Side Story 21
(Alice’s Story 10 Years Later)

It happened about a month after Alice started working at the Imperial Palace.

That day, Grand Duke Perna from the neighboring Kalmar Kingdom was visiting. To strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

However, that was just the official reason, and the reality was somewhat different. The Grand Duke hadn’t come to meet Antias simply to build friendly relations.

At the dinner held to entertain him, the Grand Duke subtly revealed his true reason for visiting the Empire.

“For maintaining the relationship between Ionia and Kalmar going forward, I think we need a stronger bond. What do you think?”

“A bond?”

Antias looked at Perna and asked.

“The First Princess of Kalmar Kingdom is coming of age. She is beautiful and wise.”

‘So that’s what he wanted to talk about…’

Antias could understand why the Grand Duke brought up the princess. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard such talk.

He had heard until his ears were numb about marrying into a powerful family to strengthen the imperial authority. Now that imperial power had somewhat stabilized, people were making a fuss about his age and saying he should take an empress.

One way or another, people seemed very interested in who would sit beside him.

“I appreciate the proposal, but I have no plans to take an empress yet.”

Antias rejected his proposal in the most courteous tone possible. For a moment, the Grand Duke’s green eyes narrowed slightly.

Taking a bite of the dessert that had been served, he continued speaking.

“I hear there are rumors that Your Majesty has a lady in mind… Is it related to that?”

A lady in mind? He wondered where such rumors were circulating. It was quite an excessive rumor for someone who didn’t even have time to meet people due to work.

“That’s not the case. I simply want to say that our two countries’ friendly relations will continue even without marriage.”

Well, he probably won’t back down with such diplomatic words.

Antias swallowed such inner thoughts and smiled.

He was famous for being persistent in getting what he wanted. Due to this personality, he had earned quite a reputation for competence despite his young age.

So while he expected the uncomfortable conversation to continue, contrary to his expectations, Perna withdrew quickly.

“I understand. Then let’s leave this topic here.”

He doesn’t seem like someone who would give up so easily. Though Antias found it strange, he was relieved.

At that moment, Perna’s body suddenly collapsed and fell to the floor. Antias quickly ran to him.

“Grand Duke Perna!”

He was lying on the floor, breathing heavily as if in pain. Antias hurriedly ordered a nearby servant.

“Call a doctor, quickly!”

As Perna’s condition was getting worse, the person who arrived running through the corridor was none other than Alice. As soon as she entered, Alice quickly approached Perna and examined his condition.

“Do you have any food allergies? For example, to bizz berries?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Food allergies!”

The Grand Duke looked at Alice with a severely swollen face. In a situation where he suspected someone had poisoned his food, she was asking about food allergies. And to make matters worse, the person they brought as a doctor was a young woman.

“I’ll give you an injection first.”

When Perna remained silent, Alice took out a syringe from her bag to administer medicine.

“What would a young girl like you know…”

Though he could barely speak due to his swollen throat, he knocked away Alice’s hand, refusing her examination. The syringe that fell from Alice’s hand rolled across the floor before stopping.

Looking at the fallen syringe, Alice muttered in a cold voice.

“I may not know much, but I do know you’ll die if left like this.”

“What?”

At Alice’s sarcasm, Perna glared at her with wide eyes. Alice continued speaking without blinking, apparently used to such reactions.

“Since you find me so unreliable, I should pray that the angel coming down from heaven is male.”

“How dare you…!”

Antias felt like laughing despite the tense situation. How is her personality still exactly the same?

“Please hold his arms.”

The first to react to her firm request was, of course, Antias. As if it was the most natural thing, Antias grabbed both of Perna’s arms to stop his movement.

“What are you doing? Don’t tell me you put poison in the food…!”

“Grand Duke, none of us poisoned your food. And she is a competent doctor.”

Antias looked at Perna with a serious face. Of course, it was uncertain how much he understood in this situation. His eyes still burned with anger.

In that brief moment while the two were talking, Alice quickly administered the injection and ordered the servants.

“I’ve given emergency treatment, move him to his room.”

As Perna was carried out on a stretcher by the servants, his expression still showed he couldn’t accept the situation. He muttered in a voice that seemed about to give out that he would report this to his kingdom.

After Perna left, Antias pressed his forehead, as if he had a headache from the unexpected situation.

“Why did the Grand Duke suddenly become like that?”

“It must be because of the bizz berries.”

Alice answered.

“Bizz berries?”

“I heard he collapsed while eating dessert.”

