The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 42

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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 day of the funeral ceremony.
Standing before the mirror, I drew a long breath. Beside me, Lily moved about briskly, making final adjustments.
“There, madam. Just the hat and you’ll be perfect!”
“……Lily. Am I really all right? What if I suddenly need to use the restroom?”
Until now, I’d been fine seeing only familiar faces. But the thought of standing in the spotlight before strangers made my stomach twist.
Lily placed the hat on my head and offered encouragement.
“What are you saying, madam! I say this with absolute certainty—the one who will draw the most attention at this funeral ceremony won’t be the late Duke or the current Duke, but the Duchess herself. I stake my reputation on it!”
No, Lily. The person who should draw the most attention at a funeral is naturally the dead one.
I thought this to myself without bothering to object.
“Thank you, Lily.”
‘I’m sorry, heroine. The truth is, you should be standing here, not me…….’
Actually, two weeks ago, I’d sent a letter to the Cresto Convent where the heroine was supposed to be, searching for her.
But so far, no reply had come back to me.
From what I’d read in the original story, the Cresto Convent was said to be an extremely closed-off place that never received visitors.
Perhaps my letter had been censored before it ever reached the heroine’s hands.
‘……I’ll have to go find her in person and meet her directly.’
I decided on my next move.
To make the journey to the Cresto Convent to find the heroine, I’d first need to get through today’s major event without incident.
I spoke with determination.
“Let’s go, Lily.”
“Yes, madam! I’ll show you the way!”
* * *
In barely thirty minutes after the guests began arriving, the central hall was already teeming with people.
Those dressed in black gathered within the Carceido Mansion and offered their various impressions of it.
“Look at that ceiling fresco……! Surely that’s the famous ‘Sunflower Hill’ by the painter Robaeng? And there’s another of his frescoes over there!”
“To fill the hall with winter flowers this season……. Truly, the House of Carceido must be enormously wealthy.”
It was while people were exchanging such remarks.
An orchestra stationed at one corner of the hall began to play.
Not the cheerful waltz often heard at social gatherings, but a grand and weighty melody—the atmosphere of the venue grew subdued.
And shortly after.
“The Duke of House of Carceido!”
With Kaerun’s announcement, Blasion appeared.
A black suit without a single wrinkle, white hair swept back cleanly. Within sculpted features lay eyes of brilliant violet—like jewels themselves.
Most of the people present had never seen him in person. Blasion had largely avoided social engagements until now.
“Oh my…….”
“Good heavens…….”
The young ladies had no immunity to his overwhelming presence and forgot, for a moment, even to breathe.
In the hushed air, Blasion surveyed the mourners from the staircase and opened his mouth.
“Ladies and gentlemen. I am deeply grateful that you have come today to pay your respects at the funeral ceremony of my father, Duke Ricar of House of Carceido.”
Blasion held up the frame he’d been carrying.
Long hair and an eye patch. A photograph from the time when he went by the name ‘Ricar.’
“Generally speaking, at a funeral ceremony, one would shed tears and see the departed on their final journey. But……my father did not wish for such things. He wanted to leave this world in a joyful, bright, and merry manner.”
The people listened intently to the handsome man’s eulogy. Blasion passed the frame to an aide beside him and received a small box in return.
He opened the ring case and turned his gaze toward the upper staircase.
“Therefore, today I wish to bid my father farewell alongside a new companion for life.”
The lights in the central hall went out. Then light concentrated on the staircase above.
A woman who had been in the darkness stepped into the light.
A black dress enveloping her entire body. A black veil attached to her hat.
Yet even that veil could not conceal the noble dignity that surrounded her.
With elegant steps like flower petals flowing down a river, Lionel descended the staircase and stood before the Duke.
“Blasion.”
Blasion removed the ring and slipped it onto Lionel’s finger. In turn, Lionel placed a ring on his hand as well.
The two stood side by side, wearing identical rings. Blasion held Lionel’s hand firmly as he made his declaration.
“I present to you my wife, Lionel of House of Carceido.”
* * *
Once the hasty ring exchange was over.
I stood beside the Duke and received an endless stream of congratulations.
“Your Grace. My congratulations. Surely the late Duke is watching over this moment with satisfaction.”
