The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

33 – Cold Medicine (2)

My office wasn’t a famous restaurant with limited menu items, but knights stormed in like high tide, each of them making an uproar.

“Teacher, we simply can’t recover from the infectious disease. Please help us.”

“Our brigade’s training has already been suspended for five days straight. We look horrible in front of the commander.”

Everyone had an urgent attitude.

Some had slurred speech or appeared feverish, indicating that they were suffering from a cold.

“Keep your distance from me. Anyone who enters within a 10-meter radius won’t get a response.”

“We’re also in a desperate situation. Please listen to us. Yesterday, one sick knight crossed the line and couldn’t even clean the barracks….”

One particularly talkative person stood out.

Bruno silently blocked his path, standing firmly in front of him.

“Step back.”

“No, I need to talk to the teacher…”

“Step back.”

As Bruno, with his massive build, looked down at them, the knights retreated all the way to the entrance of the office in fear.

When it comes to working alongside Tanya during shift rotations, Bruno proves quite useful.

“First, let me ask you something. Who did you hear that I received aspirin from?”

“Oh, so you’re talking about aspirin!”

“You mean the medicine? Is it a product made with divine power?”

“I heard it from Lieutenant Geut.”

The lieutenant who wrote the contract with me.

That careless guy. I should have kept a tighter watch on him.

“Well, anyway.”

Medicine is not a personal possession.

It is the correct duty of existence for it to be widely spread and benefit many.

This is in line with the spirit of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

It was quite a positive event that more people came to seek medicine.

If medicine spreads, my achievements will naturally increase, and the probability of a good ending will also increase. It’s a good opportunity.

“Okay, first thing to remember. Aspirin is a remedy that alleviates the symptoms of the current epidemic. It was made possible through the study of medicine… Ah, my mouth hurts.”

It’s not a task that can be explained every time someone asks until when.

If I have time, I should write a book at least.

No, it’s too troublesome to write it myself. I should have a secretary.

Ah, I don’t have a secretary or a nurse.

Other attending physicians have dozens of followers, why am I like this?

Why am I doing everything from making medicine to producing masks?

I should post a recruitment notice soon.

“First of all, the conclusion. I won’t give you aspirin.”

“What?!”

“Why not?! Isn’t this my clinic?”

The knights were shocked and gasped at my answer, which they did not expect.

The reason was simple.

There is no stock.

It will take about a week until the martial arts competition ends. It is too tight to make enough for the Moonlight Palace and the 2nd Battalion 1st Company by then.

But there’s no need to reveal my weakness.

I can’t provide any opportunities to belittle the faction that is already being ignored.

I leaned back on my chair and spoke.

“When I saw your knight insignia, you are from the 1st Division, the 1st Princess’s faction. The 3rd Division, the 1st Prince’s faction. Why should I be kind to those who receive benefits and wipe away their dirt?”

“No, when did we wipe away dirt….”

“I understand the urgency, but there is an order. If you barge into the office during working hours, it’s not proper. And you should bring appropriate compensation, shouldn’t you?”

“Well, I’m sorry about that.”

The knights looked surprised and tried to read my expression.

I could understand their impatience when some of them were sick and unable to move.

“I can’t give you medicine, but I can teach you a few methods. They have a much better effect than healing spells.”

“Really?!”

“Yes. Can you see what I’m using?”

The knights nodded.

“We were wondering about that earlier.”

“We thought it was a new fashion trend.”

“It looks somewhat handsome, too.”

I took out a spare mask from the drawer and showed them the structure.

“It doesn’t have to be exactly the same, but make it from cloth and cover your mouth and nose to protect yourself in daily life. That way, even if you don’t recover from the existing illness, the chances of it spreading will decrease, specifically by about 90%.”

“With just that?”

“The Moonlight Palace knights used to do it all the time, and their bodies were very healthy.”

“So, the cloth was the secret! Thank you, Master!”

The knights bowed and quickly left the office.

Next, they will probably attack the Royal Dressing Room. Their behavior is straightforward.

“It’s easy to handle.”

At least in the palace, they seem to be honest, with no ulterior motives.

I don’t really understand politics, but it’s like they follow the lord who provides them with good food.

Tanya seems to have the same temperament.

Moonlight Palace knights, like Asella, are unique. They have a sensitive political intuition.

No, the Moonlight Palace is unique in every aspect within the palace.

“But Bruno, do you think he’ll be fine?”

“What do you mean?”

“Since there’s no way to cure a cold other than naturally healing, it will take over a week to recover. Even if we wear masks from now on, the other faction’s knights won’t be as energetic during the non-combat competition.”

“Well, it would be good if they are energetic.”

“I don’t like it. If we get involved with another faction and end up getting shattered, I’ll be tortured by Assela with magic.”

“Did the teacher have such a hobby?”

Bruno asked me with a very serious expression on his face.

I chuckled and leaned back in my chair.

“Thanks for the answer. I wanted to make sure.”

Oh, about the knights.

***

However, the next day, another external faction personnel attacked the office.

“Doctor Gotberg! You’re the physician that Ashella’s new advisor mentioned!”

It was quite refreshing since it wasn’t common to hear casual speech in the royal palace.

