Cesarean Section (1)

The preparations for departure were completed in the blink of an eye.

"Teacher, the carriage is here!"

Boris arrived with the carriage in under ten minutes. It was pulled by two sturdy stallions full of vigor.

As I slipped on the gown Tanya had brought and moved to board the carriage, Chloe came huffing and puffing, dragging the luggage behind her. It was a box filled with surgical tools. The knights spotted her and took the box, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠allowing her to finally catch her breath.

"Why didn't you just ask the knights earlier?"

"Eep, th-that would mean I have to... talk to the knights, right?"

"So just talk to them."

"It's not that easy...."

Chloe hung her head, revealing Asella standing behind her with arms crossed, her long hair like a broomstick.

I whispered to Chloe.

"Why did you bring Her Highness?"

"Eep, b-because I'm in charge right now. Since we're out on external duties, I can't leave Her Highness alone."

"So you brought Her Highness along? Why not just have her wait at the marquessate?"

"It's not... that easy...."

Chloe's shoulders slumped.

Asella approached me with sharp clicks of her heels.

"I said I'm coming too. It's ridiculous to think my personal physician and nurse would leave their lord's side."

"This is an emergency. Please understand."

"I do understand, that's why I'm coming. If an emergency happens to me, you'll have to take responsibility, right?"

Asella had a point. In principle, Chloe should stay behind. But judging by the commoner's words, this might require emergency surgery. And I'd need Chloe for that.

"I'm sorry for not asking permission in advance, Your Highness. Thank you for your understanding."

"Fine. Just prepare some proper compensation."

Compensation. Now that I had a few usable weapons in stock, it wasn't as burdensome as before. I'd already treated her to bubble tea, so maybe tanghulu next time.

Asella waved her hand dismissively and boarded another carriage with her head maid and escort knights. I rode with Chloe, Tanya, and Bruno. The commoner man joined us too.

"T-Teacher! I don't even know how to thank you. I'm uneducated... please forgive my rudeness!"

The man bowed deeply. He looked frantic and out of sorts.

"Calm down first and explain the situation. What's your name?"

"Y-Yes! Name's Pali. I'm a farmer."

"You said your wife is in critical condition. Is she in labor?"

"Yes. The midwives are helping, but the baby just won't come... She's completely exhausted."

"How long since the first contraction?"

"About a day and a half."

"Not a healthy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠state. Chloe, prepare IV fluids."

"Yes!"

Chloe nodded eagerly, scribbling notes beside me.

"I've heard so much about you, Teacher. Word in the marquessate is you're the imperial physician making huge waves at the palace. I knew it was rude, but since you were at the mansion, I came anyway."

"As he says, Teacher is none other than the imperial physician."

Thud. Tanya emphasized to the man with a menacing stomp.

"Teacher's hands treat the empire's most precious body. He was even on break right now. Be grateful for this precious time."

"O-Of course! I was shocked you came so quickly. With my wife dying, I couldn't see straight...."

I could understand his feelings. If Neria or my father were hurt right in front of me, I'd go berserk too.

"Don't scold him too much. Treating every patient without neglect is the spirit of a healer."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. To me, they might be one of many patients, but to them, it's their one crucial treatment."

"One crucial treatment to the patient... You're right."

Chloe nodded. Soon, we arrived at our destination—a wheat field on the eastern edge of the marquessate. We got off in front of a small hut and went straight inside.

"Oh my, heavens!"

"The young master is here!"

The midwives tending the patient bowed to me. Tanya held them back as I immediately checked the patient.

"Diagnosis."

Not good. The prolonged labor had left the mother nearly unconscious. She didn't even register our arrival.

"Chloe."

"Yes."

Chloe immediately set up an IV in the mother's arm and connected the nutrient solution. It was an emergency prep I'd made.

"So this is how commoners live."

Asella's voice. I turned to her briefly and made a request.

"Your Highness, the patient's condition is poor."

"I can see that."

"I need to focus. Could you please step out?"

Asella pouted, displeased with my tone as if chasing her away.

"I'll just watch quietly."

"Even one or two words like now could make me slip up."

"...I'll be really quiet."

With her firm assurance, I couldn't push further. She wouldn't break a promise after all this.

I left her waiting and continued examining the patient. Her massively swollen belly rose and fell weakly with exhausted breaths.

"Chloe, see that? It's the fetus's arm."

"Not the head."

"Twisted into a weird position inside. Can't tell the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exact one here, but she can't deliver like this."

"What if we force it?"

"Depending on position, the cord could wrap around, causing disability or death. Worst case, it endangers the mother too."

"T-Teacher. Will my wife be okay?"

The man stared at me, hands trembling.

I stood and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠asked him.

"Where's the cleanest spot here?"

"Cleanest? Um... The next room's decent. We prepped it as a nursery, so it's empty."

"Captain, sterilize that room. Basics only—no time."

"Understood."

Tanya took two knights to the next room. I told the man,

"We're doing a delivery to save both mother and child. Wait outside."

"...I trust you, Teacher. Please, I beg you!"

I patted his shoulder. The man and midwives waited in the kitchen area. I took off my gown.

"Chloe, prep for surgery. Emergency cesarean section."

"Cesarean... Cutting the mother's belly to extract the baby, then suturing, right?"

"Good memory. It's major surgery. Not ideal here, but no choice with time short."

"General anesthesia first?"

"Depilation to prevent infection. I'll step out to prep too."

I left the hut briefly. Hastily checking the medical bag from the carriage, confirming tools: scalpel, suction syringe, forceps, needle, absorbable sutures. Status window showed surgery skill ready. Asella approached.

"Hey, Young Master."

"What did I say?"

"I know, but... just one question?"

"Later."

My firm reply stopped her argument. She shrugged listlessly. Damn, now she's making me worry.

"What is it?"

"Huh? Oh... just a bit... surprised."

"Surprised?"

"You're cutting the mother's belly."

"Yes."

"She'll die. She's so weak—can you really save her?"

"I have to."

Even my resolute answer left her fidgeting.

"It's just... I didn't know you used knives. What if something goes wrong and rumors spread you killed her?"

"That's why I have to save her. And the baby too."

I held up the syringe confidently.

"It's nothing much. You were scared of shots at first too, but now you love them, right?"

"I don't love them! And I wasn't scared then either. Who said that?"

"Haha."

Seeing her cross her arms and look away lifted my mood.

"Young Master."

"Yes."

"...I'll cheer for you."

What's this? Rare words from Asella. Thinking it odd, I donned my mask.

Not perfect, but the room was basically sterilized enough for surgery. The mother lay on the bed with an IV in her arm. Strong anesthetic dripped steadily into the fluids.

Over 80% kept accidents from waking her. Disinfection and antibiotics prevented infection. Raising my hands, Chloe slipped on green surgical gloves.

"Surgery begins."

"No. 10 blade."

Chloe handed the scalpel with blade inserted—perfect for wide incisions like this. The light artifact on my headlamp illuminated the site.

Swish. My hand moved cleanly, as if enchanted. 3cm above the pubis, 9.5cm horizontal considering her build. Suctioned bleeding sites, ligated vessels to prevent more. The pulsing uterus emerged, proclaiming new life. Amniotic fluid already broken. Checked for placental abruption. Cesarean had risks, so caution.

...All good so far. Switched scalpels, incised again. Moved with utmost care not to nick the fetus. Peeled like an apple skin—precise. Head visible. As expected, cord tangled complexly. Supported the head, untangled cord, lifted slowly. Cleared mouth debris—and

Waaah!!

The newborn took its first breath, bellowing lustily.

"Making us work for it, huh, you rascal."