The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away - Chapter 34

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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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“Ha! A windfall—how could I ask for better?”
“What’s this? You’re already healed?”
Tobin burst out laughing as he emerged from the Medical Office, and his colleague examined his leg with a worried expression.
Yesterday, crushed under a crate, Tobin had resigned himself to helplessness—yet now his leg was completely sound, and he looked ready to float away.
It wasn’t only his leg that had been mended; the lingering ache in his lower back was gone as well.
It was clear he’d received far superior treatment than the others, all because the Duchess happened to be nearby.
“When the Duchess appeared, I thought I was done for—surely I’d blundered my way straight to death!”
“At least the decoration wasn’t damaged. Otherwise, I’d have had to pay for it and been thrown out on my ear.”
His colleague exhaled with relief, counting their blessings.
“It’s a miracle I was the one crushed! Ha! Now that I’m well again, I’ve got nothing to worry about for a good while.”
Tobin made his way to the Servants’ Quarters with an easy laugh.
“The Head Butler told you to rest for a week, just to be safe.”
“But I got a bonus payment and my body’s fine now—how could I sit idle?”
Tobin boldly declared he’d observe just until tomorrow, then throw himself back into work.
“What? Tobin, you’ve already had treatment?”
“Of course! The Duchess gave me an expensive potion!”
That the Duchess would spend healing potions on a mere servant—Tobin turned to his amazed colleagues with unmistakable pride.
He’d thought it suspicious that the Imperial Princess, who’d received no Divine Power, had become the Duchess.
But since yesterday, Tobin had revised his thinking.
‘It’s Divine Power that will fade once she marries anyway. All that matters is her character.’
If the Duchess possessed a warm and generous heart, that was enough. Should anyone dare speak ill of her from now on, he’d set them straight.
Tobin, who’d received six months’ wages as compensation, overflowed with newfound loyalty to the Duchess.
“What’s all this commotion?”
The Head Butler, emerging from the servants’ quarters, regarded them with puzzlement.
“Head Butler! Tobin’s recovered already, he says!”
“Is that so? Truly?”
At the Head Butler’s question, a colleague pointed to Tobin’s leg.
“It seems the injury wasn’t as severe as we thought. A stroke of luck, that. Still, make sure he rests properly, won’t you.”
“No, no, sir! I’ll go home and return to duty right away.”
The Head Butler offered Tobin some encouragement not to overexert himself and risk a fresh injury, then returned to the Main Building.
‘The Medical Office seems to have taken great care, then.’
With a wry smile, the Head Butler collected the servants’ budget reports and made his way to Cedric’s Study.
“Regarding that servant who was injured yesterday—it appears his leg has healed completely, sir.”
Having delivered the budget documents to Cedric, the Head Butler mentioned the morning’s discovery in passing.
“Already? He’s been treated?”
“Yes. The Medical Office attended to him carefully, it seems.”
Cedric paused at the report.
“Was the injury merely superficial, then?”
“From what I gathered, his thighbone was fractured.”
At the Head Butler’s words, Cedric fell into thought. Could coincidence repeat itself twice?
“Would the Duke’s Household truly expend an Upper-tier Healing Potion on a common servant, even if the injury occurred during work?”
“Might there not have been an order from the Duchess? I hear she was quite startled upon witnessing the accident.”
The Head Butler believed the Duchess had simply acted from concern for the injured servant.
“I’ll step by the Medical Office for a moment.”
“Sir? If you wish to know the details of the treatment, surely I should go instead!”
The Head Butler was startled and tried to dissuade Cedric, alarmed that the Duke himself would visit.
“There is something I must verify. You’ll wait here.”
If his suspicion held truth, fewer people knowing of it was preferable. Yesterday, after the Imperial Princess had witnessed the accident, she’d retired to her Bedroom to rest.
Her personal attendant and lady’s maid had shown no signs of unusual activity.
Apologies to the Princess, but those two as well were under observation.
As the Princess’s hands and feet, such scrutiny was inevitable.
It was his role to forestall trouble before it bloomed. Thus, every move the Princess and her attendants made was reported directly to him.
“Your Grace! What brings you here?”
“What medicine was used to treat the servant who injured his leg yesterday?”
At Cedric’s question, the Physician hurriedly checked the treatment records.
“A Lower-tier Healing Potion and a Painkiller were administered.”
