I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 56

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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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56

 

Medical Chart 4. People Who Come After Hearing Rumors (1)

 

“Duke Wentworth.”

 

Kail turned around. He could tell it was Raven just from the voice and presence without needing to look, but he deliberately made a show of turning around to signal to his conversation partners.

 

“Ah, Prince Raven.”

 

“Were you in the middle of a conversation?”

 

“No, not at all.”

 

He turned back as if asking for understanding, but this was merely a polite gesture. Watching the backs of people disappearing as if burned by fire, Kail said.

 

“Very effective. I should have used this sooner.”

 

“You’re probably the only duke who treats me like pest repellent.”

 

Kail grinned instead of answering. Since Raven had no intention of pursuing the matter deeply either, he gestured toward the empty balcony.

 

He happened to want some fresh air anyway, and was tired of dealing with people who flocked over after hearing rumors, so Kail gladly agreed.

 

“Have you seen His Majesty?”

 

“I was summoned earlier. He seemed delighted as if we were already in-laws.”

 

“Well, whatever his true feelings, he must think it’s better than losing Wentworth’s daughter.”

 

Raven answered with a crooked smile.

 

The Emperor didn’t doubt Raven as the crown prince, but he inevitably couldn’t hide his love for his first child. Despite being the first child of the imperial bloodline, he couldn’t make him heir, and from that guilt, he couldn’t bear not wanting to give him everything.

 

Even though he clearly anticipated that those who couldn’t abandon their lingering hopes would emerge, relying on that inevitable affection.

 

There was also a need to use his eldest son to temper Empress Belita’s overflowing ambition.

 

‘Yet he never really paid attention to Shana.’

 

He had casually brought it up as a joke at a dinner hosted by Belita, but Shana had been so nervous and frozen that she apparently didn’t catch his fancy, as he showed no interest afterward.

 

Kail criticized the Emperor’s eyes as being like knotholes for not recognizing his daughter’s charm, but since he didn’t want the annoyance of drawing unwanted interest, he didn’t express his complaints.

 

‘The Emperor is pitiful for not knowing my daughter’s charm.’

 

So he had been relieved, but suddenly a marriage proposal.

 

“Since my brother had no interest in marriage, Count Algren must have instigated it. He was probably bothered by Shana’s improved reputation.”

 

“I thought Count Algren disliked me.”

 

Raven looked at him as if incredulous.

 

“The Duke picks a fight first and then says such things?”

 

“When did I ever pick a fight?”

 

“You have no conscience.”

 

“I only return what I receive. If he gossiped behind her back saying Shana was ‘immature and showing off without knowing she’s causing trouble for those around her,’ didn’t he pick the fight first?”

 

Count Algren would have been incredulous if he heard this. Others might think he was joking, but Raven knew this was the truth.

 

“Please moderate yourself. Count Algren’s insides probably twist every time Shana is praised as ‘Wentworth’s Angel’ or ‘Savior of the Poor.'”

 

Kail shrugged his shoulders.

 

If he told Shana about those nicknames, she would surely scream and suffer. She would cry and cling to him, begging him to say it wasn’t true. Asking what on earth they were doing to a child.

 

‘She always asks what they’re doing to a 7-year-old.’

 

It would certainly be cute, but since he didn’t like seeing Shana cry, he decided to keep his mouth shut.

 

If only she would stay safe as they wished.

 

“Since this matter was resolved well thanks to Prince Raven’s appropriate sacrifice, shall we leave it at that?”

 

“I have no intention of backing down quietly.”

 

Kail grinned.

 

“If Shana says she likes you, I won’t oppose it.”

 

“I will persuade her.”

 

“I’ll cheer you on. Since she just got engaged.”

 

Raven’s handsome face crumpled as if he had chewed on a bug.

 

Kail fixed his gaze on Raven’s fair face. His daughter was quite precocious, but Raven was formidable in many ways too. He knew how to skillfully hide his true feelings even when dealing with adults.

 

‘I think I was more transparent at that age.’

 

Not exactly cute though.

 

Though still young and immature now, as he aged he would reveal the qualities of a ruler. Kail hoped he wouldn’t be foolish.

 

‘Right now he seems to be carefully working on her, knowing she has no interest and not being on guard.’

 

Not too close, but not distant, and not forgotten. Raven knew how to wait for the right time. That’s what made him even more dangerous.

 

Just then, butler Hugh carefully knocked on the window from beyond the balcony window.

 

“Your Highness, His Majesty is looking for you.”

 

“You should go.”

 

Kail waved his hand.

 

After sending Raven away, Kail took out his watch to check the time. If Anais had come with him, he would have enjoyed himself a bit more, but he had attended today’s party alone.

 

With news of Shana’s engagement already out, he was also tired of the barrage of questions from people clinging to him like hyenas flocking to fresh meat.

 

And even though seven years had passed since her birth, the parents’ fury over their granddaughter, whom they hadn’t seen even once, getting engaged to the Crown Prince without any consultation was no ordinary matter.

