I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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23

Chapter 6. For a Practice Run (2)

I had forgotten.

‘An acquaintance of the Prince and the Wentworth Couple… couldn’t possibly be ordinary…’

They would at least be nobility, and among them, the possibility of being royalty was extremely high. Why hadn’t I thought of that? I glared sharply at the back of Raven’s head while being held in Father’s arms.

‘This is all because that kid is so good with words, unlike a child!’

I definitely had no intention of granting his request at first. But somehow, not only did I end up agreeing, but later I even became the one pestering my parents saying I really wanted to do it.

Moreover, I had said I wanted to try treating Raven’s acquaintance, but somehow my parents were already discussing where to build my hospital.

I had only decided on a future dream, not something I wanted to do right away.

Don’t childhood dreams and future aspirations change several times a day? I happened to be lucky enough to have a natural talent, so I thought it seemed appropriate and brought it up. I needed to earn money to feed two children hoping for employment.

It wasn’t as noble an intention as Raven had packaged it to be. Living off my parents’ wealth was fine, but I just wanted to earn enough money to live comfortably without feeling like a lazy freeloader.

Let’s live comfortably in this complicated world.

Even if I had the rare ability to heal beastmen, I didn’t have the noble ideal of having to heal everyone in the world.

That would be impossible to begin with. I’m not some great deity, just a person.

But as much as I can, as far as I can see, I want to help those I’m able to help… that’s all. It’s human nature. And it would be nice to earn money while I’m at it.

Raven had said the same thing. Call it a practice run, he had said lightly.

But…

“Welcome, Duke Wentworth. I’ve heard the story.”

“You don’t need to bow your head, Viscount Baltyr. I’m just granting my daughter’s request.”

“Please come this way.”

What’s with this atmosphere?

‘Why am I at the Imperial Palace?’

I know who I am… but where is this place?

Raven and my parents pushed forward with frightening efficiency, as if they wanted to finish things immediately once decided. Raven had come to visit in the early afternoon after I finished lunch, and it was barely 4 PM now, yet here I was at the Imperial Palace for the first time in my life, having left home.

What kind of execution power do my parents and Raven have…

When I first rode the carriage, I was cheerfully saying “Wow, the ride quality sucks!” It happened suddenly, but it was my first outing in life!

They didn’t even tell me where they were taking me, but since my parents were coming along, it couldn’t be anywhere dangerous. I just thought, well, somewhere outside the house…

But the sight I saw when I got off the carriage was a luxurious mansion that rivaled the palaces I’d seen in textbooks, and when I was thinking how dazzlingly splendid everything looked, Father told me this was the Imperial Palace.

What kind of corridor is this, oh my, are all the gold colors on the floor, walls, and ceiling real gold? Surely not… Father was carrying me and walking quickly, so I couldn’t look closely, but if this interior was meant to overwhelm people, I’d say it succeeded.

Seeing my stiff expression, Father made eye contact with me and said:

“Are you anxious, Shana?”

“…A little.”

Raven didn’t miss the chance to interject.

“You’re just visiting my house. You’re visiting a friend’s house, so what’s there to be scared of?”

“It’s my first outing, you know, Raven you dummy.”

Viscount Baltyr’s shoulders, who was walking ahead in the corridor, flinched slightly. Raven seemed to notice that I was being mindful of others and said with displeasure:

“Why are you being considerate? You’re my friend.”

“B-but still.”

“Rather than worrying about people who have nothing to do with you, pay more attention to me.”

Father chuckled softly, finding Raven’s statement amusing. Mother, who was walking alongside us, said:

“Prince seems to be hungry for your attention, Shana.”

“Still, the person our Shana likes most is Daddy, right?”

“Kail, are you trying to start a fight here? The person Shana likes most is Mommy.”

Both of you stop it, it’s embarrassing.

I sighed inwardly. I thought they wouldn’t act like this outside, but they were exactly the same outside. Raven said:

“Both of you are wrong. Unfortunately, what Shana likes most is something else entirely.”

“What did you say?”

“Prince, we can’t let that statement slide.”

Viscount Baltyr’s figure ahead became increasingly pitiful and faint. I felt sorry for Viscount Baltyr pretending not to hear the conversation between the three.

I’m sorry the conversation between the Wentworth Couple and the Prince is like this…

“Unfortunately, what Shana likes most is the puppy she recently picked up. Isn’t that right, Shana?”

“Huh?”

No, what am I supposed to do when you ask me at this timing?

“You said you liked Evelyn the most, didn’t you?”

“Um, huh?”

“Unless you lied to me, I must be right.”

Mother and Father asked gently and lovingly, “Shana? Is that really true?”

“Evie is good…”

“More than Mommy?”

“More than Daddy?”

“How can I compare that?”

There are other things to compare.

