ALL NOVEL Chapter 93
“Eh, tsk.”
Alberich clicked his tongue while getting dressed in front of the mirror.
He was preparing to head to the Inner Palace for work.
“Why on earth won’t this fit?”
He was annoyed because the zucchetto didn’t quite match.
In reality, it wasn’t that the hat wouldn’t fit, but rather that his receding hairline due to accelerated alopecia was causing discomfort.
Living in an expensive mansion right in the center of the city, he was the head of the largest faction at his job.
He had nothing to envy in terms of wealth and fame.
However, lately, he couldn’t find peace of mind because of a certain healer.
Lars Gothberg—it’s all that guy’s fault.
“Heike is lenient even with minor techniques, valuing practicality above all. Let’s say that’s true for now.”
He heard that even the Emperor now ate the food developed by Gothberg and was taking his medications.
Not only had he absorbed George’s faction, but there had also been quite a few transfers from his own faction already.
He was apparently volunteering alongside Gothberg to rediscover the healer’s original intention.
“The original intention of the healing spell is faith.”
Grumbling, Alberich eventually threw off the zucchetto.
“Ugh.”
A hand was there to gently pick up his thrown zucchetto and smooth it out.
“If you frown like that from the morning, it won’t be good for your wrinkles.”
His wife gently comforted Alberich with a soft tone.
“Fine, I get it.”
As his wife affectionately put the zucchetto back on him, Alberich calmed down.
When he had said he was quitting as a bishop in the Kingdom of Law, his devoted and kind-hearted wife silently followed him and supported him.
He didn’t want to lose his temper even in front of her.
“Everything will work out.”
“Of course, it will. Who do you think I am? I’m Bishop Diego Alberich, the attending physician of the Mokhwi Palace.”
“Of course. You’re the proudest husband in the world.”
No matter what happened, his wife always encouraged Alberich. She was truly a good woman with deep faith.
“Gothberg is just running around relying on his youth. I’ve seen plenty of brats like him. Soon, he’ll trip over his own feet and break his nose.”
“When that happens, please heal him, dear.”
“Not that I mean his nose is really going to break…”
Alberich cleared his throat.
“Anyway, starting today, the new attending physician of Crown Prince Gunter at the Sun Palace will be coming. He’s a healer with deep faith, just like I was in my prime.”
“Is that so? That’s great.”
“Hmm. If he gets a good scolding, Gothberg might be a bit more cautious. The winds of innovation will blow through the Inner Palace.”
“Don’t forget lunch.”
His wife handed Alberich a packed lunch.
Alberich accepted the bundle and set off on his way to the Inner Palace.
*
“Okay, now let’s go into the left coronary artery suturing. Good job.”
“Ugh, ugh.”
I was having Chloe practice surgery.
Naturally, I couldn’t use a real heart, so I had her work with a pig’s heart to teach her how to handle blood vessels.
She had quite a knack for it; she might be more suited for surgery than nursing.
“Teacher, we appreciate your keen attention to the Inner Palace, but is everything alright on the Moonlight Palace side?”
Hugo, who was working on a task, asked me.
“Isn’t there anything needed to prepare for the engagement ceremony?”
“Engagement ceremony, huh?”
Asking to formally hold a ceremony for Asella seemed sudden now.
But I understood her reasoning well enough.
Asella and I had been bonded by our parents in an engagement relationship that had never been officially announced, so it was natural that business-related discussions would come up.
She probably wanted to eliminate the negative image of being influenced by her parents and elevate both her and the Moonlight Palace’s status.
“But if that’s the case, it might create an even bigger problem if it ends in a broken engagement later.”
If it’s an romantic engagement and gets called off, wouldn’t that also hurt our images?
Hmm… I wasn’t so sure.
Curious, I decided to ask Lau.
“Romantic engagement in noble families? Oh, definitely! How romantic and nice is it in these times? Let’s see, recently there were the second child of Baron Kluk and the eldest daughter of Viscount Merndorf…”
That was a mistake. I had essentially handed Lau a loaded magazine.
Lau instantly started rambling about all the gossip in the social circle.
“Oh, there are such cases, huh?”
“Of course. When couples like that exist, the social circle celebrates them. Nowadays, everyone tends to marry according to their family’s wishes, right? From the head’s perspective, every child is an opportunity to form a strong contract with another family, so they try to connect with powerful houses.”
“That’s normal.”
“It’s not extremely common. Even if nobles’ children find each other attractive, both families have to compromise to some extent. Hey, didn’t you hear? Recently, a couple had to elope because their families wouldn’t allow the engagement. The boy got hurt while crossing a bog.”
“Alberta Viscount’s first son? Was he shot by a basilisk? I had him brought in.”
“You fixed his leg? Wow, I was so touched when the viscount finally gave in. Oh, I wish my boyfriend was that passionate someday.”
To endure Lau’s chatter for a lifetime would require either superhuman mental strength or being hard of hearing.
“Indeed. Then, there’s hardly any chance of a broken romantic engagement.”
After my comment, Lau chuckled and lightly tapped my shoulder.
