Chapter 41

Chapter 41 I Next

A day had passed, and morning arrived.

Mother, Im here!

This was a typical household in the downtown area of Magenta City. The palace servant, who served the crown prince, opened the front door with a joyful smile. Hearing his call, a middle-aged woman who was preparing breakfast inside was taken aback.

Son? Oh my, what brings you here today?

Well, Im on vacation.

On vacation?

Yes.

But didnt you mention in your last letter that your vacation is scheduled for next month?

Oh, thats a different vacation.

A different one?

Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince granted me a special vacation this morning. A full five days!

Oh my, how extraordinary. His Highness is truly generous.

Yes, indeed.

The palace servant grinned.

Soon, other family members who heard the commotion greeted him. The breakfast table buzzed with conversations.

Well, His Highness has been acting strangely lately.

Strangely? How so?

He keeps offering to treat people.

Treat? Like a doctor?

Yes, Father.

The palace servant nodded.

Just like a doctor, as you said. He even treated me. Remember when I severely sprained my wrist some time ago?

Ah, yes. You struggled for a while.

Well, it has been a bit achy since then. It would get sore whenever I overworked or got tired. But when His Highness examined my wrist

Examined it?

He asked me to undress and lie down on the bed.

What?

I found it strange too, but I had to follow his instructions. So, I lay down. Then His Highness

His Highness?

He took a hedgehog spine and inserted it deeply into my wrist, the back of my hand, and shoulder.

A spine? Didnt it hurt?

Surprisingly, it didnt.

The palace servant continued.

Whats even more surprising is that a few minutes after he removed the spine, the soreness in my wrist completely disappeared.

What kind of Did His Highness perform some kind of magic?

I dont know. But there was another fascinating incident three nights ago.

Three nights ago?

Yes. Remember the maid I mentioned earlier? The one whose brother was troubled by evil spirits.

Oh, I remember. I know her family. But why her?

Three nights ago, His Highness treated her brother. And I mean completely treated him.

What?

The familys eyes widened.

Their sons story about healing his wrist with a spine was already absurd, but now he claimed that the crown prince had supposedly cured a child possessed by evil spirits.

Did he perhaps perform a sacred ritual to exorcise the spirit?

No, he summoned the palace magician who cast lightning magic on his back.

.

While enduring that lightning magic, His Highness inserted a spine deep into the boys neck.

.

And then, the boy, who was possessed by an evil spirit, regained his senses.

Is this for real?

Yes, I witnessed it with my own eyes.

Hahaha.

The family members shook their heads in disbelief. The idea of exorcising evil spirits with lightning magic seemed too fantastical. But even more astounding words came from the sons mouth.

So, Im suggesting, would you like to accompany me to the Star Palace after my vacation ends, Father?

Me?

Yes. Youve been suffering from a bad back, remember?

But why?

His Highness said he would treat you. For free. He wants to treat everyone, whether they are plagued by evil spirits, or sick, regardless of their social status or wealth.

Is this for real?

Yes.

Can I really go to a place like the Star Palace?

Its fine. His Highness asked me to spread the word.

Hahaha.

Amused laughter filled the breakfast table. This wasnt an isolated event confined to this ordinary household. Similar conversations were happening simultaneously in various parts of Magenta City.

Honey! Ive been granted a special vacation!

Mom, your daughter is here!

Just like when you treated George a few days ago, Your Highness. Or when you smile upon seeing the progress of a child under your care. I long for that sense of fulfillment as a doctor. I want to experience more moments of joy as I witness the recovery of those I treat.

Gardins expression turned serious.

Raciel offered a slight smile.

But arent you already achieving that?

Pardon?

Nevermind. Lets focus on our duties, shall we?

He almost said, If it werent for you, I wouldnt be as healthy as I am now. I owe my well-being to your constant support. But he held back.

Oops, that would have been embarrassing.

Raciel quickly shook off the goosebumps crawling up his skin. He accelerated the preparations for the opening of the Star Palace Oriental Clinic.

Following Gardins instructions, they secured various oriental medicinal herbs.

