The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 26

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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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That night.
I obtained a key from Kaerun and entered Everrain’s room.
Though he’d given me the key, Kaerun fidgeted constantly at my side, urging me forward like a thief afraid of being caught.
“Sir, what on earth are we doing? If anyone sees this and tells Everrain, I’m truly dead.”
“If you’re so nervous, at least keep watch.”
I rifled through Everrain’s desk drawers with urgency.
The object I sought appeared more easily than expected. I opened the Iron Box I found inside the drawer.
As I’d anticipated, it was filled with letter envelopes.
It matched the original work’s setting—that Everrain had received letters from his younger sister through the Dark Mage and kept them in this small safe.
I hesitated for a moment, but ultimately I opened one of the envelopes.
As I read the characters written on white stationery, I tilted my head in confusion.
“Everrain’s younger sister is currently at the Orphanage… or the Sanatorium, correct?”
“Ah, so you knew that, sir. Yes, that’s right. This is a box where he keeps the letters he’s received from his younger sister.”
Kaerun knew nothing of the Dark Mage’s connection to Everrain. He only knew that Everrain had a younger sister afflicted with the White Plague, and that through the Duke’s consideration, she’d been admitted to the Sanatorium.
To him, these were simply letters from a younger sister missing her older brother, and in truth, the contents were exactly that.
Yet I felt a strange sense of discord.
“It’s just that Everrain’s younger sister writes remarkably well for someone in her situation.”
“Isn’t it good to write well?”
“Of course it is, but mastering the Imperial Language to this extent takes years. I doubt the Orphanage taught her, so I’m wondering when she learned it.”
Unlike my serious tone, Kaerun spoke dismissively.
“Now that you mention it, that’s odd, but… perhaps the Sanatorium taught her?”
“Hmm…”
Just as I was about to open the next letter.
The door burst open and someone entered.
“Sir, here you are?”
“Ahhhhh!!”
“Ahhhhh!!”
Caught red-handed, Kaerun and I instinctively threw our arms around each other. Seeing this, Lily’s eyes went wide as saucers.
“I was wondering what you two were up to in the Commander’s quarters… Don’t tell me you’re dating? Is this a secret rendezvous?”
“No, no, no! Absolutely not!”
“Absolutely not, miss!”
Kaerun and I parted as swiftly as Moses parting the sea.
Lily regarded us with suspicion for a long moment, but thanks to her misunderstanding, she failed to notice the letter I was holding.
“Your denials only make it look more suspicious…”
“Haha, no—well, Lily, what’s wrong? Why were you looking for me?”
When I redirected the conversation thus, Lily only then remembered, clapping her hands together sharply.
“Oh, that’s right. You have a visitor, sir.”
“…At this late hour?”
“Yes. She said she was your mother. I showed her to the Reception Room.”
Unlike Lily’s cheerful innocence, both Kaerun’s face and mine turned rigid.
I’d expected that once Ruen’s disappearance was discovered, Ravienne would come looking for me.
‘But Ruen only left today? Has she figured it out already?’
Seeing my grave expression, Kaerun whispered softly.
“What should we do, sir? Should we turn her away?”
“…No. This was a hurdle I’d have to face eventually anyway. I’ll go.”
If I didn’t handle this properly now, she would undoubtedly torment me endlessly.
I truly hated my family causing trouble for the people of this Estate.
“Then I’ll come with you. You and I are coworkers, after all—very, very close ones! So please let me assist you.”
Kaerun strode ahead eagerly.
His back wasn’t particularly reassuring, if I’m honest, but I was grateful for his resolve.
“All right. Let’s go together. Lily, thank you for letting me know. Now go rest.”
After sending Lily away, Kaerun and I headed toward the Reception Room.
The dark corridor was already noisy with Ravienne’s voice.
“I’m telling you, send Lionel back! We can’t survive without her!”
I hastened to open the Reception Room door. A blonde middle-aged woman turned toward me and spoke sharply.
“Lionel!”
Ah, how detestable that voice was. I ignored Ravienne’s call and turned my attention to the Duke standing before her.
“Duke, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t intend to trouble you with a guest. I’ll handle this from here.”
