The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 47

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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 Raizenberg Imperial Palace’s Audience Chamber.
Blashion walked across the crimson carpet with measured strides and knelt before the dais. With the ease of long practice, he lowered himself onto one knee.
“Blashion of House Karseiдo. I have come in answer to Your Majesty’s summons.”
“You have arrived, Duke.”
Emperor Belsius, seated upon the dais, greeted Blashion warmly.
The Emperor studied his face for a long moment, then murmured aloud.
“I grow older with each passing day, yet you, Duke, look precisely as you did when I was a boy. In a certain sense, I envy you.”
……
“Yes, I suspect this topic does not please you. I shall come to the matter at hand.”
The Emperor, sensing Blashion’s discomfort, straightened in his seat.
When he spoke again, his voice was grave.
“We have received reports of monsters appearing in great numbers in the western region of Brookhaven.”
Blashion’s shoulders tensed momentarily, but he replied with composure.
“A Monster Wave, Your Majesty?”
“It has not yet been confirmed with certainty, but the possibility exists. I would have you go at once and investigate the matter.”
“I shall obey your command.”
Blashion rose to his feet without hesitation.
“Time is pressing, so I shall assemble an investigative force from the knights of House Karseiдo alone. We expect to depart in four days’ time. I shall also submit a request for cooperation from the Magic Tower.”
“I am grateful.”
As Blashion strode toward the exit, the Emperor called after him.
“While you are away, do not concern yourself with House Karseiдo. The Imperial Palace shall dispatch forces to defend it.”
“I appreciate the offer, Your Majesty, but I intend to leave behind the minimum force necessary to protect the estate. Therefore, your concern is unnecessary.”
“Surely not—your lady wife is there.”
……
Blashion turned slowly around. When he spoke, his tone was measured, yet his displeasure was unmistakable.
“Your Majesty. My wife is my responsibility to protect. Therefore, there is no need for you to intervene.”
……
“I have pressing matters to attend to. If you will excuse me.”
He walked out with the same measured stride.
Once beyond the ears of the court, he muttered softly to himself.
“Why does everyone take such interest in the teacher?”
Unable to pinpoint the true source of his irritation, Blashion hurried from the Imperial Palace.
That evening, in the Duke’s Study at House Karseiдo.
Upon hearing the details, Knight Commander Everain nodded immediately.
“I shall carry out His Majesty’s orders. What is our destination?”
“Brookhaven, in the west.”
“Ah—isn’t that where Frencia is from? I recall reading in her medical record that several villages were wiped out by plague……”
Kaelyun, who had been tallying expenses with an abacus, interjected from the side. He had retained this detail from the physician’s file.
“An outbreak of plague, followed by massive monster incursions. Do you suspect the two incidents are related, sir?”
Everain asked cautiously. Blashion nodded, confirming he had reached the same conclusion.
“We should keep an open mind and investigate thoroughly. However, under no circumstances are you to mention this to the teacher. There is no reason to trouble her.”
“Understood.”
“And Kaelyun—I have a task for you.”
At the gravity in Blashion’s tone, Kaelyun’s shoulders stiffened with tension.
“What is it, sir?”
“Should any outsiders arrive at the estate, you are to ensure they do not meet with the teacher under any circumstances.”
“I beg your pardon? Who do you expect to arrive?”
“I cannot say for certain at this time. But in case of emergency, use this.”
The Duke produced a paper envelope and handed it to him.
Kaelyun’s face grew serious as he recognized what it was.
“I understand, sir. I shall guard the estate with utmost vigilance and ensure no one meets with the teacher.”
“I rely on you.”
Blashion rose from his chair.
Though it was no uncommon thing for him to ride to war, something about this journey felt different, as if fate had something unexpected in store.
Blashion could only hope his instinct would prove wrong.
* * *
It had been some time since the estate fell into such bustle. I stopped one of the hurrying knights and asked.
“Theo, what is happening? Why is everyone so occupied?”
Theo, the youngest of the knights and the regiment’s beloved mascot, immediately saluted when he saw me.
“My lady! Thank you for the delicious meal today! The order’s delay is because we’ve received deployment orders.”
“Ah. Is that so? Where are you headed this time?”
“Well, it’s far to the west…….”
