Engagement Ceremony (3)
A little time had passed since treating the emperor's arthritis. Thanks to the generous funding, life had been blissfully carefree.
"Your blood pressure is normal. You're good to resume activities."
After finishing Asella's morning checkup, I turned to head to the Imperial Medical Office, but she stopped me.
"Young master, you haven't forgotten the date, have you?"
I knew exactly what she meant.
"Today's my coming-of-age ceremony. As if I'd forget."
"We also have our engagement ceremony."
Asella took a deep breath, looking a touch tense.
"Unlike usual events, this one's mostly young nobles. Around our age."
"The ones about to inherit their family seats."
"Exactly. It's our chance to turn those kids into supporters of Moonlight Palace."
That was Asella's scheme. Breaking into the established social cliques wasn't easy. She'd been targeting young, up-and-coming nobles so far, betting they'd take over when the old guard retired and reshuffle the board. And looking at the guest list, it was packed with future power players—her eye for talent was spot-on.
"We'll hold the engagement ceremony and give a speech to rally the nobles."
"Brilliant idea. I'm curious just how captivating your speech will be to sweep them off their feet."
"I'm declaring my entry into the succession race."
"Pardon?"
That was one hell of a bombshell.
The current contenders for the throne were Kwunter, Heike, and Georg. Rauga had never been interested, and Georg's faction had weakened without its head. If Asella officially threw her hat in, it gave the nobles more early options to back. Their choice here could make or break their house for generations. To them, her announcement would be huge news—like a dark horse candidate in Korea suddenly declaring a presidential run and founding a new party.
With less than twelve hours to go, she could've mentioned this sooner.
"I'm sure Her Highness's speech will inspire many nobles to back Moonlight Palace."
As her loyal retainer, I had to cheer her on. If you don't want the red pill, just nod along positively, right?
Asella flashed a confident smirk, then suddenly reached out, brushing my bangs aside.
"What?"
"This suits you better. Young master, come home early and have Lucy fix your hair."
"Yes, ma'am. As you command."
I replied cheerfully and headed to the office.
As I started seeing regular patients, the clatter of hooves echoed outside.
"Ugh, incoming emergency patient!"
Chloe reported.
Holy knights unloaded a stretcher from the carriage with the patient.
Luckily, there was a gap in my schedule, so I used Diagnosis on the emergency case.
"Let's see. Construction worker? Fall-related fracture and bleeding. No surgery needed. Hugo, you take half."
"Yes, sir."
I directed the healers based on the diagnosis details.
The holy knights pulling the carriage back saluted crisply. I returned it lightly.
"Ambulance is working great."
"The citizens love it."
It was a sturdy carriage pulled by two strong stallions. The interior secured the stretcher, and it minimized external shocks and vibrations. We had three at the Imperial Medical Office and seven scattered around the capital for a total of ten in the pilot program. The attendants were holy knights loaned from a Moonlight Palace-supporting noble house. One side of the cargo area bore the imperial crest, the other a massive Moonlight Palace emblem—like a nightclub promo vehicle, doubling as advertising. Perfect.
"Must've cost a fortune. You sure it's okay?"
Hugo voiced needless worry.
"Heavenly Palace covered it all. Rare unlimited budget—gotta spend it big."
Ambrosia approved since it spread the emperor's benevolence far and wide.
"And you're using the brace and CPAP well? Spare parts stocked?"
"Yes, sir. All set."
Both were commissioned from the dwarf craftsman who made the mithril scalpel last time. No budget limits meant top quality—expensive magic stones for the electric parts, excellent performance. The emperor loved them, blocking Libio's vice-chief promotion for now.
Speaking of, I glanced at Libio—he was dutifully seeing patients as usual. Our eyes met by chance, and he dropped the kindly smile for patients, reverting to blank-faced indifference.
I've earned a proper grudge there.
He's not the type to back down quietly. I'd keep watching for shady moves.
Then hooves clattered again outside. Another ambulance.
Holy knights pre-checked injuries and only loaded severe cases, so emergencies weren't that frequent. This was quicker than usual pace.
But this carriage seemed more frantic.
"Emergency patient! Need help here…!"
A pale-faced holy knight shouted while bringing in the stretcher.
All eyes in the office turned.
"Hugo."
"Yes."
I rushed to the patient too. But Diagnosis hit a snag.
There were two stretchers.
"Two patients?"
"Y-yes…! Th-that's…!"
