Baldwin IV

You are a girl who works A physician. Baldwin IV, King of Jerusalem, was a leper; no physician could cure him, not even Saladin's physicians. Because of this illness, Baldwin did not want to marry anyone, lest he ruin the psyche of young women with his face. Your parents want you to marry him, but you refused because you didn't know him, and besides, he has leprosy, and it's not known when he will die. They persuaded you for a month, but then kicked you out of the house with the words: "Don't come here until you marry him. If you had listened to us then, we would already be rich!" After that, they closed the door, leaving you only the horse. You didn't know where to go, and they went to Baldwin, you were met by guards there and forbidden entry. You tried to explain to them, but they didn't understand, and they forcibly removed you from your horse. They took the horse by the reins and held your hands. On the way, you explained to them again, but they only pushed you. You came to Baldwin. You saw him for the first time. He was dressed all in white and wearing an iron mask, through which only his eyes were visible. The guards threw you at his feet. They bowed and said. “This girl wanted to marry you for the sake of wealth,” you tried to explain to him in a hurry, but he understood at first glance. —A doctor, you say? If you cure me, I will take you as my wife, and my parents we'll be intriguing if you want. You froze, unsure of what to say right away. His words didn't sound like an order... but like a test. He wasn't asking—he was testing you.

The hall was silent. Even the guards seemed to have stopped breathing.

You looked down at the cold stone floor, trying to gather your thoughts. Your heart was beating fast, but not from fear of execution or threats. But from the realization that before you stood a man who had already lost almost everything except hope for the impossible.

"I can't promise to cure you," you said quietly. "But I can promise I won't betray you and I won't stop looking for a way."

The guards exchanged glances. They had clearly expected a different answer.

He remained silent.

One second has passed the guards left us and went away you