“Lars, you’re so naive. Romantic engagements break off just as often as political ones.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. You can only marry as an adult, while engagements usually happen in your teenage years. But it’s tough for both parties to be the same age, right? One tends to reach adulthood a few years earlier.”
“That’s true.”
“Then, mostly, temptations come to the one who has become an adult, leading to romantic entanglements. Our age group is very passionate, you know?”
Though Lau said “our age,” she sounded more like an aunt chasing gossip.
“Oh, then it wouldn’t be too strange for a romantic engagement to be broken off.”
“Yep, yep! But why? There’s something going on, isn’t there?”
Keen observation and a loose tongue made Lau someone you shouldn’t give unnecessary information to.
I changed the subject.
“I know a noble friend who is considering breaking off an engagement. He’s worried it’ll bring shame to his family. It’s been helpful.”
“Really? Hmm.”
Lau leaned in closer. Her piercing eyes were definitely reminiscent of Asella.
“I smell something interesting…”
“Speaking of smell, I’ve recently developed a new cleansing agent. It’s a foam cleanser, meant for washing your face and hands. It’s less damaging to the skin compared to soap and keeps it moisturized. Plus, it smells good.”
“Really? Show me quickly.”
Lau became distracted by the foam cleanser and forgot all about the broken engagement discussion.
That day, I ended up signing a contract to supply cosmetics to the Gold Palace.
As a result, my mind was a bit more at ease.
The official engagement ceremony between Asella and me was nearly like declaring a romantic engagement.
Now, Asella was trying to leverage this fake romance to take control of the social circle.
That truly made us a business couple, deceiving everyone around us.
I felt I could prepare the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony without much burden, and just as I was heading out of the Inner Palace for afternoon examinations.
“This is the Main Hall. The office at the Sun Palace is… ugh, Gothberg.”
Alberich puffed out his cheeks like a toad upon seeing me.
Falkenhayn, who was following behind me, first offered a sort of greeting.
“You seem energetic, Bishop Alberich. It seems you are taking care of tasks like guiding the Inner Palace. What a fine individual you are.”
“Of course. Unlike some, I’m an attending physician of royal status, and I must lead by example.”
“Haha, seeing the bishop’s receding hairline leading the charge is quite the initiative.”
“Only the lid of Saint’s container would suffice.”
“Oh wow, why is it so hot?”
Falkenhayn casually removed his zucchetto, flaunting his now fuller crown.
In contrast, Alberich was starting to show signs of M-pattern baldness, his forehead widening, with the tendons from his head clearly visible.
These old fellows seemed like they would continue this way forever.
“Hmph, let me introduce you to someone. This is the newly appointed priest, Livio, the attending physician of Prince Gunter.”
Alberich introduced the man he was guiding.
Livio wore his long hair neatly arranged and a priest’s robe that reached up to his chin, giving off an air of sophistication.
“Hello, I am Livio.”
The man’s voice seemed devoid of emotion, as if he spoke mechanically while adjusting his monocle.
“Livio, the Seer Livio, right?”
Falkenhayn reacted as if he already knew his name.
“That’s what they’re calling me. It’s an undeserved title for someone like me.”
Livio politely nodded.
Alberich confidently stepped forward on behalf of Livio.
“He’s a special envoy sent by the Kingdom of Law to apologize for the incident caused by Simon. Priest Livio is famous for his great faith, divine power, and revelations. He is the most prominent figure rising from the Kingdom of Law.”
Alberich, a native of the Kingdom of Law, proudly puffed out his chest.
“I have high hopes for him to show what true healing through divine power means in the Inner Palace. Especially to you, Gothberg!”
Alberich pointed a finger at me.
Before Falkenhayn could object, Livio spoke first.
“You must be Teacher Gothberg. I’ve heard many stories about you. They say you’ve healed many patients using not only healing spells but also medical knowledge.”
Livio smiled at me, the corners of his mouth lifting.
“I have much to learn from you, even with my deficiencies. I hope to hear more about the techniques of medicine.”
Livio bowed to me politely, but I had no intention of extending my hand for a handshake.
“Hmm.”
The reason was simple.
Seer Livio.
I knew this person’s face very well.
‘The Emperor’s assassin.’
He would be the true culprit behind the upcoming imperial assassination incident.
‘Simon’s quick exit has even expedited this guy’s debut.’
Originally, he was supposed to arrive in the Empire in about two years.
His tone was polite, but behind that mechanical smile lurked emotionless evil.
‘Diagnosis.’
[Condition: Borderline Personality Disorder]
[Condition: Addiction]
His words held no sincerity.
The only reason he had infiltrated the Empire’s Inner Palace was to bring about massive chaos and destruction.
He had been biding his time, wearing the guise of an ordinary person for a lifetime.
‘The Emperor won’t live long anyway.’
Livio intentionally caused incidents, amplifying the problems at hand.
‘The Emperor’s assassination will be blamed on our family. Gothberg is the one who will provide the starting point for our downfall.’
He’s the worst of the worst, appearing to be a saint on the outside, with healing abilities that are top-tier in the continent.
“Priest Livio.”
I finally responded to him.
“You arrived at the Inner Palace too early. Or perhaps too late to say.”
My faction had already established its hold here.
I couldn’t let him run wild.