Every time Harbel placed a stethoscope on the Empress’s chest and abdomen, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that the golden arrowhead was aimed at the back of his head. The same applied when conducting an examination.

Tap, tap.

The Emperor’s fingertips tapping the armrest had a strangely dominating effect on his soul. Staring at the Empress’s face for more than three seconds shortened the intervals between the taps, creating a sense of unease. If she tried to smile even a little, the taps would abruptly cease, simultaneously freezing the smile on Harbel’s face.

And now, only one gateway remained. However, it was the most challenging one.

“Uh… Your Majesty, I… I will examine your… eyes.”

To determine if she had pregnancy poisoning, he needed to examine the retina.

They had postponed it until now since it was supposed to be done only once every three days, but today it had to be done.

“Go ahead.”

After the Empress gave permission, she opened her eyes wide. In order to observe her violet irises more closely, Harbel leaned forward, staying like that for a moment…

“I think this should be enough.”

“…!”

Harbel felt the ominous aura emanating from the large hand descending on his back.

“Uh… Yes… All right. E-everything is sufficient.”

The young doctor, once highly anticipated, now trembled like a rookie.

“How is it?”

In response to the Emperor’s question, Harbel, stealing a bit of cold sweat with the back of his hand, replied.

“E-everything… is fine. Your heart sounds good, blood pressure is stable, and the color of your irises is clear.”

At his words, the sharp gaze softened in an instant, as if suggesting that if there were any problems, he might have had his head cut off.

“Since the uterine contractions have improved a lot, it seems you can walk around a bit.”

“Really?”

Liz’s face brightened.

“Yes, but if you happen to experience periodic contractions again, you should immediately take a rest and refrain from going far.”

“Understood.”

Liz and Hersis exchanged relieved smiles for a moment. Then Hersis instructed the physician.

“You may leave now.”

“Y-yes… Your Majesty.”

Harbel bowed as if his head would touch the ground and hastily fled from the sickroom.

He had always thought that dealing with ladies would be a pleasant affair, but now he realized it could be uncomfortable and terrifying.

For the first time in his life, as Harbel descended the stairs to leave the palace, his legs trembled as if they were about to give way.

“Did you hear? Now you can be at ease.”

“I heard.”

Hersis added with a smiling face, “But it will be more accurate if Bores comes and sees.”

“Harbel isn’t bad either.”

Despite getting permission to move cautiously, Liz was worried that the meticulous personal physician Bores might ruin everything again. Therefore, she had to advocate for Harbel as much as possible.

“In fact, he seems to observe even more meticulously. He’s easy to deal with, too, because of his friendliness.”
Liz touched the edge of the blanket and spoke.

“Boris Kyeong is of age, and considering the need for fostering successors, it would be great if we could also go through a generational change. I hope Harbel Kyeong could be assigned as my personal physician.”

“…….”

“What do you think?”

Liz looked up.

It seemed like his face had cooled down for a moment. Did she see it wrong?

After blinking once, he nodded with a sardonic smile.

“It’s not a bad idea.”

“…….”

“Then let’s do that.”

“Really?”

“Sure. If that’s what you want, why wouldn’t I agree?”

Liz widened her eyes.

She expected a bit more resistance, but he agreed faster than she thought.

With a relieved smile, thinking she could finally get out of bed, Liz was about to express her gratitude when Hersis spoke.

“Since we’re on the subject, let’s deliver the appointment letter to the Imperial Clinic right away. If nothing special happens, he will be your personal physician starting tomorrow.”

“Nothing special… What do you mean?”

That particular part stuck in Liz’s ears.

“Disappearing without a word, or taking on a mission I can’t interfere with…”

“Ah… What did I say?”

Since he was a man with a strong sense of responsibility who would never disappear without a word to take on a mission, this was absolutely impossible. And taking on a mission beyond Hersis’s reach…

‘That’s impossible, isn’t it?’

Liz felt relieved.

Finally getting out of bed, filled with hope that she could hold the baby until full term, Liz nonchalantly brushed off Hersis’s words.

As he left the bed to deal with the remaining tasks, Liz, who was left alone, gazed out of the window.

The sun was gradually descending toward the western mountain range.

Orange-colored clouds spread like feathers across the sky.

It was a beautiful afternoon. It was an appropriate time for the awaited news to arrive.

However, the news arrived a little later than expected.

The sunset color gradually turned into a bloody red. Watching it a bit more, Liz turned her eyes away from the eerie feeling that blood might flow from the sky. At that moment, Rosa came in with the news.

“I have two pieces of news to convey.”

“Tell me.”

“First, I regret to inform you that Dr. Harbel can no longer take on the position as your personal physician, Your Majesty.”

“…?”

It was unexpected news.

“Why?”

“He volunteered to become a military officer in the Capital Guard.”

“…….”

Moving the Capital Guard was the Emperor’s decision, but the authority to command individual members of the Capital Guard belonged entirely to the Commander of the Capital Guard. The Emperor couldn’t touch that. So…

‘Is this just a coincidence?’

Doubt was only natural.

“And the second news is…”

If Rosa didn’t have one more piece of news to convey, and if that news didn’t carry significant weight, Liz might have delved a little deeper into this strange situation.

“Ms. Esmond hasn’t returned to the palace yet.”

“…….”