Chapter 97

Chapter 97

The sun began to rise.

Raciel regained consciousness shortly after sunrise. Thankfully, he felt quite full of energy.

Is the crown prince feeling improved now?

Ive been perfectly fine from the beginning.

Of course you have.

Rattle, rattle.

A playful smile formed on Princess Adelines lips. The wider she smiled, the more assertively Raciel prodded at his salad with his fork. However, Adeline paid no mind. Her eyes glistened as she gazed at Raciel from across the lengthy dining table.

Do you remember what you said just before you passed out yesterday? It was incredibly embarrassing.

No, I dont recall.

Of course youd say that. You were staring right into my eyes when you said it. What was it again?

Thats all for todays session.

If I agreed to undergo treatment

Enough.

You are my

Thats all.

patient.

Oh, come on.

Raciels expression turned sour.

Did you come this early just for this?

No, absolutely not.

Of course you did. Youre teasing me while looking right at me. Whats this called?

A well-intentioned visit?

Yeah, right.

Crunch.

Raciel grumbled as he bit into a carrot.

Anyway, Im fine. Yesterdays incident was an unavoidable part of the treatment process. So, you dont need to worry about it affecting my ability to treat.

That was the truth.

The extracorporeal shock wave treatment for Princesss gallstones required him to absorb the shock. He had anticipated that, having practiced with Demian. However, the power of the mana Adeline emitted with her authority was stronger than he had anticipated.

Indeed, it had the power befitting a mid-level expert martial artist.nove(l)bi(n.)com

The mana emitted by Demian, who primarily used a sword, was different when produced with bare hands. The moment Raciel redirected and absorbed that mana, he felt as if his stomach turned upside down.

It felt like the figurine in the hand of a three-year-old on a holiday being deconstructed and then gently and satisfyingly reassembled. The esophagus, the villi of the small intestine, and the pyloric sphincter seemed to join hands in this process.

But he had chosen this treatment method.

He endured with sheer grit.

Then he fainted. Up until then, it was okay. The problem was that he had shown an unimpressive image in front of the patient. This was Raciels main concern.

In any case, the treatment will continue without issues. This morning, I have to see other patients, so you can come back at noon. Ill keep the entire afternoon free for your gallstone treatment. Also, for the procedures stability, please fast for at least three hours.

Raciel earnestly requested, hoping to shift Princess Adelins focus.

Firstly, the princess should not doubt the treatment. She shouldnt question Raciels skills either. She needs to trust him completely so the treatment can proceed smoothly.

So, I must not faint today. Absolutely.

He resolved internally.

At that moment,

Hehe.

Princess Adeline chuckled mysteriously.

It seems the crown prince is worried I might doubt the effectiveness of the treatment?

Was he caught? As Raciel was about to frown, Adeline unexpectedly said,

Its okay. In fact, Im grateful.

Excuse me?

I saw yesterday. How much effort you put into treating me. How much you endured on your own. And how you didnt show any of it.

Thats why I trust the treatment you provide. Since that moment yesterday, I have chosen to believe in the presence of the gallstones and that I need to eliminate them to survive.

Really?

Yes, wholeheartedly.

Adeline nodded.

It was her genuine sentiment.

At first, I questioned your intentions, whether you were attempting to deceive me. From my perspective, it was only natural to feel that way. But now things have changed. I believe in your noble intentions, providing free treatment to countless people in Imperial Capital and your altruistic offer of assistance to the royalty of a potential rival nation.

Um, so, why did the Princess visit me so early in the morning?

I wanted to express this to you. Thank you.

Adapting to the shock delivered by external shockwaves became less challenging. Like strengthening core muscles, the circle grew more resilient. The circle slot also solidified. His abdominal muscles became slightly tougher. His patience increased. Thankfully, he no longer fainted as easily.

Instead, I now only feel queasy but can endure it, like a true man. Ugh-

Dont worry. Its just a little nausea Ugh-

Why does the Princess keep looking like that Ugh-

Could you do that vomiting thing elsewhere?

But Uh, I need to check if the gemstone broke properly

If you make that noise again, Ill strike you.

Understood? The nausea.

Yes.

Hehehe.

Raciel struggled to suppress the urge to vomit as he faced the princess, who towered over him by half a head. Perhaps due to her combat training since childhood, her physique was also impressive. Confronting such a fierce princess, one could only maintain politeness(?).

Oh, if only I had my Korean physique!

He might have had a slight belly, but he wasnt a stick either. Raciel swallowed his sense of indignation and chuckled.

If you continue to threaten me, Ill have no other option.

No other option?

I might mercilessly wield the power of the Imperial family.

How petty.

Regardless, the fifteenth gemstone shattered nicely. The process is proceeding smoothly. With a few more days of treatment, we should be able to address all the remaining gemstones.

Already?

Yes.

Raciel nodded.

Its thanks to the princesss active cooperation. The shockwaves you emit are so intense and forceful.

Does that mean the gemstones break effectively?

Yes. Although at times, I feel like my life force is on the verge of breaking as well.

Oh, oh. Youre making me feel guilty.

Just be appreciative.

Your words of gratitude seem to carry an undertone of seeking compensation.

Theres no such thing as a free lunch, right?

So, what kind of compensation would satisfy the prince?

Well, for example-

For example?

Not waging war against our Magentano. For a lifetime.

He genuinely proposed this idea to Adeline. She hesitated, gazing at him intently with a curious expression. In response to her gaze, his shoulders instinctively tensed.

Why?

Why was she observing him so intently? Did he overstep with his recent statement? Adeline didnt answer directly, instead offering a more enigmatic response.

Well, what you said caught me off guard.

What was so unexpected about it?

Furthermore, for someone like me its a first.

What does she mean by that?

He couldnt comprehend. All he knew was that after her cryptic remark, she gave a faint smile.

Anyway, that concludes todays treatment. You put in a diligent effort today. See you tomorrow.

Ah, yes

Understanding human emotions.

Comprehending a womans emotions.

Its truly complex to understand.

He had straightforwardly expressed his desires. Why did she look at him with that gaze and wear that mysterious smile? Why did she steal glances at him twice as she left the treatment room?

It was puzzling. So he responded with an awkward smile. Naturally, neither of them had any clue.

Princess Adeline, who came for treatment every day, and him, who allocated his afternoon treatment time exclusively for her. People within the palace were gossiping about the two of them, and the rumors spread throughout the entire kingdom.

Little did they realize that these rumors would eventually reach the ears of the emperor, who was undergoing stroke rehabilitation. Up until this point, they truly remained oblivious.

(To be Continued)

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