffering.

Her breathing is so faint, he feels like she’s just a breath away from death.

“The doctor said she only has a year or two to live, maybe three if lucky. But tell me, dear brother, does it look like she’s lucky?”

Alexander grimaced.

Inside the body of the prince, Thomas was conflicted with foreign emotions swirling like a storm. The prince loved his family so much that seeing them in this state would make him emotional.

Thomas is affected by those emotions and is on the verge of breaking out tears.

It was as though Alexander were still inside of him, dormant.

The prince wanted to cry but Thomas stopped him. It is unbecoming of him to be emotional.

This is the first time he had experienced this. Thomas is struggling to keep himself in control.

He can’t afford to lose his cool, he has to think clearly. He has to think if he’s going to save her.

All of a sudden, Anastasia opened her eyes.

She lifted her weak hand and cleared her throat.

“Dear…Alexander…” She whispered and coughed.

Alexander rushed to her side, alarmed, his hands acted on their own. “Ana, is something wrong? Please don’t strain yourself, my dear.” Alexander said softly, caressing her forehead with his warm touch.

“Brother…I’m glad…you’re okay.” Ana replied hoarsely.

“Yes, I’m also glad that I survive the attack.” Alexander let out a chuckle.

At this point, it’s uncertain who is talking right now. Is it the mind of Thomas? Or the heart of Alexander?

Ana stared at him with a sad look.

Because she feels that Alexander will never be able to accept her feelings for him.

Alexander noticed that Ana was staring at him, so he continued to ask her. “What is it, Ana? Do you wish for something?”

Ana stared at him for a second. Her expression was grave, but she replied. “I wanted to ask you to promise me…you’ll take care of your sisters…even after I’m gone…” Ana whispered hoarsely.

Alexander’s eyes widened in shock.

There’s nothing he can say, he’s at a loss for words.

A cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck. He doesn’t want to hear this!

“I don’t want you to feel sad…when I’m gone…” Ana continued. “I will join mother…father…in heaven…so don’t be sad okay? Will you promise me that?”

Alexander was silent.

He feels that he’s suffocating like there’s a lump on his throat.

She already accepted her fate. At such a young age, she already accepted the fact she won’t live any longer.

But Alexander’s heart couldn’t accept it. There’s too much for her to learn about this world, things to experience, and find happiness.

He won’t let her be taken away by such an easily curable disease.

“No! I will save you, Ana, I’ve already figured out a way to save you. So, while I’m creating it, I want you to promise me that you’ll hang in there and wait for me, okay? Can you do that to me, sweetie?”

Ana smiled. Her lips are dry and cracked. But her smile is radiant. She lifted her upper body with all of her strength and embraced Alexander.

Alexander is affected by her strong embrace and he hugged her back.

“I promise you, Ana, you will live longer than that…I will save you.”

“I…trust you brother.”

Ana coughed violently. Alexander released her from his embrace and saw blood on his cloth.

She’s coughing blood.

Alexander looked in horror.

“*cough *cough. I’m fine, I just seem to have caught a little cold…*cough…Awww.”

Anastasia…for her to make a joke out of her situation to make Alexander not worry, she may be a 13-year-old girl but her mindset has already matured.

The two princesses behind Alexander wiped the tears streaming down their cheeks.

The royal family has a loving family, they care for each other. Despite their parents already died at the hands of a mysterious group wreaking havoc in the country, they remained strong.

Alexander grabbed a piece of handkerchief and wiped the blood off her mouth.

Her face is pale, but she smiled adoringly.

“Give me ten to fifteen days,” Alexander said. “I will create a medicine that will get you out of this illness. The medicine that I’ll synthesize will save your life.” Alexander assured.

Ana nodded, placing her trust in him.

“I’ve taken so much of your time. I’m going to let you rest. When you’re fully recovered, we will have a lot of catching to do.”

Alexander stood up and walked over to his two waiting sisters.

“Dear brother…what do you mean by creating a medicine?” Christina asked.

“I want to know too…” Tiffania butted in.

Alexander sighed before answering them. “The medicine that I’ll create will be 100% effective against tuberculosis. I’ve read some medical journals in the library during my free time as I’ve mentioned earlier…”

“You’re talking like this medicine already exists. If they do then the royal doctor would’ve administered it to her…just how confident are you brother?” Tiffania cut his words.

“Can you let me finish please Tiffania?”

Tiffania’s face flushed. “I apologize…”

“Okay, the medicine that I’ll be creating is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Its name is…Streptomycin.”

“Streptomycin?” Christina and Tiffany intoned together.

“That’s right, it will certainly defeat tuberculosis.”

Alexander said as he walked past them and stopped by the door.

“Now, time is of the essence. Let’s make an order for the equipment.”