Chapter 67
She pondered her father’s intentions before shrugging slightly. She had nothing else to do anyway, and her mind was still tangled over that man. Reading some light fiction in the library for a change didn’t sound so bad.
“Understood, Father.”
Rachel accepted the king’s command calmly.
***
Deep within the palace library lay a separate archive. As if boasting of its exclusivity to royalty, even the corridor leading to it was adorned with ornate patterns. Leaning against the entrance, Rachel tapped the floor absently with the tip of her shoe.
I wonder when he’ll arrive…
The wait was growing increasingly tedious. Just as she was pondering whether to find a novel to read, two familiar men appeared in the corridor.
The three of them froze the moment they spotted each other. The imperial physician took a step forward, then stopped, while the other two remained rooted in place.
The air in the corridor grew so silent that even breathing seemed loud. It was the imperial physician who broke the silence. He stepped forward with a grave expression, as if he were a knight willing to risk his life for his master.
“Your Highness, good day. Please allow me to guide you.”
Only then did Rachel regain her composure and glance back and forth between the two men before her. Her eyes flickered slightly as they passed over Killian. Swallowing hard, she spoke a moment too late.
“The surgeon they say is one of the finest on the continent… it’s the imperial physician?”
The imperial physician raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, then gave a sheepish smile.
“Yes, that’s me.”
‘Father, again…’
It was clear that, just like the last time she was guided through the palace, her father had maneuvered her next to the emperor. Understanding the situation, Rachel hesitated briefly about whether to retreat.
Her feet, headed toward the exit, faltered. The man lingering at the edge of her vision kept gnawing at her nerves. Unsure of what to do, she subtly stole a glance at Killian.
Killian, in turn, was silently watching Rachel. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze directly; his eyes wandered between the floor and her shoulders.
“…We can’t afford any delays in the investigation.”
He bit his lip, murmuring the thought to himself. If Rachel were to leave now, the Semensty investigation would inevitably fall behind. There were only four days left before he had to return to the empire. Her presence made the work far more efficient.
After much deliberation, Killian finally spoke in a low voice.
“…I’m asking you.”
At those words, Rachel’s feet came to a complete halt.
The library was dry and tidy. Dust was barely noticeable, and the characteristic scent of old paper wasn’t particularly strong.
Among the stacked books, titles related to Semensty appeared here and there. Killian and the imperial physician focused primarily on materials about hypersensitivity. In the quiet space, the only sound was the rustle of turning pages.
Rachel sat off to the side, watching their backs. Tasked with carrying out the king’s orders, she kept an eye on both of them, but her gaze lingered on one man in particular. Killian’s profile, bent over a book, was etched in her green eyes.
He’s really studying hard.
She recalled how he had frowned when they discussed love gels made from Semensty, yet now, perhaps finding it interesting, he was engrossed in the research.
She was focused. The behavior seemed odd, but it wasn’t her concern. Rachel blinked once, shaking off the afterimage of Killian.
‘Semensty is just something you drink. Do you really need to study it?’
As if to prove her point, she picked up her teacup. The pale pink liquid inside the silver-plated cup rippled gently. Just as she was about to take a sip, a sharp pain shot up her wrist.
Startled, Rachel quickly set the cup down.
“Ouch.”
The painful sound escaped her unconsciously. The imperial physician, attuned to such cues due to his profession, immediately turned his head.
Noticing the bandage wrapped around her wrist, he approached her.
“You haven’t fully recovered yet?”
He carefully supported her slender wrist. Rachel shook her head lightly.
“No, this one’s already healed.”
“Shall I take a look at any other injuries?”
Given that it was a renowned surgeon from the continent offering to help, there was no reason to refuse. She handed over her wrist without hesitation. As the loosely wrapped bandage came undone, a red mark gradually became visible. The imperial physician studied it for a moment, then hesitated slightly before speaking.
“Could this… have been tied with something like a string?”
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