The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 41

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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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Lionel Frencia was decidedly unlike a conventional noblewoman.
Born a bastard, she’d been treated as a servant until the age of fifteen, performing menial labor—or so he’d heard.
Which meant she had likely never received proper instruction in the bearing or conduct expected of a nobleman’s daughter.
Of course, Blassion preferred Lionel to those fawning, affected young noblewomen who flattered him constantly.
He found her far more appealing—the way she carried herself with quiet confidence, her pride as a physician evident in every gesture.
Yet today was different.
“Stay just as you are. Walk toward me slowly, thinking of yourself as the noblest woman in this world.”
This was the very phrasing a Crimina Kingdom princess had heard repeatedly during her Etiquette Training, seven hundred years ago.
“Your Highness shall be a noblewoman destined to become Crimina’s next sovereign. Bearing this truth in mind, move as though all that surrounds you exists solely for your sake.”
The princess, once uncertain in all things, had become unrecognizably poised and graceful after such instruction.
Remembering those days, Blassion had chosen the same pedagogical approach—and the physician had consented.
Yet the moment she took that first step.
The entire atmosphere shifted.
“……?”
Following his instruction, her neck extended in a gentle line as she glided forward. Her feet made no sound against the floor.
Keeping his gaze fixed upon the physician, Blassion reached back through his memories.
Recollections of what her etiquette instructor had once told the princess.
“Glide as though flowing. Like a petal drifting upon a river.”
“Let your gaze drift naturally forward. Embrace the weight of all eyes upon you with your entire being.”
The physician was truly embodying all of these exacting demands as she approached him.
Watching her, Blassion suddenly grasped the magnitude of his own delusion until this moment.
It wasn’t that he had disliked the countless noblewomen who had fawned over him for their affected elegance.
He simply hadn’t liked them—everything they did had repelled him.
But when the other person was different, even a single walking step could feel entirely transformed.
“……Physician.”
Blassion finally took the hand of the physician who had drawn near.
The physician’s eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t pull away, which relieved him.
“……Have you learned Walking Technique somewhere before, perhaps?”
“No, not at all. Oh—could it be that I did well enough to surprise you?”
“……You did beautifully. It’s scarcely believable that you’ve never received such instruction.”
At Blassion’s praise, the physician broke into a radiant smile.
Had any other noblewoman smiled thus, he would have deemed it superficial.
Blassion studied her face for a long moment, then murmured something under his breath.
“It was as though someone else had possessed your body.”
The moment those words left his lips, the physician’s face went deathly pale.
She showed her alarm plainly as she turned to him with a question.
“P-Possession? What do you mean suddenly? Such a thing couldn’t possibly exist, could it?”
Of course, Blassion believed the same.
Yet watching her—usually so composed and unflappable—flounder this way made him want to tease her a little.
“Immortal Beings exist in this world. Why couldn’t those possessed by another soul?”
“Ha, ha, ha……. You certainly have quite the imagination, Duke. I have been Lionel Frencia since the moment I was born. I’ve never heard of another person’s soul entering me, nor do I intend to invite one in.”
Blassion studied the physician for some time. Suddenly, as though remembering something, she clapped her hands together with a soft “tap.”
“I remember now! I saw Ruen being trained like that when I was younger.”
“Ruen……you mean your half-sister?”
“Yes, that’s right. My etiquette instructor told her to walk like a petal flowing down a river. I was jealous of her Debutante preparations, so I watched in secret—I suppose it was lodged somewhere in my subconscious.”
Blassion nodded in understanding.
Teasing the physician had been amusing, but if he kept pressing the matter of possession, she truly would grow angry.
Blassion deemed it wise to accept her explanation and drew her by the hand.
“Next comes Dance lessons.”
“What? We dance at a funeral?”
“If people are to know that you and I are married, we must perform at least one piece before them.”
The physician exhaled a soft sigh. She bit down on her small lips and made a small sound of resignation, but soon straightened her posture.
“If I can’t avoid it, I might as well enjoy it. So, Master—what should I do? Slow slow quick quick?”
“What are you talking about? Let me teach you the basic steps first. Follow my feet.”
Blassion placed one of the physician’s hands upon his shoulder and clasped her other hand in his.
