The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 63

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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’s expression froze in an instant, turning sharp and cold. He opened his mouth in that familiar, glacial tone of his.
“…Did you dare mock me?”
“Mock you? Hardly. I simply worked quite hard to make this. Surely you’d agree it’s only fair that you compensate me for my labor, wouldn’t you?”
What I meant was: don’t think you’re walking away with this for free—pay up.
Who in their right mind would propose such an audacious deal to a viper like the Crown Prince?
But I had confidence.
Because this leg brace would be worth its weight in gold to him.
“I could kill you here and take it without any consequences.”
“Then again, Your Highness would lose one talented physician. And you’d never know—I might have made you something even better in the future.”
He laughed.
And that laughter meant this negotiation had ended in my victory.
“So, Lionel Frenscia, what do you want from me in exchange for this brace?”
“I want an Imperial Permit that grants me free access to all the convents throughout the empire.”
Even the most exclusive convent had one thing it couldn’t refuse: an imperial decree.
That’s why I wanted to secure a permit bearing the Crown Prince’s seal—so I could walk directly into Cresto Convent and bring out the young mistress.
“Modest ambitions, Lionel Frenscia. Usually people ask for jewels and gold coins in situations like this.”
Of course, there was no need to tell the Crown Prince the real reason, so I’d prepared a plausible cover story in advance.
“Jewels and gold coins are fine, certainly. But as a physician, I wish to pursue something of greater value.”
“And free access to convents will let you realize this grand ambition?”
“Though hospitals have diminished their function somewhat, convents were originally places of refuge for pilgrims, war orphans, and the sick.”
During the First and Second Holy Wars, convents functioned as hospitals in every sense.
Now, with that role transferred to national hospitals, they’ve become purely places of religious training.
“I wish to examine the convents’ past medical records. Through them, I might discover treatments for the plagues and various illnesses now spreading across the realm. For instance…your Leg Paralysis, for example.”
The Crown Prince looked at me with eyes that could kill. He was clearly furious that I’d dared speak his condition’s name so freely.
“How dare you speak that disease’s name before me? You truly show no respect. This is grounds for Insult to the Imperial Family—”
“Your Highness, how is that an insult? I’m a physician. How am I to find a cure if I cannot even name the disease?”
This isn’t like one of those dark lords from fantasy novels where you mustn’t speak their name.
Is there such a thing as a disease one cannot name? That’s pure nonsense.
‘I can only imagine what hysterics he’s thrown at everyone around him all this time.’
Though I’d observed him only briefly, I could guess how sensitive and temperamental he was—which explained why Carseido and the others had worried about me.
But not everyone is intimidated by threats of Insult to the Imperial Family, Your Highness.
Keeping that thought carefully hidden, I replied with measured calm.
“With all due respect, what Your Highness must now prove is that you can become a truly virtuous ruler even with one leg incapacitated. And to achieve that…surely you need this brace, don’t you?”
After pouring out everything I wanted to say, if I capped it off with a final sales pitch for the brace…
“…Very well, Lionel Frenscia.”
The Crown Prince finally accepted the deal.
“I accept your proposal. I’ll provide you with an Imperial Permit in exchange for this brace.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
I bowed deeply from the waist in proper respect. The Crown Prince stroked the brace and spoke.
“Be grateful that you can behave so disrespectfully toward me and walk away unscathed, Lionel Frenscia.”
“I had no intention of being disrespectful, Your Highness. If I have caused you any inconvenience whatsoever, I apologize in advance. I hope that with this brace, you’ll be able to go wherever you wish.”
And so I held in my hand the permit bearing the Crown Prince’s signature.
A remarkable victory for the commoner Lionel Frenscia against the notorious Crown Prince.
After Lionel had gone.
Left alone in the room, Noar walked slowly about. It was remarkable—even after walking this long, his lower back and legs felt no stiffness or soreness whatsoever.
Noar gazed out the window at Lionel and Carseido disappearing into the garden.
The two of them maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far as they walked ahead. Each time Lionel spoke, Carseido’s face lit up with evident joy.
……
Noar turned over Lionel’s words in his mind.
“The people of this empire won’t care much whether their emperor has a disability or not. If I had the choice, I’d far rather serve a disabled emperor who cares about common people’s lives and works to expand access to medicine, than an able-bodied emperor who wages wars and raises taxes ruthlessly.”
This leg was a complex he’d spent his entire life anxiously hiding and concealing.
Yet that brazen physician of his had dismissed it as though it were nothing at all.
He let out a quiet laugh.
Lionel was right. The people of the empire would see their emperor only a handful of times in their lives. So what difference did it make whether he had a disability or not?
“With all due respect, what Your Highness must now prove is that you can become a truly virtuous ruler even with one leg incapacitated.”
Noar bent his right leg once more. Each time the Mana Stone flared at his command, his emotions churned violently.
At first, he’d meant to use it as leverage to blackmail Carseido. He’d never seen the Duke show such obvious concern for anyone before, so he’d thought it would be a winning card.
But instead, she’d come directly to him and negotiated with him herself, then left.

The moment Noar stepped into this room, he belatedly realized he’d been drawn entirely into her game on her terms.
“You certainly chose an amusing bride for yourself, Duke Carseido.”
Lionel and the duke had now vanished completely from sight.
Yet as if something lingered in the air, Noar stared at the space they’d occupied for a long moment.
A moment passed. Noar turned and called out toward the door.
“Aide! Get in here at once!”
At Noar’s summons, the aide who’d been waiting outside rushed in. Noar issued his command.
“Put someone on Lionel Frenscia.”
“You mean surveillance on not just the duke, but the Duchess of Carseido as well?”
“That’s right. Report her every move to me.”
Noar smiled wickedly.
“It’s been far too long since I’ve had a plaything that stirs my competitive spirit. I won’t let this one slip away.”
6.
Inside the carriage heading toward the mansion.
Hmm, hmm, hmm…
I hummed to myself, gazing at the permit in my hand, while the duke chuckled softly beside me.
“You’re that pleased with it?”
“Yes! Well, actually it’s not so much the permit itself—it’s the satisfaction of having successfully convinced the Crown Prince.”
“I confess I didn’t expect you to acquire what you wanted so cleanly. It bears repeating: you’ve done something remarkable against that crown prince.”
I hadn’t expected such unabashed praise from him either. Caught between smugness and embarrassment, I laughed and looked away.
The duke shifted the conversation elsewhere.
“But tell me—you said you wanted to visit Cresto Convent with this permit?”
“Yes, I learned that it served as a hospital during both the First and Second Holy Wars. If I study the records from that time, I might find some hints on how to treat your condition. That’s why I wanted to investigate.”
I offered an excuse similar to what I’d told the Crown Prince, and the duke tilted his head doubtfully.
“I owe the Cresto Convent my own debt from the Second Holy War, but I wonder if there’s truly anything in their medical techniques from that era for you to learn.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind—I’m hardly qualified to judge medical matters. I’ll hold my tongue on this. So, when were you planning to leave?”
“I was thinking two days from now. I’m sorry to ask, but would it be possible to take a somewhat extended leave?”
I asked apologetically, and the duke readily agreed.
“Take as long as you need. I’ll be accompanying you anyway.”
This time my eyes widened in surprise.
“What? You, my lord?”
“Is there a problem? You’ll need an escort for such a journey, won’t you?”
“I’m grateful for your protection, truly, but there is one difficulty.”
I scratched my chin as I continued.
“Cresto Convent is a forbidden zone for men. You won’t be able to enter.”

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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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