He was originally the Emperor’s personal physician, but since the Marchioness was suffering from the same illness as the Emperor, the Crown Prince had arranged for him to examine her with the Emperor’s permission.

Although the Lavernia family had their own physician for the Marchioness’s illness, he, who was called the Imperial Court’s best physician, was involved.

“Yes, yes…”

The elderly doctor said, clicking his tongue in disbelief.

It was understandable, as all the excellent physicians in the Imperial Palace had been working on it for years, and barely slowing down the progression of the disease was the best they could do.

The elderly doctor checked the Marchioness’s pulse several times and examined her condition, then nodded firmly.

“Your body is still weak and there’s certainly a need for more detailed examinations, but there are no signs of the previous symptoms at all. And now… your current weakness seems to be just a temporary symptom that you can fully recovered from.”

“…Complete recovery? But I heard it’s incurable?”

“Yes… we thought so, but it seems there was… a way.”

The Imperial physician just spoke blankly to Marquis Lavernia.

“Did you cure this?”

The Imperial physician asked, grabbing both forearms of the Lavernia family’s physician with gleaming eyes.

“Ah, no… This was… Miss Serena…”

“Serena… Ah. Come to think of it, I heard she’s been looking after His Majesty the Emperor’s condition recently…”

The Imperial physician sighed lowly at the fact he belatedly recalled.

When he heard that the Duchess, who was famous for being a troublemaker and a headache, was looking after His Majesty the Emperor’s illness, he even thought that the Crown Prince might be trying to take the Emperor’s life.

Because it was common for a sick former emperor’s death to be attributed to natural causes, even when foul play was suspected, often to allow a controversial successor to claim the throne without suspicion

“…It’s unbelievable.”

Hearing that small mutter, Marquis Lavernia’s eyebrows twitched.

“What’s unbelievable?”

“Well, it’s the Duchess of Kelahinum, isn’t it?”

Marquis Lavernia’s eyes narrowed.

But, without noticing this, the physician continued to speak freely.

“I heard that she causes so much trouble everywhere that it’s too hard to clean up, and people quit their jobs all the time wherever she’s involved…”

Marquis Lavernia became greatly offended.

No matter how much of a troublemaker or headache she might be, what was he thinking, speaking ill of a child in front of their parents?

“Your tongue is extremely loose.”

Hearing the sharpness in that voice, the Imperial physician who had been answering naturally covered his mouth with a startled expression.

It was because he felt anger in the other’s voice.

“Hm? What did you say about my daughter?”

“Ah, it’s nothing! I’m sorry, I spoke thoughtlessly without discretion.”

“It seems you think like that often, for it to come out so smoothly.”

The Imperial physician closed his mouth tightly, squeezed his eyes shut, and shook his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why do something you need to apologize for?”

“Well, I’m truly ashamed. I’m sorry.”

The old physician just bowed his head, unable to think of any excuse.

Because there was nothing else he could say except apologize.

“I didn’t know you would get so angry, so I just…”

“What father wouldn’t get angry when his daughter is insulted right in front of him?”

“But…”

There was a reason why the Imperial physician spoke without filtering what he should say.

Usually, even when such talk came up, Marquis Lavernia would frown but didn’t particularly get angry about it.

That was also why the Imperial physician, being him, failed to guard his words properly.

“I’m truly sorry…”

“But what?”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

The old physician, having survived in the Imperial Palace for a long time, knew well how to handle such situations.

It’s best to just prostrate oneself and grovel.

“I asked for a reason.”

“Well…”

“Are you not going to speak?”

“You, you don’t usually get angry, so I made a mistake.”

“……”

Marquis Lavernia paused at the old physician’s words.

He was taken aback by the unexpected words that came out. He slowly inhaled and then clenched his fist.

“I did that…?”

“Yes, yes… But I should have been more careful with my words first, I acted presumptuously without realizing your usual consideration.”

The Imperial physician quickly prostrated himself.

Marquis Lavernia was shocked.

That’s because he had never thought about it that way.

To the extent that people around him would speak ill of her so casually even in front of him, her father.

“…What exactly have you been doing all this time?”

Asked the Marchioness of Lavernia, Charlotte Lavernia, who had been listening quietly.

“…Nothing.”

Answered the Marquis of Lavernia, Irdin Lavernia. Literally, he had done nothing.

He hadn’t cared how his daughter was treated, one way or another.

‘Why on earth did I do that?’

He couldn’t find a proper reason.

He just didn’t care much about it.

If asked whether he didn’t take care of his son, Nocturne Lavernia, that wasn’t the case either.

‘It’s really strange, why only Serena, and to such an extent…’

Did he come to not care?

It’s true that she was mature. So it’s also true that she needed less attention.

But he had no idea it had come to this extent.

Marquis Lavernia frowned, unable to shake off a nagging feeling while thinking it was his fault.

‘At this rate… I think I understand why she wanted to leave the family so badly.’

Perhaps he never had the right to stop her in the first place.

‘Come to think of it, when I told Nocturne to apologize to Serena, there’s been no news since then.’

Marquis Lavernia’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s fortunate that she’s fully recovered. My wife will be cared for by my daughter and her physician from now on, so you don’t need to come anymore. You’ve done well until now. The butler will give you compensation before you leave.”

“No, you don’t have to give me anything. I just acted presumptuously and I’m truly sorry.”

Marquis Lavernia didn’t respond to that apology.

Because he had no right to do so.

‘…Now that she’s cured, she’ll say she wants to leave again.’

He briefly considered whether he should lie that his wife was still sick even though she had been diagnosed well enough to get out of bed, then held his head in both hands in self-loathing.

‘I’m such trash…’

And he felt like trash himself.

“I-if I may be so bold… would it be possible to meet the Duchess?”

His face contorted.

“What are you saying?”

“About the treatment method, I’d like to ask… I know it’s shameless, but I understand there are many people suffering from the same illness, not just His Majesty.”

Marquis Lavernia’s face contorted.

“Are you asking me to introduce my daughter to someone who casually insulted her right in front of me?”

“…I’m truly sorry about that part. I’ll be careful from now on…”

“That’s the problem. That attitude of insulting my daughter in your mind while hiding it completely when you meet her!”

Marquis Lavernia said.

“Do you know how lovely and smart my daughter is!”

“…Pardon?”

“And you’re asking me to personally introduce a sly fox like you? It’s impossible even if dirt gets in my eyes.”

“Then if we put dirt in your eyes…”

The old physician who was answering closed his mouth and lowered his eyes.

“I’m sorry…”

“I haven’t been forgiven yet either! I can’t let your apology be accepted first!”

‘…So it was about that.’

The old physician blinked with a bewildered expression, then awkwardly smiled and bowed.

“Then perhaps… if things are resolved well, I would be grateful if you could create an opportunity just once.”

“I’ll think about it, but don’t expect much.”

“…Of course, the young lady probably wouldn’t want to meet me…”

“I also have a high chance of not being forgiven. My daughter scares me too.”

“……”

The old physician thought,

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed he had chosen the wrong person to ask.

“Yes, I understand.”

Like the experienced physician he was, instead of pressing further on his words, he promptly chose to bow and retreat.

‘…Surely the young master of Lavernia was in the Imperial Palace.’

He just decided to change who he would ask.

Because he saw no answer with Marquis Lavernia.

It was the quick judgment of a person with excellent experience.