In the imperial clinic, Zion diligently organized medical tools and complained.

“Patricia, the Empress, will soon send someone to the clinic.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard of it. Why would she send someone? Is something uncomfortable for her?”

“Oh, come on. Do you think I’d sigh like this if that were the case?”

Zion had been a veteran working in the imperial clinic for over twenty years. He took great pride in taking care of the sick and being responsible for the health of the imperial family.

Though she was the body physician for the emperor, Patricia also became a member of the imperial family by giving birth to the late emperor’s child. If she requested an examination, Zion would have attended to her with sincerity.

But Patricia had a different intention.

“Why did Patricia, the Empress, have the Lady of Duke Lexion work as a personal maid for a while? It seems the lady has a slight interest in medicine.”

“Right, I remember. Today was her first day at work.”

“Even so, you wouldn’t have thought she’d be sent to the clinic on her first day.”

It was clear that Patricia’s intention was not to have the lady, who had just become the small mistress of Duke Lexion, take care of her health. She intended to keep her close and torment her.

‘Why did the Duchess send her here, knowing nothing?’

Zion felt a little sorry for Edith, who would be standing alone like a scarecrow.

However, working in the imperial clinic for a long time required political judgment as well. The reason he was troubled was precisely because of this.

“We ultimately have to come up with the prescription Patricia wants. However, if we help the Duchess too actively, it will be awkward.”

“Awkward?”

“The Empress sent the Duchess here to break her spirit. If we do well, what will happen? She might say absurd things like the clinic is on Lexion’s side rather than the imperial family.”

“Ah… I understand now that I hear it. But we can’t mistreat a member of Lexion either.”

“We’ll be the only ones dying in this eye-for-an-eye game. Keep your wits about you too. We may waste some time, but there’s nothing we can do.”

As Zion, with a perplexed heart, advised his disciples, the figure of a woman reflected in the window. Edith Lexion, with her long golden hair and fresh red lips, and eyes as deep and clear as the sky, was more dazzling than the rumors.

“Duchess, for what reason have you come to such a humble place? I’ll escort you inside.”

Although Patricia’s intentions were already clear, Zion politely inquired as if he knew nothing.

As soon as Edith entered, she carefully breathed in the faint scent of herbal medicine and the smell of disinfectant.

‘It’s almost like the scent from the clinic.’

It felt like memories from the clinic, where she had lived her most intense life, were vividly coming back.
Patricia had sent Edith here hoping she would cause trouble, but Edith’s eyes, as she looked around, gleamed brightly with intelligence.

Becoming the physician of the imperial clinic within the palace was one of the futures that academy students vaguely dreamed of.

“Um… Duchess?”

Zion cautiously drew Edith’s attention. It wasn’t unreasonable for a noble to find the extensive collection of herbs covering one side of the wall intriguing since they might have only encountered medical knowledge through books.

Contrary to his judgment, however, Edith was mentally cataloging the list of herbs.

‘Perhaps because it’s an imperial institution, there’s no shortage of ingredients. I should be able to prescribe the most effective remedy.’

Perhaps due to the Emperor being in the sickbed, the lower-ranking officials of the clinic seemed busy preparing medicine and making herbal remedies. It reminded her of the days when she would run around tirelessly, even if the soles of her feet caught fire, on days when there were many patients.

Edith decided not to disturb them.

“I came at the request of Empress Patricia. She desires a tea that is good for fatigue recovery and chilblains.”

“Hmm. I’ll prescribe the medicine soon.”

“No, she said you wouldn’t need to take medicine. She wants to manage the symptoms with tea.”

Here it comes. To avoid taking sides between the two women, Zion became as cautious as someone weighing both sides on a balance.

‘Tea is not as effective as medicine, so it’s good to criticize the Duchess for being less competent than expected.’

However, before he could voice his worried tone, Edith spoke first.

“I came at the command of Empress Patricia. I’m here to make a tea that suits her needs. I’d like to brew a tea using flamegrass and Siberian chrysanthemum, dried in the sun after being thoroughly steamed, and summer agaric mushrooms. A ratio of 3:1:2 would be good.”

“……?”

“I’ll make the tea. Since the properties of the ingredients make the efficacy disappear if boiled for a long time, it won’t take long.”

The prescription that Edith recited flawlessly left Zion and the courtiers in the clinic momentarily stunned.