“Julion.”
“You really don’t rest and work tirelessly.”
His voice, a mixture of admiration and concern, reached my ears. Julion walked towards me, his gait light and easy. He glanced down at the documents I had been reviewing.
“Is this the information about the Empress that you received from the chief physician?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, the Empress is suffering from an eye disease. The chief physician mentioned that while the progression of the disease can be delayed, a cure is impossible.”
Julion’s golden eyes focused solely on me.
It was as if his gaze was asking if there was any other way.
Instead of immediately answering, I posed a question.
“If a cure were possible, what would you do?”
“…If a cure were possible.”
Julion carefully chose his words and blinked, his eyes revealing the complexity of his emotions.
Meeting his gaze, I decided to speak first.
“Would it be possible to conduct an examination?”
“An examination of the Empress’ condition?”
“Yes. Without examining her directly, we can’t be sure of anything.”
In theory, a cure was possible. However, if the Empress’ eyes were already irreversibly damaged due to the medication prescribed by the chief physician, it might be impossible.
Therefore, I needed to see for myself. I needed to assess the state of the Empress’ eyes.
“Your saying that means there’s a possibility.”
Julion’s voice seemed slightly excited.
He let out a soft breath before nodding firmly.
“Very well. It’s getting late today, so let’s meet tomorrow. I’ll talk to you about Ares’ matters and try to convince the Empress to get examined as well.”
This time, Julion’s eyes sparkled not out of curiosity but for a different reason.
It seemed like the thought of being able to cure his mother’s illness brought him joy.
“Then let’s finish working for today and go have dinner.”
Julion extended his hand to me without hesitation.
It was a hand that was pale, long, and large.
××××××××××××××××××××××
“Chief physician, the knight woke up this morning!”
The chief physician, who had been slouching in his office, stood up abruptly.
Anxiety was evident on his face.
However, the oblivious member of the medical staff continued delivering the news.
“He woke up completely fine! Like a healthy average person!”
“Such……!”
The chief physician gritted his teeth.
If the patient recovered fully, it would undeniably prove that his diagnosis and prescription were wrong.
In that case, his position as chief physician would be in jeopardy.
And the patient wasn’t just anyone; it was the knight of the Crown Princess.
“How could something like this happen?”
“It’s true. It seems like Her Highness truly has remarkable abilities.”
“You fool! How could a noblewoman know about medicine?”
“But….”
“Clearly, it’s a miracle! Luck played a significant role. Although things somehow turned out well this time, relying on such miracles doesn’t make you a competent physician.”
Watching the chief physician mumble to himself, the medical staff member quietly held back his opinion.
“Well, I’ll take my leave now.”
After the medical staff member left the room, the chief physician continued to fume silently.
He was also bothered by the fact that the Crown Princess had taken all of the records about the Empress’ condition.
While he didn’t believe she could understand all of that information with her limited skills, there was still a nagging unease in his heart.
‘After all, those ingredients are rare materials that don’t grow on this continent. There’s no way the Crown Princess would know about them!’
Those were ingredients that could only be obtained by going to the Southern continent.
Hadn’t he struggled to get them himself?
‘But still…….’
It would be better to remove the seeds of unease..
The chief physician paced around the room, lost in thought, and eventually his eyes lit up suggesting that he had made a decision.
××××××××××××××××××××××
The chief physician headed to the Tishrit Palace where the Empress resided.
He entered the palace with a suppressed cough.
“I’ve come to examine the Empress.”
Without anyone needing to ask, the chief physician straightened his shoulders and puffed up his chest, as if he was being admired from all angles.
Since becoming the chief physician of the palace, he has received a noble title, and enjoyed the envy of knights and servants.
“Chief physician, Her Majesty is currently resting.”
The maid who had been guarding the bedroom spoke quietly.
Though her words were a polite way of telling him to leave, the physician’s expression twisted in frustration rather than disappointment.
“I came to assess Her Majesty’s condition. Are you trying to stop me?”
“No, that’s not it, but she just fell asleep a little while ago…”
“It’s common knowledge that illnesses should be assessed at predetermined times for accuracy and a higher recovery rate.”
The maid smiled awkwardly.
While he said that, the chief physician’s actual visiting times varied each time. However, the maid didn’t have the courage to point that out.
“I will inform the head maid about this first. Please wait for a moment.”
“Very well, I understand.”
The chief physician brushed his beard and nodded satisfactorily.
The taste of power was truly the best.
Even the Empress’ maid was trembling before him.
As the chief physician waited for a moment, he soon heard a voice from inside, summoning him in.
“Look at that. Her Majesty truly holds me in high regard.”
The chief physician’s arrogance seemed to rise another notch.
The maid just nodded her head, smiling awkwardly.
“Ahem.”
As the chief physician entered the room, he saw the Empress, who looked tired.
“Your Majesty the Empress, how are you feeling today?”
“…similar to usual.”
