‘It’s my first time healing such a severe injury, so it’s quite challenging.’

Fatigue rose sharply. Her hands began to tremble and cold sweat broke out all over her body. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, but she couldn’t wipe them away as both hands were pressed against the wound.

At that moment, Killian, who was standing nearby, took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Their gazes intertwined in the air.

‘Thank you.’

‘……You’re working hard.’

After briefly exchanging glances with Killian, Veronia refocused on healing the patient. The bleeding in the leg stopped, and the gaping wound gradually shrank. The twisted leg was regaining its original shape.

“Ugh… Argh!”

A sharp groan escaped the child’s mouth, likely from the pain of broken bones realigning. But it was only for a moment; the child soon fell silent again.

How much time had passed? Having finished healing both legs, Veronia finally straightened her back and raised her head. Then, looking at the lying child, she said.

“Your name is Billy, right?”

“Yes.”

“How are your legs? Do they still hurt?”

“No. My legs don’t hurt anymore.”

Hearing the child’s response, tears poured like waterfalls from the parents’ eyes.

“Oh my goodness!”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Veronia briefly watched the parents bowing their heads repeatedly in gratitude, then turned her gaze back to the child.

“Billy, can you try standing up?”

“……Yes.”

The child slowly rose. Cheers erupted from the onlookers as they saw the child standing on both feet.

“Wow! He’s alive! The child is alive!”

“Even the broken legs are healed! He can walk!”

“That healer is amazing! She saved a critically injured patient in such a short time!”

“She’s incredible!”

The spectators began to applaud in unison. Someone whistled in joy, while another wiped away tears of emotion. What was a horrific accident scene just moments ago had now become a festive occasion.

Ignoring the commotion around her, Veronia spoke to the child’s parents.

“This is all the treatment I can provide. I’ve finished treating the severe wounds on his abdomen and legs. But his shoulder and arm still need treatment. You should go to the nearest temple for further treatment right away.”

“Yes, we understand. We’ll do that.”

“Thank you for saving our Billy! We’ll never forget this kindness!”

Just as the child’s parents were grasping Veronia’s hands and expressing their gratitude again, a man in elaborate clothing strode through the crowd towards them.

Suddenly, all eyes turned to the man. It was Caspian. Killian immediately bowed his head in respect.

“I greet Your Highness the Prince. Were you still here, Your Highness?”

“It seems so.”

Caspian nodded slightly towards Killian and then approached Veronia and the child. Veronia’s face tensed under her hood. As the situation she had worried about unfolded, tension swept over her.

‘Calm down! Don’t show any signs of nervousness that might arouse suspicion! Stay composed!’

Veronia gritted her teeth, repeating these words to herself. The child’s parents also seemed tense, realizing their interlocutor was ‘His Highness the Prince’.

“We, we greet Your Highness the Prince.”

“……We greet Your Highness the Prince.”

The parents bowed, their voices trembling. This caused the onlookers to stir again.

“Did you just hear that? They said His Highness the Prince!”

“My goodness! To think His Highness the Prince would come all the way here!”

“Judging by his youthful face, he must be the youngest prince!”

People seemed even more excited than before, as it was their first time seeing a direct member of the imperial family this close.

The excited voices of the spectators reached Caspian’s ears as well. Feeling a bit cocky, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled triumphantly.

“You must have been through a lot. Please accept my sincere condolences.”

Caspian approached the child’s parents, grasped their hands firmly, and spoke gently.

“Th-thank you, Your Highness the Prince.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

After greeting the child’s parents, Caspian’s gaze turned to Veronia.

“I, I witnessed all of your efforts. You’ve done an extremely admirable job!”

“……I only did what I could. Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness.”

Veronia bowed her head even lower as she spoke, desperately hoping he wouldn’t take any more interest in her.

But her wish was not granted. Caspian continued.

“Are you a priestess? Which temple do you belong to?”

Veronia was at a loss for words at this unexpected question.

‘If I say I’m not a priestess, he’ll be surprised and ask more questions.’

But she couldn’t lie and say she was a priestess either. It was best not to tell a lie that would obviously be exposed soon.

As Veronia hesitated to answer, fidgeting uncomfortably.

“I’ve caught this damned pickpocket!”

