The Emperor’s blood was thinner than anticipated.
Its color was close to normal, and there seemed to be no significant visible abnormalities.
After confirming that the bleeding had stopped properly, I stood up.
“It’s all done, Your Majesty.”
“Good, when can we expect the results of the examination?”
“I’m going to run the test as thoroughly as I can, so I’m guessing it will take ten days.”
“I see. I’ll wait.”
The empress looked down at the emperor with a grim expression.
The Emperor’s body was so emaciated that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that only his bones and skin remained.
He might have reached his limit by now.
The Empress was likely preparing herself as well.
“Then I will take my leave.”
“Go ahead, but don’t overexert yourself.”
The Empress saw me off with a deliberately bright expression.
I also left the Tishrit Palace with a tumultuous heart.
The sun was nearing the horizon, painting the sky in shades of red.
“Where are you heading, Your Highness?”
“I need to make a stop at the Palace Infirmary first.”
I had to meet with Dr. Barmid, listen to the details of the Emperor’s condition, and proceed with the blood examination.
It was a good thing I stopped by the golden garden first thing in the morning to get some apherium.
‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to eat again today.’
Despite my intention to take it easy, my daily life remained surprisingly busy.
I came here to save my life, but ironically, I find myself unable to properly care for my own illness while helping others survive.
The absurdity of the situation made me chuckle.
Still, I couldn’t ignore the sick person in front of me.
That was a lesson my mother had instilled in me.
“I greet her Highness.”
Upon arriving at the Palace Infirmary, the physicians who were drying medicinal herbs in the garden greeted me respectfully.
Seeing the herbs piled up in full bloom, it truly felt like the palace infirmary.
As I walked inside looking at them I noticed that the physicians’ gazes were lingering on me.
‘They’re quite curious,’
It was only natural for them to be curious since I, not an official physician, was treating the Empress.
I chuckled inwardly at their inquisitiveness. I continued inside and sought out Dr. Barmid.
As I asked a passing physician about his whereabouts, I received an unexpected response.
“Oh, Dr. Barmid is currently meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Julion?”
“Yes, and the assistant chief physician is with them as well.”
The assistant chief physician, Dr. Barmid, and Julion.
It seemed they had something to discuss about the royal court, but I couldn’t help but chuckle at the odd combination.
“When do you think they’ll return?”
“I’m not sure about that.”
I found myself contemplating what to do next.
My initial plan had been to meet with Dr. Barmid, discuss the Emperor’s illness, and proceed with the blood tests.
However, with the uncertainty of their return, I couldn’t simply wait with the blood I collected in hand. So I decided to change course.
“I’ll be in the pharmacy. Please let Dr. Barmid know that I’m looking for him when he returns.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I had arranged my own pharmacy room in the palace, where I prepared the Empress’ medicines.
That’s where I planned to start my examination.
As I made my way to the pharmacy, I heard a cheerful voice behind me.
“Your Highness, aren’t you working too diligently?”
Ares usually kept watch in inconspicuous places, but every now and then, he would appear like this and startle people.
“It’s because there’s work to be done. Like Sir Ares, who has to keep following me even when you’re not bored.”
“How did you know I was bored?”
“You keep startling me whenever you get bored.”
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been surprised by Ares, who pops up, chats, and then disappears whenever he’s bored.
Ares scratched his nose, appearing somewhat embarrassed.
“I apologize. But I do enjoy my duties!”
He replied with a bright smile, as if trying to defend his actions. Seeing Ares like this made me think that if I had a younger brother, he might have been somewhat similar.
“Anyway, I have work to do, so please keep it down.”
“Of course!”
Ares replied energetically, disappearing into the distance once again, and I began to prepare for the blood test.
××××××××××××××××××××××
“Then, for now, let’s send Dr. Marvin and Dr. Chabel together, and if additional requests come in the future, we can send more staff.”
“Yes, we will do that.”
Finally, the discussion has concluded.
The assistant physician and Dr. Barmid had strong opinions that it took more time than expected.
Julion, with a throbbing temple, stood up first.
“Well, today’s discussion is over. I have other matters to attend to. I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for a response, Julion hurriedly left the office, his demeanor appearing somewhat urgent.
The assistant physician and Dr. Barmid exchanged glances and shrugged their shoulders.
“Ahem, well, we should get going too.”