If it was poison, he was speaking rather clearly. Moreover, if he only had facial and throat swelling with difficulty breathing, it was clearly an allergic reaction rather than poison.

What he had eaten before collapsing was bizz berry tart.

“Since it’s a fruit that doesn’t grow in Kalmar, he probably didn’t know. That he was allergic to it. Well, don’t worry. He won’t die.”

When Alice spoke dismissively and tried to leave, she looked at Antias who couldn’t easily shake off his concern. Though she wanted to tell him to handle the rest himself and leave, somehow his appearance weighed on her mind.

Even if they were no longer like they used to be, it seems she couldn’t help but worry about him.

“I’ll monitor the Grand Duke’s condition. I’ll explain so he understands when he wakes up. So don’t worry too much.”

“No. No, I should explain.”

Antias corrected his unconsciously casual speech while talking to Alice. Somehow, only in front of Alice did he keep forgetting that he was the Emperor.

“The Grand Duke will have much to say to me. So please leave it to me, Your Majesty.”

Why did the title ‘Your Majesty’ from her lips feel so uncomfortable to hear? Antias pondered the reason briefly before reluctantly nodding.

Fortunately, as Alice said, relations with the Kalmar Kingdom didn’t sour. Perna also cleared up the misunderstanding about poison as his symptoms improved.

Alice’s efforts played a big part in that outcome. She had to work hard for a while to make that ill-mannered man understand.

The next morning, after coming out of Perna’s room, Alice stomped down the corridor shouting.

“He’s not even grateful that I saved his life, all talk and no… Ugh, this is why I didn’t want to come to the Imperial Palace, ahhh!”

The sight of her messing up her hair while shouting pricked the conscience of Antias who happened to be passing by.

After all, it was none other than him who had recommended Alice to Robert.

* * *

“Doesn’t the Imperial Palace seem a bit unsettled these days?”

The infirmary was peaceful after a wave of busy work had passed. Alice, who was briefly enjoying the peace, suddenly asked Robert.

“That’s because His Majesty’s birthday is coming up.”

“Ah…”

She had always been late to notice the changing seasons, and now it seems the season when roses bloom had returned.

“There will be a banquet.”

“I suppose so. I hear the Princess of Kalmar is coming too.”

“Ah, that time…”

The mention of Kalmar reminded her of someone. That man who had unpleasantly dismissed her.

“But why the Princess?”

“I hear she’s coming to express gratitude for the incident concerning Grand Duke Perna.”

Robert looked at Alice with a light laugh.

“The Princess instead of himself? And now, after almost half a year has passed?”

“Well, I don’t think that’s the only reason.”

At his words, Alice nodded with an “Ah–” in understanding. With the Princess coming in person, the reason was obvious. What an excuse.

Without realizing it, Alice imagined Antias dancing with the Princess. Just imagining how well they would look together made her heart beat uncomfortably.

It’s not just the Princess who’s vying for the position of Empress. Distinguished noble ladies would be lining up behind her.

Antias was already of marriageable age, and he couldn’t keep that seat beside him empty forever, so he would have to make a choice.

She didn’t know why she kept reminding herself of this obvious fact.

Even while knowing her own figure was too humble to fit among them.

“You should take that day off and enjoy the banquet too.”

“It’s fine. You never know what might happen.”

Alice shook her head at Robert’s suggestion.

Even if she went to the banquet, with her limited social experience, she would clearly end up just watching nervously from a corner like a sack of barley.

There was no need to see Antias dancing with other ladies with her own eyes. It’s better to just work instead.

“But doctor…”

“What is it?”

“Why did you call me here?”

She voiced the curiosity she had been meaning to ask when she had the chance, trying to clear her head of thoughts about Antias.

“Well, because you had the best grades.”

“Weren’t you concerned that I’m a woman?”

“Gender doesn’t matter much when it comes to saving lives. And…”

Robert, who was about to add something, closed his mouth. Perhaps it was age making his tongue looser.

“More importantly, isn’t it hard working at the Imperial Palace?”

“It’s not that hard. I’m used to nobles…”

She was hardened to their discrimination and contempt. That’s why she tried harder not to lose.

But sometimes she wondered what she was doing.

Whether it was better to bend than to break. Whether she should live compromising with reality like this.

Robert watched Alice’s dark expression and carefully spoke up.

“If working at the Imperial Palace doesn’t suit you, I can write you a recommendation letter to complete your remaining three years elsewhere. A hospital in the capital would be fine, or even a quiet countryside hospital. Somewhere you can work comfortably.”

Alice looked at Robert in surprise at the unexpected proposal.

“So think about it.”