“The injury was not severe, then?”
“The thighbone was damaged; even with the healing potion, he should have needed half a year of careful movement. Yet the remedy took hold promptly, so the outcome has been favorable.”
Occasionally, the Physician explained, potions dispensed from the Temple worked better than their official grade suggested.
“I see.”
“Without severe injury, we cannot use Upper-tier Potions.”
“No matter. I merely had something to confirm. Please keep my visit in confidence.”
The Physician bowed deeply as he saw Cedric out.
‘Something is certainly amiss.’
A Lower-tier Healing Potion was not potent enough to knit thick bone together in a single application.
It should have taken time—merely setting the fracture, then waiting for recovery.
Could Mother have been right? Does the Princess truly possess Healing Power?
If the Princess herself remained unaware of her gift, then she had wielded it without knowing.
The Countess had said the Princess caught her as she collapsed; the servant injured yesterday had merely touched the wound site while examining it.
Could one truly possess such a Divine Power without knowing?
Walking toward his bedroom, Cedric recalled how drained the Princess had seemed all morning.
If his suspicion held truth, her shock was not at the sight of injury—but exhaustion from wielding her power.
With each step toward the bedroom, his faint suspicion hardened into near certainty.
To discover such an ability after the marriage—it was troublesome.
Should the Imperial Palace learn of this, they would covet the Princess anew, or demand a steeper price.
Cedric had no intention of paying more for a contract already concluded.
The Imperial family had already sold him their troublesome asset at considerable cost; the Princess was now the Duke’s Household’s property.
He did not intend to let his own be taken so easily. Besides, such a power was destined to fade anyway.
‘I must verify whether she truly possesses Healing Power.’
Standing before the bedroom door, Cedric drew a Short Dagger from his waist.
Snick.
Sharp pain bloomed across his palm as blood began to flow.
He opened the door and stepped inside.
“My Lord?”
Ivanna, who had been reading against the headboard—too drained to move much—started in surprise and sat up.
“Forgive me for disturbing you while you rest.”
“Not at all. It’s a room we share, so you need not hesitate to enter at any time.”
Ivanna rose hesitantly from the bed, where she had been resting under the pretext of having overtaxed herself with recent duties.
As she stepped closer to take his coat, she caught sight of blood dripping to the floor and gasped.
“You’re wounded?”
“Only a shallow cut.”
At the Duke’s composed words, Ivanna swallowed hard. It was far more than shallow.
Blood was dripping steadily.
“I’ll call the Physician.”
“Not necessary. There is a Sky-blue Lower-tier Potion in the drawer—fetch it for me.”
The Duke wounded.
It seemed impossible. A Transcendent Being at such a young age should rarely sustain injury.
Even the Duke was capable of mistakes.
Ivanna quickly regained her composure and brought a cloth, gently dabbing his hand.
She found the Healing Potion in the back of the drawer he had indicated, uncorked it, took his hand carefully in hers, and poured it over the wound.
‘I hope it heals quickly.’
The simple fact that someone so extraordinary had been hurt made her heart race.
The deep cut on his palm was closing slowly.
“You should use an Upper-tier Potion.”
“This will suffice.”
Cedric clenched his fist at once.
Ivanna wanted to fetch another potion from the drawer immediately, but he shook his head firmly.
The Duke wiped away the remaining blood with a cloth and withdrew into the Bathroom.
“Ivanna! Are you hurt?!”
“Not me—the Duke cut his hand.”
Anthony, who had come with tea, saw the blood on the floor and asked in alarm.
“Shall I summon the Physician?”
“The Healing Potion should be enough, I think.”
Ivanna shook her head at his concerned question. Transcendent Beings were known to recover far more swiftly than ordinary people.
“I’ll clean this up at once and prepare fresh tea.”
Anthony opened the window to clear the faint scent of blood, then wiped the bloodstains from the floor.
She told herself he would heal quickly, yet Ivanna waited with a tense expression for the Duke to return.
“A servant was wounded yesterday too—I wonder what’s happening. His face had gone pale, but you’re all right, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I thought I’d be used to this by now, but it seems I’m not getting any better at it.”
Ivanna exhaled softly. She still felt ashamed that she hadn’t grown stronger.
Her head throbbed dully as Ivanna sat on the bed, waiting for Cedric.

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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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