The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 62

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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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A few days later.
The Duke and I climbed into a carriage bound for the Imperial Palace.
Throughout the ride, the Duke kept his mouth firmly shut, displeasure written across his face, until at last he spoke to me with an air of resignation.
“Teacher. Should the Crown Prince behave inappropriately toward you in any way, strike him across the face without hesitation. I will answer for the consequences.”
“And if I take you at your word and actually throw a punch? Will you seek asylum somewhere?”
“It’s not entirely impossible.”
I’d meant to joke, so I’d answered in kind, but now I steadied my voice and tried to reassure him.
“Don’t worry. Our purpose today is to deliver this, isn’t it?”
I gestured to the luggage beside me. The Duke still looked puzzled, but he made no further remarks about striking anyone.
“Your Grace, we’ve arrived at the Imperial Palace.”
At the Coachman’s announcement, we descended from the carriage.
The Empire’s Imperial Palace was extraordinarily ornate and grand. I marveled at the decorations that filled the long corridors.
“All of this, plundered over centuries, I suppose….”
“Hush. Better not to voice such thoughts.”
We were shown by an attendant into a drawing room—predictably elaborate and ostentatious.
The Crown Prince, sprawled across a sofa, lifted his head.
“Welcome, Lionel Frenscia. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you again.”
He regarded me with an intense gaze and smiled. I recited a line I’d seen countless times in romance novels.
“I greet the little sun of the Empire.”
We soon settled onto the sofa opposite him.
The moment tea arrived, the Duke spoke up abruptly, as though he’d been waiting for just this moment.
“Your Highness. I hear that during my absence, you attempted to forcibly take my wife. I demand an apology.”
I glanced at the Duke in surprise, but his expression was grave.
The Crown Prince responded with a shrug.
“Duke, have you always been this hotheaded? I went to the trouble of preparing fine tea, and this is how you repay me. How embarrassing.”
“I’ll decide whether to proceed further once I’ve received that apology.”
The Duke didn’t ask the Crown Prince why he’d sought me out that day. He simply demanded an apology for the discourteous act.
“Duke, wouldn’t most people ask for the reason first in such situations?”
“I have no desire to know the reason, nor any need to. Apologize to me. Now.”
The atmosphere had turned deadly. I swallowed hard, half-convinced the Duke would use his Special Ability to overturn the table at any moment.
Beneath the table, I clenched my fists and swallowed again.
‘If that table flies at me, do you think they’d cover it as a workplace injury? …Probably not.’
While I was entertaining these thoughts, mercifully, the Crown Prince apologized first.
“Lionel, I apologize for that day. I was too impatient and came without even asking first.”
According to what Kaelen had told me, it hadn’t been a simple visit at all, but….
In any case, I quickly accepted the apology to defuse the tension.
“Not at all, Your Highness. If anything, I’m sorry I couldn’t receive you properly.”
“Well then, Lionel. Since we’re here anyway, would you mind examining my legs? I trust you protect patient privacy as a matter of course?”
The Crown Prince spoke while glancing sideways at the Duke—a graceful invitation that was also a command.
The Duke immediately voiced his objection.
“I will remain here.”
“Your Grace, it’s all right. It’s just an examination.”
“But Teacher, this man—”
“It’s fine. I’ll call if anything’s needed.”
“……”
The Duke looked at me for a long moment, then rose from his seat.
“Your Highness. I will wait nearby. Please refrain from any improper words or conduct toward my wife.”
With that warning, he left the room.
The moment the door closed, the Crown Prince rested his chin in his hand.
“At last, we’re alone, Lionel Frenscia.”
“……”
“You already know the examination was just a pretext, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
At my calm response, it was the Crown Prince who flinched. He ran his eyes over me appraisingly, then threatened.
“Lionel Frenscia. This is the Imperial Palace. My domain. Aren’t you being rather bold, knowing what I might do to you here?”
Domain—as though this were some animal kingdom.
I met his threat coolly.
“Is Your Highness confident enough to make such threats, knowing what I’ve brought with me today?”
“What?”
