The Miracle of the Imperial Palace

The Founding Festival had concluded, and we were on our way home. Inside the carriage, I looked up to see Eri asleep on the opposite seat. She was fast asleep, using my lap as a footrest and Freya’s shoulder as a pillow.

“Mmm… uhe.”

Eri, her belly slightly distended from a hearty feast, stroked it with one hand while drooling onto Freya’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dress. Under normal circumstances, Freya would have scolded her for such a breach of etiquette. But perhaps she was exhausted, or perhaps she felt today was a special occasion—whatever the reason, Freya simply let her sleep, silently offering her shoulder.

Then, from the seat right next to me, Charlotte—having removed all her cumbersome accessories—muttered, “You certainly keep some very impolite guards, don’t you?”

“They say geniuses don’t bother with what others think of them.”

“Indeed. If it’s someone of Eri’s caliber, she has almost no peers to contend with, so there’s no reason for her to be bound by social norms.”

Perhaps it was because they were both geniuses. Charlotte didn’t seem to mind Eri’s rudeness in the slightest. Then again, Charlotte herself was the type to lightly disregard norms whenever it suited her.

“That aside, Young Master Nihilit… or rather, Julian.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“The promise we made at the party—it’s still valid, right?”

A promise? Ah, right. Charlotte and I had indeed made a pact. In exchange for her helping me diagnose the Imperial Princess, I had promised to walk her through the diagnostic process. She claimed the logical structure would help sharpen her deductive skills.

“Understood. Since we have some time before we reach home, I’ll explain it to you step by step.”

I immediately began to recount the process of diagnosing the Princess’s condition. From researching her medical history through rumors, to visual inspection of her entire body, and finally, confirming the state of her fingertips with Charlotte’s assistance. After synthesizing the series of clues, I had reached the conclusion that the Princess was suffering from Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome.

While listening to the explanation, Charlotte took a keen interest in the Raynaud’s phenomenon.

“What exactly is Raynaud’s phenomenon?”

“Patients like the Princess have blood vessels that become vulnerable to external stimuli due to internal attacks. Because of this, even a slight drop in temperature causes the vessels to contract abnormally. That is why the fingertips turn pale as blood flow is restricted.”

“So that’s why the Princess’s fingers turned white when I handed her the cold glass.”

“Excellent observation, Charlotte.”

Charlotte nodded slowly. Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she pulled a notebook from her pocket. As she flipped through the pages, she snapped her fingers.

“Now that I think about it, the principle sounds familiar. It’s similar to that ‘post-mortem lividity’ you taught me before.”

“Spot on. Ultimately, both post-mortem lividity and Raynaud’s phenomenon are areas that require an understanding of blood vessels.”

Post-mortem lividity. It was the first piece of forensic knowledge I had imparted to Charlotte. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠In forensics, one could say this concept accounts for more than half of the discipline. It refers to the phenomenon where blood settles in the lower parts of the body due to gravity after death, staining the skin. A forensic expert can learn much from it. Purple lividity on the back? Then the victim died lying on their back. Does it turn white when pressed with a finger? It means they haven’t been dead long. Is the color pink or green? Then it’s poisoning.

I had passed all this knowledge on to Charlotte. It was to maintain the illusion that I was still the superior rival. And now, she was connecting Raynaud’s phenomenon to lividity. It was a startling insight. After all, I had been planning to teach her about a symptom related to exactly that.

“Actually, there is a specific symptom that links Raynaud’s phenomenon and lividity.”

“Really?”

Charlotte’s eyes sparkled.

“What symptom is it?”

“It’s called Wischnewsky spots.”

“Wischnewsky spots…?”

“They are special spots found only in those who have died of hypothermia.”

To put it simply, people who die of freezing develop these unique spots in their stomachs. With this, one could determine if someone died from the cold ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or if they were murdered and dumped in a cold place. In this world, it could even be used to narrow down suspects to ice magic users.

