The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 45

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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 Crown Prince?
The Imperial Crown Prince—Noah Raisenberg?
I hastily pulled out a line that appeared frequently in the original novel.
“The little sun of this nation…….”
“Don’t.”
The Duke tightened his arms around me and spoke. My words died on my lips mid-sentence.
He was making his wariness of the Crown Prince perfectly clear.
“Duke Carceido. I hear you held a Funeral Ceremony for your predecessor. Yet you didn’t invite me—how hurtful.”
“I simply thought it was not news worth bringing to Your Highness, who must be so occupied with state affairs.”
“Why? Are you worried I might blab your secrets to everyone? Or perhaps seduce that lovely fake wife of yours? To hear the gossip, one would think you married for love.”
The fact that he used the words “fake wife” meant he had already discovered that the Duke regularly staged Marriage Performances.
“That would be a matter beyond Your Highness’s concern, I believe.”
“Fair enough—what passes between a husband and wife is their own business. I thought so until today, anyway. But my mind has changed. I’ve taken an interest in that fake wife of yours.”
“I beg your pardon?”
This was bad. The Crown Prince, who didn’t even appear in the original story, had suddenly developed an interest in me.
‘On top of everything else, I’m already drowning trying to find the heroine!’
While I fretted inwardly, the Duke spoke with composure, though he made no effort to hide his hostility.
“I assure you, my wife has no interest in Your Highness. Now, or ever.”
“Is that so? Our dear physician has already examined my leg personally. I’d say she has at least some interest in me.”
The Crown Prince deliberately rolled up his trouser leg. The Duke’s eyes asked if it was true as he glimpsed the Handkerchief.
“Ah, yes. Well……. His Leg Brace seemed to be uncomfortable.”
‘I haven’t done anything wrong—why can’t I meet his eyes?’
The Duke listened to my words, his brow darkening before he suddenly wrapped both arms around me in a tight embrace.
Pressed against his broad chest, I lost sight of everything ahead of me.
“D-Duke?!”
“Your Highness. My oath to the Raisenberg Imperial Family remains eternally binding. But Lionel is not. I must ask you never to approach Lionel again. Should you disregard my warning…….”
“Should I?”
“My deep loyalty may falter. As Your Highness is aware, I cannot die, and a man who cannot die has nothing to lose.”
The Crown Prince fell silent at the weight of those words.
Unable to see his face, I couldn’t tell what expression he wore, but something told me he was no longer smiling.
After an awkward, lengthy silence, the Crown Prince spoke to me.
“Lionel. A man this forceful and tyrannical is someone you should leave as soon as possible. That’s the right answer.”
“…….”
“See you next time. When we meet again, I hope you’ll be someone no longer bound to him.”
The Crown Prince turned and walked back the way he had come.
Only after his footsteps had faded did the Duke release me. With my vision restored, I watched the Crown Prince’s retreating figure.
“Your gait does seem a bit easier than before, at least.”
“Doctor.”
“Oh……. I apologize. It’s just that his uncomfortable Leg Brace was bothering me.”
Why was I making excuses?
With a nagging unease settling in my chest, I asked him a question.
“But is this really alright?”
“What is?”
“What do you mean, what? That was the Crown Prince! Can you really just treat him that way and send him off?”
“That man is deeply problematic even within the Imperial Family. There is talk of stripping him of his status as Crown Prince. You would do well to be cautious of him too.”
I recalled how the Crown Prince had struggled to appear able-bodied despite the burden of his uncomfortable Leg Brace.
“Is it possible his disability is the reason for such talk?”
“The Crown Prince believes so himself. That’s why he stubbornly refuses to use a wheelchair and insists on appearing perfectly fine—but that’s not the only reason. The truth is, everyone fears his cruelty.”
“How cruel could he possibly be?”
“As a child, he strangled his younger brother’s rabbit to death simply because it was in his way.”
I covered my mouth in shock. And it seemed that was far from the end of it.
“Beyond that, he has killed many things. I may simply not have been aware of all of it—he may well have killed people.”
“But surely the Emperor and Empress intervened in some way?”
“Wracked with guilt for failing to treat his condition in time and allowing it to become a disability, they have been indulging his every whim. Now regret comes too late.”
I had heard rumors somewhere that the Imperial Family’s relations were strained, but I had no idea the situation was this grave.
