Doctor Resignation

The carriage arrived in perfect paradise. The big shop sold all kinds of the experimental equipment.

“So what kind of glass should we add, sir?”

Diel followed Perelman and me with a notebook to jot down the important ingredients we were about to buy.

“Based on the size, of course.”

“It has to be by size.”

Perelman and I answered at the same time.

“Then what kind of syringe……”

Whenever Diel asked us a question, we always answered at the same time.

“The syringe must be from the Veria region.”

“The syringes from the Veria region are the most hygienic.”

I was a bit embarrassed when we had the same opinion about all the items.

Diel who was writing the items we ordered carefully approached me and whispered, “Do all doctors have the same eyes?”

“No, do you want us to buy differently?”

“But why do you guys keep choosing the same items?”

“I think we have the same taste.”

“I hate to say this, but……” Diel glanced at Perelman who was checking some surgical materials away from us. “Since you two have the same brown hair, I almost thought that I was stuck in family shopping time.”

“Diel.” I sighed. “The most common hair color on this continent is brown.”

“Yes, I know.” Diel nodded his head. “I’m just saying. It’s clear anyway.”

“……”

“You can pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.”

“I know that’s not a compliment. Come on, quickly. That person is already waiting for us with an annoyed expression.”

I grabbed Diel’s wrist and dragged him towards Perelman who was still examining some surgical materials.

I think Perelman’s wealth is the most on the continent.

Even though I’m an orphan living in a small area, I can’t believe I can shop without seeing the price……

‘Every year, he renovates his daughter’s room and buys a few dresses and accessories to match.’

Indeed, if he had not lost his wife and daughter, he would have been active in the Imperial research team by now.

The Imperial medical team is led by the Prince and is a top research organization. It was difficult to apply for the job because I was an ordinary person without any social status.

‘If Perelman wasn’t busy looking for his daughter, he would have made a great achievement.’

At least he’s wandering around the continent for a reason. In my eyes, he is a pathetic man.

It was not easy for one person to acknowledge another as a genius.

Perelman and I don’t communicate often, but we acknowledge each other’s shortcomings and turn them into our strengths.

Diel has finished recording the list that we put in the shopping cart. I’ve also bought the things I wanted.

The dispatch will be managed by the mercenaries and Diel will handle his plans accordingly.

We got back on the carriage and headed to the port.

“Thank you. I will study everything. Including the new method of the paternity test.”

“……”

I just smiled because Perelman remained silent.

“Of course, I hope you find your daughter this time so you don’t have to take the test.”

“Sure,” Perelman answered in a hoarse voice.

Perelman who was silent for a while suddenly coughed.

“Lise.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Well……”

“Yes…..?”

“……”

“Please speak, sir.”

“……better than dresses, right?”

I couldn’t understand clearly since he was mumbling. I tilted my head in confusion.

‘Dresses? What dress?’

Then he whispered, “The dresses that madam gave you.”

I opened my mouth and then hastily closed it.

“It’s a lot better than a three-tiered strawberry cake, right?”

“……well.”

“Doctors know the minds of other doctors best.”

Even though I didn’t answer properly, Perelman leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed and a satisfied expression on his face.

“My gift is better in many ways, right?”

Diel sighed and urged me calmly.

“Just say yes, please.”

“Yes.”

It was a strange farewell in many ways.

***

I had to visit Erhan’s room when I heard that he was suffering from muscle pain after dinner.

“Sword drill[1]?”
[1] An exercise done to improve someone’s swordfighting skill.

I asked in surprise and put some potion onto his leg to temporarily relieve the pain.

No wonder he was in pain because I just prescribed some to prevent him from getting sick from light jogging.

“So far, didn’t I say that you can only do light exercise?”

“But you said I can’t be like this forever.”

I sighed as I glanced at Erhan’s skinny legs.

“Of course……, phew I still feel like I’m raising a baby……”

“What baby?” Erhan asked. “Zikel said I was pretty good. But I don’t know if I can really believe him.”

“Why don’t you just believe me?”

“Frederick said I was slow. I can’t even speak properly because I’m a spoiled young master.”

“No, I didn’t get to hit the ball that Master Erhan threw on the first day we played together. You must be very athletic.”

“Well, I’ll take your word for it.”

Erhan said with a slight frown on his forehead because his leg hurt.

“Go sleep. I will still be here.”

Now it’s my habit to hold Erhan’s hand until he falls asleep.

I blanketed him, dimmed the lights, and held his thin hand gently.

Black eyes with long eyelashes stared at me.

“Lise.”

“Yes…..?”

“Did you have fun today?”

“Yeah because I haven’t been out in a long time.”

“Did you have dinner with Sir Diel?”

“I had dinner with the maid and the horseman. We eat together even though I’m a commoner.”

“Is that so?”

“Why are you smiling?”

“Eat with me tomorrow, Lise.”

“Sure.”

“I had to get up early because Zikel said training starts at dawn.”

“Then go to sleep quickly.”

I held his hand gently and patted his chest which was covered by the blanket.

“I will be by your side.”

After a while, Erhan closed his eyes.

I smiled, brushing his black hair.

“You know, Lise.”

“Yes?”

“I always thought I might be dead every time I woke up. I always feel really sick when it gets dark, so I don’t want the night to come.”

I listened to him quietly.

I feel sorry for how lonely and anxious he is when he is sick.

“I don’t hate nights anymore since you’re with me in my room.”

I stroked his hair gently.

“I will protect you from things scarier than night.”

He has a sweet smile on his face and said, “I promise. I will be healthy and protect you from all sorts of things.”

I didn’t really trust him, but I finally nodded politely.

Even just by becoming healthy and securing the seat of Casseus’ ruler, he already had to protect many.

“Yes,” I answered, looking into his glistening black eyes. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

The alarm bell rang as I returned to my room after seeing Erhan asleep.

‘Red light? It’s from madam!’

It was clear that she didn’t want to tell anyone else as I was the only one who heard the bell ringing, even though the Duchess should have called for a maid or servant.

How long has it been ringing?

I started running from my room.

I was in such a hurry that I quickly entered the madam’s room without knocking.

It’s terrible to think that the bell has been ringing the whole time when I was in Erhan’s room.

‘If I missed something!’

It’s not yet time for the Duchess to die, but I don’t know the details.

After all, she would be dead in six years. It was then that I rushed to open the Duchess’ room without knocking.

“……Lise?”

“Madam!”

The sight in front of me made my legs feel very weak.

The Duchess dropped her handkerchief with a very shocked face…… It was covered in blood.

It wasn’t just a small amount of blood.

I swallowed my breath at the sight of the blood, clenching my fists.

‘No sign of blood clots in the medical journal!’

Looking at his complicated face, I think I’ve caught his fear of blood on the handkerchief.

Seeing her complicated expression, I think she was also confused and scared of the blood on the handkerchief.