Time Healer Ceres - Chapter 143

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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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Before coming here a short while ago, I’d opened a Sub-space and gathered a few herbal medicines.
‘He said he was coughing up blood.’
Seres had gotten a rough account of the symptoms from Chaien, but even she found it difficult to pinpoint Alex’s condition precisely.
Though she hadn’t read through the treatment logs kept on Crown Prince Alex, she could tell from what Chaien had said that they’d tried every treatment worth attempting.
Yet the fact that there had been no marked improvement suggested they hadn’t identified the true underlying ailment.
“At least the coughing should ease up somewhat.”
Alex accepted the tea Seres offered and regarded her with a long, steady gaze.
…….
Then, slowly, he brought the cup to his lips.
The sweet yet slightly astringent taste coated his throat smoothly as it went down. The fragrance seemed somehow richer than what he’d tasted at the shop before.
Cough……
What was remarkable was how the ceaseless torrent of coughing subsided almost immediately, as if by magic.
It had been the same before too—the speed with which his symptoms faded after just one cup of Seres’s tea made Crown Prince Alex regard the cup with a sense of wonder.
“I’ll prepare a medicinal blend to help ease the coughing and restore your strength.”
This was all she could do at present. Without knowing the precise diagnosis, she had no choice but to compound remedies targeted at the visible symptoms.
‘I’ve never encountered symptoms like that before.’
The burning heat, the desiccating skin, the steadily waning vitality—though she’d treated countless patients over the years, even Seres struggled to grasp the underlying cause.
“Take it morning and evening.”
At her words, the three others—all except Crown Prince Alex—could not hide their bewildered expressions. Was she really going to compound medicine for him?
“Seres, medicine? Do you know Healing Arts?”
Their question was natural enough. Though Seres had served as acting head of the Elrsia Countess Family, that period had been brief, and she’d engaged in little external activity, so few people knew of her accomplishments in this regard.
“Just a little.”
Seres gave a casual answer to Chaien’s question, then scrutinized Crown Prince Alex’s condition once more with meticulous care.
Her gaze was filled with the curiosity of a healer and the fervent desire to conquer a new ailment.
…Ha.
Receiving the full weight of that gaze, Crown Prince Alex let out an incredulous laugh.
All this time, despite his gentle words and smiles, she’d scarcely spared him a glance. So how was he supposed to interpret this intense stare?
“Would it be all right if I came by again when the medicine runs out?”
“…As you see fit.”
Those who had expected Crown Prince Alex—who’d been refusing healers’ visits all along—to naturally decline her return visit now stared at him in astonishment.
“If any new symptoms appear, tell me right away.”
“Of course.”
“And don’t secretly throw the medicine away.”
“…I’m not so foolish as all that.”
“No, but some patients really do that.”
She remembered that Emperor—the one who was forever tossing out medicine instead of taking it. He had the same bloodline, after all.
“Make sure you eat well.”
…….
“And don’t wander about seeking cold air whenever you feel restless. Stay put in your room, keep yourself still and warm, and bundle up properly.”
As an endless stream of admonitions continued to flow, Crown Prince Alex regarded Seres with a bewildered expression. Did she really see him as a child?
“Get some proper rest, then.”
Having finished her parting remarks as though there was nothing more to discuss, Seres left the room unhurriedly. Chaien hastened to follow her out.
Ha, haha.
Crown Prince Alex burst into laughter. Seeing this, Princess Nailia’s eyes widened.
She’d recognized that he was laughing genuinely—something he rarely did beyond the mask-like smile he usually wore.
“Brother, are you all right?”
“…Pour me more of that tea.”
At her question, he quickly suppressed his smile and looked somewhat flustered. Princess Nailia carefully poured the remaining herbal infusion from the kettle for him.
* * *
The moment they stepped out of the room, Seres steadied Chaien for a moment.
“Thank you.”
Chaien smiled brightly, expressing genuine gratitude. Seres regarded him silently for a moment, then let out a small click of her tongue.
His complexion was still pallid, as if color hadn’t properly returned to his face.
“Well, it’s only natural to worry when family falls ill.”
Natural enough, yes.
“But you can’t be skipping meals.”
When caring for a patient, the caretaker’s own strength mattered most. Going hungry out of worry was suicide by inches—worse for everyone involved.
“All right. I’ll make sure to eat properly.”