I don’t know the full story, but from what I’ve observed so far, the Crown Prince and the Duke don’t seem to have a particularly amicable relationship.
The sudden raid to take me away, the formal invitation sent afterward—it’s clear he was trying to use me as leverage to negotiate with or threaten the Duke, but.
‘He picked the wrong person. I’m not someone to be pushed around so easily.’
As for me, I’m the woman who slapped a twenty-million-gold fine on the National Hospital, who gave the Viscount’s wife a gift of domestic ruin in exchange for demanding split shifts, who made an etiquette instructor crawl on all fours—in short, someone with quite the illustrious track record.
I set my prepared bundle on my lap and unrolled the folded cloth.
The Crown Prince’s eyes widened as he recognized what it was.
“Is that… an orthotic brace?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Though it’s entirely different from the one you’re wearing now.”
I began explaining, item by item, the orthotic brace I had carefully designed, convinced the Duke to fund, and convinced him again to have built.
“First, the brace you’ve been wearing until now is made of wood and iron, so it’s terribly heavy, but this one is made of titanium, making it genuinely light.”
“Titanium? I’ve never heard of that material.”
“It’s a material commissioned specially from the Magic Tower. It’s as durable as iron and water-resistant—perfectly suited for an orthotic brace. Moreover, because it wraps up to the thigh, the weight distribution is even, so it’s comfortable to wear. You can also adjust it with velcro fasteners to fit your leg’s circumference.”
I pitched that orthotic brace with every ounce of enthusiasm, as if I were a medical equipment salesman visiting the hospital.
The Crown Prince stared at the brace with an expression of sheer amazement. Of course, I wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away.
“Your Highness, would you care to try it on? For your reference, this is meant to be worn over your clothes.”
The Crown Prince flinched slightly.
When we met before, he’d made it clear he wanted to hide his leg’s disability. That’s why he wore the brace beneath his trousers.
“…You want me to wear this brace and announce to the entire world that my leg is disabled?”
There was anger in his voice, but I paid it no mind.
“What does it matter if people know you have a disability? Will it cause any problem in ruling the Empire going forward?”
“The people of the Empire will never accept a disabled person as Emperor…”
“The people of the Empire won’t care much whether their Emperor has a disability or not, I’d wager. If I had a choice, I’d rather serve a disabled Emperor who cares about ordinary citizens’ lives and works to improve medical welfare than an able-bodied one who starts wars and raises taxes left and right.”
The Crown Prince gazed at the brace in silence for a long moment, conflict evident in his furrowed brow.
However he resolved his inner struggle, I knew he would wear this brace.
It was that revolutionary a device.
“…I’ll try it on.”
“Yes, then I’ll just take the liberty, Your Highness.”
I rolled up the Emperor’s trousers and removed the heavy brace.
Then I fitted my new orthotic brace onto his right leg.
“Well then, shall we try standing?”
The Crown Prince rose slowly, and when he tentatively put weight on one foot, his eyes widened in surprise.
“…It’s not heavy at all.”
“Exactly. And this brace has one more function, you see.”
I fixed the Mana Stone I’d brought along onto the brace.
A moment later, the Crown Prince tilted his head, sensing something.
“Does it bend my knee on its own?”
“Yes. Right now your leg has lost a great deal of muscle, so even exerting force is difficult. But this brace uses the Mana Stone’s power to bend your knee. Wearing it and walking also serves as rehabilitation therapy.”
The Crown Prince slowly made a circuit around the room.
At first he seemed doubtful, but with each step forward, his expression grew brighter.
By the time he returned to where I stood, his face was radiant with joy.
“It’s not… it’s not uncomfortable at all. To move so freely like this… it’s been such a long time.”
“That’s truly impressive, Your Highness! I didn’t expect you to adapt so quickly!”
I clapped with all my enthusiasm. The Crown Prince, as if unable to believe it, moved his leg several more times before speaking to me.
“Teacher, this is truly a revolutionary invention. From now on, I’ll put it to good use…”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
I blinked pointedly.
“I haven’t said anything about giving this to you, Your Highness.”

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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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