The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 49
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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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“If by any chance an outsider should visit the Mansion, do not allow them to meet with the doctor under any circumstances.”
When the Duke said this, Kaelyun wondered if he was worrying about that perverted count coming to find his physician again.
So he had boldly declared there was nothing to worry about.
‘How am I supposed to stop the Crown Prince from visiting?!’
Kaelyun let out a silent scream in his heart, but on the surface he offered a composed greeting.
“I greet the Empire’s little sun. I am Kaelyun Brexster, aide to Duke Carceidon.”
The Crown Prince looked Kaelyun up and down, then deliberately propped one leg up on the table. With his boot swaying, he issued a command.
“I have no business with you. Bring that woman.”
“May I inquire why Your Highness seeks the lady? If you would tell me only the business at hand, I shall handle it on your behalf.”
“What right do you have to order me around like this? Maybe someone needs to die in this Mansion before you come to your senses?”
At that piercing gaze, Kaelyun swallowed hard.
From childhood, Kaelyun had always heard one thing from his father.
‘Avoid becoming entangled with Noar Raizenberg if at all possible. Be even more cautious now that he has become Crown Prince.’
His father, who had frequently visited the Imperial Palace with the Duke, had impressed this upon Kaelyun many times. Each time, Kaelyun had wondered why they were so wary of someone nearly his own age.
But now, in this moment.
Kaelyun understood why his father and the Duke had been so cautious about him all along.
His eyes were not those of an ordinary person.
Kaelyun instinctively knew that the words he had just spoken—”someone needs to die”—were no jest.
‘The doctor is in danger.’
He couldn’t fathom why he had suddenly demanded to see the doctor, but he couldn’t simply stand by.
“Forgive me, Your Highness the Crown Prince. While the Duke is away, it would be improper for you to meet with his wife alone. Even if your intentions are pure, society will create scandal of its own. For the sake of Your Highness’s reputation and the honor of the Duke’s house, might we postpone——”
“Ha…… A hopelessly ignorant aide. You seem not to understand, so I shall enlighten you myself.”
Noar spoke with a contemptuous smirk.
“My subjects belong to me. Everything they possess belongs to me as well. Why would that woman be any exception?”
The moment Noar finished speaking, the Reception Room door burst open violently.
When Kaelyun saw Lionel, her face drained of all color, being gripped by an Imperial Guard, he immediately bowed his head.
“Please wait a moment, Your Highness.”
Barely swallowing a curse that had risen to his throat, he continued.
“I shall fetch the Duke’s wife.”
Kaelyun ran down the corridor with all his strength. The moment he reached the Examination Room, he wrenched the door open.
“Doctor!!”
“Eek! ……Aide? What’s wrong? You didn’t even knock.”
Lionel, who had just been closing her travel bag, jumped up from the bed in surprise. Kaelyun hastily locked the Examination Room door.
Lionel, now thoroughly confused, asked.
“Why are you locking the door? ……Who’s here?”
“Doctor. I apologize. I’m afraid you’ll have to cancel this leave.”
“What? But why?”
Revoking leave he’d already given was something he really didn’t want to do, but it couldn’t be helped.
“The truth is, the Duke realized only now that he forgot something necessary for this expedition. So I was hoping you would take it with you from here.”
If Lionel knew the Crown Prince was outside right now, she would certainly rush out on the spot, given her nature.
So Kaelyun decided to lie. Naturally, Lionel didn’t accept the hastily fabricated excuse and pressed him.
“What exactly did he forget?”
“Ah, well……”
Kaelyun quickly searched his body. His hand found something just in time, and he pulled it from his pocket, crying out urgently.
“This! This is it! He went off without this. This is necessary for subjugating monsters, so I absolutely must deliver it.”
Kaelyun quickly opened the Paper Box, hastily scrawled something inside, and closed it again.
“Quickly now! You must not open this under any circumstances until you deliver it to the Duke!”
Kaelyun stuffed the box into the Travel Bag and thrust it toward Lionel.
As she took the bag hesitantly.
Bang, bang, bang!
Someone pounded on the door fiercely.
“Come out at once, Lionel Frensia!”
“Ah……? That voice is……”
Before Lionel could respond, Kaelyun pulled out the paper envelope he’d been keeping in his breast. He pressed it into her hand as well and cried out.
“Tear that open right now!”
“What?”
“Hurry!! Tear it open—trust me!”
At the sheer desperation in his voice, Lionel could no longer hesitate.
