The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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People in the crowd recognized the white-haired gentleman who had suddenly appeared and began to murmur among themselves.
“Good heavens, is that really Duke Carseydo?”
“I thought he never showed up at social gatherings… What’s happening?”
Like modern people glimpsing a celebrity, the crowd’s whispers swelled. I hurried over to him and whispered.
“Duke? What are you doing here? Didn’t you say you couldn’t come because of other commitments?”
The Duke averted his gaze for a moment, then looked back at me.
“I finished my other business and stopped by on the way.”
“…So there’s nothing you picked up this time?”
“Why do you ask such strange questions? I simply stopped by on my way.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s leave it at that, then.”
As we exchanged that meaningless conversation, the blue light supporting the Count gradually faded.
Lying flat on his back, the Count had been writhing for a moment when his eyes suddenly snapped open. Before he could even wipe the foam from his mouth, he let out a blood-curdling shriek.
“Ugh, uaaaah! Uaaah! Who dare—you dared to send me flying through the air!! You—how dare you!!”
The Count, who had been waving his cane wildly in our direction, suddenly stopped moving. Recognizing the Duke, he let out a piercing cry.
“Duke Ricar Carseydo!! What sort of knight education are you providing!!”
Blassion tilted his head in confusion, then smiled. It was a smile that carried the characteristic chill of the dead.
“So it’s you. Count Marseya, who squandered himself on women, was divorced by two wives, and paid an astronomical sum in alimony. I’ve heard quite the tales about you from my father.”
The “Ricar Carseydo” that Count Marseya had named referred to the previous Duke. He appeared to have been mistaken, or rather, confused by their identical faces.
To be precise, it was a name that Blassion—who had been playing the role of the Duke’s son’s son across generations—had used one generation prior.
The funeral of Ricar Carseydo had never been held officially.
Perhaps because of this, the Count flailed about, pointing out his own misdeeds to someone he didn’t recognize as the same person.
“You—you insolent whelp! Even if you are a Duke, you lack even the tiniest shred of courtesy that should be shown to your elders. You have your father’s arrogance and his complete lack of manners!”
Well, that would be because you’re the same person, wouldn’t it? If there’s a lack of manners, it’s only natural that it would be identical.
‘Besides, it’s actually the Count who should be showing courtesy. At least he’s six hundred years my senior.’
Everain, wearing the same expression as me, shook her head behind him.
Yet no matter how much the Count shrieked and howled, our Immortal—who had maintained his lack of manners across generations—remained utterly unshaken.
“Fine then. Let’s settle this once and for all. Everain, is it true that you used the Shoulder Throw on the Count?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because he attempted to lay hands on my teacher’s person without permission.”
The crowd stirred once more. Yet the Count responded with shameless audacity.
“This girl is about to become my wife! What’s wrong with me touching her a little?”
“Become your wife? Are you out of your mind?”
“I understand the situation. Everain, it seems I’ve failed in your education. The Shoulder Throw was perhaps excessive.”
The Duke stepped forward toward the Count. For a moment, I thought the Count would smile faintly.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
“Why bother with such tedious measures? I specifically taught you that any man who harasses a woman should have his arm cut off on the spot.”
Before he could finish speaking, the Duke flicked his fingers. A blue light swirled around the Count, and suddenly his head caught fire.
“Uaaaaah!!”
“I’ll personally burn your Toupee as a gesture of apology for my subordinate’s incompetence. Don’t worry—since I’m without a sword at the moment, I won’t actually cut off your arm.”
No matter how much the Count beat at his head, the fire wouldn’t extinguish. Before long, his now-exposed bald scalp was caught in the light, gleaming brilliantly.
“Uaaaaaah!!”
Shrieking even louder than when he’d received the Shoulder Throw, the Count fled with all his might. Soon his figure vanished from the Glass Garden.
In the chaotic atmosphere, the Duke, who now had everyone’s attention, turned to survey the crowd with a menacing gaze.
“Why are you all staring? If anyone has business with me, step forward now.”
Predictably, no one came forward. The Duke gave Everain an order.
“If anyone from the Royal Family comes, deal with them appropriately.”
“I anticipate they will submit a bill for property damage.”
“Tell them to send the invoice to the estate. And Everain, I’ll address your failure to properly escort your teacher at a later time.”
Everain accepted this in silence. I wanted to defend her somehow, but the Duke gave me no opportunity.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes? Where to?”
“Just come with me.”
