Realization (2)
“You like him? Who likes who?”
At Asella’s puzzled question, Tanya answered calmly.
“Your Highness likes Teacher.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t like him.”
“No one knows but Your Highness.”
“No… ha, but.”
Asella stammered. The rare sight startled the head maid and escort knights waiting behind her.
“If we’re judging by like or dislike, I like Max too.” Asella desperately denied Tanya’s opinion.
“Lucy too. And you, Lady Tanya, I like well enough.”
“I am deeply honored.”
“But I don’t like the young lord!”
“My phrasing was poor.” Tanya took a sip of tea and corrected herself.
“Your Highness loves Teacher…”
“Enough!” Asella slammed the table with a thud.
“You’ve misjudged this one, Lady Tanya.”
“If Your Highness says so.”
Asella crossed her arms and turned her head away. After a brief silence, she countered.
“That can’t be. The fondness you’re talking about is that, right? Romantic affection between man and woman.”
“Precisely.”
“I’ve never felt that toward any man before.”
“Then it’s your first love.”
“What?”
To the stunned Asella, Tanya explained coolly.
“Affection explains most of the ‘strange symptoms’ you’ve described. You said the term ‘political fiancé’ bothers you.”
“Yeah.”
“You want to be true fiancés based on love, so that word keeps sticking.”
“Ha, the opposite. I just find him more annoying, so I hate even being engaged to him.”
“You hate him?”
“I hat…” Asella started to answer immediately, but for some reason, her mouth clamped shut. It felt like she couldn’t say it out loud.
“B-because he keeps doing things that annoy me. He disobeys my orders more and more, running off everywhere. He almost died, remember?”
“Your expectations rose with your affection, so you notice more.”
“Then what about sleeping? I used to sleep fine, but suddenly it’s uncomfortable—isn’t that because I hate him?”
“You’re more aware of him now. Heart racing, on edge—you said. That’s normal when a man and woman who like each other share a bed.”
“No way.”
The shocked Asella rolled her eyes, tears welling up.
“How do you know so much, Lady Tanya?”
“I always counsel my subordinates’ love troubles. Knight morale is the captain’s duty. Those burly brutes know nothing of women’s hearts.”
“If you’re right, I didn’t even know. My senses are on their level?” Asella pointed at her escort knight behind her.
“Wendel’s tangled five at once. Better than Your Highness, probably.”
“What?!”
Asella whipped around, glaring sharply at her knight named Wendel. His eyes quaked like an earthquake as he averted his gaze—a plea for rescue.
“Ha.”
A headache surged, and Asella rubbed her forehead, leaning back. Too much information at once. A truth she didn’t want to accept.
“Do northerners always speak so bluntly? You could soften it.”
“We’re direct. Why not say a stinky guy stinks?”
“No…”
“Love confessions too. If you like someone, grab ’em by the waist, hoist ’em up, and shout ‘marry me’—done.”
“...Really?”
“No, just knights and adventurers.”
“Phew.”
Asella, who’d feared Ras might actually hoist her, patted her chest in relief.
‘...Might not be bad, though.’
What am I thinking? Her thoughts had been veering strangely lately. Asella tore at her hair in self-loathing.
Me, in love? With Ras? That smirking, frivolous man? Me, who must rule the empire coldly as empress?
‘...Love, maybe not. But…’
Asella bit her lip. Thinking calmly, Tanya’s words held no flaws.
‘...I see.’
Asella decided to accept it somewhat. She might harbor feelings for Ras. A capable leader doesn’t deny advice just because it stings. And right or wrong, her emotions changed nothing about the situation.
‘...Ras is mine.’
Loyal retainer, nominal husband, or attachment doll—he was hers from head to toe. No escape. If emotions confused her treatment of him, lock him away and think slowly.
With her conclusion reached, Asella regained her usual composure.
“Lady Tanya.”
“Yes.”
“For disturbing a royal’s mind, three days’ confinement.”
“Understood. I wanted punishment for failing to protect Teacher anyway.”
“Include that too.”
“Thank you.”
“Take her away.”
Asella flicked her hand. Tanya shoved the last cake bite in her mouth and rose lightly.
“I’ll escort you.”
Two knights flanked her to the dungeon. One was Wendel, the named knight. He whispered to Tanya.
“Thanks for stepping up. Watching was frustrating.”
The other knight nodded. Advice for a lord knows no bad timing. Tanya shrugged.
“Teacher, the medicines for Wood Palace delivery are all ready. Please inspect.”
“Th-the newbie healers’ training materials… we need to add content here…”
“Gotberg Teacher, next month’s commoner rotation. Approval, please.”
“Tell us about the barbarian subjugation! Something with Her Highness, right? I wanted to go too!”
The last got a knuckle rap. Busy as hell—what tales? The Imperial Medical Office buzzed as always.
I stamped the waiting documents, grabbed my gown, and stood.
“Let’s do rounds. Palkenhain’s group today?”
“Yes. Ready. I’ll follow.”
Palkenhain had the healers lined up perfectly. His experience kept things smooth. He’d handled my duties well during the subjugation absence. Main physicians rarely did commoner rounds, but I went steadily to raise skill ranks. I volunteered when free.
Now over thirty Moonlight Palace healers, split into four rotations for load-sharing.
I stepped out first; subordinates followed with charts in tow.
“Ah, Moonlight Palace passing.”
“Back from barbarian subjugation.”
“His Majesty’s awarding medals, they say.”
“Hottest faction now.”
“All thanks to our chief physician.”
“Ours lags… jealous.”
Moonlight Palace faction’s white gowns stood out everywhere.
“Special patient today?”
“Here. Viscount Alberta’s son, basilisk tail sting. Rushed in last night—emergency care only.”
“Alberta viscounty’s far.”
“Carried three days for treatment.”
“See him first.”
We crossed to commoner wards. Factions bustled treating crowds.
“Ugh, Gotberg!” Alberich grimaced, grinding teeth at me. Treating with his faction.
“What’re you doing here?”
“Benchmarking your faction. Chief on rounds advertises the lord, right?”
Palkenhain explained. Not Heike’s order—probably panicked into it.
Patient waiting, so I ignored Alberich for treatment.
“Basilisk venom coagulates tissue. Three days in, necrosis starting. Healthy patient—can save the limb.”
Drew clotted blood, injected antidote, checked nerves. Painful for him, but success.
“Ugh, thank you. Thought I’d lose the leg.”
“Steel boots block it—wear in swamps. Checkup in three days.”
Prescription done, to general rounds. Antidote would’ve fixed quick; poor local healers delayed it. Commoners lack transport too. I volunteered because severe cases couldn’t reach us.
‘Ambulances would help.’
Even local routes would save lives. Palace vast—far injuries took 30-40 minutes carried.
‘Set up emergency carts.’
Plan for Asella later.
Finishing, heading to afternoon checks—surprise.
“Young lord.”
Asella stood there with escorts. Inspection?
We bowed in unison.
“Your Highness.”
“Working?”
No, strutting new gowns with minions. What else?
“By Your Highness’s grace, we healers focus, spreading Moonlight Palace’s fame.”
I looked up smoothly.
“What brings you to the Medical Office?”
“Young lord.” Asella said deliberately.
“Two months from now, your coming-of-age—our engagement ceremony too, formally.”
What the hell?