As a finishing touch, he set his hand at her waist, and a perfectly matched pair took form.
Whether from nervousness or not, the physician’s shoulders grew tense. He found himself smiling at the memory of his own first Dance lesson.
“Step forward with your left foot.”
“L-Like this?”
“Good. Now step your right foot to the side. Then shift your weight to your left foot…….”
Just moments ago during the Walking Technique practice, I’d wondered if some noblewoman had possessed her, but when it came to Dance, she was hopeless.
Still, the attending physician gave her all she had. She stepped on Blassion’s feet countless times and stumbled repeatedly, yet each time she rose again like a roly-poly toy.
“Just one more time, please!”
“That’s your fifth attempt already. Let’s call it a day and practice again tomorrow.”
“No way! I should keep practicing until I get it down!!”
Even as she repeated the same movements dozens of times over, Blassion never once showed a hint of frustration.
‘I don’t know why the Etiquette instructor crawled out of here……but either way, I’m grateful.’
“Ugh……why won’t this work?!”
Even as she grumbled, her movements were steadily becoming more composed.
But Blassion said nothing and simply watched, committing the sight to memory.
He merely wished this moment could last far longer.
* * *
The days slipped by until the funeral drew just a week away.
Throughout that time, I moved about in a daze.
The mansion’s servants kept summoning me for endless preparations.
“Future Duchess! You must try on your dress.”
“Future Duchess! Shall we decide on your hair? An updo would suit you perfectly, wouldn’t it?”
“I’ve brought the invitation list just in case. Would you review it for us?”
I could understand that much. But when members of the Knight Order came rushing in with their questions, I couldn’t fathom the reason at all.
“Future Duchess. We must decide which entrance you will use when you appear at the hall on the day of the funeral. Shall we run through a rehearsal?”
“What? Why, can’t I just make an entrance whenever? Why do we need a full rehearsal?”
“We will be directing the lighting to follow your path, ma’am.”
It wasn’t as if I were getting married in some grand crystal ballroom—what need was there for lighting? Why was everyone so worked up?
I tried to calm people down.
“Now, I think you’re all misunderstanding something. This is the late Duke’s funeral, right? Not a wedding?”
Lili stepped in beside me.
“Of course it is, but! This is also an opportunity to announce that the Duke has married! So we simply must properly introduce the Duchess to everyone, mustn’t we? Isn’t that right, Knights?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Commander Everain has given us special orders to be particularly attentive to detail.”
“This is the Karseido House’s greatest celebration—or rather, its greatest event. We all wish to prepare with absolute perfection.”
Everain, why did you say something so unnecessary? Now everyone’s enthusiasm is through the roof!
Seeing my troubled expression, Lili asked carefully.
“Future Duchess. Are we……doing something unwanted? When you first said you would skip the wedding ceremony and hold the funeral instead, we were so moved by your thoughtfulness. Is it perhaps that you’re not truly happy about this marriage……?”
“What? No, no! It’s just that I’m not really used to big, showy things or being in front of people, that’s all.”
“Then, Future Duchess, you are happy about marrying the Duke, aren’t you?”
“Ha ha ha……. Of c-course I am. I’m happy! So happy to be marrying the Duke!”
Could I tear up the contract right now? At this rate, they’re going to lay out bedding for the wedding night.
“Future Duchess.”
“What? What is it again, Lili?”
“Ah, well, we’re almost done with the preparations, but I wondered if you might need anything else. Couple’s pajamas, perhaps?”
“No……. Really, I don’t need anything…….”
Matching pajamas with the Duke. Just imagining it felt sinful. I buried my face in my hands, then quickly lifted my head again.
“Um, could I ask you for just one thing?”
“Of course. What do you need?”
“Could you get a lot of picture frames? About……fifty of them.”
“That many?”
Lili tilted her head curiously but agreed nonetheless. Mercifully, she didn’t ask what they were for.
“Phew…….”
After everyone had withdrawn, I checked the calendar.
One week until the funeral. That should be enough time.
‘I wonder what kind of reaction the Duke will have……’
Whatever his reaction might be, I would walk my own path.
And so time fled like an arrow……
And the day of the funeral arrived at 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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