I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 148

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

148

Chapter 29. Brilliant Lights Embrace Me (3)

Uh, uh, uh…

I’m officially in the middle of a funeral right now!

Wasn’t it a secret? Should I pretend not to know? Shana is dead and I’m a twin separated in childhood?

I belatedly panicked, having already forgotten the fact that Evelyn had called me by my real name.

“Hello? Shana.”

“Your Majesty the Empress, mmph!”

“I snuck out, so shh.”

There’s no one around anyway… I froze, worried about getting saliva on the palm covering my mouth, and just rolled my eyes around. Behind the Graceful Empress, Mother was smiling apologetically.

You said you’d keep it secret!

“Sorry, Shana. I got caught.”

“How dare you say that. You came all the way here to offer condolences, saying you were sad – what an unfunny joke.”

“Was it that strange?”

“Of course. Even Duke Wentworth was beside you with a somber expression, playing along. What else could that be but asking to be suspected?”

I quietly listened to their conversation. Mother showed many expressions while talking to the Empress that she never showed in front of me.

“You must know I’d want to dance with joy over Nathan’s death. Besides, you know the circumstances of sending Shana away. A bastard who deserved to be chewed to the bone died, and you’re there saying you’re sad…”

“I was too obvious.”

“Duke Wentworth, who I thought could never empathize, came to offer condolences, so my husband was unnecessarily moved and marveled that the Duke was human after all. But to those who know the situation, it only looked suspicious.”

“At least His Majesty the Emperor was kind enough to be fooled. It was worthwhile.”

“You can’t fool my eyes. I was the first to notice Raven’s kidnapping, and I sent troops to raid that damp mansion. I’m still conducting additional investigations into the dog-like schemes Brandon was plotting.”

“Oh my, really?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know? How disgusting. You backed off knowing what I was doing. Originally, I was just going to help you personally crush him to pieces.”

Mother just smiled brightly.

I knew they were close as academy seniors and juniors, but was it necessary to share this secret?

“After seeing the child off well, you’d surely want revenge, so I was going to help. But you suddenly came and said strange things, making me wonder if I’d lost my mind for a moment.”

“That was the plan. After seeing the child off first.”

Mother’s gaze dropped slightly.

“Since he wanted to live so badly, I was going to make him regret being alive. The child’s father was scarier than me. When he barged in during his daughter’s funeral to cause a scene, he wanted to kill him right there.”

Why are you talking about serious matters like jokes?

“…By any chance, was my husband also included in those revenge targets?”

“…”

Don’t smile instead of answering…

“I promise to deal with Brandon thoroughly.”

“At this point, whatever. For us couple, the whole world is just beautiful.”

Mother proudly listed how she had donated to every temple in ‘Shana’s’ name. At this rate, she’ll create a scholarship fund.

I must stop that, even if I have to cling to her legs.

“Brandon already looks like he’s aged 30 years alone. His hair has all turned white and he’s wrinkled all over. He’s so thin he looks like leather draped over a tree branch. How can a person age so much in an instant…”

“…”

“Even so, he must pay for his sins properly. That man would rather die, but I have no intention of killing him. And about the Magic Guild Leader position that will become vacant.”

“That has nothing to do with me.”

“…Mm, I understand. Who said anything? Since your family is heavily involved, if you step aside, it’ll ease my mind too.”

The Empress shrugged her shoulders.

“Actually, I noticed a little earlier than your visit. Raven, who seemed like he’d never budge from the Wentworth Estate, came back with such light steps, didn’t he?”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

“He was even humming. So how could I not know? I thought something was up.”

“Oh dear, the rumors must have gotten worse.”

“I mean in front of me. You can’t tell what that child is thinking just by looking at him. Even seeing his excited face, thrilled about visiting his fiancée, people interpret it quite differently.”

“That’s because of his usual behavior.”

“Oh my, did you just insult my son?”

“Wouldn’t that also depend on what his usual behavior was like?”

Mother calmly dissed Raven.

The Graceful Empress became quite serious, leaning toward Mother and whispering. Without really lowering her voice.

“Do you still not like our Raven?”

“What are you saying? Whether I like him or not, what does that matter now?”

“Anais. You know. That child Raven, although, yes, I worried about him a lot when he was young. He was clever but too emotionless. Sometimes even I was scared. But you should believe by now that he’s sincere toward your daughter.”

Um, that daughter is right here. Isn’t this something you shouldn’t discuss in front of me…?

“Well, I believe he’s sincere.”

“Right?”

“But now I officially have no daughter.”

Mother declared cheerfully. I became very awkward.

“No daughter? She’s right here!”

“I only see a healer who looks exactly like my daughter.”

“So this is how you’re going to play it…”

“Officially, Shana Perry Wentworth doesn’t exist in this world. So even if Prince Raven appeals to me, it’s problematic. Since I have no daughter to marry off, if he appeals to me, remarriage is the only answer.”