“Theo. What are you doing in a place like this?”
Everain appeared suddenly from somewhere, his sharp command making Theo snap to attention at once.
“My apologies, Commander! I’ll return immediately!”
“There’s still much to be done. Prepare yourself at once.”
Theo offered no protest and disappeared swiftly down the corridor’s end. Everain turned to greet me.
“My physician. The knights will be absent from the estate for some time. However, we’ll maintain a minimal garrison, so you needn’t worry about your safety.”
Thankfully, both Everain and Kaelyun had agreed to call me “physician” instead of “my lady.”
Because of that, I could converse without the uncomfortable sensation crawling across my skin.
“Has a Monster Wave occurred?”
When I spoke the term I’d learned from the original work, Everain blinked, seeming slightly taken aback.
“You’re aware of it as well, physician? This sortie is to determine whether a Monster Wave has truly manifested.”
I paused, recalling the original work’s contents.
Originally, the Raizenberg Empire had been a minor kingdom in the heart of the continent, and its ambitious monarchs had always been obsessed with territorial expansion.
Seven hundred years ago, in the First Sacred War, they defeated the Crimina Kingdom, and three hundred years ago, in the Second Sacred War, they committed their full military force and finally subdued all the surrounding minor kingdoms, solidifying their present borders.
The Empire emerged victorious from the Second Sacred War,
but at great cost in manpower. Monsters seized the opportunity and ran rampant across the land. Monster Waves occurred frequently.
‘And then, bursting onto the scene like a comet, came our immortal male protagonist.’
A knight who could never die. There was no one more suited to Monster Subjugation.
The imperial house granted him a dukedom and promised to keep his secret, and in return, the male protagonist swore to continuously subjugate monsters.
After that, the Karseiдo Duke’s House became the Empire’s eternal guardian……. Or so the story went.
‘In the original work, there was even an episode where the female protagonist secretly followed the duke when he went out to subjugate. Of course, I’m not going.’
I clenched both my hands and offered Everain words of encouragement.
“Travel safely and return in good health. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Thank you.”
Everain bowed his head and disappeared down the way he’d come. I quickly began planning ahead.
‘While the duke is away from the estate, I need to go find the female protagonist. To do that, I’ll need to request leave from Kaelyun…….’
“My lady.”
“Eek!!”
I jumped, though I’d done nothing wrong. Theo, who had surely vanished down the corridor’s end, now stood right before me.
“W-what is it, Theo??”
“Oh, I’m sorry for startling you. But……have you prepared a handkerchief, by any chance?”
“A handkerchief? Why?”
“Ah, so you didn’t know. Among married women, it’s customary to embroider a handkerchief with prayers for their husbands’ safe return from the battlefield and give it as a gift.”
Theo explained, his voice lowered conspiratorially.
My expression grew darker as I listened, though it seemed the cheerful young man didn’t notice.
“The duke is taciturn, so he won’t say a word, but if you presented him with a handkerchief, he’d be absolutely delighted.”
“Th-thank you for the information, Theo…….”
“Not at all! I always support the love between you two. Now, if you’ll excuse me!”
Theo walked away radiating the satisfaction of a man who’d accomplished something momentous, disappearing again toward the corridor’s end.
And I……became a tragic heroine, burying my face in my hands.
“Ugh…….”
Dammit, why tell me this? I can’t even sew a button! Back in school, I failed running stitch, backstitch, and knot-tying—all of it!
“I won’t do it, I can’t do it. Why should I? I’m not even the female protagonist. And she didn’t do that sort of thing either!”
I tried to brush it off, forget I’d heard it, and return to my clinic room,
“The duke is taciturn, so he won’t say a word, but if you presented him with a handkerchief, he’d be absolutely delighted.”
Theo’s words circled endlessly in my mind. And with them came the memory of his smile at the funeral.
“Nngh……!”
I gritted my teeth. Though my every fiber resisted, I finally turned around.
“Lily! Where are you, Lily?”
“Yes, my lady! You called for me?”
I caught Lily’s shoulders as she came scurrying over and spoke with solemn determination.
“Lily, Code Blue.”
“I beg your pardon? What do you mean?”
“It’s an emergency. Bring me someone who can teach embroidery—forget CPR—right now!”

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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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