A Genius Pharmacist Whom the Empress Is Obsessed With

The Worst Day.

Hebel had always thought that the Royal Medical Center was a perfect place.

The materials used in the construction were all top-notch, considering the convenience of patients and physicians.

However, it only took an hour to ruin Hebel’s pride in the Royal Medical Center.

The sunlight in the drying room was too strong, so please add shades or curtains.

The humidity increases in the summer, so please place more furnaces in the herbal medicine warehouse.

Please replace the plants in the garden with varieties that produce less pollen and have a milder fragrance.

The man wearing a white shirt and white gloves diligently walked around the medical center, carefully pointing out areas that needed to be modified.

At first, Hebel didn’t think much of it, but as the number of modifications increased, he felt that his lunchtime potato stew would come up to the road.

However, he couldn’t simply ignore Eden’s words, as his words were valid and reasonable to anyone who heard them.

“But it’s too much to tour the medical center for more than three hours!”

“How much did he wander around? His legs must be numb!”

While inwardly crying, Hebel never left Eden’s side. It was partly due to his curiosity about Eden’s markedly different actions from others.

So far, the physicians and pharmacists who visited the Royal Medical Center spent most of their time inspecting and decorating their offices and accommodations, rather than the medical center itself.

In comparison, Eden showed no interest in his personal space. He constantly looked into the research lab, herbal medicine warehouse, and the spaces that patients would use.

“I don’t know much about other aspects, but his passion and character seem good.”

What would it be like to work with this person?

The thought suddenly crossed Hebel’s mind, and he quickly shook his head.

He was an aide to the Auron Knight Order. Helping with the Royal Medical Center was just temporary. He couldn’t dedicate himself to the medical center work when he was already working overtime just for the knight order.

“So, Mr. Hebel. When would it be possible to make the changes I mentioned? Can we confirm it by the day after tomorrow?”

“..What?”

Lost in thought, Hegel let out a ridiculous sound.

“Oh, is it difficult until the day after tomorrow?”

As Hebel met his ashen eyes, he swallowed his saliva and stopped speaking. They were cloudy, murky eyes. By looking into those eyes, he could feel an unidentifiable sense of intimidation.

“Oh, no. I… I can do it. No, I will do it.”

There were many things to fix, but the requirements Itaen demanded were not too excessive. With time and manpower, he felt that it could be done somehow.

“That’s a relief. After the inauguration, it will be difficult to take care of the facilities, so I had to make a somewhat unreasonable request.”

Itaen said with a satisfied smile.

“Shall we continue with the tour?”

‘I knew it would end up like this.’

Hegel silently cried out as he watched Itaen leave. His intuition as a chief of staff with 5 years of experience told him that the workload was going to increase.

*

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

As he wandered around the hospital, the bell rang four times.

“It’s already four o’clock?”

Did he mishear it? Itaen was startled and checked the clock.

But the clock’s needle was pointing at 4 o’clock.

‘I’ve lost my focus again.’

When Itaen arrived at the hospital, it hadn’t even been an hour since one o’clock, yet he had been wandering around the hospital for over three hours.

“It’s a shame, but I should stop here for today.”

Despite spending three hours together, there were still many things Itaen wanted to ask Hebel.

What kind of people will he be working with in the future? How will the tasks be assigned? Or maybe there are ongoing research projects.

Finally, he wondered how far the medical academy led by Ella had progressed.

He had heard rumors about the Empress, but apart from what Leta had mentioned, he hadn’t heard anything else.

Marquis Penniad had let slip a word or two, but he didn’t hear any detailed updates from him either.

“It feels like just yesterday she was in my arms… “

Itaen was slightly curious about how that little girl had grown up, how she had become such a great doctor.

Since Hebel seemed to know Ella well, he thought he might be able to hear news about her if he tried his luck.

However, he had already kept him for three hours.

“I’m sorry to hold you back any longer than this, as I assume you have plenty of tasks to attend to as the Earl’s aide.”

Furthermore, you’ve been standing and walking for three hours straight. As an ordinary person, Hebel must be feeling quite fatigued in his feet and legs.

“I think this will be enough. I would appreciate it if you could guide me to my lodging.”

Whether it was Edun’s expectation or not, Hebel seemed to flash an unusually bright smile upon hearing his words.

*

The place Hebel took Edun to was a small housing complex located west of the medical facility.

As medical professionals were gathered from all over the empire, the palace provided accommodations for those who came from the provinces.

While it was not mandatory to reside in the accommodations, all researchers were required to stay in the residential homes provided by the palace. It seemed to be an intention to protect the researchers from Remevel.

“Then, I will visit again next time.”

As a nobleman, Hebel, who was clearly distinguished, showed excellent manners to Edun and bid farewell.

Edun noticed Hebel’s slightly exhausted gait.