Following Kaelyun’s instruction, she held the bag in one hand and tore the envelope open with her other hand and teeth.
“…!”
Light flooded the room. In the same instant, the Examination Room door shattered.
Bang!
The knights who stormed in winced at the brightness, then opened their eyes again.
Of course, all they saw was a single advisor sitting in the chair.
Noar entered behind the knights, his expression cold. “Where is Lionel Frencia?”
“Where is Lionel Frencia?”
“Oh dear, Your Highness.”
Kaelyun grinned widely in response.
“When I arrived, the lady was already… hack!”
A knight’s kick landed squarely in Kaelyun’s stomach, sending him tumbling across the floor.
“Quite the sleight of hand, in so little time.”
“Sleight of hand? That’s hardly fair…”
“So then, what shall we call your crime, foolish advisor? Ah, the Crime of Disrespecting Royalty has a nice ring to it. You’ll pay dearly for wasting my time.”
Kaelyun found himself regretting, just slightly, his younger self of days past.
He wished he’d worked harder during his Sword Technique lessons with Everain. Then he might have bought time for the servants to escape in this situation.
‘So my teacher got away in time because I did my best. I’m satisfied with that.’
With that thought, Kaelyun squeezed his eyes shut.
‘At least they feed you properly in the Imperial Prison, right? I just hope the meals are good for managing my blood sugar…’
While Kaelyun resigned himself to his fate, the knights hauled him up and bound his arms.
“Your Royal Highness, I beg your mercy—please, let the servants remain in this Mansion. Spare them. I will bear all responsibility.”
At Kaelyun’s words, the Crown Prince let out a contemptuous laugh.
“Impossible. I’m going to dispose of everyone in this Mansion.”
“Your Highness, I implore you to show clemency…”
“Silence! I’ll kill you first and hang your head from the gate when the Duke returns!!”
“Brother. That will do.”
At that moment, a third voice drew every eye in the room.
Blonde hair, blue eyes—nearly identical to Noar in appearance, yet radiating an entirely different presence.
Kaelyun’s eyes widened as recognition struck.
“…Suber…? Prince Suber…?”
“Brother, causing such a disturbance while the Duke is away? Have you no shame? And with that weary body of yours, you managed to get here regardless.”
Suber drove his blade straight into Noar’s weakness. Noar glared at his brother. “What do you know? Stay out of this.”
“What do you know? Stay out of this.”
“I’ve been watching from beginning to end, and I still don’t see what this advisor did wrong. If I’m being honest, perhaps his only crime was displeasing you?”
“Hold your tongue.”
“No, brother, you should be the one keeping quiet. Do you know what I’ll tell Father when I return? That you grew infatuated with the Duke’s wife and threw a tantrum in his absence? Is that the truth you’d like me to report?”
“…”
“Besides, tomorrow happens to be the day I attend an Imperial gala. …If you understand what I’m saying, release this man before the Imperial House truly humiliates itself.”
After a flurry of sharp words, Noar finally fell silent.
He glared at Suber with murderous intent, then turned away.
“Release him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At the Crown Prince’s command, Kaelyun was freed at once. Noar issued a warning to Suber.
“You’ll regret what you’ve done today, Suber. That much I promise.”
Noar limped away down the corridor and vanished. The knights who had come with him followed in his wake.
Kaelyun, coming to his senses belatedly, scrambled to his feet and bowed deeply.
“Your Royal Highness, thank you so much. You saved my life.”
“Thank the Duke, not me. He foresaw this crisis and warned me in advance. Without his tip-off, I wouldn’t have arrived in time.”
“Ah… I see.”
For a moment Kaelyun felt moved by Suber’s words, but his brow suddenly twisted.
‘If he foresaw all this, couldn’t he have given me some warning?’
Kaelyun harbored a brief grudge against the Duke, though it did him little good. Suber continued speaking.
“I don’t know why Noar has taken an interest in the Duke’s wife, but be cautious regardless. And relay what happened here to the Duke.”
“Yes, yes. I will inform him at once, Your Highness.”
Kaelyun bowed repeatedly, his head bobbing with gratitude.
Once the crisis had passed, anxiety crashed over him in a wave.
‘The doctor… I hope she’s safe.’
He prayed the Teleportation Scroll had carried her safely to where the Duke was.
That was what Kaelyun hoped for—
“…Where am I?”
In the densely wooded forest, Lionel’s expression grew flustered.
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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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