Nineteenth Century Medical Guide

Chapter 499, Section 495: The Most Important and the Least Important

In less than an hour, Ian had to rush back to St. Mattia Foundation Hospital.

Going back would mean facing Dean Alvaro again. The matter was settled, but seeing that guy reminded him of money and made him feel uneasy.

Of course, for Luna's sake, he didn't hesitate and jumped onto the carriage to give her the address.

Without Gallardo and the chattering reporters, Ian and Luna suddenly ran out of things to talk about, and the carriage was unusually quiet.

Ian would secretly watch her, observing her hair, her cheeks, her expression, her posture, and even the smallest, most inconspicuous movements, as if satisfying a desire or searching for answers.

Luna simply opened the small window and stared intently at the street scene. But in Ian's heart, she was a bottomless swamp, clinging to him tightly, from which he could never escape.

“We’re friends, after all, you don’t need to do this.” Ian seemed to have really let go, at least on the surface. “I don’t have Galado’s thick skin, I won’t pester you.”

"I know"

Now that the issue has been brought up, Ian wants to resolve Galado's problem completely, which is also for Luna's benefit.

In his eyes, he was already an outsider. The best script would be for him to sever ties with Gallardo and for Luna to marry Orni as she wished.

"When will you make things clear with Gallardo?"

"Explain what?"

"Your relationship."

Luna brushed her wind-blown hair aside, her face grim: "I already said, we're just friends."

"But he doesn't think so. Stop giving him unrealistic fantasies."

"I have absolutely no relationship with him, and I never agreed to anything with him. His insistence that we're in a relationship is wishful thinking on his part, just like when you inexplicably came to my house to propose."

Luna knew she had said the wrong thing, and her tone gradually softened, but she still managed to say the last sentence: "If you want to overthink things, there's nothing I can do."

Ian was speechless for a moment: "."

"Can we please stop mentioning him?"

"Row."

Luna continued to stare blankly out the window, her thoughts already drifting to that man. She was much like a student checking their exam results, always uncertain until they saw them.

After a long silence, she finally couldn't resist the question in her heart: "Do you think he'll be there?"

Ian was in a bad mood, but he was willing to answer any question about Olney: "My friend was so badly injured and went to the hospital, he'll definitely go, given his personality. It's just a matter of time; how long he stays depends entirely on luck."

"Then why didn't he go see Gallardo?"

"His father is a member of parliament, and he has a bright future ahead of him. There is no need for him to provide material for reporters just to meet Gallardo."

I hope he's here.

The moment Orni was mentioned, Luna seemed to transform into a completely different person; all the confidence she had shown in front of the two of them vanished.

Just then, the crisp sound of a whip cracked behind them, and she watched as a black carriage sped past them, hugging the iron railings of the riverbank. Luna couldn't contain her excitement any longer: "Can we go any faster?"

“It’s already very fast,” Ian reassured him. “This is the city hall’s carriage; safety is a priority compared to private carriages.”

"I just want to get to the hospital as soon as possible."

Ian didn't refuse again, and gently knocked on the small window, signaling the driver to speed up. Then he continued to comfort him, "I heard that your two families have been getting closer lately, so you should have many opportunities to see him."

After her request was fulfilled, Luna fell silent again.

Ian was willing to help him, but at the same time, he still hoped she could go home: "Once your marriage is settled, you'll all be Duke Montpensier's people, and maybe we can even get him to attend your wedding."

"."

Ian asked with some concern, "Is something on your mind?"

"No, don't ask anymore." Luna glanced back at her former suitor. "Just drop me off at the hospital and leave. You've already troubled me enough."

"It's alright, I'll go back and check on the surgery anyway."

Ian explained, "Those two are famous bullfighters; we can't afford any mistakes. Hopefully, Dr. Cavill can recover them as quickly as the rumors say."

Luna had no interest in any of this, didn't respond, and couldn't listen at all; her eyes seemed to be only on the scenery outside the window.

The closer she got to the St. Mattia Foundation Hospital, the more anxious she became. With the iron bridge just ahead, she began to unconsciously bite her lip back and forth, oblivious to the hair getting into her mouth.

