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Chapter 024 ………………………………………
The experiment began immediately.
Fortunately, there was a servant who had cut his hand while working in the kitchen, so we were able to use him as a subject. Since the bleeding had already mostly stopped, he was actually a more suitable test subject.
Assistant physicians, in front of us, crushed several lentisia plants and applied them directly to the wound. Then we waited again for dozens of minutes. Finally, the results came.
“W-what…! The bleeding isn’t stopping, Tinte-nim!”
“In fact, the amount of blood has increased.”
Tinte’s expression as he looked at me was strange. I simply shrugged, as if to say, See? I told you so.
He snapped his head away so quickly it almost made a sound. Honestly, for someone his age, he should be more careful.
After applying the lentisia mixed with shinta fruit, the opposite effect had appeared. Even though it had been applied for a shorter time than before, it was clear the bleeding had already stopped.
Heh. I let out another suspicious laugh, and people turned to look at me. I smiled as annoyingly as I could, placing both hands on my hips.
“How is it? I was right, wasn’t I?”
Tinte sighed. There was no way to deny it—he had seen it with his own eyes.
“…The first test is passed.”
Yes! I clenched my fist toward the air.
Cedric—Cedric—who had been watching with interest, shook his head with an expression that said, What is she doing now?
“But there are still more tests ahead,” Tinte’s voice rang out again at that moment.
* * *
“Have you been to a riverside recently?”
“H-how did you know?”
“How would I know… I can just tell at a glance.”
The man, whose eyes were a mess, covered his mouth and muttered something like, “A-are you a fortune teller?”
“You’ve got a fever too.”
“P-pardon? How did you know that?”
“What? Really? I just guessed because it sounded like nonsense.”
“……”
When he touched his forehead, there really was a slight fever. I recorded the symptom and checked my notes.
Hmm. This should make the needed medicine clear.
It seemed he had contracted an infection from dirty water.
If treated immediately after infection, it would have been simple—but judging by the discharge, that stage had already passed.
I thought through the prescription and began listing it out.
“You’ll need shinta fruit and bangul extract as a base. Add hinta mushrooms. Prepare a whole pot of shinta fruit-infused water… Considering the symptoms, we’ll need more bangul extract. About two full measuring cups. Half a hinta mushroom. We’ll adjust depending on recovery.”
At Cedric’s gesture, Harun—Harun—quickly approached.
“Two cups of bangul extract, one pot of shinta fruit water, and half a hinta mushroom. This is correct again.”
Harun read aloud Tinte’s answer sheet.
It was correct again.
“Wow, another correct answer!”
“So she really is skilled!”
“Of course. She’s the physician personally brought by His Grace the Grand Duke.”
The crowd watched the test like an exciting sports match and cheered.
Tinte—Tinte—no longer showed much reaction. Not anger, not frustration, not even irritation. He simply looked calm.
The second test involved diagnosing patients and prescribing appropriate treatments.
There were five patients in total waiting for this.
I had now passed four diagnosis tests, and this was the fifth and final one.
All prescriptions matched Tinte’s or were very similar.
‘So he really is a capable physician.’
That was my evaluation of Tinte.
But it wasn’t only Tinte who could evaluate me. In tests like these, the examiner’s personality and skill were also revealed.
Cedric tapped the table lightly, as if satisfied.
“Then you’ve passed the second test as well. Tinte, any objections?”
“…None.”
“Good. Then please announce the third test.”
It would be the final one.
During the two rounds of tests, my senses had also recovered significantly.
It started as an exam, but in the end, it became a kind of rehabilitation for me. A small sense of gratitude toward Tinte grew inside me.
Tinte quietly organized his papers and stood up. He looked at me seriously.
“The third test will be conducted in private. Only His Grace the Grand Duke and Assistant Harun will be present.”
“Wow. What kind of test is it?”
“…I acknowledge that you have the qualities of an excellent physician.”
His words stopped there. The crowd murmured, and I tilted my head in confusion.
Isn’t that the end?
Without answering, Tinte bowed to the Grand Duke.
“I will take my leave first, Your Grace.”
“…Very well.”
Cedric did not object and saw him off.
From what I had observed over the past few days, the Grand Duke’s estate had surprisingly little hierarchy.
There were rules, of course, but compared to what I expected of a ducal estate, they weren’t strict. Servants even came and went freely before the Grand Duke left his seat.
Anyway.
The second test ended, leaving behind a strange sense of unease and curiosity.
The third test was scheduled for the next morning.
* * *
I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a night walk.
It was late, so everything was quiet. Only patrolling knights appeared here and there.
I should head to the garden.
The night garden was peaceful. The energy of daytime had retreated, replaced by a heavy stillness.
Night must have stronger gravity than day.
That must be why time felt slower.
I used to strongly dislike the hut where I had been trapped—but not everything about it.
At night, the moon always passed over its roof. I used to prefer crescent and new moons, but after being trapped there, I began to like half and full moons more.
Sometimes, on days when loneliness made me want to bury my face in a bowl of water and die, I would go outside and stare at the moon drifting through the trees.
Why are there so many stars in the sky, but no one beside me?
After crying a little, I would feel better.
When the full moon rose, the countless stars would fade away, and that strangely comforted me.
Rustling sounds could not be hidden. I could feel dry leaves crunching under my boots.
Even in the winter garden, where most life slept, night had arrived.
Tonight was a new moon. The sky was full of stars.
I stopped and picked up a leaf at my feet. With a bit of pressure, it crumbled instantly.
For some reason, I felt as if I had been thrown alone into this world—even though that wasn’t true at all.
The silent garden was more frightening than expected.
Rustle.
“…Huh?”
I looked down. My legs were still in place.
I looked back and forth between my feet and the front. What? Did I mishear?
Rustle, rustle.
No, I didn’t.
I take back what I said earlier. It’s not a silent garden that’s scary—but a dark garden where something unseen makes noise.
Just as I was looking around, unable to find anywhere to hide—
“…Rita?”
“Ah! At least make some noise when you show up!”
“I did. And surprisingly, this is my estate’s garden.”
It was Cedric.
Come to think of it, that was true. This was his home.
Feeling awkward, I scratched my head and laughed.
“Don’t laugh. I might get attached.”
“I was smiling so you would.”
“That’s a new piece of information.”
He seemed to have just come out for a walk too—his clothes were relaxed.
His neatly styled bangs were slightly tousled, making him look younger than usual.
I naturally walked beside him and matched his pace.
And then, in front of my eyes, a translucent blue window suddenly shimmered into view.