“Yes, right. Thank you for your hard work.”
After leaving the ownerless office, the two of them had to pause their steps in front of the entrance to the Crown Prince’s residence.
They had thought Julion had other pressing matters to attend to, but he was blocking the path, his expression heavily strained.
“His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Oh, assistant physician, and Dr. Barmid. I’m seeing you here again. Are you heading back to the Palace Infirmary?”
“Yes, that’s right. Your Highness, you see…”
“I also have business to attend to at the Palace Infirmary. Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes…….”
The two physicians replied hesitantly and looked briefly at Freck, who was standing behind Julion.
Freck seems visibly exhausted lately due to the demanding work.
In the end, Dr. Barmid cautiously spoke up.
“May I ask why Your Highness is walking to the infirmary?”
“I was told that Rohiriel is there.”
“I see.”
“The princess. We’re supposed to have dinner together, but she’s still working at the palace infirmary, so I’m on my way to pick her up.”
“…… I see.”
Only then did Dr. Barmid understand the urgency he sensed from Julion during today’s meeting. It made sense, given the promise he had with the princess.
“It seems Your Highness truly loves Her Highness.”
A warm, grandfatherly smile appeared on Dr. Barmid’s face as he spoke, but Julion paused for a moment, his expression shifting subtly.
“Do I really seem that way?”
“Oh, yeah… There is a rumor that you always have dinner together.”
“……I see.”
He’d thought the mention of Rohiriel would ease the mood, but instead, faced with the sharp demeanor of Julion, Dr. Barmid broke into a cold sweat.
Julion continued to walk in silence, then spoke up again.
“Does it really seem like I love Rohiriel a lot?”
It’s unclear why he’s asking such a question. Dr. Barmid didn’t know how to answer, just awkwardly chuckled. However, the assistant chief physician, who had been listening quietly, intervened suddenly.
“Yes, indeed. Just looking at Your Highness’ expression, it’s the look of a man deeply in love. Princess Rohiriel must be very lucky.”
Though Dr. Barmid tried to signal the assistant chief physician urgently, unfortunately, he was as oblivious as a grandfather with no sense.
“Especially when Princess Rohiriel collapsed last time, Your Highness’ expression was very serious, showing how much you worry about her Highness.”
“My expression… you say.”
Julion furrowed his brows even deeper, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
Only then did the assistant physician realize the strangeness and stop talking.
He discreetly signaled to Dr. Barmid for assistance, but the atmosphere had already turned cold.
They arrived at the palace infirmary in awkward silence and quickly dispersed to their respective rooms.
As Julion headed toward the pharmacy where Rohiriel was, he couldn’t help but ponder their conversation.
‘Perhaps I have grown accustomed to it.’
He wondered if his behavior, acting as if he were a loving husband to Rohiriel, had become an integral part of his daily life.
After all, Rohiriel had a talent for worrying people. It was only natural to worry about her when she was sick.
“Your Highness!”
As he reached the entrance to the pharmacy, Ares, who had been guarding the door, greeted him with a friendly smile.
Julion cleared his thoughts and asked.
“Is she still working?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. After working for quite a while, she fell asleep a little while ago.”
“She fell asleep?”
In the pharmacy?
Julion swallowed the rest of his words and quietly opened the door.
Inside the dimly lit room, only one candle was burning.
As he stepped inside, he inadvertently stepped on a piece of paper that had fallen to the ground.
There were various papers scattered across the floor, each containing unfamiliar terms and symbols.
“What’s…”
How can a room be this chaotic?
He grabbed a nearby piece of paper, but as he did, another one fell from above.
‘It seems she left the window open.’
Even though it was spring, the night air was still chilly.
Rohiriel had fallen asleep right next to the window at the nearby desk.
She had a pen in her hand, her head leaning against the window frame, and her eyes closed. Julion approached her as quietly as possible.
Perhaps it was due to the softly shining moonlight, but her white hair seemed to sparkle.
So did the full lashes beneath her closed eyes, and the red lips beneath them.
Julion found himself extending his hand unconsciously.
Just as his hand was about to touch Rohiriel’s cheek, a gust of wind brushed past, causing her white hair to tickle his fingers.
At that moment, he felt an unfamiliar sensation—fear.
It was a very strange emotion, the kind he had never felt before.
