“I’ll excuse myself for a moment, Your Majesty.”

Imperial physician Sion sought permission and opened the door to the study. Maidens following him set down a neatly arranged tea set.

Valter, who was sitting across from the Emperor, noticed a subtle difference in the color of the tea.

“Did you add different ingredients to the tea?”

Sion, admiring Valter’s keen perception, politely replied, “It’s tea leaves coated with seasonal Woody fruits. It’s what Your Majesty requested. It’s very effective for fatigue recovery.”

As if waiting, the Emperor suggested the tea, and Valter savored it carefully.

Watching the scene where genuine affection between the rich was felt, Sion suddenly felt moved. When the Emperor’s health was critical, the scent of bitter medicine filled the study. Now, a fragrant and refreshing aroma filled the space.

‘What if the two never knew each other’s existence?’

Sion, as a physician who reasoned logically, usually did not believe in miracles or fate. However, when he thought about the story of the Crown Prince, who, having lost his memory, almost spent his life as a stable hand but regained his position thanks to a woman, there seemed to be something intangible and unexplainable in the world.

Thanks to her, the once ailing Emperor had fully recovered, so Edit was also a benefactor to him.

“I’ll prepare the same tea for Her Highness the Crown Princess in the afternoon. It seems she might be fatigued from overseeing various matters.”

Thinking of Edit, who had been buried in books until late at night, Sion bowed his head.

Both Valter and the Emperor had satisfied smiles on their faces.

“I would appreciate that. The Crown Princess seemed busy with organizing the medical system, which had worried me.”

Indeed, the Emperor was reading reports that Edit and the officials had compiled.

In remote regions where medical facilities were inadequate, even diseases that could be treated sufficiently in the capital caused deaths by the dozens or hundreds. Sending envoys with imperial decrees and cleaning up the nobles did not yield significant results since the coronation.

“At first, I entrusted it lightly to the Crown Princess, as she showed deep interest in medicine.”

However, the solution presented by Edit was surprisingly detailed and practical.

Establishing a medical institution directly under the Emperor and placing intermediate and lower-level medical institutions beneath it to connect health centers across the entire region like a net.

What was more astonishing was Edit’s subsequent explanation.

“Of course, the health centers set up in the provinces have a very high possibility of becoming corrupt, as they are likely to collude with the local lords. For example…”

Edit calmly explained various unscrupulous deeds that local lords could commit. Her voice and expression were surprisingly calm.

The officials, who had only sat at their desks and worked, couldn’t help but close their mouths at the vivid explanation born out of experience.
When Edit proposed a solution of rotating work between the capital and provinces, even the Emperor couldn’t help but be surprised.

“I didn’t realize there were aspects I hadn’t looked into, and Crown Princess’s examination made me feel so reliable. I now think I can pass my position to her.”

In Valter’s eyes, who heard his wife’s praise, there was a gentle light.

“She’s sincere in learning and applying something. If she heard what you just said, she would have been very pleased.”

“Even though you’re busy, take good care of her. Studying medicine isn’t an easy task for the Crown Princess.”

“And on top of that, she’s worried because the graduation exam is just around the corner.”

The Emperor couldn’t hide his puzzlement at Valter’s words.

“Worried? Is she afraid of the burden of taking an exam and achieving a high score for the Crown Princess?”

The Academy’s graduation exam was a formality to confirm the knowledge learned over several years. While ordinary students might find it difficult to secure employment if they didn’t exceed a certain score, Valter and Edit were exempt from such concerns.

For them, attending the academy for a certain period was to accumulate knowledge of culture, not to prove their intelligence.

If they wished, they could finish their academy life without taking an exam, but Edit, who was attending some medical classes, had a slightly different position.

“You can’t say you attended medical classes without taking the graduation exam. Don’t worry too much; she’ll take it with a light heart.”

Beside Edit, who spoke like that, piles of books related to the exam were stacked.

Whispering that even if she received a failing grade on the graduation exam, it wouldn’t lead to her removal from the position of Crown Princess, Edit still wanted to take the exam.

‘When graduation time comes, she’ll probably remember the time she worked hard in a difficult environment to receive the pass notice.’

What started with effort was something she wanted to finish with her best. That was typical of Edit, and Valter was sincerely cheering for her.