The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 35

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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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The Emperor Belcius sat with his son for a rare family meal, yet his expression remained clouded.
Father and son alike ignored the resplendent dishes before them, their eyes fixed on the same point.
There, limping toward them on his right leg, came a golden-haired young man.
The Emperor clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Noar. I told you to use crutches. Why do you insist on that prosthetic brace?”
“A prosthetic brace, Sire—not a fake leg. The distinction matters, I assure you.”
The golden-haired youth walked as though unbothered, yet the journey from door to table still took considerably longer than it should have.
Once Noar had taken his seat, the youth who’d been picking at his quiche with a fork let slip a smirk.
He too possessed that same brilliant golden hair.
“Brother, stop being stubborn and use the crutches. Your food’s gone cold while you were limping over here.”
Noar’s eyes narrowed as he regarded his younger brother—two years his junior.
They were mirror images of one another in appearance, yet his brother bore no such affliction. His build, too, was robust and unmarred.
Noar cut into his steak with unhurried precision before responding.
“Schuber, if you lack patience, you should have eaten first. I, unlike you, am magnanimous enough to understand such things.”
“I see. Then again, you do need to move slowly these days, so do take your time. You’ve grown so thin—you ought to eat more, Brother.”
Despite Schuber’s blatant mockery, Noar merely smiled.
And then, in the next instant—
Bang!!
“Aahhh!!”
A maid carrying the food cried out in alarm. Schuber’s face went ashen as he watched the knife embed itself in the chair where it had grazed his face.
“Noar!! What in the gods’ names are you doing?!”
The Emperor slammed the table and rose. Noar casually waved his empty hands.
“Oh my, how clumsy of me. It seems my hands have grown rather unreliable lately.”
“Brother! What—!”
“Schuber. Take care now. ……There’s no guarantee your limbs will remain whole forever, is there?”
As Noar drew the knife across his plate, a slice of meat fell cleanly away. Schuber trembled, then bolted from his seat.
“Your Majesty—I must take my leave at once!”
As Schuber fled the dining room, the Emperor pursued him. Left alone, Noar continued methodically cutting his steak.
“Your Majesty!! Can you not see it with your own eyes? That wretch will surely become a threat to you—if he hasn’t already!”
Schuber’s voice rang out from somewhere distant, calling his own brother a wretch. The Emperor checked his son’s outburst.
“Schuber. Compose yourself. Whatever else may be true, Noar is your older brother and the Crown Prince of this Empire.”
“How much longer will you coddle him because of his disability? Look at him—he won’t even use crutches out of sheer stubbornness. Who would follow such a crippled fool as Emperor? So now, formally transfer the throne to me—”
“Schuber!! Hold your tongue!”
That ended the conversation between father and son. Yet it was enough to lay bare Schuber’s true heart.
Noar set down his knife and called out loudly for his Aide.
The Aide came rushing in and bowed deeply.
“You called for me, Your Highness?”
“Send word to Bridget of Sainte Salon. Have her craft formal attire for me—spare no expense on the finest jewels and fabrics. Make it as magnificent as possible.”
“Understood, Sire. ……But if I may ask, Your Highness, where do you intend to wear such raiment?”
The Crown Prince had long avoided public engagements on account of his injured leg. For him to now press so earnestly for an outing……
At his Aide’s question, Noar smiled enigmatically.
“A wedding ceremony will be held soon at the Carceido Duchy. And I……”
He had been planning this venture ever since hearing what had befallen Scarlet.
Noar pressed his knife into his meat as he finished.
“At that gathering, I will seduce a most capable physician.”
* * *
About a month later, in the reception room of the Carceido Duchy.
Everain, dressed as always in his neat uniform, reported what he had learned.
“The Black Mages number several hundred by our estimate, and among them are some who wield Special Abilities like yourself, Duke.”
“Have you identified the type of Ability?”
“Not to that extent. However, we are certain the wielder of that Ability is in the Capital. Their desire to obtain your body likely stems from that individual’s orders.”