Moreover, it was a position where one could even call Ashella by name.

Her status was easy to ascertain.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Blasphemy is a big deal. I quickly stood up and respectfully greeted her.

She was a woman with blonde hair like Ashella but with emerald eyes reminiscent of extravagant jade, dressed in a dress that revealed her slim shoulders.

“Oh, my, I heard you were a notorious troublemaker in high society, but you seem to be well-contained, huh? So all those malicious rumors turned out to be baseless, right?”

The empire’s second princess, Lauga von Bürtemfeldt, shook my arm while laughing heartily.

Quite an informal princess.

“Ashella brought in a jobless fiancé and even gave him a job in the royal palace. I thought I would be an insignificant pillar. But this guy, so you knights are actually useful?”

She loves gossip and has a casual tone.

It matched the image and assumptions I had from the information I indirectly gathered or heard from Ashella.

Lauga is the fourth in line but is the second princess who shares the same mother as the second crown prince, Geork. However, as you can see, she is practically distant from the future emperor.

“hahahaha, it’s an honor for Your Highness to recognize my name. Although I had opportunities to get along with the knights, the story somehow made its way to the Ducale Palace where you reside.”

“You know my personal chambers’ name, and you’ve already finished checking the noblewomen of the palace? How meticulous. Considering how handsome you are, Ashella must have fallen head over heels for you.”

Lauga teased me relentlessly.

“Oh, there seems to be a misunderstanding. The skill I take pride in is not picking fights; it’s medicine and medical techniques.”

“She’s also taking it seriously. It’s a joke.”

Lauga laughed gleefully.

This lighthearted princess seems to have a mind full of bright pink thoughts.

I wouldn’t be unaware that our relationship, Asella and mine, is a strategic marriage based on political understanding.

“Why did the princess grace this humble place with her presence?”

Lauga quickly stretched out her hand towards my chin.

I didn’t like her casual gesture, so I withdrew my chin, and she narrowed her eyes.

Is she upset? She surely won’t accuse me of disrespect.

“Why do you react the same way as Asella in situations like this?”

Anyone would react the same. Who would stay still when a stranger boldly reaches out their hand?

“It’s about this thing called a mask. Did you make it?”

“Yes.”

“I saw the knights of the Moonlight Palace wearing it as they passed by. I tried asking Asella, but she dismissively shooed me away. Isn’t that too much? The closest sister in age in the royal family, yet she lacks charm like that.”

Why did we suddenly start talking about masks?

Engaging in a conversation with Lauga consumed a lot of mental energy. I couldn’t grasp the flow.

“Why are you interested in masks?”

“Oh, right. Make one for me too.”

So, that was the matter.

“The mask is an exquisite gift for Princess Asella. If I distribute it at my own discretion, it would be disrespectful to the princess.”

“Well, leave that to me. I’ll handle it well.”

“For the purpose of preventing the spread of epidemics, even a similar-looking mask made by me would be effective. However, I have my duties as a physician, so I can’t make as many as all of Princess Lauga’s knights and servants…”

“Huh? No, no. Just make one for me.”

Unexpectedly, Lauga extended her hand and said something.

“Only for the princess?”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Yeah, yeah. Well, Asella has quite chubby cheeks. But when she wears a mask, her jawline looks so elegant! Even though she’s my little sister, I feel like she can grow up to be a stunning beauty.”

Lauga had quite a good eye for aesthetics.

The mask has another important function.

It enhances one’s appearance.

Lauga said she wants to wear a mask to become a mage.

“Well, I can do that much if it’s just for one person.”

However, there is no reason for me to make it, especially without a reward.

When I subtly hinted, Rau immediately understood. He must have had plenty of experience attending social parties.

“You’re quite ambitious. As the Marquis’ heir and a physician, you don’t need money.”

No, I do need it.

Money always comes in handy.

Father is an uncommonly upright noble. Since he turns all his property into public funds, the von Gutberg Marquisate’s private wealth is enormous.

Above all, it’s property that I can’t use personally.

I’m just a wage earner for now.

“If I offer you a royal secret, would you be able to see me sewing with those hands?”

Rau casts an enchanting gaze.

While noble guests at the party might fall for that gaze and present all sorts of gifts, it doesn’t work on me.

Anyway, it’s Asella we’re talking about.

It’s merely a gaze that evokes aversion because it resembles the atmosphere she emanates.

The imminent task is to demonstrate our faction’s abilities to some extent at the martial competition.

If our faction’s evaluation rises, my treatment in the imperial court will improve accordingly.

The office will also move.

“The Princess doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the martial competition. What about you?”

“The martial competition? Wasn’t that the day of the sword and magic tournament held during the flower festival? It was fun to watch.”

“The Princess’s knights are also participating.”

“The kids will handle it themselves. They’ll enjoy sweating together in their youth.”

“If Your Highness doesn’t have to actively participate, may I request your permission to employ certain strategies when facing other princes and princesses?”

“What kind of strategies?”

Rau tilted her head curiously.

I answered lightly.

“It’s called trolling strategy.”

It’s efficient to take down fewer enemies.

Let’s shatter the board.