Exchanging Vows: The Swapped Wife Is a Top Shaman

Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Ivy’s Point of View

I moved to the small writing desk by the window and pulled out paper and ink.

"I’ll prepare a prescription," I said. "The medicines will stabilize his condition between my visits."

Physician Harlow stepped closer, curiosity overcoming his skepticism. Edmund stood nearby, watching my every movement with desperate hope.

I dipped the brush in ink and began to write.

Moonpetal root. Three parts.

Dried silvergrass. Two parts.

Crushed amber seed. One part.

Wolfsbane extract. Half a part.

Honeyed ginger. Four parts.

I continued down the page. Each ingredient was common. Available in any decent apothecary. Nothing rare or expensive. Nothing that would draw unwanted attention.

But the combinations were anything but ordinary.

Physician Harlow leaned over my shoulder, reading as I wrote. His breath caught.

"This is... this is highly unusual." His voice was strained. "Moonpetal root and wolfsbane extract together? They’re supposed to cancel each other out. Every medical text says so."

"Every medical text is wrong."

"But the interactions—"

"Will be exactly what the professor needs." I added another line to the prescription. "Moonpetal root opens the spiritual pathways. Wolfsbane extract, in small doses, cleanses them of impurities. Together, they create a purifying effect that neither can achieve alone."

Physician Harlow shook his head in disbelief. "I’ve never heard of such a thing."

"That’s because you learned from books written by people who had forgotten the old ways." I finished the prescription and set down my brush. "These combinations are ancient. Older than the academies. Older than the kingdom itself."

I handed the paper to Edmund.

"Give this to your apothecary. Have them prepare the mixture exactly as written. Do not let them substitute any ingredients, no matter how similar they think alternatives might be."

Edmund took the prescription with trembling hands. "How often should he take it?"

"Three times daily. Morning, noon, and evening. Always with warm water, never cold." I began packing my supplies. "The medicine will ease his symptoms and slow the progression of his illness. But it cannot cure him on its own."

"What else does he need?"

"Me." I met his eyes. "I will return once a week to perform direct treatments. The spiritual damage requires hands-on healing that no medicine can provide."

"Once a week," Edmund repeated. "For how long?"

"A month. Perhaps six weeks." I slung my bag over my shoulder. "By then, he should be well enough to leave his bed. After two months, he should be fully recovered."

Edmund’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. "You truly believe this will work?"

"I don’t believe. I know."

He grabbed my hand suddenly. Clasped it between both of his own.

"Thank you." His voice cracked. "Whatever you want in return, I swear I’ll provide it. You have my word as the Aldwin heir."

"We’ll discuss payment when your father is well." I gently withdrew my hand. "For now, focus on following my instructions precisely."

We made our way back through the cottage. The professor had fallen into a light sleep, his breathing slightly easier than before. The fresh air from the open windows was already making a difference.

Edmund insisted on escorting us out personally.

The walk back through the estate felt shorter than before. Perhaps because I was no longer studying every detail. Perhaps because a weight had lifted from my shoulders.

I could save him. I was certain of it now.

At the main gate, Edmund stopped and turned to face me.

"Physician Lin." He hesitated. "I realize I don’t know how to reach you. If something happens between your visits, if my father’s condition changes, how can I contact you?"

A reasonable question. One I had anticipated.

"I am a traveling physician," I said carefully. "I have no fixed residence. No permanent address."

Edmund’s face fell. "Then how—"

"However." I held up a hand. "There is a shop in the main market district of the Silvermoon Pack. It’s called the Azure Leaf. If you need to reach me urgently, send a message there. The proprietor will make sure it reaches me."

"The Azure Leaf," Edmund repeated, committing it to memory. "In the Silvermoon Pack’s market district."

"Correct. The shop owner is... an associate of mine. Any message left with them will find its way to me within a day."

"Thank you." Edmund bowed deeply. "Thank you for everything, Physician Lin. I look forward to your next visit."

I nodded and led my group through the gate.

We didn’t speak until we were well away from the estate. Until the grand walls had disappeared behind the trees and we were alone on the forest road.

"That went well," Ash said finally.

"Better than expected." I pulled off my half-mask and took a deep breath of fresh air. "The professor’s condition is serious, but not beyond saving. With proper treatment, he should recover fully."

"And then we’ll have a powerful ally," Stone observed.

"Exactly."

Nell hurried to walk beside me. "Young Madam, the shop you mentioned. The Azure Leaf. That’s the property you asked me to reclaim, isn’t it?"

"It is. I hope the previous tenant was cooperative?"

"Very cooperative." Nell smiled. "Once we offered him compensation, he was happy to end his lease early. He moved out three days ago."

"Excellent."

We made our way directly to the shop.

It was located on a busy street in the market district. Not the most prestigious location, but respectable enough. The building was two stories tall with large windows facing the street. A faded sign hung above the door, the previous name already removed.

The interior was dusty and cluttered. The former tenant had been a cloth merchant, and bolts of fabric still lined some of the shelves. But he had left behind the display cases. The counters. The basic furniture that would cost a fortune to replace.

"It needs work," Ash observed.

"It needs transformation." I walked through the space, already envisioning the changes. "This will become a medicine shop. An apothecary. The base of operations for Physician Lin."

"An actual shop?" Nell looked around with new eyes. "You want to sell medicines?"

"I want a legitimate front." I ran my hand along the dusty counter. "Anyone who comes looking for the miracle doctor will find a respectable establishment. Shelves stocked with herbs and remedies. A proprietor who can take messages and arrange appointments."

"And behind the scenes?" Ash asked.

"Behind the scenes, we continue our real work." I turned to face them all. "Saving Dominic. Building allies. Preparing for whatever comes next."

I spent the rest of the afternoon organizing the renovation.

Workers were hired to clean the space from top to bottom. Every surface was scrubbed. Every window was polished until it gleamed. The cloth merchant’s leftover goods were sold off to fund the transformation.

I sketched designs for new shelving. Cabinets to hold medicinal herbs. A consultation room in the back where I could meet with patients privately. Living quarters upstairs for whoever would manage the shop day-to-day.

By evening, the shop was transformed.

Fresh paint covered the walls. New signs hung in the windows. The shelves were still empty, waiting to be filled with inventory, but the bones of the apothecary were clear.

I stood in the center of the main room, surveying my work.

"This is it," I said quietly. "This shop will be my face to the world. Anyone who wants to find Physician Lin will come here. Anyone who needs a miracle will know where to look."

Ash stepped up beside me. "It’s a good plan, Young Madam."

"It’s a necessary plan." I turned toward the door. "Now let’s go home. I have a husband to check on."

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