It was Onyx. He had somehow acquired a rope and was dragging the pickpocket with his wrists tightly bound. The pickpocket appeared to be a skinny man in his early twenties.

Instantly, not only Caspian but all the onlookers turned their attention to Onyx and the pickpocket.

“Here! This is your handbag, right?”

Onyx asked, handing the handbag he had brought to Espin. She nodded vigorously.

“Yes, that’s it! Thank you so much!”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Onyx shrugged his shoulders and flashed a proud smile.

“Would you mind explaining in detail what happened?”

“Huh? Who are you to ask?”

Onyx, who hadn’t yet grasped the situation properly, shot a casual remark at Caspian. This shocked not only Caspian himself but everyone watching. How dare he show such an insolent attitude to His Highness the Prince!

Before the situation could escalate further in a strange direction, Killian stepped in to smooth things over.

“This is His Highness Prince Caspian. Show some respect. Didn’t you see him earlier?”

“Earlier? Was that so?”

Onyx scratched his head and tilted it in confusion. It was impossible to tell whether he genuinely couldn’t remember or was pretending.

Nevertheless, now that he knew his interlocutor was the noble prince, he had to offer a proper greeting.

“I greet Your Highness the Prince.”

“……Very well.”

Although still displeased with Onyx’s insolent attitude, Caspian nodded to acknowledge his greeting.

Meanwhile, Veronia’s heart was pounding at the sight of the two exchanging greetings.

‘Oh my……! To think these two would meet like this!’

Unknown to anyone yet, Onyx and Caspian were half-brothers.

Onyx was the son that Sandra, now the Empress Dowager, had secretly given birth to and abandoned before marrying the late Emperor, while Caspian was the son she bore after marrying the late Emperor.

‘Those two… Though their hair colors are different, they certainly do look alike.’

Veronia held her breath, desperately hoping no one would notice the resemblance between the two.

“Now then, would you mind explaining in detail what happened?”

Caspian repeated the same question.

“This damned pickpocket scoundrel stole Princess Espin’s handbag.”

The words ‘Princess’ from Onyx’s mouth once again stirred up the crowd.

If seeing a member of the imperial family even once in a lifetime was difficult, now they had not only the prince but also a princess from a neighboring country in one place! It felt like the luckiest day ever.

“Go on.”

At Caspian’s urging, Onyx swallowed a sigh and opened his mouth again.

“I chased after him diligently. Because thieves must be caught, you know. But this guy was incredibly nimble.”

Onyx said, tapping the back of the pickpocket’s head who was tied up with rope.

“He ran this way and that so well. It was like watching someone do somersaults in the air. I’ve never seen anyone run so lightly and quickly in my life. It was almost enviable.”

Onyx’s words were increasingly straying off topic. Though Onyx himself didn’t notice, the faces of everyone listening were gradually contorting.

Once again, the cleanup fell to Killian.

“I’ll continue the explanation, Your Highness.”

“Please do.”

Onyx frowned, seemingly displeased by Killian’s sudden interruption. But judging it better than reciting the details of the incident before this young prince, he kept his mouth shut.

“The carriage accident was also caused by this pickpocket. When he suddenly ran into the middle of the road, a passing carriage overturned while trying to avoid him urgently, and ended up crushing this child.”

Caspian’s face twisted grimly as he carefully listened to Killian’s explanation of the situation.

“This, this… He’s not just a simple pickpocket, is he? Not only did he steal a neighboring country’s princess’s handbag, but he also caused a carriage accident and fled the scene.”

Shing- Caspian drew his sword from its scabbard and continued speaking.

“The child crushed by that carriage was in mortal danger. If it weren’t for this healer here, he would have died.”

The sharp tip of the sword hovered around the pickpocket’s neck. The pickpocket seemed to finally realize the gravity of the situation. Cold sweat suddenly poured down his entire face like rain, and his whole body began to tremble violently.

“Do you understand your crimes?”

Caspian shouted fiercely. The sword’s tip pressed even closer to the pickpocket’s neck skin. It seemed like it would slice his throat at the slightest movement.

The pickpocket cried out, shedding tears.

“Pl-please spare me! If you tell me to go to prison, I’ll go to prison. If you tell me to receive punishment, I’ll receive punishment. But please… please just spare my life.”

“For a pickpocket worth less than a bug, you seem to know the value of life.”

Caspian laughed mockingly.