"It's just a meeting with him. You've probably met him several times already."

Ian put himself in his shoes, and couldn't help but recall how he was rejected when he went to visit her. He said with a sense of relief and self-deprecation, "He looks indifferent on the outside, but he's just a kid who's grown up inside. Anyway, he's still better than me that day."

"This is different."

"Yes, they are definitely different."

"You don't understand!" Luna hesitated for a while before finally speaking her mind, "Actually, he has already rejected me."

Um.
Ok? ? ?
Ian felt like he'd been kicked in the head, a wave of dizziness washing over him: "What does 'rejection' mean? You confessed to him? That's unnecessary, the engagement's already set! No! This isn't right! How could he reject you? He has no right to reject you!"

"I don't know, I don't know!" Luna clutched her head tightly with both hands, bending over as if trying to bury her face in her stomach. "My mind is a mess."

Hearing the sob in his voice, even the usually composed Ian was at a loss for words: "Don't worry, he probably feels that a hasty marriage isn't appropriate. You two need to meet and communicate more to get to know each other better."

"He doesn't want to see me!" The crying suddenly grew louder.

Luna looked up, two crooked tear tracks clinging to her face: "I secretly went to his house last time, and he's been avoiding me ever since. Otherwise, why would I go to Galado? I just wanted to find a chance to see him and have a proper chat."

Luna's mind was in turmoil, and Ian's was in turmoil too: "Didn't he give a reason? There has to be some reason, right?"

“He said he already has someone he likes.” Luna cried harder as she spoke. “I don’t know if it’s true or not. Maybe it’s fake. Maybe he just made it up to fool me.”

Ian understood the importance of their family's marriage alliance better than she did, which was the main reason he decisively chose to abandon it. The daughter of a mayor's secretary and a cattle ranch owner was simply no match for the power of political manipulation.

Besides, Luna doesn't like him at all.

In this situation, the marriage between Olney and Luna is unchangeable. Given the nature of his current work, it's impossible for him not to know if there were any changes.

Now that the man has unilaterally refused, it means that Olney's reasons must be true. And enough to make him hand over his future political capital, and even his position within the family. Ian couldn't believe it: "Didn't your father know?"

"Of course I don't know, and I wouldn't dare let him know." Luna's head ached at the thought of him. "If he really knew, he would think I'm a disgrace, and then there would truly be no future for me and Orni!"

This marriage is not a romantic game between young people; it is a product of the interests of all parties, it is politics.

Originally, José's inclinations were ambiguous; he always wanted to do business behind closed doors and avoid offending anyone. Now, the situation in Spain is becoming increasingly complex. With a new king in mind and undercurrents surging within the country, the old man has no choice but to take sides.

This bullfight was a reward he received for supporting the Duke of Montpensier, enough to open doors for him to do business in the south. The money generated by that business would then become a continuous source of income for the Duke.

However, as the new emperor's coronation approached, unexpected changes occurred. Without a marriage alliance as a foundation, the Duke could not feel at ease with José's status as a wealthy merchant.

Distrust breeds vigilance, and this vigilance frightens José, forcing the master to side with the new emperor.

Things have gotten complicated.

“We need to find Olney first. I’ll talk to him.” Ian foresaw how things would unfold and didn’t want his friend to make a mistake. “Don’t worry, he’ll listen to me, as long as…”

"never mind!"

The wheels rolled over the iron bridge once more, and Luna wiped away her tears: "I'll handle my own affairs."

“I’m on your side.” Ian didn’t understand her words and persisted, “He may not understand the importance of this marriage. I need to have a good talk with him.”

The more he emphasized his importance, the more annoyed Luna became, regretting that she had brought it up: "No, really no! Go back and don't come looking for me again. Even if he really rejects me, my father won't accept you!"

The words were hurtful, but they sounded different to Ian.

If he puts friendship aside and returns to his own perspective, it won't be hard to see that Olney's departure is a golden opportunity for him.

