Chapter: 14
Late at night, in the Crown Prince’s Palace of the Raizenberg Empire.
A blond man lying on his bed slowly sat up.
He called out a name toward the empty balcony.
“Scarlett. Are you there?”
“Did you call for me?”
A man wrapped in a black robe appeared from the darkness. He naturally settled down on one knee.
“Report on the current situation of the Karseido Duke’s family.”
At the blond man’s command, the robed man began reporting on the family’s recent affairs.
“As you know, the atmosphere has changed somewhat since the new personal physician arrived.”
“You mean it has improved?”
“Yes. According to our informants, that is the case. Also, they have recently been purchasing garlic in large quantities.”
An incredulous laugh escaped the blond man’s lips.
“Garlic? The spice?”
“Yes. They reportedly purchase more than one sack every day.”
Even if they ate garlic with every meal, they would probably only eat one or two cloves at most. Why were they buying so much?
“…It seems the Duke is quite fond of that young personal physician. Judging by how he lets her do whatever she wants.”
“I intend to slowly determine just how much he favors her from this point onward. That personal physician will certainly prove to be a useful card.”
“Leave.”
The blond man, having had his curiosity satisfied, gave the order.
The man in the robe immediately disappeared into the darkness.
In the place where he had vanished, a faint red glow flickered.
Left alone, the man got out of bed.
He picked up the crutch lying on the floor.
He staggered as he tried to maintain his balance, then suddenly threw the crutch down in irritation.
At the loud noise, a maid rushed into the room.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, there was a loud noise just now—”
“Don’t come in! Get out right now!!”
The maid, frightened by the shouting, hurriedly backed away.
The blond Crown Prince, unable to contain his anger, slammed the crutch down once more.
“Haa, haa…”
The Crown Prince’s right leg was severely withered compared to his left.
He repeatedly tried to put strength into his leg, but eventually collapsed onto the bed.
After staring blankly at the ceiling for a long while, he muttered,
“Karseido Duke… Just wait a little longer. Soon, I’ll take everything you have.”
He laughed aloud.
That eerie laughter lingered throughout the Crown Prince’s Palace for a long time.
The maids and knights outside could only hold their breath.
The only way to survive beside the mad Crown Prince was to simply close one’s eyes and ears.
“What about the macarons?”
That was the first thing Kaylen said when we returned to the Duke’s estate.
I showed him my empty hands with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t buy them.”
“What?! I endured all that time eating nothing but broccoli, so why didn’t you bring—”
“A dark mage appeared.”
Everain interrupted, but Kaylen, blinded by his obsession with macarons, didn’t hear him.
“Did they not have brown sugar flavor?”
“After eating nothing but broccoli, has your brain turned into broccoli too? I said a dark mage appeared, not brown sugar.”
At the cold remark, Kaylen immediately shut his mouth.
Still unable to let go of his disappointment over the macarons, he checked on my condition.
“A macaron—or rather, a dark mage appearing in the middle of the market… Were you injured anywhere?”
“I’m fine because Sir Everain protected me. However… I think they stole something precious to me.”
“Did they take your pocket watch?”
Duke Blasion walked toward us from the end of the hallway.
I nodded.
“Yes. Probably.”
“Let’s move somewhere else for now. This doesn’t seem like something we should discuss while standing here.”
Following the Duke’s suggestion, we gathered in his study.
The Duke asked me first.
“How much do you know about dark mages, Doctor?”
Having read the original story, I was able to answer immediately.
“They’re a group made up of people who were expelled from the Magic Tower after studying forbidden magic for several hundred years, right?”
“Correct. My guess is that they became interested in you after hearing the rumors about you.”
“That’s quite troublesome.”
I sighed lightly.
Dark mages were enemies not only of the Magic Tower but also of the medical community.
They used illegal drugs manufactured with dark magic as a means of raising funds.
‘The role of the dark mages in the original story was… to become the bridge that brought the heroine and male lead together, right?’
It was during the process of their kidnapping the heroine that the Duke realized his feelings for her.