“No matter. One should welcome the family of a staff member. …Though I must say, they don’t seem particularly refined.”
The Duke pointed to the empty space on the sofa beside him. As I sat down, Ravienne’s barrage began almost immediately.
“Lionel, you ungrateful wretch……! You spirited Ruen away, didn’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
I blinked innocently, playing ignorant with perfect composure.
Ravienne poured her fury into me with all her might. Her hands trembled visibly.
“Don’t lie to me!! Someone saw Ruen boarding a ship and leaving today. If it wasn’t you, who else would’ve done such a thing!”
“Ruen left? I thought he was doing well with you both. This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
“If you’d just quietly married into the Marseya family like you were supposed to, none of this would’ve happened!! It’s all your fault! Patricia was taken because of you!”
As Ravienne raged, I narrowed my eyes and looked her up and down.
Seeing how shabby her appearance had become—she who had always surrounded herself with finery and luxury—I could tell their household had fallen into financial straits. Her complexion was terrible as well.
Of course, I felt not a shred of pity.
“Listen here, Mother. Or should I say, Lady Frencia. Your mouth may be crooked, but your words should be straight.”
I settled deeper into the sofa, crossing my legs, and contempt poured from the depths of my being.
“How is any of this my fault? You’re the ones who lost everything trying to profit off your stepdaughter by selling her to the highest bidder. That’s why Ruen ran away.”
“You—you’ve said enough……?!”
“No, I haven’t said it all. You and Patricia both—people reap what they sow. I beg you, if you’re going to act like adults, then act like them. Reflect on your own mistakes for once and live accordingly.”
Having emptied myself of words, I rose abruptly. I couldn’t bear to share the same space with her a moment longer.
“Your Grace! I refuse to have anything more to do with this woman. I trust you’ll take appropriate measures.”
The Duke nodded as if he understood and immediately gave orders to Kaerun.
“See the Baroness out. And ensure she never sets foot here again.”
“I hear and obey. Come now, Lady Frencia. Let us go.”
“No, no……! Lionel, if this goes on, I’ll truly die. Your father will truly die too!!”
As Kaerun stepped forward, Ravienne shrieked as though in convulsion. But her desperate cries could not stop the Duke and me from leaving.
“I won’t go far. Don’t look back—just go.”
My words were ice, and I reached for the door handle.
I intended to bid my stepmother farewell forever. Along with the dark days of my childhood.
But.
“Please, please…… Lionel. ……I’m begging you like this!!”
Screaming as though in agony, Ravienne suddenly lunged at me.
For a moment I glimpsed something glimmering, and then she swung it toward me.
By the time I realized it was a blade, I was already far too close.
“Lionel!!”
Thunk!
The sound of flesh tearing. Yet I felt no pain.
Everything moved slowly, as if time itself had frozen.
The Duke, who had shielded me, crumpled and slid toward the floor.
Thud!!
“……Your Grace!!”
My mind went white. I grabbed him desperately and shook him.
“Your Grace, come to your senses! Your Grace!”
“Ugh…….”
The Duke gasped in agony, the blade lodged in his back piercing deeper. Blood poured from the wound in torrents.
I forced my racing heart to still.
‘Calm down. This won’t kill him. He’s an Immortal.’
He survived being pierced through the heart last time.
He’ll be fine. This kind of wound heals quickly. Surely he’ll be fine…….
“……But it’s not fine! Why isn’t it healing!”
The Duke’s wound would not close. If anything, blood gushed forth even more brazenly.
It was then, as I mindlessly pressed my hand against his injury to apply pressure.
“Krkrkr……. Haha…… Ahahahaha!!”
A chilling, low laugh echoed through the room. When I turned to look, I froze as I identified its source.
Kaerun, who held Ravienne from behind, had gone just as rigid.
“So even Immortals aren’t invincible after all. An unexpected great prize indeed. The Immortal was weak to silver.”
A deep, coarse voice poured from Ravienne’s mouth. It was a sight chilling enough to make one think a demon had possessed her.
Ravienne—or rather, the Dark Mage revealed beneath—continued speaking with evident delight.
“Then what if I lacerate the Immortal’s entire body with silver…… How long could they possibly last?”

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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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