“He helped me all afternoon today, so to repay him, I should make some nutritional supplements for him tomorrow.”

As Hebel’s footsteps grew distant, Edun closed the door and turned around.

“Now then, even though it’s someone else’s house, I should clean it before the Earl arrives, shouldn’t I?”

There was an appointment with Viscount Pheniad at 7 p.m. It was to finalize the contract between Edun and Pheniad.

The Viscount had stated that anyone working at the palace medical facility would receive an appointment letter. Edun was also scheduled to receive his appointment letter the next day or the day after.

Thinking it would be the end of it, Viscount Pheniad proposed that Edun also write a separate contract in addition to the appointment letter.

“That way, you won’t feel as burdened. Unlike others, I personally invited you.”

Edun repeatedly rejected the Viscount’s proposal, asking to be treated equally with others.

However, the Viscount was stubborn.

“The rules of the medical facility are more old-fashioned than I thought, so you will definitely feel uncomfortable.”

After several conversations, Edun decided to follow the Viscount’s words.

“If I can put the Viscount at ease with just a piece of paper, I can make as many contracts as I want.”

Although a considerable amount of time had passed since they last met, the Viscount still seemed wary of Edun.

Although the conversation that day somewhat cleared their minds, it seemed difficult to easily dispel the guilt that had accumulated for over ten years.

Edun wanted to make Pheniad Viscount, who had been caught in the past, feel even a little more at ease.

“Relationships that stem from someone’s sacrifice or guilt cannot last long.”

Having summarized his thoughts on the Viscount, Edun started searching every corner of the house in search of cleaning tools.

***

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

The time when the evening sunset beautifully descended. As Ella entered the hallway, the butler greeted her.

Ella, with a frown on her forehead, took off her hat and cloak and handed them to the butler.

“You came early today.”

“Yeah, it’s the day my father comes.”

After finishing her university lecture, she would usually go to the principal’s office or the hospital to handle extra work, but she couldn’t do it today.

It had been two whole months since her father had returned.

Although the relationship between father and daughter was not deep, Ella was not such a cold-hearted daughter to skip a dinner with her father who had returned after a long time.

“What’s the menu for dinner tonight? I hope they serve the fish dish that my father likes.”

The butler looked puzzled at Ella’s words.

“Why? Did they prepare something else instead of the fish dish? But I prepared something that your father would like.”

“No, it’s not that….”

Just by asking what the dinner menu was, the butler couldn’t continue his words, rolling his eyes in every direction.

He’s not usually this hesitant, why is he acting like this? Ella urged the butler, taking a short breath.

“What’s the problem? It’s okay, tell me.”

“Miss, I apologize, but the master said he had an appointment and went out.”

“Went out?”

“Yes, it’s been about an hour since he left.”

“Then he will come back before dinner.”

“… He said he will come back late at night.”

Ella blinked her eyes without saying a word.

Even though he had come back home after two months, she couldn’t believe that he would simply go out and leave the only daughter behind, skipping the dinner with her.

After a considerable amount of time passed, Ella finally managed to speak.

“… I don’t know who my father went to meet? Did he even go to visit His Majesty?”

“He didn’t mention that. He just told me to prepare a gift because he has an important appointment.”

As Ella trembled, unable to believe what was happening, one servant whispered to the butler.

“Miss, a messenger sent by Hegel is here. I’ll go take care of it.”

While the butler was away, Ella went to the drawing room and slumped down on the sofa. Since hearing the news that her father had gone out, all the strength seemed to have left her body.

“Having dinner together may not seem like a big deal…”

Having dinner together every day when Viscount Penyard returned from his business trip had been their unspoken agreement for over five years.

“Could he have forgotten our promise?”

If not, it could be because something really urgent has come up.

“No, still, you should at least tell me what it is.”

As Ella was lost in various thoughts, the butler returned with thick documents in hand.

“… Is this from Hebel?”

“Yes, it is.”

The butler placed the documents on the table in the parlor.

Ella let out a sigh of disappointment, hoping for news from her father.

Today was definitely a terribly dirty day.

A student in the surgical ward had fainted while screaming, and her father, who had returned after two months, had forgotten their appointment and left. In the meantime, her father’s aide had tirelessly sent the documents to their house.

“This is the worst. Really, the absolute worst.”

Ella started reading the documents with frustration.

On the first page of the documents, it was written, ‘Additional construction at the Royal Medical Center.’

“There’s less than a week until the opening, and now suddenly additional construction?”

Moreover, what needs fixing at the medical center?

Curiosity arose in Ella’s mind about who could have caused this, and she quickly checked the last page of the documents.

A moment later, the documents slipped from Ella’s hand with a thud.

“…”

On the last page of the fallen documents, it was written, ‘Proposer: Research Fellow Candidate, Iden.’