Thankfully, although the world was different, the required medicinal herbs were available. They may have had different names, but most of them were the same. However, the utilization of these herbs wasnt as widespread as in Korea.

Licorice, cinnamon twigs, atractylodes, ginseng, poria, angelica, cnidium, ginger, tangerine peel, bitter orange, schizonepeta, astragalus, kudzu root, peony, and more. They managed to acquire an ample supply, practically clearing out all the herbal medicine shops in and around Star Palace.

In the meantime, they hired leaflet distributors, selecting the most agile servants and providing them with leaflets to distribute.

[ G R A N D O P E N I N G ! ]

[Star Palace Oriental Clinic: Free Consultation Event]

[Spinal Joint Correction Therapy]

[Oriental Medicine Adjustment Therapy]

[Facial Paralysis Treatment Service]

[Acupuncture Treatment Only]

[We Can Cure Any Disease.]

[Comprehensive Diagnosis for Your Health, Personalized 1:1 Treatments]

[Director: Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano]

[Specialist: Royal Physician Piero Gardin]

[Consultation Hours: Open All Year Round]

Hundreds, even thousands of leaflets like these were distributed throughout the Imperial City, adorning countless walls. Finally, the long-awaited morning of the Star Palace Oriental Clinics grand opening had arrived.

Whew. Im feeling nervous.

As the morning sun rose, Raciels eyes snapped open. He had spent a restless night, unable to sleep.

He was excited.

And filled with anticipation.

Yet, there was also a part of him that felt apprehensive.

What if no one shows up despite all the promotion and preparation?

After all, this was the Star Palace, the royal residence where the Crown Prince himself resided. What if people were too intimidated to seek treatment here? What if the opening day passed by without a single patient, leaving only the buzzing of flies?

Ugh, I feel like I might get PTSD from this.

Memories of the moment when his oriental clinic in Korea went bankrupt flashed through his mind. Raciel quickly shook off the chill running down his spine and got out of bed. Anxious steps led him to the window, where he threw open the curtains.

Whoosh-!

In the distance, he caught sight of the entrance to the Star Palace beyond the expansive garden.

Please. Please.

He hoped to see crowds of people who had come after hearing rumors or seeing the leaflets. He nervously bit his lower lip and continued to gaze at the garden and the entrance to the Star Palace.

10 minutes passed. Then 20 minutes. Followed by 30 minutes.

But the vast garden remained serene.

And the entrance to the Star Palace remained uneventful.

Only the palace guards continued their regular patrols, and the palace servants busied themselves with garden maintenance and cleaning. Not a single patient in sight, visiting the Star Palace.

Tsk.

Had the promotion been ineffective? Was it not enough to overcome peoples sense of intimidation?

Disappointment weighed heavily on him.

An involuntary sigh escaped his lips.

Im done for if it stays like this.

Should he have opened a separate clinic in the city? Or perhaps take the risk of going directly to the slums, despite the high chance of infection?

Burdened by these deepening worries, he moved away from the window and changed into fresh clothes.

He needed to clear his head.

Lets take a walk.

He had to identify the problem and come up with a solution. He resolved not to succumb to despair or disappointment but to think while walking.

With that determination, he left his bedroom, passed through the corridors, and descended the stairs. And there, his eyes widened in surprise.

Huh?

Unexpectedly, at the bottom of the stairs, in the grand hall of the Star Palaces first floor, a crowd had gathered.

Whats happening?

He was initially taken aback.

Then it dawned on him.

They were not adorned in the splendor of the Star Palace but instead wore plain clothes. Some wore pained expressions, while others were supported by their children. The lobby hall was teeming with people from all walks of life.

It seemed like there were around two to three hundred people. Even more astonishingly, each person held a paper queue number!

So, this is

Before I even looked out the window, before the sun rose, they had come early in the morning and were waiting like in line at a popular restaurant? These people

To receive treatment from me?

These people theyre all my patients?

A realization washed over him, and a wide smile of success spread across Raciels lips at the opening of the Oriental Clinic.

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