I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 84

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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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84

Chapter 19. Predators Don’t Only Live in the Jungle (1)

After Raven’s return, the news spread quickly throughout the entire capital.

I thought people had completely forgotten about Raven all this time, but with his return, the city was swept up in a festive atmosphere of joy as if a long-awaited husband had come home.

The Imperial Palace announced there would be balls for three days, and simultaneously a seven-day festival.

People are always ready to eat and drink, so they were undoubtedly more excited about this than the Crown Prince’s return. The Imperial Court would provide meat and alcohol to the people, and there would also be martial arts tournaments with enormous prize money.

‘He really was the Crown Prince…’

Having thought of princes and crown princes as similar, I was newly amazed at how incredible status could be. The entire city was really in an uproar.

‘I’m the one who was kindergarten classmates with the Crown Prince.’

Although I took classes with the Crown Prince who was five years older, like at a rural branch school, I was seven years old, so it was kindergarten. Imperial kindergarten. …If it were my previous life, there probably would have been such a place somewhere. It would definitely be private…

I wondered if it was okay to treat the Imperial Palace like kindergarten. That would probably be rude. Let’s not say that.

“They’re acting like someone who died has come back to life.”

Mother wiped her mouth and complained.

“It’s not like his news was cut off or anything. Right, Kail?”

“Well, if you can win the favor of the next emperor with a few cheers, it’s cheap.”

Father, that’s cold…

His cynical expression bloomed like spring flowers when he turned toward me. I was opening my mouth wide to swallow well-grilled trout meat, but even so, honey was dripping as if he was looking at something absolutely adorable.

This gap drives people crazy, you know? Both Mother and Father would have attracted devoted fans if they had been celebrities.

Of course, I’m fan number one. I can’t give that up.

“You have to chew thoroughly before swallowing, Shana. You’ll get indigestion.”

“It melts away without anything to chew…”

Still thinking I was a little child, both of them still made the most pleased expressions whenever I ate something.

Look how well I eat!

I moved my jaw enthusiastically, feeling like I’d become a YouTube eating broadcast star. Here comes the ASMR.

If I said such things, the two of them would definitely throw real gold coins and jewels instead of star balloons, so I quietly made a fuss only in my mind.

Even diamonds would hurt if they hit me…

The fish, cooked with only the flesh filleted for easy eating, melted smoothly as soon as I put it in my mouth.

Mmm, I give it a perfect score of 100 out of 100. The cream sauce is rich yet refreshing. Modern and fancy.

Perhaps because it was a Western-based culture, fish dishes came out with only the flesh grilled, but aside from the drawback of sometimes wanting salt-sprinkled whole grilled mackerel or hairtail, it was convenient and good to eat.

I’m also good at deboning fish. I could strip out the thick central bone with my hands in one go, then use chopsticks to carefully remove the small bones, leaving only the perfect flesh to give to Mina.

When she was little, she used to clap and be happy as if watching a magic trick, but now that she’s grown up, she dislikes it, saying my fingertips smell fishy. Sob sob…

“Well, more people thought the Emperor’s heart had turned toward the First Prince since he sent Prince Raven away. Thanks to that, senior Belita suffered a lot.”

“Did she really suffer? Wasn’t she having fun?”

“Oh my, you too. Even though senior Belita is belligerent…”

Mother stopped mid-sentence.

“…She did seem to enjoy it a bit.”

“Right?”

“She was too lively even without her son around.”

The Graceful Empress is… amazing… Indeed, you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.

The Graceful Empress, who looked like she couldn’t kill an ant, and Mother were the top two most belligerent people I knew. Let’s not mess with them.

The Graceful Empress occasionally invited me to have tea together. It wasn’t an official occasion, but a comfortable gathering where I’d tag along when Mother went and come back having eaten lots of snacks.

Since I felt bad about just receiving food all the time, I sometimes gave her beauty water or oils made by mixing light concentrations of potions as gifts. She loved them very much. Getting even prettier from there, was she planning world domination or something?

“Thanks to the person in question being absent, attention didn’t turn to Shana, who was engaged to him, which was really good for us too.”

Mother and Father’s eyes simultaneously turned toward me.

“How about it, Shana. Do you still want to break off the engagement?”

“Um… can I do as I please?”

I hurriedly chewed and swallowed the food in my mouth before speaking.

“Strange rumors have spread because nothing has happened so far, but aren’t you two suffering because of me?”

Both of them opened their eyes wide. What, how cute. They say couples grow to resemble each other, and even their expressions were identical.

“At this point?”

It was perfect unison. How embarrassing.

“Shana, were you worrying about such things…?”

“No, I’m more surprised that you knew about it.”

What do you two take me for?

“Well, I do have ears, so I hear this and that.”

“Only beastmen come to your hospital, don’t they? It’s practically a veterinary clinic.”

“Humans come too, too!”

“Oh my, sorry. You said there were a few, right.”

