Chapter 166: Side Story 22

Violeta clutched her head.

These conniving little b*st*rds.

Who would’ve thought there were people as sly as Ysildus? At least he was her nephew… Her nephew… Not that it made much of a difference. Violeta ruffled her hair in frustration.

Her silent fury made the aides gulp nervously.

Word had gotten to them, too. A banquet to find an Empress? And the imperial family was hosting it? No one knew how the rumor had spread so quickly, but telegrams had arrived from all over the continent, urgent ones at that.

They were letters pleading for their daughters or nieces to be considered first. Violeta clenched her jaw as she stared at the pile of letters splayed across her desk in all shapes and sizes.

“Who do you think is behind this?”

“It wasn’t me!”

“Did I say it was you?”

“Ahem! I-I just…”

“Could it be Count Jertho? The old man is infamous for his underhanded tactics. With the palace closed off like this, he might’ve stirred this up just to force it open…”

“Aha! So if I kill him, this all goes away?”

“L-Lady V-Violeta!”

The aides shook their heads with tearful eyes. Count Jertho was well-respected among the nobility. Make a wrong move, and they’d have every noble breathing down their necks. And with the capital still unstable, to stir up such trouble now…

It would be suicide.

No matter how powerful Thersion was…

‘We’d be condemned to overtime hell!’

Just as the aides were clinging to Violeta, whining miserably… 

“Ahem.”

A worse villain appeared. Everyone turned their heads.

Leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, was Ysildus, smiling sweetly. He strolled across the room with elegant steps and placed a hand on Violeta’s shoulder.

Violeta let out a deep sigh. She’d known he was there from the start. This hopeless brat, what did he want now? Just being near Carlisle gave her chills. She brushed his hand off.

“You’re working hard, Aunt.”

“Good that it looks that way.”

The meaning was clear: Do you have any idea how hard I’ve been working in your place?

“I was thinking I might help out.”

You?

Violeta’s eyes widened. Was this brat finally becoming human?

No, no. Don’t let your guard down, Violeta. He was the spitting image of his fox of a father. She smacked her cheeks with her palms.

“You’re going to what, help me?”

“We’re talking about Jeremiah’s marriage, aren’t we? It’d be ideal to have someone beside him for the coronation. It seems like something good for my friend, too.”

There it is.

Violeta narrowed her eyes and glared at Ysildus. One of his biggest motivations must’ve been finding someone to push toward Jeremiah. In that sense, he might actually be the most suitable person for the job.

“You really want to?”

“Yes, Aunt. I’ll help.”

“Alright then, Ysildus.”

Violeta shoved the entire task onto him.

“This whole affair… You’ll be working with Count Jertho. We’ve found someone else to do the dirty work for us, no reason to say no. You there.”

“Y-Yes?”

One of the aides shot up from his seat. He didn’t know why, but the moment his eyes met Ysildus’, it felt like disobedience wasn’t an option.

Ysildus smiled slowly.

“Go to Count Jertho. Tell him we’d like to request his help with this matter.”

There was no doubt he had ulterior motives. That man wouldn’t lift a finger unless it benefited him, probably planning to push his own niece as Empress.

“You’re seriously going to trust that snake? Nothing good comes from trusting a man like that.”

“They say even a snake can become medicine depending on how you soak it in alcohol.”

Ysildus replied gently.

Soak a snake in alcohol?

The aides stared with wide eyes.

“How we use him and how we eventually deal with him is a matter for later… For now, he seems useful. No reason to waste imperial funds on a pointless banquet.”

“You want him to prepare the banquet?”

“Yes. Announce it widely. Say we’ve decided to hold the banquet based on Count Jertho’s ‘proposal.’ And very generously, he’s agreed to prepare it in honor of the new Emperor. We’ll get everything done without lifting a finger.”

He’d have to finish what he started anyway, and would want to flaunt it by parading his niece around. He’d be compelled to make it happen for the sake of his own prestige.