To put it bluntly, the Duke had power and needed money, while Lord José, a gentry-merchant, needed power. The two hit it off immediately, each getting what they wanted. To reassure each other, the marriage alliance was essential.

Luna is one end of the chain, held in the hands of Lord José.

As for whether the other party is given to the Orni family or another family that supports the Duke, it makes no difference.

In San Sebastian, Ian held a respectable position as a high-ranking official in the city government, spending his days with the mayor and wielding considerable power. He was highly talented, possessed exceptional competence, and earned a top-tier income.

The only thing he lacked was his background; he was the son of a clerk, which couldn't compare to Olni's illustrious lineage, and he had no connections in Madrid.

But things changed after Orni was no longer an option.

Not to mention San Sebastián, it's hard to find another suitable young man in the entire Basque Country. José, who is too old, disagrees, and those of higher status look down on Luna's background.

After looking around, only Ian barely met the requirements. If the mayor sided with him, the marriage could take a turn for the better.

In a split second, Ian grasped the whole picture: everyone involved in the arranged marriage was important. Luna, the most important person in his heart, was the least important.

He opened his briefcase and, for the first time in a long time, pulled out a cigarette case and matches from a corner.

Luna disliked the smell of smoke, and Ian never smoked in front of her; in fact, he eventually quit smoking altogether.

But now, he really wants to smoke.

Even though the hospital gates were right in front of him, and he could just wait a bit before getting off the carriage and smoking, Ian just wanted to sit next to Luna right now and have a good smoke.

He gently struck a spark and lit the tobacco in the roll. Grayish-white smoke slowly escaped from his mouth, whistling against Luna's face in the wind, making her throat itch.

cough cough~
Ian coughed before she could react.

"Why are you smoking again? Didn't you say you'd quit?" Luna covered her nose with her sleeve, muttering, "Men are all liars."

Ian didn't care about anything else, took two more deep drags, and gently exhaled the smoke, feeling his senses return.

When the carriage stopped at the hospital entrance, he asked the driver to help Luna down, while he remained in the carriage, showing no intention of getting off: "You were right, it was very awkward for me to be there, so I won't go in."

Luna finally sensed the change in his emotions and was caught off guard.

"When you leave the hospital, I specially asked someone to send a note to your coachman. The carriage will be here soon, remember to go home early."

Before Luna could ask any more questions, the car door closed: "Let's go back to the mayor's office."

Their meeting wasn't as secretive as they thought; in fact, someone had already noticed it.

It wasn't a reporter, but rather Orni's personal servant, who was there to inquire about Gallardo's injury.

Upon learning that the man was unharmed and in good spirits, the servant prepared to leave some money for medical expenses and depart. However, he happened to see Luna enter Galado's ward and decided to stay a little longer.

He knew Luna too well; he knew exactly why this crazy woman had come here.

On the surface, they came to visit someone in the hospital, but in reality, they were following a scent to search for Orni's whereabouts.

So when Luna and Ian got into the carriage, and the direction wasn't towards Luna's father's cattle ranch and large estate in the south, the servants guessed that they must be going to St. Mattia Hospital.

Given that his previous entanglement with Olney almost caused serious trouble, he needed to give them a heads-up.

In hindsight, his decision was correct.

"Their carriages probably aren't as fast as yours."

"No, but it will be soon."

"Could they already be at the door?"

The servant did not deny it.

"What do we do now?" Olney panicked, and the first person she thought of was Kavi. "Dr. Kavi, is there a back door here?"

Seeing that he was trying to avoid the situation at all costs, Kavi also wanted to help him: "I...I don't know."

One of the nurses spoke up and said, "There is a back door, but it's the same as the original church; the back door is locked at five o'clock and no one is allowed to enter or leave."

"It's over, completely over."

The saying "thinking in a crisis" perfectly describes Orni's character.

He chose an empty bed, and without even taking off his coat, he threw back the covers and jumped in. Before leaving, he whispered to those around him, "Ten pesetas each, and whatever you do, don't tell anyone I'm here! Please!!!"

Just as the servant drew the curtains for him, a woman in a gold dress rushed into the ward.