“May I interrupt for a moment, Your Majesty?”
Zion, the Emperor’s doctor, requested permission and opened the office door. The maids who followed him set down a tray of elaborate refreshments.
Walter, seated across from the Emperor, noticed that the tea’s color was slightly different from usual.
“Have different ingredients been added to the tea?”
Impressed by Walter’s keen insight, Zion politely responded.
“These are tea leaves roasted with woody fruits that are in season, as Your Majesty requested. It’s very effective for fatigue recovery.”
As if waiting, the Emperor gestured for the tea, and Walter savored it slowly.
The sight of the affection between father and son suddenly moved Zion.
During a time when the Emperor’s illness was severe, the office was filled only with the bitter scent of medicinal herbs. Now, a fragrant and refreshing aroma permeated the space.
『 What would have happened if the two of them had never known of each other’s existence?』
As a doctor who had to save people with rational judgment, Zion did not often believe in things like miracles or destiny.
However, as Zion thought about the story of the Crown Prince, who lost his memory and almost stayed a stableman for life but was saved by a woman and returned to his rightful place, it made him believe that there are things in the world that can’t be explained by reason.
Thanks to that, the Emperor, who was in critical condition, also completely recovered his health, so Edith was also a benefactor to him.
“I will send the same tea to the Crown Princess this afternoon. She must be tired from attending to so many things.”
Zion said, bowing his head, recalling Edith burying herself in books late into the night.
Not only Walter but also the Emperor smiled happily.
“I would appreciate it if you could do that. I was worried because the Crown Princess seemed to be busy organizing the medical system.”
The Emperor was already reading the report compiled by Edith and the officials.
In remote regions where medical facilities were inadequate, it was common for dozens or even hundreds of people to die from diseases that could have been sufficiently treated in the capital.
Despite dispatching envoys under the Imperial Seal and putting effort into managing the provinces, there had been no significant results since the Investiture Ceremony. It had been a persistent headache ever since.
『 At first, I thought it would be a light-hearted endeavor, given the Crown Princess’ interest in medicine.』
However, the solution Edith came up with was surprisingly detailed and realistic.
After establishing a medical institution directly under the Emperor, mid-level and low-level medical facilities were placed under it to connect health centers across the provinces like a network.
Even more surprising was Edith’s subsequent explanation.
⋙“Of course, the health centers set up in the provinces are highly likely to become corrupt by colluding with the local lords. For example…”⋘
Edith calmly narrated various unscrupulous deeds that local lords could engage in. Her voice and expression remained remarkably composed.
The officials, who sat at the table contemplating the Emperor’s orders, had no choice but to keep their mouths shut like clams, captivated by her vivid explanations born from experience.
When she proposed a solution of rotating duty between the capital and the provinces, even the Emperor could not help but be amazed.
“The parts I failed to inspect, the Crown Princess has looked into them so reliably. I find myself thinking that I can hand over my position now.”
A gentle light appeared in Walter’s eyes after hearing the praise for his wife.
“She’s very sincere about learning and applying new knowledge. If she heard what you just said, she would have been very pleased.”
“Even though she is busy, make sure to take care of her. Studying medicine is not an easy task for the Crown Princess.”
“As if that were not enough, she is worried because her graduation exam is just around the corner.”
The Emperor was puzzled by Walter’s words.
“Worried? What kind of scholar would put pressure on the Crown Princess to take the exam and score high?”
The academy graduation exam was a rite of passage that confirmed the knowledge acquired over the years.
For normal students, if they didn’t score a certain number of points, it would be difficult to find a job, but this was not the case for Walter and Edith.
The reason why members of the Imperial Family take classes at the Academy for a certain period of time is to build their education, not to prove their intelligence.
If she wanted, Edith could have concluded her academy life without taking the exam, but since she attended medical courses, her perspective was slightly different.
⋙“I can’t say I attended medical classes without taking the graduation exam, so don’t worry too much. I’ll take it lightly.”⋘
Besides Edith, who talked in that manner, there was a mountain of books related to the exam material.
Even if he silently wraps his arms around her slender waist and whispers to her that if she gets a failing grade in her graduation exam, she will not be dismissed from her position as Crown Princess. But Edith still wants to take the graduation exam.
『 By the time she graduates, she’ll be more likely to remember the hard work she put in under difficult circumstances to get a passing grade.』
Edith wanted to finish what she started with the best possible effort, and Walter was sincerely supporting her.
Despite her focus and dedication to her studies, he felt a wave of frustration and dissatisfaction at not having spent time alone with her.
