40. Falling Petals (4)
40. Falling Blossoms (4)
-Huuuung.
The mana that had been resonating from Meina's hands completed all its work and was entirely reabsorbed back into her palms.
She must have been proceeding with the treatment quite meticulously, as sweat had beaded on her forehead.
"Phew, the treatment is finished, Your Highness. You're completely healed."
It was already the third day of Meina visiting my room.
She had been working hard, coming for house calls all this time.
That's because she wasn't my personal physician, but rather one of the doctors dispatched to the Imperial Palace.
"You've worked hard. Is there anything you desire?"
"Wh-what? That's entirely inappropriate!"
"Is that so? You're not finding me bothersome, are you?"
"Eh, ah, nooo! If Your Highness wishes it, I'd do it for a lifetime—!"
Right before I could hear the rest of that sentence, Elise, who could no longer stand by and watch, intervened.
"Your Highness, you shouldn't tease an innocent person."
"···Ah. Te-teasing···, Aha."
Only then did Meina realize she was being teased and let out an awkward laugh.
But I wondered what the rest of that sentence was.
For a lifetime, and then what.
I wanted to hear the next part.
"Don't blame me for teasing. More importantly, I wish to hear the part after 'for a lifetime.' Speak the rest, now. Go on."
"Ah, ah? Th-that, uhh·····."
Did Elise still think I was just joking around?
Just as Elise let out a sigh as if to say I was truly incorrigible and was about to stop me again—
"-I-I'll examine you for my entire life!"
"Oh ho."
"······."
Before Elise could say anything, Meina had already blurted it out.
Well, was it really a 'blunder' to begin with?
Admittedly, as Elise said, I wasn't entirely without the intention to tease her a little.
She looked so soft and gentle, I thought her reactions would be fun to play with.
And her flustered appearance was truly entertaining.
Meina probably didn't make such an embarrassing declaration without some resolve.
Therefore, her reward should be certain, shouldn't it?
"Congratulations, Meina-yang. As of today, you shall be my personal physician."
"·····Yep?"
An Imperial Palace Physician is by no means a low-ranking position.
Whether it's the Emperor's personal physician, a prince's personal physician, or even an Imperial Palace Physician, they all not only have skill but also a great deal of experience.
The reason someone like Meina is here is likely because she was probably selected as the designated physician for the women working in the Imperial Palace.
In other words, it means that almost all the healers in the Imperial Palace are just old men.
But the fact that someone who looks as young as Meina reached the position of Imperial Palace Physician for women means she must have sufficient talent.
"Well, anyway, I won't be staying in the Imperial Palace for long, so consider it a vacation until then. Isn't this a cushy job?"
"·····Your Highness, where did you learn such a word···."
If I suddenly start making personnel changes like this, the ministers will surely come to scold me.
But what can they do about it?
It's my wish.
If they have a problem with it, they can go stop the Resurrection of the Demon King themselves.
"Since it's settled, I'll be in your care from now on, my physician."
I did have a personal physician from my time as the 2nd Prince, but now that I've become the princess, the 2nd Prince's physician is useless.
Elise would never allow some old male physician to see my body either.
"Then, I shall take my leave now, as I have a dispatch mission."
"W-wait a moment, Your Highness!"
Based on my experience, the moment I entertain even one of Meina's words, it was obvious she'd latch on, saying she wasn't qualified or that I should reconsider.
So the answer here is to ignore it completely and just run away.
"Ah, if any old men try to give you trouble, tell them they are those who dared to try to see my body, and that His Majesty will have their heads."
Using Imperial Father like this was a bit cowardly, but since he's the one who knows my true identity best and the one who forced me to become a woman, I believed he would handle this much.
After conveying all that, I left with Elise.
I could hear what was almost a scream from behind, but I ignored it cleanly.
"Still, it's fortunate. Thanks to our cycles coincidentally being out of sync, I didn't end up carrying Baman's child."
"·····Yes."
Honestly, this incident was truly dangerous.
It was my first time having a woman's body, so I was far too careless.
Of course, it was entirely Baman's fault, but it was also certain that the cause originated from my side.
But the fact that I didn't even know I was providing the cause was a bit shocking.
Having become a woman, there were far more things I had to think about and be mindful of than usual.
Especially since this body had an impossibly sensual and violent figure.
They surely pretended otherwise, but the male members of the knight order must have had the same fantasies as Baman.
Since they didn't know my and Elise's true identities, they acted that way.
