The doctor, Zion, in the Imperial Health Bureau, was complaining while diligently organizing the medical tools.
“The Imperial Consort will send someone here soon.”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard about it. Is there any discomfort that would prompt her to send someone?”
“This man! Would I sigh like this if it were that simple?”
Zion was a veteran who had worked in the palace for over twenty years. He took great pride in his work, caring for the sick and taking responsibility for the health of the Imperial Family members.
Although he served the Emperor, Patricia also became a member of the Imperial Family by giving birth to the previous emperor’s child. If she had asked to be examined, he would have obliged.
But the Imperial Consort had different intentions.
“Why? Why did Her Highness take the future Duchess of Lexion as her lady-in-waiting? I noticed that the lady was only slightly interested in medicine.”
“That’s right. Now that you mention it, today was her first day at work.”
“Even so, I bet she never thought she’d be sent here on her first day.”
Patricia wanted her, who had just become a Lexion, to be her lady-in-waiting just to take care of her health, but her true intention was to keep her captive and torment her.
『 I wonder what the Lady knows that she was sent here.』
Zion felt a little sorry for Edith, who will be standing alone and looking embarrassed.
But a long career as an imperial doctor would require good political judgment, and that was what troubled him.
“We’ll have to come up with a prescription for what Her Highness wants, but helping the Lady too actively might put us in a difficult situation.”
“Difficulties?”
“The Imperial Consort sent her here to break her spirit, but if we handle things competently, what harm can come to us? She might even come up with absurd claims, like us siding with Lexion, not the Imperial Family.”
“Ah… I understand what you mean after hearing you. But we can’t disrespect a member of Lexion either.”
“Only people like us die caught in the crossfire. You too, stay alert. It may take some time, but we have no choice.”
As Zion was advising his disciples with mixed feelings, the reflection of a woman appeared in the window.
Long blonde hair and bright red lips. Her eyes are as deep and clear as spring water that seems to hold the sky. It was Edith Lexion, far more gorgeous than the rumors had suggested.
“M’lady, how did you end up in such a humble place? Let’s get you inside first.”
Although Zion was well aware of Patricia’s intentions, he asked politely, pretending not to know anything.
As soon as Edith entered, she deeply inhaled the faint scent of medicinal herbs and disinfectants.
『 It’s almost similar to the scent at the clinic.』
Memories from the clinic, where she had lived her life most passionately, vividly came flooding back.
Although Patricia had sent Edith here hoping for her to cause trouble, Edith’s eyes, as she looked around, shone with intelligence.
Becoming an imperial doctor was one of the futures that academy students vaguely dreamt of.
“Hmm… M’lady?”
Zion cautiously drew Edith’s attention. As a noblewoman, having an interest in medicine would only grant her access to medical texts, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for her to find the shelves filled with various herbs fascinating.
However, contrary to his judgment, Edith was cataloging the herbs in her head.
『 As expected, since it’s an imperial institution, they seem to have everything. I can probably prescribe the most effective treatment.』
Perhaps because the Emperor was bedridden, the lower-ranking officials in the Health Bureau seemed busy preparing medicines. It was a scene reminiscent of herself running around until the soles of her feet were on fire on days when there were many patients.
Edith decided not to disturb them, so she spoke up.
“I’ve come under Her Highness Patricia’s orders. She desires a tea that is good for fatigue recovery and treating cold hands and feet.”
“Hmm. I’ll prescribe the medicine right away.”
“No, she mentioned it wasn’t worth taking medicine. She prefers using tea to manage the symptoms.”
Here it comes. Zion became cautious, trying to balance like a person weighing things on both arms, not wanting to side with either woman.
『 Tea isn’t as effective as medicine, so it’s a good reason to criticize the Lady for being more incompetent.』
But before he could voice his concern, Edith spoke first.
“Shall I brew a tea using sun-dried flamegrass, ylvis grass, and summer mountain mushrooms? A ratio of 3:1:2 should be good.”
“…?”
“I’ll make the tea, so it shouldn’t take too long anyway. Because of the nature of the ingredients it cannot be boiled for a long time or it will lose its medicinal properties.”
The prescription that flowed effortlessly from Edith’s mouth, as if it had been memorized, caused the doctors, including Zion, to pause for a moment.