Though in truth, that late Duke is standing quite alive right before my eyes…….
I couldn’t bare the truth like that, so I simply smiled. The Duke expressed his gratitude.
“I’m grateful, Count.”
“I hear the Duchess is a physician. I’m quite curious how the two of you fell in love.”
At the elderly Countess’s question, I felt the ears of the young women nearby perk up.
A romance that had claimed the world’s most beautiful man—of course they’d be curious.
‘I’m just a worker drawing a decent salary. I hope you won’t misunderstand… No, actually, I need to be misunderstood.’
I stood there with an awkward smile, thinking the Duke would smooth things over himself.
But unexpectedly, he elaborated at length.
“…Lionel was different from other women from the moment I first saw her. She was confident in everything, and she didn’t hesitate to give me orders, bold as she was to a Duke.”
Was he talking about that first day of my visit, when I’d asked the aide to fetch my bag?
‘I just asked him to shuttle a few things to save a dying subordinate. What’s wrong with that!’
Whether the Duke read my thoughts or not, he continued with a subtle smile playing at his lips.
“But beneath that confidence lay a kindness uniquely her own. I realized it watching how she always looked after those around her. The truth is, I was drawn to her from the very beginning.”
“Oh my, how romantic…”
The elderly Countess covered her mouth. The young women nearby, who had been secretly listening to the Duke’s words, flushed crimson.
And my ears, as the person hearing these words, burned just as bright.
The Countess, growing excited, raised her voice.
“So the rumors about the Duke of House of Carceido being a cold-blooded man without blood or tears were all lies! It’s like watching our own youth!”
“Indeed, madam. It is an honor to witness this moment of happiness between two such fine people. You’ve found a truly perfect match, Duke.”
Now my entire face had become a burning sweet potato.
Unable to bear this mortification, I was timing my escape when—
“Let’s go.”
“Yes?”
The Duke took my hand and pulled me out toward the center of the hall.
Only when I saw the couples gathered around did I realize it was ballroom dance time.
“I should show the fruits of our practice. We trained until you got blisters on your toes.”
The Duke’s words were true. I had practiced earnestly and, thanks to that effort, had managed a passable imitation of ballroom dancing.
But practice was only practice.
Honestly, I wanted to escape this moment as quickly as possible.
“Couldn’t we just make a graceful exit now? Surely I’ve played the role of Duchess enough.”
“No. I need to make a proper impression.”
The Duke placed his hand at my waist. Under the weight of all those watching eyes, I had no choice but to wrap my arms around his neck.
Soft music began…
The Duke’s feet moved slowly. I, too, drew my body closer to match his rhythm.
I tried to hypnotize myself over and over.
We are married. We are married…!
“No, really! Why are you pushing this so hard?”
The hypnosis failed. The Duke shrugged at my questioning tone.
“What do you mean?”
“People ask all sorts of questions, so you can just brush them off. You didn’t have to elaborate about when you fell for me or anything like that…”
“Did you hate it?”
“It’s not that I hated it exactly…”
“Then just go along with me. This is one of the few truly joyful moments in my life.”
The Duke, dancing with a quiet laugh, was beautiful as a painting. As if he didn’t belong to this world.
Mesmerized, I gazed at his face and found myself thinking.
‘Does the Duke wish his real funeral ceremony to be held like this?’
When I conduct research upon research and finally discover a way for him to die.
Will he say that he can finally escape this tedious life, that he wants a funeral ceremony overflowing with laughter?
I was curious, but I didn’t have the courage to ask such a question.
We remained silent and let our bodies surrender to the music for a long while.
Soon one song ended, and people who found an opening surrounded us again.
“It was so beautiful! We wanted to capture it on film!”
“Congratulations again on your marriage, Duke!”
Thank goodness this world doesn’t have smartphones…
As I thought this and lifted my head—
I saw a familiar silhouette disappear beyond the doorway in the distance.
“…What?”
“What’s wrong?”
The Duke asked. I tilted my head for a moment, but soon my certainty took hold.
It was because of the cheap-looking wig that screamed artificiality.
I leaned in toward the Duke and whispered softly.
“There—that’s Count Marseya.”

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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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