Ian explained to me yesterday that the healers suddenly came to him and pleaded to stop me from becoming a healer.

He tried to comfort me, saying that if they hadn’t come so suddenly, he would have done everything to ensure I could get a healer’s license.

He said he never dreamed that the healers would protest collectively like that.

He also said that giving me the position of imperial doctor was a spontaneous choice. He came up with it on the spot because he felt upset with the healers and sorry towards me.

But looking at this building, it seems like it’s been prepared for at least a week. Of course, there could be plenty of unused buildings in the imperial palace.

It wouldn’t be difficult to use manpower, so cleaning the building could be done in a day. But to prepare it this perfectly?

Come to think of it, those healers are truly impolite people.

While the crown prince suddenly summoned a noble lady, although I do have a count’s title, but still someone like me, and had the chief attendant apologize, they went to see the crown prince without an appointment? Is that allowed?

Moreover, even though they acted collectively, they’re just healers after all.

As Ileana said, high-ranking nobles don’t have jobs, and those who choose healing as a profession are barely maintaining their noble status or are equivalent to quasi-nobles.

They might stand tall and proud in front of commoner pharmacists, but to nobles, they’ve always been subordinates, not superiors. And they suddenly go to confront the crown prince? Are they out of their minds, or have they gone crazy?

“Such things are possible here.”

Ian said as if it were nothing special. I paused my thoughts that had wandered elsewhere for a moment and nodded in agreement.

In a place where even dead people can come back to life by borrowing other people’s bodies, what’s so surprising about an imperial medical office appearing overnight in the palace?

“Of course, I did urge them to make the medical office available for Jane to use as soon as possible, but…”

He trailed off, looking at me as if expecting praise. Instead of praising him, I shook my head and spoke to him as if addressing a naive younger brother.

“Sir Simons must have had a hard time. Being a chief attendant doesn’t seem to be a very suitable job in many ways.”

“I didn’t want to waste time because having a medical office means Jane can come to work every day, and I can easily check on Jane’s well-being like this.”

“The medical office could have been prepared slowly… Come to think of it, I was too angry about the healers yesterday to say this, but don’t use Sir Simons for just calling one person. He’s too old to be walking long distances.”

Of course, he looks healthy due to taking good care of himself, but given his age, we should be careful.

“It’s about calling Jane, so I can’t send just anyone.”

“Before, Sir Simons came to find me because of confidentiality, but now there’s no need for that, right?”

“That was then, but now it’s for Jane’s dignity. The more I value Jane, the more others will value her too.”

His words had something in common with what Ileana said. It seemed he was saying that even when calling someone, depending on which attendant is sent, it conveys a different meaning to those who see it.

Whatever the case, Ian did it out of concern for me. I nodded and thanked him. Only then did Ian seem to feel relieved and smiled brightly.

When he smiles so refreshingly with his handsome face, it seems to brighten up the space even more. Feeling a bit embarrassed for no reason, I carefully examined the medical office that had become my workplace starting today.

“Are these shelves newly installed?”

The building was in the shape of a near-circular polygon, with very sturdy-looking wooden shelves firmly fixed along the walls.

It didn’t match the luxurious interior decor, but I liked it even more because of that.

“The previous pharmacy had shelves on every wall, didn’t it? Each shelf was full of medicinal ingredients. I thought you’d need a lot of shelves to store medicinal ingredients…”

“That’s really necessary. There are so many types of medicinal ingredients.”

The shelves were installed up to my height, and above that was just bare wall. So it didn’t give a cramped feeling.

“There’s space at the back of the building that can be used as a storage room. Since the building doesn’t have a basement… If you need more space, I’ll build another storage room next to it.”

“I think this is enough. The view of the lavender field is so beautiful, I don’t want to ruin it.”

In the center of the building’s interior, there was a desk and chair, so I sat down on the chair.

When I leaned back, the resilient backrest reclined comfortably. Somehow, it seemed even better than the bed I used to use. Well, it’s in the imperial palace. Anything would be better than a bed stuffed with straw.

Next to it was a chair with a similar design to the one I was sitting on. I pulled that chair close to me, then patted the cushion on it and called Ian.

“Come here and sit down. Your Highness the Crown Prince is my first visitor.”