Mother probably had no intention of teasing me at all, but having been pointed out about something I was sensitive about, I rattled off excuses no one asked for.

“I’ll have you know we have regulars too! And customers who come from far away after hearing rumors!”

“Hm? Rumors? What rumors?”

“I don’t know what exactly… But there are some!”

“Hmm, really? Let’s go with that then.”

Being humored doesn’t make me happy at all. Even though I knew I should respond coolly and maturely, I couldn’t stop my sulky words from popping out. The more I acted like this, the more entertaining the two of them found it.

Acting spoiled had easily become a habit. I used to be a more mature person! This is why you shouldn’t pamper children!

“What kind of things are people saying about you? Would you tell me what you’ve heard?”

Mother asked gently. That’s how I should be. Sigh.

We have the same voice and face, so why don’t I have that elegant atmosphere? It felt like receiving organic vegetables but making tasteless food. I should just bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients, so why does it taste bad?

Lost in other thoughts, I answered politely. My roots are from the Eastern Land of Courtesy, a Confucian girl after all. So, what I said was.

“The Wentworth Noblewoman pretended to be an angel when she was young but caught a contagious disease, and though she barely recovered, her face became hideous from the aftereffects, so she’s holed up in the manor…”

“Yes, and?”

“The Wentworth Couple brags about their daughter but won’t show her, which is proof of this – if she were a proper daughter, would they leave her without even making her debut…”

What else was there?

“Parents think even ugly daughters look pretty, so they just let them stay deluded, uh-oh?”

What did my mouth just do?

“Why are you stopping mid-sentence, Shana. Tell me more.”

“Ah, Father…?”

“Haha, what kind of bir- person babbled such things to you?”

Father, you’re malfunctioning. I looked to the side to ask Mother for help, but Mother’s seat was already empty. Oh no.

“It’s okay, Shana. I won’t cause any harm to that person.”

“Ah! Wh-when did you get here!”

“Hm? Shana. Don’t worry and tell me.”

Mother had somehow come to my side and was gently cupping my cheeks. Mother, weren’t you a mage? How did you move without any presence? It’s a gentle touch, but why is it scary?

“Who is it? Who taught you such nonsense?”

“…Ron.”

Sorry, Ron. I couldn’t protect you.

Mother and Father smiled the exact same way at the same time. But their eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“Ron said it out of concern! He said since such rumors are going around, wouldn’t it be good to show my face once!”

“Making unnecessary interference, he must have too much free time.”

“Ron didn’t want to tell me, so I strangled his neck to make him talk.”

Ron actually didn’t want to tell me, and I found the rumor so amusing that I held my stomach and laughed for a long time, but from my parents’ perspective, it couldn’t be anything but an unamusing story.

“I really didn’t mind at all, I just found it funny. I was upset that Mom and Dad were hearing bad things because of me, but the rumors were so ridiculous…”

I quietly took Mother’s hand.

“So I was a little worried! Things are already this bad, but if we even break off the engagement, won’t the rumors spread even more uncontrollably!”

“Hmm, I see. I thought you had made up your mind to engage in social activities as a daughter of the Wentworth Family.”

“Mmm.”

Th-that. That’s a little.

Of course, I didn’t dislike occasions to mingle with people. I might even be able to make more friends. But I had grown too deeply attached to the hospital people for that.

How could I abandon them now?

“Shana.”

Mother cupped my cheeks.

“As long as you’re healthy, we don’t care about anything else. Living safely and healthily while doing what you want to do. That’s what we wish for you.”

“Mom…”

“Of course, if you do dangerous things, we’ll be angry.”

The principle of my power that uses my life force as its source must never be discovered.

They wouldn’t just be angry. It would be confinement again ending.

“What do you want to do?”

“…I think we should break off the engagement after all.”

“Alright, let’s do that!”

Is it okay for it to be this easy?

“But I promised to do this one time with Raven.”

“Then it would be good to dramatically collapse in front of everyone. You can say you’re stepping back because your body is too weak to shoulder such precious duties!”

“Before collapsing, you’ll dance one song with this father, right?”

“Oh my, only you? That’s unfair!”

“It’s a father’s privilege.”

Father lifted his chin triumphantly. Mother puffed out her cheeks like a pouting child and hugged me tightly.

“Fine then. This is a good opportunity to shut up those idiots spouting nonsense. I need to properly show them how pretty my daughter is so even their dim eyes can see! I was already finding it hard to be patient anyway. Nephew or whatever, I don’t care.”

“Mother…?”

“Yes, Shana. Just trust Mother. I’ll make sure those Lepoer lackeys can never spout nonsense again by sealing their mouths….”

Sealing what? What are you going to do? Why aren’t you finishing your sentence….

Mother stopped speaking and smiled brightly. It was a clear smile that could rival a cosmetics commercial model, but it didn’t look clear at all.

By the way, is it confirmed that I’m going to collapse? I’m not confident in my acting skills.

I should practice….

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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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