“I’ll organize the details and send them to you in a paper, just like last time.”

“Thank you, Julian. You’re the only one I can rely on.”

Charlotte smiled bashfully and leaned against my shoulder. A fiancée who gets excited when gifted forensic knowledge. Could this really be called a normal relationship? I had a fleeting thought, but it didn’t last. There are so many different kinds of relationships in this world. It’s possible for a relationship like this to exist, too.

“We’ll be arriving soon.”

Before I knew it, the carriage had reached the street where our estate was located. Without even realizing we had arrived, Erika wiggled her feet on my lap. The fact that there was now one more drool stain on Freya’s dress was just a bonus.

“Thank you for the ride, Charlotte.”

“I had a wonderful time today as well, Julian.”

“Sister, wake up. We’re here.”

“Ungh? Already?”

The carriage stopped in front of the estate. Eri, Freya, and I stepped out one by one. I exchanged a nod with Charlotte, who was peering out the window. She returned the gesture. The carriage that had brought us home disappeared into the darkness of the city.

“It’s cold. Let’s go inside.”

“Yawn. I’m going in to sleep, Teacher.”

After parting ways with Eri, who had a room in the annex, Freya and I headed toward the main building. As we entered the living room, our parents, who had returned from the Founding Festival, welcomed us.

“How was the banquet today?”

“Oh, I have so much to tell you!”

Freya recounted everything that had happened today. Declaring that she would gift a baby to the Imperial couple. Being called into the reception room. Refusing the offer to become their dedicated healer. And even the moment the Prince patted her on the shoulder.

As Freya’s story progressed, Father’s teacup, which he had been sipping from, slowed down and eventually stopped. Mother almost dropped her cup halfway through.

“The… the qualifications of a dedicated healer? That Prince Edmund himself??”

Father’s reaction was particularly dramatic. It seemed Prince Edmund was quite famous in many ways. I didn’t know much about that, nor did I have any intention to. Instead, I smiled brightly at the two of them.

“Oh, and a carriage will be coming from the Imperial Palace tomorrow morning. Don’t be too surprised if you see a carriage with the Imperial crest parked in front of the entrance.”

“W-what did you say?”

“Well then, I have to wake up early tomorrow, so I’ll head in first. Good night.”

I bowed to my parents and climbed the stairs. As I went up to my room, the living room became a bit chaotic.

— “Wake all the servants! We must be fully prepared so as not to show any disrespect to the Imperial family tomorrow!”

The estate became quite noisy in many ways. Regardless, I returned to my room and took out my medical bag for tomorrow’s house call. ‘Blood collection tools. Test tubes. Wassermann test reagents. An alcohol lamp for urine analysis. And the medicine extracted from willow bark… and…’

And finally, the most important secret weapon for the Prince. I packed all the necessary medicine and tools. After reviewing the knowledge needed for tomorrow’s consultation one last time, I collapsed onto my bed.

*

The next morning. After waking up and getting ready as usual, I saw the Imperial carriage arrive outside the window. It stood at the entrance of the estate, with two Imperial Guards standing at attention on either side. The knights didn’t move an inch. They didn’t knock on the door, nor did they shout an Imperial message toward the house. They were simply waiting quietly for me to come out. This meant that Prince Edmund held me in high regard.

Naturally, for the head of a Baron’s family—the lowest rank of nobility—this kind of treatment seemed quite burdensome. Early in the morning, Father was clutching his stomach as if he had indigestion.

“Julian. You can do it. Don’t be too nervous.”

I received encouragement from Father before stepping out the door. It seemed like Father was the one who needed encouragement, not me. Regardless, I boarded the carriage after being seen off by Mother, Freya, and my youngest brother.

The knight on the coachman’s seat spoke to me.

“Are you Sir Nihilit?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“I’m worried we might have made you wake up too early. You could have come out at a more leisurely pace.”