“How did you know that was my dedicated chair…”

“You even prepared a dedicated chair for the crown prince to come to work here every day?”

“Of course.”

I thought it was a chair to use when seeing patients? His expression was too serious to be a joke.

It didn’t matter. After all, he was the first patient I would examine. Ian quickly walked over and plopped down in the chair.

He was just like a puppy. Usually acting elegant and dignified, but sometimes when he obeys my gestures like a well-behaved dog, I want to pat his hair.

“A little closer, please.”

“Like this?”

He lifted the chair and pulled it closer to sit down.

“Now, are you taking your medicine properly? Before that, how long had you not been taking your medicine?”

I asked while examining his eyes. He widened his already large eyes even more and said,

“I’m not sure exactly. I didn’t take it since that day. Because I was sick, the chief attendant secretly mixed medicine into my food, or tried to force it into my mouth when I was about to fall asleep, but I spit most of it out…”

Very little of the medicine that Simons tried to feed him probably went down his throat. Being sensitive and stubborn, it wouldn’t have been easy to force-feed him.

“I was crazy to die. Absolutely crazy.”

I had guessed that he hadn’t been taking his medicine regularly because his body was like a fireball at that banquet. But hearing directly from him that he refused to take medicine made me upset.

“I’ve told you many times how dangerous it is to stop taking medicine on your own. You really don’t listen.”

Instead of answering, he put his cheek against my palm and rubbed it. As if telling me not to get angry. He’s not a child…

“Stop playing around and stay still.”

I examined his eyes. The bloodshot condition had actually improved compared to before. The movement of his pupils was also normal.

He must have had a lot of fever, so I checked if his hearing and vision were okay, and if his cognitive abilities were intact. I also checked his pulse. When he collapsed at the banquet hall, his pulse was slower than usual, but now it was fine.

“Fortunately, there’s no major problem. Instead, since the drug holiday period was long, I think we can change the drug combination.”

Just like how someone who likes sweet food becomes less sensitive to sweetness and doesn’t react sensitively, the same goes for medicine. If you keep using one ingredient, no matter how good the medicine is, its effectiveness is bound to be reduced.

That’s why there was a need to combine other ingredients with similar effects. However, when changing medicine, a careful approach was necessary. Unexpected side effects could occur.

“We don’t know what reactions might occur when changing the medicine. If you notice any reactions different from usual, please tell me right away.”

“Okay!”

Looking at him nodding without any worries, I inwardly sighed.

“While preparing Your Highness’s medicine, I should also prepare some for Sir Simons.”

Thinking about Simons who must have struggled to take care of him when he was on the brink of death for not taking his medicine, I felt sorry as if I was the cause of it all.

He’s even older than my late grandfather, how much must he have suffered…

“Simons’ joint medicine?”

“Not just for the joints, I’m thinking of preparing medicine that can replenish his energy as well. Compared to before, his face looks much worse, and I can vividly imagine how much he must have suffered mentally because of the Crown Prince who threw tantrums and didn’t take his medicine. Why did you have to be stubborn and not take your medicine? You’re going to give the already old chief attendant a stress-induced illness.”

“This is all because of Jane.”

He looked at me reproachfully. As if it was all my fault that I died, that I lied to him saying I wasn’t Jane even though he recognized me in Claire’s form, and that because of this, he was sad and didn’t take his medicine.

I admit some of it, but did I want to do that? Why did the fire break out in the pharmacy in the first place…

Ian was still pouting as if he wasn’t fully over his anger. Why does this cute expression strangely suit his handsome face so well? I guess naturally handsome people look good being cute or pretty too.

I debated whether I should pat his bottom to comfort him as he was throwing a tantrum like a child.

The children I used to take care of would cheer up if given sweet snacks at times like this, but our picky Crown Prince doesn’t even like sweet food.

If snacks don’t work, what should I use to comfort him… No, it was ridiculous to be so anxious about not being able to comfort him just because he’s throwing a little tantrum.

But when Ian throws a tantrum, I want to comfort him, when he’s sad, I want to hug him, when he eats something delicious, I want to eat with him.

He always approaches me first, but I felt like I would be sad if the distance between us grew. I used to understand this emotion differently, but it seemed quite natural to interpret it as ‘maternal love’.

‘Perhaps this is similar to the feeling Ileana had for Claire.’