“If it’s something my wife has always loved, she will give her best until the end.”
The Emperor, who had not spent much time with Edith, seemed to have recognized her passion long ago, and he smiled as if acknowledging it.
“Working hard until the end is a great virtue. However, for people like us, the Academy’s graduation party, a social gathering place, is just as important as the exam, so keep that in mind.”
“I will.”
The graduation party was about a month later. Since it was an event attended by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, it was not difficult to predict that all major figures would gather.
However, the Emperor’s additional remarks were a little more significant.
“This year, with members of the Imperial Family attending for a change, perhaps some of the bad traditions will be improved.”
After finishing the refreshments and leaving the Emperor’s office, Walter pondered the Emperor’s last words.
『 Bad traditions?』
He couldn’t exactly discern what the Emperor meant, but it was clear that it was a term more intriguing than ‘graduation exams’.
“Cassius, I need you to research the bad traditions of the Academy’s graduation party.”
Walter ordered Cassius with a sense of righteousness and headed for the library to find Edith.
──────────✿◦•
At an office at a similar time.
“Then, we will discuss the detailed draft for the Imperial Medical Institution as soon as the relevant investigation is completed.”
Upon hearing Edith’s words, the officials politely nodded.
The amount of work they had to do would keep them busy for a while, but they didn’t complain in the slightest.
『 When Patricia was in charge, she made us do ridiculous things just to show off her power.』
The policies proposed by Patricia, who had been executed, clearly revealed the intention to strengthen the authority of House Gerturk.
However, the young and capable Crown Princess’s commands were not only useful to patients but also quite feasible.
Besides, Crown Princess Edith was the most diligent person in the Imperial Family.
Given her commitment, the standards of the officials naturally rose to meet her level.
“Then we will deliver it to you as soon as it is ready.”
“Thank you.”
Alone in her office after completing her duties as the Crown Princess, Edith stretched out her legs and looked at the calendar.
Among the small events she had to pay attention to, there was one schedule that felt especially close.
[Academy Graduation Exam]
『 Why does time pass so quickly?』
Edith got up and headed to the Imperial Library.
Certainly, in the beginning, she had intended to take the exam lightly.
It didn’t matter to her if she got a failing grade. Edith knew that her duties as Crown Princess were more important.
However, the thought that her exam score might be discussed for generations among medical students made her wake up even in her sleep.
She felt as if she could hear the whispers of those who had seen her grades.
⋙“I heard that the Crown Princess was so busy with her duties that she didn’t even attend any practical classes, so why is her grade…?”⋘
⋙“She probably attended just for fun at the Emperor’s suggestion.”⋘
⋙“Looking at this, it’s a little hard to believe that she passed the medical entrance exam.”⋘
『 Absolutely not.』
It would have been very unfair for her to hear such evaluations after all the years she had worked so desperately to become a doctor like her mother.
So she decided to study just enough to get an average grade, and she was becoming more and more serious about it.
Creak—
Just as Edith was about to open the library door, the door opened from the inside first.
“Oh my!”
It was Adrian, accompanied by scholars responsible for the education of the prince.
The child, who was still much smaller than her, was walking around in clothes befitting a member of the Imperial Family, making him look like a moving doll for display.
It felt like just yesterday when she first realized she was pregnant, and now her son was already five years old.
Edith smiled gently, feeling that time was passing quickly.
“Oh, Adrian. Did you have a good lesson?”
“Yes, Mother. For Mother’s Day this year, I will write you a long letter.”
She also found it very cute that her son clearly expressed his opinion with his unique pronunciation.
After hearing Walter say, “Your mother is very fond of letters,” Adrian was motivated to learn about letters.
『 Looking at the letters he practiced yesterday, it seems like writing a letter might still be difficult for him.』
However, he appeared confident as if he could do well, and Edith couldn’t help but smile.
Her cherished son seemed to take after Walter more than her.
“I’m sure my letters will be longer and nicer than Father’s.”
In fact, Adrian seemed to consider his father, Walter, as his competition.
“Thank you, Adrian. I should prepare a response gift for your letter in advance.”
Edith gently stroked her son’s soft cheek, contemplating that making his favorite dessert and sharing it with him could be a pleasant time together.
However, Adrian’s eyes lit up as if he wanted something else.
“Hmm, Mother…”
Adrian quickly approached Edith. He had an expression that seemed to hold a secret.
Edith swiftly picked him up. Adrian, covering his mouth, whispered as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“I want a little sibling.”