“Not at all. I usually start my day at this time.”

The guard’s head turned toward the clock tower for a moment. The hour hand was pointing at 6.

“At 6:00 AM?”

“My clinic usually opens at 6:30 AM.”

“We don’t even start morning training at that hour…”

Perhaps it was because this was a Western-based culture. They seemed surprised that I woke up at this hour. It was perfectly normal in South Korea.

“The small talk has gone on long enough. The Prince gave us instructions. You may decide the time you return as well. Once the consultation is over, you may use us freely for the rest of the day.”

“Thank you.”

Even while chatting with the coachman, the dawn streets blurred past the window. Before long, the carriage arrived at the detached palace. Waiting in front of the palace was not the chief steward, but the Prince himself, there to greet me.

“You’ve come well, Sir Julian.”

He looked distinctly different from his appearance at the banquet yesterday. Yesterday, he was a Prince adorned with medals on his military uniform, but now he was a young nobleman in a comfortable shirt with his sleeves rolled up. Guided by the Prince’s utmost hospitality, I headed to the reception room.

Upon arriving, I saw the Princess sitting demurely on the sofa.

“You’ve arrived, Sir Julian.”

The Princess bowed her head. She, too, was dressed in comfortable indoor clothes. Above her collarbone, where she wasn’t wearing a lace collar, the reticular livedo was clearly visible.

The Prince naturally took his place beside her.

“Shall we begin the consultation immediately?”

“Yes, let’s begin.”

I placed my medical bag on the table and opened it. I drew blood by inserting a needle into her vein and, with the help of the maids, collected a urine sample. I divided the collected blood into two test tubes. They were labeled [Coagulation Time] and [Wassermann], respectively. Next, I borrowed a small room to heat the urine. Since no foam formed upon heating, proteinuria could be ruled out.

‘Fortunately, the kidneys haven’t been affected.’

Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome often have Lupus as well. That’s why I checked for proteinuria, but thankfully, the possibility of Lupus had significantly decreased. Of course, even if it were Lupus, it wouldn’t matter since the medicine I currently have would be sufficient to treat it.

I returned to the couple.

“I will return in a week with the results of the blood test. Of course, there is medicine you must take before then.”

I took a small medicine bottle out of my bag. It was a crude glass bottle painted in an opaque color. Normally, since this was medicine being offered to the Imperial family, I would have wanted to find a more luxurious bottle. But since I had to pack the medicine as soon as I got home yesterday, I didn’t have time to decorate it.

“It is a medicine extracted from willow bark. It is currently being sold by the Merkur Merchant Guild under the name Aspirin.”

“Hmm? Isn’t the name different from the medicine I heard about yesterday?”

“Heparin is a medicine taken to prevent problems ‘after’ pregnancy. You must take Aspirin in advance ‘before’ pregnancy.”

“I see. I apologize for doubting you.”

“Not at all. It is the patient’s rightful prerogative.”

Afterward, I explained the dosage of the medicine to the couple. After ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠listening to the explanation, the Princess carefully took the medicine bottle. She held it tightly, as if she had received a precious treasure.

“Thank you, Sir Nihilit.”

“Please let me know as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. From that point on, I will provide the additional medicine I mentioned yesterday.”

“I understand.”

With the examination finished, the Prince and Princess invited me to breakfast at the detached palace.

“You probably haven’t eaten breakfast at this hour. How about it?”

“It is an honor, Your Highness.”

Of course, I had a packed lunch in my bag, but I couldn’t refuse an invitation to dine with the Imperial family, so I accepted. I was also curious to see the level of Imperial cuisine.

“Then let’s talk a little before we eat. I’d also like to discuss the reward I can offer you.”

Prince Edmund naturally led me to his office. Click. As soon as we entered, the Prince locked the office door and looked around. Then, he whispered in a low voice.

“Sir Julian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Did you… bring it?”

“Yes. I have brought it.”