Seres watched Chaien’s small laugh quietly for a moment, then drew something from her pocket and handed it to him.
“What is this?”
It was a small box.
“A gift.”
“A gift?”
“To cheer you up.”
Chaien tilted his head curiously before opening the small wooden box.
“Ah… ah, ah!”
As Chaien opened the box, his mouth fell slowly open, and then a cry—almost a shriek—burst from his lips.
“My Blue Stone, my Blue Stone!”
Inside the box lay precisely what Chaien had been searching for all this time: a lustrous blue Ice Attribute Mana Stone.
“Blue Stone, Blue Stone!”
At his ecstatic cry, Crown Prince Aseraian and Princess Nailia, who had been in the room, rushed out with startled expressions.
Luka, Aseraian’s aide who was in the nearby office, also threw open the door and surveyed the situation.
“You—you! How did you find this? You said you’d lost it!”
“I just… found it.”
“Ahhhhh! Blue Stone! My Blue Stone!”
Watching Chaien hold the Blue Mana Stone with gleaming eyes, a faint smile played at the corners of Seres’s mouth.
‘You have it?’
‘Yeah. I put it in the Sub-space. Is it okay to give it to Chaien?’
‘…You want to give it to him?’
‘Yeah. He’s helped me a lot.’
‘If that’s what you want, do it.’
She had already asked permission from Kainel, the original owner of the Mana Stone. He had readily agreed when she offered to give it to Chaien—perhaps because he felt a bit guilty about having received so many free Movement Magic texts from Chaien before.
“Don’t tell me that’s…”
“The one you were looking for back then?”
Both Luka and Crown Prince Aseraian recognized the Blue Mana Stone at once. They were the ones who had witnessed Chaien searching for it, causing all sorts of trouble in the process.
“What is that?”
Meanwhile, Princess Nailia, watching Chaien bounce around the room, still could not hide the confusion in her eyes.
“You’re really giving this to me?”
“Yeah.”
Unable to tear his eyes from the Mana Stone, he shuffled his feet. He was clearly restraining the urge to rush straight to the Research Laboratory.
“Go ahead.”
“No! I can look at it later.”
At least keep your feet still. Seres watched him, still unable to hold his feet in place despite his words, and let out a soft laugh.
“Once I prepare the medicine, I’ll go right there too.”
“Still…”
“Someone nearby while I’m making the medicine gets in the way.”
“…Understood. I’ll come find you in a bit!”
Holding the Mana Stone high to keep it safe, Chaien hurried toward his Research Laboratory.
“Don’t wait for him. He probably won’t leave the Research Laboratory for a while.”
“Yes. That seems likely.”
At Luka’s words, Seres nodded, having already anticipated this.
“If he doesn’t eat properly, tell him I’m taking the Mana Stone back.”
“Absolutely! I’ll tell him!”
Luka nodded very firmly. This was something he had wanted to say anyway.
“Is there a space where I can prepare medicine?”
“Medicine?”
Why was she suddenly talking about preparing medicine? Luka’s eyes grew questioning.
“I’ll show you the way.”
“I’ll take you.”
Two others stepped forward at the same time to replace him: Crown Prince Aseraian and Princess Nailia.
“…….”
“…….”
The two exchanged a steady gaze.
‘I told you to stop showing interest.’
‘I didn’t say I would stop.’
Looking at Crown Prince Aseraian’s gently smiling face, Princess Nailia’s brow furrowed slightly, and she quickly reached out to grasp Seres’s arm.
“She’s my friend, so I’ll show her the way.”
Friend? Me? Since when? At Princess Nailia’s gesture of linking arms, Seres’s expression turned bewildered.
“Let’s go.”
But she didn’t pull her hand away. After all, Nailia, whom she’d crossed paths with frequently at the Academy, seemed more approachable than Crown Prince Aseraian.
Step. Pause.
“……?”
Yet the moment she took a step forward, Nailia hesitated and stopped in her tracks.
Wondering what was wrong, she threw the princess a questioning look—and Nailia glanced back at her aide, Luka, with an awkward expression.
“Which way should I go?”
Luka let out a quiet sigh to himself. There was no chance she’d be familiar with the layout of the Arcane Tower, having rarely visited before.
“Please follow me.”
In the end, Seres and Nailia had no choice but to follow quietly behind Luka as he led the way.

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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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