“What if he refuses?”

“What’s it matter?”

Ysildus shrugged.

“Then I’ll host the banquet without Count Jertho. I’ll invite all the nobles and put on a grand show for them.”

What a wicked brat.

Violeta was honestly glad they weren’t enemies. Who else could come up with such twisted schemes so effortlessly?

Only Ysildus.

Violeta clicked her tongue.

The aides, experiencing Ysildus for the first time, were frozen in place.

“A-Ahaha… Then we’ll proceed with that plan…!”

What else could they say? They just had to do as they were told.

* * *

Alexa tidied up the space she had set up for herself.

“Ahem. This should do.”

It felt like she was even busier in the capital.

She had to take care of Jeremiah three times a day, prepare for the competition, and also keep up with her reading and notes. The last bit was homework from Karrolf.

The doctors had tried to sneakily host the contest in a venue that gave them the advantage, but real authority stepped in. Alexa had brought in the Minister of Welfare.

The minister expressed full support, saying it would help elevate medical standards, and the ministry agreed to provide the venue. The event would later be recorded as one of the Welfare Ministry’s achievements.

Not that Alexa cared. She was a doctor, not a politician.

“I’m all set, Lady Alexa!”

Her assistant was a maid who had followed her from Thersion, assigned by Karrolf to assist with Jeremiah’s treatment.

“Thanks, Lucy! We can do this, right?”

“Of course!”

“Let’s go!”

Alexa held out her fist. Lucy giggled and bumped her fist back. Then the two of them flung the door open energetically.

* * *

It’s not like today was going to be great from the start.

Alexa puffed her cheeks, watching as not a single visitor came. To be honest, she was an outsider here. She hadn’t expected to be trusted right away, but still. The others were all smiles as they greeted patients, and it was a stark contrast.

And the way they kept sneaking glances at her and giggling…

“Ugh, how obnoxious,” Lucy muttered, glaring.

Yeah, obnoxious!

Still, Alexa had at least one visitor.

“My stomach hurts.”

Terrun came in with the same absurd excuse he’d been using every hour. And judging by his return, an hour must’ve already passed.

“You’re lying. I don’t accept fake patients.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?! Everyone’s too busy to play with me!”

Terrun clung to Alexa, collapsing dramatically on her desk like a sick puppy.

“I really have a stomachache.”

“This isn’t make-believe hospital time, Terrun.”

Alexa soothed him gently.

“But is Ysildus busy?”

“Yeah. He says he’s helping Mom.”

“Really?”

Alexa tilted her head. Ysildus hadn’t said anything to her.

Was he just trying to find something to do? No… wasn’t he supposed to be taking groom lessons or whatever? Ahem. He should be. Esellia had emphasized that.

“What about you, Terrun? Got anything to do?”

“Nope. So let’s go with the stomachache story.”

Terrun blinked adorably. Strangely, he still felt like a cute little brother from when they were younger. Alexa giggled and reached out to feel his forehead.

“Hm, where does it hurt?”

“My lower tummy.”

“Constipated?”

“Nope.”

Terrun replied solemnly.

“I’m a strong wolf who poops once a day.”

“Then your upper tummy? Maybe something you ate? I heard we’re having salmon steak for dinner.”

“Nope. I could eat steel if I had to. I’m going to have three servings of salmon steak.”

Then what exactly hurts?

Alexa burst into laughter. Terrun always made her laugh. They were chatting like that when a pale child peeked their head in.

“Um, excuse me…”

“Hmm?”

Alexa stood up.

“What is it?”

“Do… do you take people like us? Like errand runners?”

The child’s eyes shimmered with tears. It was Alexa’s very first patient. She swung the door wide open.

“Of course! We even have sturdy stretchers here.”

She patted Terrun’s strong forearm. Terrun flexed and showed it off.

Yeah, I’m pretty tough.

……

T/N: Terrun really is like a bear, very cuddly and cutesy