Conversely, it means the members always have such imaginations in their heads.
Among those, the thing I most needed to be careful about was, of course,
'·····Ovulation Day.'
The days when a woman's body releases an egg for pregnancy and until the egg implants in the uterus.
Or, put differently, what is commonly called 'Dangerous Days'.
"·····Your Highness!"
"Hm?"
Just as I was about to leave the Imperial Palace, someone called out to me from behind.
It was none other than Dorothy.
"A-are you leaving this early already, Your Highness···?"
"It is His Majesty's order, so I must go."
If they had truly defected to the Demon King's army, then unfortunately, we would become enemies with the humans as well.
To confirm that, it's better to go as quickly as possible.
I wasn't unaware of Dorothy's feelings either.
I too would like to rest a bit more if I could.
But I must never forget my mission.
After all, the reason I became a woman in the first place was to wield the Divine Sword and thwart the Resurrection of the Demon King as much as possible.
"You must, you must be careful, Your Highness."
"What could possibly happen?"
And so, I left the Imperial Palace with Elise.
####
"Um, Your Highness····."
"It is done. I told you all to go, and you merely followed my orders."
I had no intention of reprimanding the members.
Looking at their faces, they had probably already gotten an earful from Elise.
But seeing that their faces and bodies bore no wounds, it seemed Evernoir had held back appropriately, as I instructed.
Then, if I said anything more, it might only breed resentment.
"More importantly, do you know where we are heading now?"
"Yes, I heard we are heading to Bistern."
"Good. If there happens to be anyone among you who has Beastfolk Phobia, I won't tell you to change your thinking,"
They are the ones who joined the Demon King's side due to rejection by humans.
If they feel that sentiment again this time, then it will truly become uncontrollable.
"Please keep those feelings hidden deep down. Even if the Beastfolk attack first, we won't be able to protect you."
Although I don't know what the members are thinking, I truly hope a situation doesn't arise where they lose their lives by being attacked first.
"Preparations are complete!"
"Then let us depart."
We took hold of our horses' reins, one by one.
Before being captured by the Succubus Queen, it was that fellow back then.
"Oh."
You managed to bring it without losing it.
It was a familiar fellow, and a well-trained, capable one.
As if recognizing me after a long time, it gave a brief nod of greeting.
"Yes, I'm glad to see you too."
The horse I rode was the same, but there was definitely something different from back then.
"Evernoir."
"Yes."
"Where did the others go?"
"·····About that,"
Unlike back then, several familiar faces were missing.
It hadn't been many days, but I at least remembered their faces from our time together.
However, on this dispatch, one or two were absent.
"·····They resigned from the knight order. It seems the death of their comrade was too meaningless for them."
By 'meaningless death of comrades,' she seemed to be referring to those whose heads exploded by the Succubus Queen.
Well.
Seeing a comrade's head explode right before their eyes, without any gimmick or any resistance, must have been extremely shocking.
But was it because I wasn't a direct member of the knight order, or because I didn't have close ties with them?
Frankly, it didn't look good.
This is a knight order, and not just any noble house's order, but the 2nd Imperial Knights.
For a knight of such an order to resign over a comrade's death made them seem only weak-willed and lacking in conviction.
"·····It is nothing but shameful."
Elise bowed her head as if genuinely ashamed.
There was nothing particular I could say.
Because I couldn't blame it on Elise.
But unless they retired due to injury or age, reinstatement would be impossible for those who resigned midway.
They probably wouldn't even be able to join a noble house's knight order.
That's because when joining a knight order, there is a procedure where one must swear the knight's oath to protect their lord with their life.
"It is not your fault, but it seems we cannot avoid a drop in reputation."
"·····Kkh."
Probably, for a Imperial Knights to have produced deserters, it would be noisy for a while.
The 1st Knight Order was sure to come applying pressure, using the pretext of tarnished honor.
Since it's not the only knight order, they would naturally be compared.
Of course, the one who would have to handle all that is none other than Elise.
Frankly, it wasn't any of my business what humiliation she might suffer-
"If anyone uses that incident as an excuse to make unreasonable demands, bring them before me."
I know that with her proud nature, even if such a thing happened, she wouldn't come to me.
But the mere fact that I said this should have an effect.
If she endures and endures until she truly can't handle it anymore, she will come to me.
"Huhu."
I wonder what I should demand as compensation then.
I was starting to look forward to it a little.