And in the final scene, there was the ultimate cliché: the princess carry.
“What am I supposed to do now? I don’t even have a weapon I know how to use.”
“Please don’t worry, Doctor Frencia. Now that you have become a member of this household, the Karseido Duke’s family has a duty to protect and safeguard you. Isn’t that right, Duke?”
Kaylen’s warm words nearly brought tears to my eyes…
But I immediately pointed out the correction.
“I’m a contract employee hired by the Duke. And we’re coworkers, not family.”
“…Yes, of course I know that. I only meant that we should treat each other like family…”
“There is no such thing as a family-like workplace in this world. I want a cold relationship established through a salary appropriate to my abilities and a proper employment contract.”
This time, it seemed as though tears were welling up in Kaylen’s eyes.
I hurriedly added an explanation.
“Of course! I’m extremely grateful and sorry that you’re willing to protect me. So, what should I do from now on?”
The Duke, Kaylen, and Everain exchanged glances.
As though this was a familiar situation, the Duke explained what we should do next.
“Since they have made such an obvious move, they will act again soon. So stay inside this estate and refrain from going outside for the time being.”
“I’ll strengthen the knights’ security even further.”
I had no choice but to nod.
Without knowing at all why the dark mages were targeting me, a week passed.
While I was going about my usual routine of managing Kaylen’s diet, I finally learned what had happened to my pocket watch.
It was because Adrian had sent me a letter.
Dear Lionel,
How have you been?
After meeting you last time, I spent a long time thinking by myself. And I realized something new.
The problem wasn’t you, Lionel. It was me. I was the one who needed to make an effort for you.
Over the past month, I have worked incredibly hard for you. So won’t you meet me just once? Just once, so you can see the new me?
If you come to meet me, I’ll return your watch.
Looking forward to the day we meet again,
Adrian Dorset, who loves you.
“Kaylen. Burn it.”
Kaylen immediately shoved the letter into the fireplace.
I turned around and asked the Duke,
“Duke. How much would the settlement cost if someone were arrested for assault?”
It probably sounded completely out of nowhere to the Duke, but I was serious.
When the Duke looked at Kaylen, he answered instead.
“It depends on the severity of the assault, but if the injuries require around two weeks of treatment, it would probably be between 100,000 and 300,000 gold.”
“Thank you, Advisor. So, Duke, could you pay that for me? As part of my employee benefits.”
“…So, in the end, you’re asking me to pay your settlement fee?”
Of the three people who fell silent for a moment, the Duke was the first to ask.
So even the term ‘settlement fee for getting beaten up’ existed in this fantasy world.
I nodded deeply.
“Yes. Exactly.”
I had studied so hard.
I had resolved to treat so many people.
But there were people in this world who didn’t respond to kindness.
There were bastards who didn’t understand rejection.
So now, the only thing left was violence.
“I’ve finally made up my mind. I’m going to beat that crazy bastard to a pulp.”
The Duke, who had been looking at me, smiled meaningfully.
“That is quite a remarkable determination. So, are you planning to storm into the Viscount Dorset family estate right now?”
“Yes. I’m going right now.”
“Then I’ll come with you.”
“What?”
That was a little unexpected.
I waved both hands.
“Duke. It’s enough if you just pay the settlement fee for me. This is a personal matter, and I can’t cause you trouble like this…”
“Now that the dark mages are involved, this is no longer merely a personal matter concerning you. I also need to investigate. Besides, I’m curious how much the settlement fee will be.”
Kaylen and Everain also approached me.
With serious expressions, they spoke to me.
“Doctor. You may think of me as nothing more than a coworker, but aren’t coworkers sometimes people you see for longer than your own family? I’ll honor that bond and protect you.”
“If His Grace the Duke is going, then I’ll go as well.”
I opened my eyes wide.
Then I looked troubled.
Finally, I held out my hand.
After all, having four people go together made me feel much more reassured than going alone.
“Then, if you don’t mind… I’ll be counting on you.”
On a night when a bright full moon hung in the sky,
we headed toward the Viscount Dorset family estate.