Having heard the full report, Carceido leaned back against his chair.
Everain had stood trial multiple times on suspicion of collusion with the Black Mages, only to be released.
Mitigation had come through testimony that he’d been coerced since childhood and had subsequently delivered all intelligence regarding the Black Mages to the Mage Tower.
“Enough of the briefing. So, Everain—what do you intend to do from now on?”
Everain withdrew an envelope from his coat and held it forward.
“I have no right to remain in this household. So I wish to leave.”
The Duke did not so much as glance at the Resignation Letter before asking his question.
“Leave to do what?”
“For now, I think I’ll just go wherever my feet take me. I’ve lived in delusion for so long—I want to experience what a ‘real’ life feels like.”
Lionel, watching them, found her gaze drawn to the red ribbon that bound Everain’s long hair.
She saw in it a fierce resolve to carry forward the weight of a shadowed past, and her heart swelled with genuine admiration for him.
The Duke nodded slowly.
“A ‘real world,’ then…. I like that. But Everain, remember one thing.”
“……?”
“The time you’ve spent here—that wasn’t false. Once you’ve finished what you came to do, go on.”
Everain’s resignation was processed swiftly and cleanly. At the Duke’s dismissal, Lionel and Everain left the reception room together.
The two walked down the long corridor side by side. Everain spoke first.
“Doctor, there’s something I’d like to discuss regarding my severance pay.”
“With me? What is it?”
Everain withdrew a document. It bore Lionel’s name and his own signature.
“It’s a Power of Attorney. I’d like my severance to be used for treating patients with the White Plague. You’re far more knowledgeable about such matters than I am, so I thought it best to entrust it to you. If you use this money well, it would bring me great peace of mind.”
Everain was young enough, capable enough of supporting himself, and handsome besides. He would find a place to settle without this money.
Lionel nodded.
“Then, shall we change how we address each other?”
“……Change how I address you?”
“Yes. Once you leave this estate, I won’t be your physician anymore. So I thought…”
Lionel extended her hand.
“Would you consider becoming my sibling, Everain?”
“……I beg your pardon?”
“You’ve suffered greatly because of a family you didn’t choose for yourself. So from now on, why don’t you choose your own family? I’d like to apply as your younger sister.”
To Lionel, Everain had always been her favorite, and learning his story had filled her with genuine compassion.
Because of this, she wanted to do something for him. This proposal was the fruit of that yearning.
Coincidentally, the imaginary “Shailoh” in her mind was the same age as Lionel and had similar coloring.
This estate surely held great meaning for Everain…… but still, Lionel wanted to make one thing unmistakably clear.
That family existed here.
That he could return anytime he wished.
‘And I get a handsome brother out of it.’
Everain looked at her for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
“You’ve been kind from beginning to end. I’ve always been grateful for your care, even toward someone like me.”
“Don’t say ‘someone like me’! You’ve always been a wonderful person, Everain.”
Everain smiled softly.
“I’m grateful for the offer, but I’d prefer to remain your colleague.”
“What? Why? I get rejected right after applying? And I was so confident about being an adorable younger sister!”
“If I became family with you now, I’d lose the chance to ever become your true family.”
Lionel tilted her head. It seemed Everain was misunderstanding something.
“……What? No, that’s not right. We could fill out one document right now and become real family under law.”
“That’s all right. I’d rather remain as we are now—unrelated.”
Lionel shrugged and waved the Power of Attorney.
“Fine then. I’ll go look into recovery facilities for the White Plague. You must be busy too—go on inside.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Lionel soon disappeared down the corridor.
After she vanished, Kaelyun, who had been hiding at the end of the hallway, poked his head out.
“You should’ve just been honest. The way you’re hiding it, she’ll never figure it out.”
“……This is enough.”
“Pathetic fool.”
Kaelyun pouted but said nothing more to reproach Everain.
Everain gazed for a long time at the end of the corridor where the young physician had disappeared.
In his eyes swirled both longing and relief.
“This is for the best.”

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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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