“…You’re calmly saying scary things. How am I supposed to handle Duke Wentworth’s resentment? That man will somehow destroy the imperial family the moment you marry my son. Whether he joins hands with Duke Algren or does whatever.”

The Graceful Empress spoke as if Father was the only problem.

The age difference doesn’t seem to be a problem at all, I thought with a smile, but seeing Mother, I understood. What does age difference matter when she’s such a beauty.

“Hmph, well. Raven will handle all of this himself.”

How should I view this trust that Raven will handle everything on his own?

“Won’t it be difficult given their social positions?”

“Well, won’t he figure out a way to make it work? It’s something the two of them need to handle themselves.”

In the midst of this very uncomfortable topic, I sat quietly like a shrinking violet before raising my hand. The Graceful Empress graciously spoke to me as I raised my hand like a student.

“Speak.”

“Did you two come here to put on a talk show?”

“That can’t be it. We’re really busy, you know. Thanks to someone, a troublesome tooth has finally been pulled. Still, I am that troublesome tooth’s mother.”

“….”

“Once the funeral properly begins, I won’t be able to make time for quite a while, so I boldly snuck out. I really wanted to see your face with my own eyes. And….”

The Graceful Empress smiled gently.

“I wanted to keep my promise too.”

***

The Apothecary Guild boasted a long history.

The Temple was expensive, and healers were rare.

Unless you were nobility or a merchant, you couldn’t just visit a priest for minor ailments. Healers also usually just prescribed medicine and left it at that unless it was a serious case, so most people just bought and took medicine on their own.

Healers and apothecaries were strictly different, and the apothecaries referred to here were closer to merchants who dealt in and sold medicine.

Since those closer to merchants gathered together, they were sharp about profit and knew well how to maximize their own benefits. Those who dealt in medicine controlled resources so that the value of what they possessed wouldn’t decrease. Medicine was essential, and while it would be troublesome without it, it wouldn’t be profitable if it was common.

They thought that when someone was sick enough to die, medicine wouldn’t help anyway, so they needed to provide appropriate regulation.

The result was the current situation.

The Apothecary Guild was more united and cohesive than any other guild in the Empire. They were excellently filling the demand that the Temple couldn’t fully embrace….

‘Annoying, so annoying!’

The white building appeared suddenly.

Rierem District was a slum where beastfolk gathered. The poor had no money to buy medicine, and wealthy beastfolk relied on strong healing power rather than weak medicine, so the Apothecary Guild had abandoned Rierem District. Because there were no customers.

So it took quite a while to even notice the building’s existence.

At first, they didn’t even know it was a hospital. When they heard rumors that it was built by the Wentworth Ducal House, which had provided support when an epidemic struck Rierem District, they even scoffed at it as typical noble charity for show.

However, the building didn’t disappear over time, and strange medicine began circulating.

It was medicine that had panacea-like effects, as if blessed with a high priest’s divine power.

Moreover, it was priced ridiculously low enough for slum dwellers to purchase. The Apothecary Guild was on high alert. If this kind of thing circulated, no one would seek out the Apothecary Guild’s medicine.

‘Have some conscience! Market destruction should be done in moderation!’

If the prices had been high, the Apothecary Guild wouldn’t have responded this strongly.

They hired people to spread rumors and went around picking fights. The fights didn’t work at all, but fortunately the rumors did, and the area around the hospital became completely deserted.

‘But why! Why won’t it collapse!’

It’s been gathering dust for years now!

‘Once all the beastfolk who could provide funding disappear, they won’t be able to hold out any longer.’

The Guild Master of the Apothecary Guild smiled gleefully in his pleasant imagination. He had just heard news that the hospital had been kicked out and prevented from registering potions, thanks to bribing the Mercenary Guild.

That’s what happens when you destroy market prices….

‘There’s no place for you now, that’s what this is. If you wanted to enter the market, you should have come with heavy gifts to pay your respects, considering business ethics.’

The side that arrogantly started doing business first was in the wrong.

“Shall I head home now.”

Today had been such a happy and rewarding day. As he stood up from his seat, a subordinate employee ran over and shouted.

“Guild Master, we have a big problem!”

“What? Why! What happened! Did a war break out?”

Such good fortune!

Thinking his luck was so good it had reached this level, the Guild Master asked with a smiling face, and the subordinate employee looked at him with disgust for a moment. Then he came to his senses and pointed behind him.

“A huge crowd has gathered!”

“What, was it just some unprofitable spectacle? Fine! I’m going home, so you handle it well!”

“You won’t be able to leave anyway. The crowd is no joke.”

“What?! Good grief, you should call the soldiers for something like that!”

Causing a disturbance at night, they must be thoughtless idiots. He had planned to savor this happiness after work while enjoying good liquor! The subordinate employee mumbled to the angry Guild Master.

“But those people seem to be heading toward….”

“Huh?”

Here, I think.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————