The knight's arms were already blood-soaked from transferring them. Both in bad shape. Two women in their sixties, similar builds, outfits, even hairstyles.
Twins. High-end clothes meant nobles at least.
"Inside first. Be gentle—they're critical. Hey, Chloe's team! Drop everything and assist!"
Moonlight Palace healers swarmed over.
I used Diagnosis.
One: concussion, skull fracture, lacerations, sprains. Other: lung contusion, arm/leg fractures—also critical.
"Accident?"
"Carriage collision! Narrow mountain road—they crashed off into the valley below!"
"How long ago?"
"Thirty minutes!"
The knight loaded the stretchers onto carts. Our healers took over, sticking close for emergency care en route inside—channeling holy power just to stabilize life signs.
Chloe noticed something mid-process.
"Huh? Those rings the patients are wearing…"
"I-imperial seals! Wait, no way…!"
Royals. Twins? I clocked who they were.
Emperor's sisters, Wanda and Geda.
Princesses. No wonder the knights freaked.
Letting royalty die meant massive accountability.
Doesn't matter who—patients on the brink.
Both need immediate surgery. But…
My hands were only two.
I dashed back to the treatment area and yelled.
"Archbishop Alberich! Need hands!"
Eyes turned; Alberich grumbled but approached.
He blanched at the patients.
"Ugh, critical. Nobles? Looks hopeless."
"Hopeless or not, we save them. Princesses Wanda and Geda."
"Wh-what?!"
Alberich jolted up, forehead instantly slick with cold sweat.
"I'll take one. You handle the other."
"Th-that's…"
He hesitated. We're dying here—what's the holdup?
"Hurry—time's critical."
"Injuries like these… I-I can't."
Alberich waved him off, stepping back. I grabbed his fleeing arm.
"Why not?"
He looked terrified.
"…They have personal physicians anyway. Protocol says they handle first in emergencies. No records here—what if underlying conditions make healing toxic?!"
"Their docs were aboard—unconscious but stable, getting field healing!" the knight reported.
Alberich's face hardened further.
"Archbishop, look at them. Not the time for rules."
"Exactly why I can't! Success means riches, failure means punishment. No chance anyway."
Burden turned to full panic.
"Your fault too, Gotberg."
"Mine?"
"You'll save yours no matter what. Fail the other, and I'm the inferior healer—finger-pointed in the office!"
"What kind of excuse is that?"
"No, it's…"
Desperate to dodge blame, spouting nonsense. Panicking healer was poison to patients.
Alberich was useless. No time for this—golden hour ticking.
Then a calm voice in my ear.
"Intriguing."
Libio had slipped between us unnoticed—like some assassin. He raised a hand.
"I'll take one."
Alberich gaped, unprepared.
"Y-you?"
"Yes. You said failing means losing to Gotberg here."
Libio adjusted his monocle.
"But I succeed, he fails? Possible, no?"
"What the—?"
I nearly swore. His usual meek facade aside, I'd almost fallen for it. Treating patients like tools?
Emperor's sisters—saving them meant huge favor and access. Perfect for his agenda.
"Which one, then."
Libio crossed to inspect the carts, eyeing the princesses like fish at market. Creepy.
"No time, you bastard. Straight to OR!"
"Apologies. Wanted the less injured one."
Insane. He was treating this like a casual duel.
I shoved him aside, moving the carts myself.
"Start healing now. I'll take the worse one. No games with patients."
He'd go all-out to one-up me—couldn't half-ass it.
"Carts to OR—move!"
Healers sprang into action. Training paid off; emergency team moved like one unit.
To Moonlight Palace office OR for full treatment.
Ours was the younger twin, Wanda.
"Whew."
I quenched my throat with water Chloe brought, took a deep breath, and prepped. Disinfected, changed to scrubs.
For our patient entering OR, Chloe readied transfusion and emergency anesthesia.
Quick X-ray and MRI for details, projected via crystal orb for the team.
Four healers ready to assist.
"Left lung contusion, multiple organ damage. Abdominal laceration. Straight healing rips guts, stops circulation, cardiac arrest. Bypass first, suture, then heal. Chloe, extracorporeal ready. Monitor O2 sat and BP."
Tree branch impaling left lung—near shutdown. Clogged now, but full collapse kills. Needed oxygenated blood flow first.
"Emergency fix fractures. Chest next."
"Got it!"
I took the scalpel.
"Commencing surgery."