Who am I to fathom the anguish of a family with a disabled child? A solemn feeling settled over me, and I murmured softly.
“His body and spirit have grown sick because of the disability. If I ever developed one…….”
“No, Doctor.”
The Duke cut me off immediately.
“You can’t justify such cruelty simply by claiming a disability.”
“……Yes, that’s right.”
“And I promise you this—even if you suffered a far more severe disability than that, you’d live perfectly well. With confidence in everything you do, and with a tender care for those around you.”
“……Lionel was different from other women from the moment I first saw her. She was confident in all things, and she didn’t hesitate to give orders directly to me, a Duke.”
“But beneath that confidence, there lay a gentleness uniquely her own. I realized it watching her—the way she always looked after those around her. The truth is, I was drawn to her from the very beginning.”
To think I’d hear words I’d already heard once, in a funeral chapel, said again like this.
‘Was that just improvisation in the moment, or did you really feel that way all along?’
I’m genuinely grateful I’m wearing a Veiled Hat right now.
Otherwise, my flushed face would have been completely exposed.
“Your Grace. The party has ended.”
And thank goodness Everrain appeared at that moment. As always, he assessed the situation swiftly and reported.
“All mourners have departed, and we’ll proceed with the venue cleanup gradually. Also, Doctor—Kaerun was quite distraught when you suddenly vanished. Do make a point of showing your face to him later.”
Oh, my apologies. I’d completely forgotten about Kaerun, and I quickly nodded my head.
“Count Marseya—did you apprehend him?”
“Yes, the Knight Order took him into custody. He confessed his crimes quite readily, in fact. It seems he grew jealous upon hearing that his physician was getting married and attempted to interfere, but nothing came of it. Something along those lines. We’re holding him in confinement for now.”
He didn’t mention the part about attempting to desecrate the tomb before being warned off by the Crown Prince and fleeing.
“The Count was making quite a fuss about how you, Your Grace, were cursed with the Vampire’s Curse and wouldn’t age eternally—that he needed to dig up this tomb to verify it—before he received a warning from His Highness the Crown Prince and withdrew. Will that be a problem?”
As I briefly explained the situation, the Duke let out a soft laugh.
“He’s done some investigating on his own, it seems, but no one will believe him. They’ll simply think he’s lost his mind to old age. Just let him go.”
“Are you certain?”
“He’s hardly a threat.”
Everrain nodded in agreement.
“Understood. Both of you should head inside and rest soon. I’ll return ahead to handle the remaining matters.”
Everrain gave a quick bow and hurried away.
The Duke turned to face me and spoke.
“You’ve worked hard as well. There won’t be any major events like this for some time, so set your mind at ease.”
“You’ve also worked hard, Your Grace. Phew—I’m relieved it all went smoothly. Though there were a few complications.”
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
“Ah, Your Grace.”
I called after him as he strode away. He stopped in his tracks.
“What is it?”
“Are you perhaps busy? I was hoping you might come to my Examination Room with me.”
The Duke’s eyes, which had been calm until that moment, widened considerably. He cleared his throat several times before responding.
“……Why?”
“I simply hoped we could spend a little more time together…….”
Before I could even finish my sentence, the Duke answered immediately.
“No problem.”
“Really?”
“I’m not busy.”
I bowed my head gratefully.
“Thank you so much! Then let’s go together!”
I arrived with him at the entrance to the Examination Room.
As I opened the door, I couldn’t understand why I felt so nervous, and I took a deep breath. The Duke spoke again.
“If you’re that nervous…….”
“Oh, no! I’m happy about today. You have to stay with me today. I’ve prepared so much for this.”
Leaving the bewildered Duke behind, I opened the door.
Creeeeak—
As I opened the door and the scene within came into view, the Duke’s eyes widened.
“What is all this……?”
A long table had been arranged along the walls of the Examination Room. Between them, candlesticks cast their gentle, flickering light. Everything had been carefully set up by my own hands.
But the Duke’s surprise likely wasn’t stemming from that.
Picture frames covered the entire surface of the table.
Within them were countless photographs and portraits I’d retrieved from the Duke’s Treasure Box.
“Shall we begin now?”
I extended my hand to the Duke, who stood in stunned silence.
“Your Grace’s true Funeral Ceremony.”

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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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