“That uncle is also embarrassing, so embarrassing…”

“What’s embarrassing about wanting to hear your daughter say she loves you the most?”

“We’re confident, Shana.”

“I’m the one who’s embarrassed…”

I pressed my hand to my forehead. This was all because of Raven. When I glared at Raven, he grinned.

“I told you there’s nothing to be nervous about.”

I was nervous because it was an unfamiliar place, but seeing my parents and Raven made me think it didn’t matter where we were. My parents wouldn’t change no matter where we were, and as Raven said, this was just a friend’s house…

“…”

I’m scared of myself for thinking this way. This is why humans are creatures of adaptation.

After a while, we stopped in front of a large door. I burrowed a little deeper into Father’s arms. The door was so big I had to crane my neck back to look up at it, and somehow it gave off a dark and dreary atmosphere. Even though it was decorated with gold, the first impression was of something gloomy.

“Your Majesty, it’s Raven.”

What?

After a moment, the door opened. Raven entered first, and while I was gaping in surprise, my parents also began following him.

W-wait, wait a minute.

You said it was a rehearsal. You said to think of it lightly!

‘It’s your mother, you crazy bastard Raven!’

Don’t speak so lightly about it.

***

“She suddenly collapsed ten days ago. We called mages and high priests to treat her, but…”

Viscount Baltyr bit his lip.

“Whether it’s a powerful curse magic or a deep illness, we haven’t seen any improvement at all.”

Raven stood alone beside the enormous bed. It seemed like no one was around him. I often forget because of his annoying face, but he’s still just a child.

“My guess was correct.”

“Since it’s before his appointment as Crown Prince, we’re keeping it secret, but…”

“There must be limits to stopping rumors.”

Raven can hear everything, you adults…

‘Is this something like a prince’s fate…’

Status was a problem whether high or low.

In my previous life, I lived in a country without social classes, but actually Korea also had invisible social hierarchies. People divided each other by more detailed and petty standards.

‘Doesn’t Raven have a father?’

There was no one who seemed to be the emperor. Feeling sorry for Raven standing alone, I struggled in Father’s arms to get down to the floor.

Then I ran to Raven’s side with quick little steps.

Thank goodness they weren’t squeaky shoes. If squeaking sounds had echoed in this quiet place, I would have wanted to die.

Raven was looking at the white hand that emerged from under the blanket with an indescribable expression. It was a white hand so pale it looked bluish.

‘It’s like my mom’s hand.’

My mom who had been sick for a long time and stayed only in the hospital.

Actually, I couldn’t see Mom very often. Dad was busy every day and couldn’t take me to the hospital, and when I was staying at relatives’ or Dad’s friends’ houses, it was hard to say I wanted to see Mom.

And even when I did visit, there weren’t many days when Mom had her eyes open.

Dad’s face when he looked at Mom lying there and Raven’s face now were somewhat similar. I couldn’t bear it and grabbed Raven’s hand firmly.

Raven looked at me in surprise, and I held that hand tightly and shouted determinedly.

“Only trust me!”

“…”

“I will definitely save her!”

I was relieved that my pronunciation was relatively less babyish. Raven, who had been expressionless, stared at me with widened eyes for a moment, then smiled slightly and said.

“You’ll save me? You?”

“Yes! Me!”

“…”

Raven looked down at the hand I was holding. Whatever he was thinking, I was satisfied just that he didn’t mock me.

“I can do it!”

“You don’t have to. I told you to think of it as a rehearsal.”

However, contrary to his light tone, the strength didn’t leave Raven’s hand that was holding mine.

“Don’t you know the saying that if it doesn’t work, try again?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“There’s a saying like that… When people try to stop you from doing something, you have to do it even more. There’s no such thing as giving up in my dictionary. Giving up is only for when you’re selling cabbage.”

“You’re saying even stranger things now.”

“It means you shouldn’t give up. Anyway, I’m here, so don’t worry.”

By the way, are you going to keep holding my hand? Raven still had that annoying expression, but I thought his hand that wouldn’t let go was his true feelings.

The sight of the small child standing alone beside the bed was so pitiful that I wanted to let him know he wasn’t alone. While holding his hand, I tried to reach for the hand on the bed…

“…”

Too short.

Raven smiled and lifted me up. It was a situation of a child carrying another child, but Raven was strong enough to lift me onto the bed without much difficulty.

From behind, I heard Viscount Baltyr making “No, mmph!” sounds. Poor thing, his mouth must be blocked…

‘What a beautiful person.’

Despite the complexion so dark it looked ashen, the tightly closed eyes, and the pale, gaunt face, I could see Raven’s features.

My left hand held Raven’s hand, and my right hand held Raven’s mother’s hand.

From the moment I entered the room, I let the healing clay I had gathered flow through my hands, and a gentle light filled the entire room.

Until the light disappeared, Raven held my hand tightly.

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