 

The relatives who had waited silently all this time also began to voice their protests, using the engagement as a turning point.

 

“That old man has been patient for seven years, which is quite long…”

 

Now, putting things off was reaching its limit.

 

***

 

“Anais.”

 

“Welcome back, Kail. You’ve worked hard.”

 

As soon as Anais saw her husband, she took off the glasses she had been wearing. The prescription wasn’t very strong anyway, and wearing glasses was inconvenient when kissing.

 

“It was just boring without you.”

 

“I’ll definitely go with you next time.”

 

“No, it’s fine. It’s not like it was an enjoyable occasion.”

 

“That’s exactly why I should go with you. Since it’s not enjoyable.”

 

Kail smiled and showered Anais’s cheeks, nose tip, and around her eyes with small kisses. Anais smiled and returned them.

 

If it weren’t for Anais, Kail would have run away from the family long ago. He was born with a rebellious streak and found the strict and tedious noble society very stifling. Thanks to this, he had fought with his parents many times, creating deep rifts.

 

However, Anais said that the family’s long-standing traditions and history, as well as the duties and responsibilities that came with the Wentworth name, should not be cast aside. She told him to face them if he wasn’t running away out of fear of their weight, and if he really couldn’t handle it after trying, then he could run away.

 

Kail at that time was a teenager, younger and more hot-blooded than now, so he was disgusted by the cowardly ring of the word “running away.” Especially running away out of fear—that was absolutely unacceptable.

 

The title and responsibilities he took on that way were quite challenging despite asking his parents to handle the estate management, so he actually regretted it a little…

 

But if he had run away then, he would certainly have regretted it incomparably more than now.

 

“Were there any results?”

 

“A little. The mage who was following Count Hights had already disappeared long ago, but when Renate looked into it, he said that mage was a famous curse mage.”

 

Kail quietly waited for the next words.

 

“Success is certain, but the contract conditions are very demanding. He’s picky about his clients, it seems. Count Hights was buying slaves, casting curses and hypnosis on them, and then gifting them to targets he wanted to assassinate.”

 

“What a troublesome way to live. He should just hire assassins…”

 

“But then the risk would be great if they failed. If you kill by sending gifts, even if it fails, there’s less chance the target will suspect you.”

 

“So he’s a coward.”

 

“I agree. Anyway, Count Hights bought countless slaves, but not a single one remained in the manor. That means he either sent them all somewhere or killed them. This is a problem that will take time to resolve.”

 

Even if they weren’t sent to someone, there was no telling when the hypnosis and curses embedded in the slaves who were simply released might activate.

 

“Lili was to be prettily groomed and decorated to be presented as a gift to Her Highness the Princess.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“She would have been pretty to look at and good at singing, so he must have thought she was suitable as a gift. If he could just place her near the royal family, an opportunity to assassinate the Crown Prince would come someday.”

 

Lili wouldn’t have been the only gift he prepared.

 

“The traces left on Lili were too faint, but the traces remaining in Prince Raven’s wounds were relatively clear. Thanks to that, comparison was possible.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s different from the traces left by that woman who was my nanny. But it’s similar.”

 

Anais sighed softly.

 

“It means the nanny was also being controlled by a demon. I don’t know which demon contracted with which member of my family, though.”

 

“At least it means it wasn’t your nanny’s own will.”

 

“…You could think of it that way.”

 

“That’s fortunate, isn’t it?”

 

“…A little.”

 

But the fact that someone in the family hated Shana enough to want her dead remained unchanged.

 

“Whether it’s my older sister or younger sister… I have no clue at all. Both of them hate me. Maybe it’s both of them.”

 

Anais took a deep breath. It seemed to relieve her feelings a little.

 

“Can you catch that demon that dared to cling to Shana?”

 

“…Well, it really disappeared without a trace.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Count Hights wasn’t the contractor. There were no traces of him contracting with a demon at all, and he said he was introduced to the mage by someone else.”

 

Anais frowned.

 

“We’re making inquiries throughout the entire capital with Ron and Renate’s cooperation, but it won’t be easy to find someone who’s already determined to hide.”

 

“…I suppose so. I’ll look into it too.”

 

“Thank you, but it’s fine. I’d rather you not associate with people who would hire curse mages.”

 

Kail smiled and kissed Anais’s frowning brow.

 

“Shana said she’s fine now and told us not to look for them. Does she know something?”

 

“She probably knows.”

 

Thinking of their daughter who was excited about playing hospital made them smile naturally. Kail and Anais looked at each other and laughed.

 

“Before, she was grinding her teeth saying they used vicious methods, but after she collapsed and opened her eyes, she’s been strangely relaxed…”

 

“Haha.”

 

“Tell me something. What is she thinking?”

 

“Well… Our daughter’s mind is too deep for even me to understand.”

 

“She’s been acting like an adult since she was a baby. As if she had lived somewhere else before…”

 

Just as Anais unknowingly spoke the correct answer and smiled softly, one person was entering the capital city.

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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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