Everain gave a polite bow and left the place. I had no choice but to follow.
“Yes…!”
I chased after the Duke.
* * *
The Duke and I emerged from the Glass Garden.
“Sigh…”
A long sigh escaped my lips as I walked silently behind the Duke through the awkward atmosphere.
It wasn’t because of my sudden reunion with Ruen or the Count that had soured my mood.
‘I didn’t get to talk with Everain as much as I’d hoped.’
I should have grown closer and asked her this and that, maybe even probed a bit about her sister and the dark mage……
“……Huh?”
Lost in regret, I’d been staring at the ground when the scent of water caught my attention and I looked up.
The moment I saw the river spread before me and the expanse of green stretching beyond it, I couldn’t help but gasp.
“Wow……. So this is the Cenetia River!”
“You seem well-informed.”
Of course I know. It’s the iconic first date spot between you and the heroine.
Just as the original work had described, the surroundings were filled with families and couples enjoying nature.
But my eyes were drawn to the French fries and ice cream they were eating.
“I’m starving…….”
And rightfully so.
I’d woken before dawn and eaten almost nothing but biscuit crumbs from inside the carriage since then.
I’d endured it thinking Everain and I would stop at some nice restaurant, but that hope had come to nothing.
Just then, the Duke pointed toward something in the distance.
“Look, there’s a street vendor over there.”
With those words, the Duke quietly approached the vendor.
A moment later.
Seeing the French fries and ice cream he’d brought back, I let out a quiet laugh.
“The perfect Fast-Aging Diet. So you’ve gotten good at eating this sort of thing now, Duke? There was a time you wouldn’t even eat dried meat.”
“I have someone to thank for rediscovering the joy of eating after all this time.”
We sat on a bench like that, eating French fries and ice cream together.
It was quite special, savoring the snacks in solitude, so different from before. I watched the Duke eating his French fries diligently before asking him a question.
“Is it really all right to throw the Count’s toupee like that? It must have been quite expensive…….”
“The Count won’t demand compensation from me. To ask me to cover the cost of his toupee, he’d have to leave a record that he’s bald.”
“You had it all planned out, didn’t you, Duke?”
I quietly ate my ice cream. Then I felt the Duke’s gaze fixed on me and asked him a question.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“I was wondering why someone like you—who’s more than attractive enough to court young men—ends up entangled with a hospital director and a count.”
“How should I know? Look to those perverts who get excited over a girl young enough to be their granddaughter—not me.”
The Duke nodded deeply.
“You’re right. There’s no reason to look for answers in you. They’re all twisted. In that sense, perhaps it should be not a toupee but a…….”
“Duke. Let’s live without committing crimes, shall we? If my employer ends up arrested, who am I supposed to get my paycheck from?”
“……I’ll try to exercise restraint.”
“Hello! What a lovely couple you two make! It’s truly wonderful to see!”
While we were sitting there chewing on potatoes and pervert talk, someone approached us.
A young man holding a tripod and a large camera stood before us. Before I’d possessed this body, a camera like that was something I’d only seen in museums, but here it was state-of-the-art equipment.
“What do you want?”
When the Duke asked, the young man began his introduction with easy confidence.
“Well, you see, I’m a street photographer. I take a lot of pictures of families and couples in the park.”
What. A sales pitch? I waved my hand in refusal.
“No pictures. We’re not interested.”
“But I’ve already taken one.”
“What??”
“I was standing over there, and the two of you looked so beautiful feeding each other snacks that…… I couldn’t help myself and just snapped the shot.”
“We weren’t feeding each other!”
“How about it? Would you like to keep this beautiful moment? I must say, it’s turned out to be a very lovely photograph.”
Judging that his chances were better with the Duke than with me, the young man held the photograph out directly to him. I leaned over to see it myself.
Though I’d lived in a world where even basic cameras had tens of millions of pixels, that black-and-white photograph was quite good in my estimation.
A couple sitting on a bench in beautiful weather. A man with a serious expression and a woman earnestly explaining something. To anyone looking at it, this was simply a caring boyfriend listening attentively to his girlfriend.
‘Of course, our actual conversation was nowhere near as peaceful.’
While I was thinking that, the Duke suddenly spoke up.
“I’ll buy it.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you so much, sir!!”
The transaction was completed in an instant. The young man, having quickly received payment, grinned widely and rapidly disappeared.
The Duke looked at the photograph for a moment, then…….
“……?”
“I didn’t pick it up.”
He thrust it toward me abruptly.

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