I took a small box out from the double bottom of my bag. Edmund’s eyes sparkled. When he opened the small box, dozens of blue diamond-shaped pills were revealed. Sildenafil. Brand name: Viagra. It was a miracle drug that resurrected a man’s pride.

“Ohh… so this is the one I’ve only heard rumors about…!”

“Your Highness. May I ask how that rumor is spreading?”

“Ahem. Well… one of my subordinates was a friend who participated in the Merkur Merchant Guild’s clinical trials. He was a friend who fell from a castle wall and shattered his pelvis.”

Shortly after it was discovered that Sildenafil had other effects instead of just improving heart function. The clinical trial subjects began to include not only young and healthy men but also men who had trouble getting an erection. It was to see how far they could stand it up. And the result was…

“That friend, who said it was hard to even do it once with his wife after hurting his pelvis, after taking that medicine… ahem.”

As you can see. It’s not for nothing that it became a legend among men in my past life. Its status in this world didn’t seem to be any different.

“I understand well how you came to know about it.”

“Ah, you said you were one of the clinical trial supervisors, right? I’m worried that friend might face disadvantages. Could you perhaps handle it well?”

“That part is fine, Your Highness. The Merchant Guild doesn’t pay much attention to this level of leakage.”

“Really?”

“Since the efficacy of the medicine has been proven, rumors are a natural process. Clinical trials are originally conducted with that in mind. That person will not face any disadvantages.”

“That is a relief.”

The Prince was relieved. However, there was a fact he didn’t know. ‘It’s not actually allowed.’ There’s a reason why the word embargo exists. But I decided to turn a blind eye to this case. Was it called viral marketing? Sometimes, rumors leaked naturally like this are more effective than direct advertising. If I wanted to use the Prince to promote it, I needed to utilize this kind of leakage more actively. So, I decided to leave this Sildenafil leakage alone without any special measures.

“Come to think of it, Your Highness. Did you happen to hear about the precautions from that person?”

“Hmm? Are there precautions?”

“Yes. They are very important precautions.”

“Tell me.”

“You must not take more than two pills a day. No matter what happens.”

The Prince nodded, saying he understood. But I didn’t trust the Prince. Human greed is endless. No matter where you go, there are always people who are overly greedy. In particular, there are many who abuse the medicine immediately after taking it, intoxicated by a sense of omnipotence. Therefore, I spoke to Prince Edmund as if urging him.

“If you take too many, it won’t just fail to subside; it will start to rot. In some cases, you will have to cut it off.”

Of course, even if you cut it off, you can reattach it. It wouldn’t be difficult for the Imperial family to receive high-level healing magic. If the surgery is done well, it can be reattached sufficiently with potions. However, there is one fact we must know. This world has not yet developed anesthesia ‘fully’.

“…”

“Do you understand, Your Highness? When that time comes, I won’t have any methods either.”

“Have you… perhaps seen such a case yourself?”

I smiled meaningfully.

“Do you really need to see it? If you insist, I can show you the records.”

“…No matter what happens, I will only take one.”

“That is a wise decision, Your Highness.”

*

A week had passed since then. The Wassermann test result was positive. It was proof that the Princess’s illness matched my expectations. I visited the detached palace again to inform them of the results and urged them to contact me immediately if pregnancy was confirmed.

Another week passed since then. I was on my way home after finishing Eri’s regular blood transfusion at the clinic.

“Julian. A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

Father handed me an envelope stamped with the Imperial crest. I took the letter to my room and opened it carefully. A short message was written in a slender handwriting.

It seemed the Princess had successfully become pregnant. It was news that could be called a joyous occasion. However, there was one doubt.

‘Wait. It’s been exactly half a month since the Prince received the medicine from me. And the ovulation date would also be half a month from the period.’

If so, the time the Princess became pregnant was….

‘She got pregnant as soon as she took the medicine?’

Damn it. That’s incredibly fast.