The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 84

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 84】

Laudanum is, simply put, a mixture of opium and alcohol.

Whether you had insomnia, headaches, coughs, or stomach problems, it was being sold as a cure-all remedy.

However, as someone who had both made and researched laudanum at university, Ebel could never recommend that drug.

If she could, she would want the country to ban it entirely.

“According to the English essayist Thomas De Quincey’s 【Confessions of an English Opium-Eater】 (*【Confessions of an English Opium-Eater】 (Thomas De Quincey, 1785–1859)), laudanum is an extremely dangerous drug.”

“Hearing you say that makes me want to try it even more. Actually, the royal physicians absolutely refuse to prescribe it. But it’s not like I can go out and buy it myself.”

“I wouldn’t want to recommend it either.”

“Ah, fine, fine. This is getting rather boring.”

Though he said that, Nicholas was already filled with interest.

Besides her face and figure, she had such bold charm—no wonder the Grand Duke fell head over heels for her. She was stubborn without ever crossing the line.

The type who wouldn’t change her opinion even with a knife to her throat.

As a king, she was an extremely troublesome type of subject.

‘But she’s exactly like a soldier.’

Stroking his chin, Nicholas recalled that ridiculous newspaper advertisement he’d seen long ago. It had mentioned something about being a former military doctor.

‘I need to look into this. You can’t find that kind of spirit among noble ladies.’

If she really was from the military, then Ebel von Bayern’s origins must be foreign. At the very least, here in Richter, women couldn’t become soldiers.

“Will the Grand Duchess also attend the hunting festival that begins tomorrow?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Good, very good. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

No matter how much of a libertine the king was, he couldn’t postpone or skip truly important meetings.

Unfortunately, one such meeting was scheduled right after this audience.

And so the audience came to an end here.

“Dominique. Please escort Her Grace.”

“Yes.”

Coming outside, Ebel finished her farewell with a brief embrace with Victor.

From now on, it was time for them to move separately.

* * *

【Who exactly is the Grand Duchess of Bayern!】

【Exclusive reveal of the Grand Duchess of Bayern’s audience attire!】

【Palace servants share the Grand Duchess’s daily life—she enjoys raspberry blend black tea!】

After Ebel arrived in the capital, every information broker in the city went into a frenzy.

Both those who were favorable toward the Grand Duchess and those who disliked her without even meeting her—everyone wanted information.

What kind of tea the Grand Duchess drank. What perfume she wore. What dress she wore and which shop made it.

They were even desperate to know the color and origin of the pearls on her dress.

The more thoughtful people tried to find out about ‘Ebel’ herself, but there wasn’t much useful information.

Because.

Victor had already bought off more than half of the capital’s information brokers long ago.

He had classified requests about Ebel as ‘red band grade’ and made sure they all went to Matthias.

This was precisely the power that allowed him to manipulate public opinion.

‘They’ll never be able to get information about Ebel through noble methods. Even if I were the Grand Duke, it would be the same.’

A smelly, dark back alley.

Cecily Bettel, with her robe pulled low, moved quickly. Even humming a tune.

Such a Cecily was quite an eye-catching presence, but no one dared approach her.

It was because of the enormous Moorish guards flanking Cecily on both sides.

“Welcome… gasp!”

Where Cecily was now wasn’t the upper-class information broker that nobles usually frequented, but a lower-class information broker.

A place with hardly any decent information, mostly false, and dabbling in various crimes as a side business.

Noble houses probably didn’t even know such places existed.

Because it was the filthy underworld.

The point was, it was likely a place Victor von Bayern’s influence hadn’t reached.

Not yet.

“How did you know to come here?”

The bartender, who had been wiping a dusty glass with a rag, grinned wickedly.

Having done some pirating in his youth, he had tattoos on his neck and gold teeth.

It should have been quite a frightening situation, but Cecily just smirked instead.

“Well, shall we have a little ‘conversation’?”

When the Moorish guard slammed down a money pouch, the bartender’s expression immediately brightened.

The patrons who had been loitering around also took their hands off the daggers they’d been fingering in their coats and picked up their drinks again.

If it was a customer who smelled of money, there was no reason to chase them away.

“Oh my, I was worried we’d get caught up in some troublesome business when such a refined lady arrived. But I see you know how to have a proper ‘conversation.'”

The bartender rubbed his palms together and quickly grabbed the pouch to examine it.

What sparkled inside were silver coins, more lovely and precious than his wife.

“Come, please step inside.”

The bartender subtly turned his body, gesturing for her to come further in. Cecily scoffed at this.

“Am I crazy? To go in there.”

“Ahem. I see you’re in the same line of work?”

“What’s it to you? I’m a customer and you sell information. That’s all we need.”

The bartender, who had been staring at her cheerfully smiling face, glanced over the Moorish guards with a disgruntled expression.

It wouldn’t be easy to kill them, but if he could just get them inside, he could eliminate them.

‘Hmm. I won’t be able to sell off that woman.’

The bartender, after thinking it over, soon changed his attitude.

She reeked of money, but for someone so young, she knew this world too well.

Usually, people like that had backing.

It was better to be careful since making the wrong move could cause trouble.

“Look at this portrait. Do you recognize who this is?”

“Hmm. I’ve never seen them before… Hey, Dick! Come over here. You’re good at remembering faces.”

At the bartender’s call, a man who had slammed down his drink swaggered over.

“Are you sane? That’s a noble lady. How would I know a noble lady?”

“Still, just take a good hard look. I’ll knock a beer off your tab.”

“Hmm… She’s blonde and incredibly pretty, I can tell that much.”

Fleas fell from Dick’s body as he scratched his rear.

As Dick pondered with his stupid face, a courtesan happened to pass behind him.

“Oh my, what’s this? This portrait?”

The courtesan, who was naturally talkative, immediately butted in and peeked at the portrait over his shoulder.

Since this was exactly what lower-class back alley information brokers were like—completely lacking any system—Cecily didn’t get annoyed and just waited calmly.

“Hmm, I feel like I’ve seen this face somewhere…”

The courtesan who muttered this rubbed her thumb and index finger together.

She was asking for extra payment separate from what was given to the information broker.

Cecily chuckled and flicked out a silver coin.

“She looks like that bastard young master!”

The courtesan who caught the silver coin grinned widely.

“Young Master Abel Claren, he was famous. He showed up at gambling dens frequently. But he hasn’t been seen since a few months ago.”

“When did that start?”

“I think it was summer… early summer?”

At this, Cecily’s eyes flashed.

Summer coincided with when the House of the Grand Duke had posted advertisements for a contract Grand Duchess.

“Did that Abel Claren ever mention his family?”

“Not particularly. He was the type who was careful with himself despite his appearance. But, hmm, it seemed like he had a continuous source of money. Even though his family had been ruined long ago.”

This was enough.

Cecily, filled with joy, generously scattered silver coins as hush money.

“Don’t tell anyone even if they come asking. If you’re going to spread rumors, watch your back at night.”

“Oh my, of course not.”

Having even found out the name of the gambling den that Abel Claren frequently visited, Cecily returned home with light steps.

‘Ah, I can smell something sweet. Abel’s disappearance is definitely related to the House of the Grand Duke.’

Otherwise, how could their names be so similar?

Abel and Ebel.

Anyone could see they’re names that sound like siblings.

‘Next, I need to look into House of Claren.’

Let them all go running around to information brokers that are obviously under the Grand Duke’s influence!

“Find out about Abel Claren and his family. Three days should be enough.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Returning home, Cecily called her most trusted and cherished subordinate to give her orders.

Now all that remained was to wait at the dining table for the pitiful prey to fall into her trap.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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