『 Did she know that sun-dried flamegrass, after boiling, removes toxins and enhances vitality?』
『 I think that combination would be effective in relieving cold hands and feet and fatigue.』
Edith seemed to understand perfectly how to use the herbs she had chosen.
The process of carefully breaking the requested ingredients into appropriate sizes and boiling them in the herbal decoction pot was so smooth and natural.
If she had simply followed what she saw somewhere, her movements would not have been this smooth.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. It’s best to drink the tea when it has cooled down a bit for optimal effects. Take care.”
In just a few minutes, Edith effortlessly completed making the tea before casually bidding farewell. Also, the cleanup afterward was also impeccable.
If any Academy’s medical students had seen her move so quickly and skillfully, they might have immediately asked if she had any thoughts about working in the palace.
“Just now… what just happened?”
Zion and the others smiled wryly as she quietly disappeared, leaving behind no inconvenience but only amazement.
──────────✿◦•
“Your Highness, if you drink it at this temperature, the efficacy of the herbs will be most effective.”
Edith bowed her head slightly and poured some tea. Elizabeth, who had been standing next to Patricia, frowned as she looked at her.
『 Did she just go and come back in that short time?』
Well, Edith wouldn’t have accepted the offer to be the Imperial Consort’s lady-in-waiting without thinking, so it wasn’t unreasonable. It could be that, with Lexion’s influence, a helper had been planted in the palace.
However, what surprised Elizabeth even more was Patricia’s reaction as she sipped the tea, with a mocking smile.
“…?”
The moment she took a sip of tea that had cooled to the right temperature, a warm feeling spread throughout her body. It feels like the cold, hardened blood veins relaxed, and a feeling of hot blood flowing coursed through them.
『 What?』
Patricia doesn’t know what was put into it, but the tea that Edith brought was suspiciously effective.
It made her whole body feel warm, like a lie, and even though she tried taking hot baths and steaming with various ingredients, none of it had done much for her.
“I’m glad it seems to be working for you, judging by your complexion.”
“…”
Patricia’s expression hardened as soon as she heard Edith’s words. It was hard for her to believe that she had been wearing a drowsy expression without her knowledge.
She must have looked like someone who was satisfied with the effects of the tea.
“Hmm, hmm. It’s not entirely ineffective. It’s good enough for the imperial doctors. Since it’s the first day, let’s call it a day, you can head home.”
Patricia dismissed Edith’s contribution as if it didn’t exist and waved her hand dismissively.
Instead of feeling upset or intimidated from dealing with busy and talented doctors, her insides twisted upon seeing her face brighten even more.
『 It’s her first day, so maybe it’s just luck.』
But the next day, and the day after that, Edith brought tea that perfectly matched Patricia’s request.
Moreover, the doctors and the apprentices of the Imperial Medical Department did not seem to be bothered by Edith’s visits at all.
『 What’s going on?』
Patricia, the only one with a growing headache, asked herself.
[Exclusive] Wasn’t it Gilbert’s intention to be deeply involved in the magicite mine?
[Patricia, the Imperial Consort, concealing the magicite mine]
[A letter containing the Imperial Consort’s name is discovered in Baron Humphrey’s manor]
Patricia gritted her teeth and skimmed through the newspapers. Lexion… it seemed like those annoying bastards had started to spread the fact that I had something to do with the magicite mine.
『 I’m sure they’ll never find out what I was trying to do with the magicites.』
She tried to calm her confused mind. Who would dare to harm me, the one who gave birth to the imperial descendant, the heir to the throne?
“… Claude! My son!”
Patricia stood up nervously from her seat. Claude greeted his mother with an innocent smile without any trace of dignity.
“I’m going to go to the blacksmith shop and watch them make locks.”
The moment she saw Claude’s smile, which was not at all befitting a member of the Imperial Family, she flinched as if a thief had stepped on her foot.
“Claude, I told you that only low-born people like that kind of thing.”
“But…”
“You are the next emperor of this country, so engage in more fitting activities. Reading books would be better.”
Patricia redirected her son’s body towards the library as he was heading towards the blacksmith shop.
Seeing Claude’s persistent fascination with strange activities, she felt the need to summon his tutors today and sternly instruct them not to allow the boy to develop an interest in the things that commoners do.
『 There’s no such thing as fate. If a person with the ability decides to become a member of the Imperial Family, it will happen.』
Patricia clenched her trembling hands. She needed to find her most cherished lady-in-waiting, Rosaline, whom she had told everything.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
