Chapter 18: Let’s Talk

“I said exactly as I did. You, Physician, are to stand on the side favoring her execution at the trial. Of course, not just reasonably, but to the extent of completely cornering her.”

I said this, still holding the physician’s hand.

This time, I didn’t hide anything in my words.

Truly, that was all I wanted.

“····Surely, you said you would spare her-“

The physician’s expression twisted.

A slight hint of killing intent leaked out.

Unlike her usual self, she was impatient, clearly showing the state of being cornered.

“Ah, hah. Of course, it is for the purpose of saving her. Perhaps my explanation was a little insufficient for you, Physician.”

I cupped her hand, making her grip the paper tightly.

I raised one hand and placed it on her shoulder.

Instead of removing my smile, I made it wider.

I subtly lowered her position, which was higher than mine despite her slightly bent back.

As if dealing with a foolish child.

“As you know, I have less than I have nothing now. Among those, in particular, it seems those who support me are quite few.”

Last time, during the succession ceremony, I was able to persuade the nobles thanks to the Knight Examination.

They naturally thought I would fail the examination.

Therefore, it could be said that they did not object to my words.

In fact, my proposal was probably recognized by them as an implicit transfer of office.

Now, I had broken that perception.

So, it couldn’t help but be confusing and difficult to accept.

Even with the Cardinal’s official recognition, from their perspective, it was practically like catching a star from the sky.

Therefore, it was likely that very few would support me.

“If there hadn’t been an accident, my brother would have received support and ascended, but since I have taken the position of Grand Duke, there will be only confusion in many ways.

Therefore, someone who should be greatly respected needs to slightly organize this situation…….”

I trailed off my words, narrowing my eyes and looking at the old woman before me.

The physician, who had tightly closed her lips, seemed to have the unspoken words naturally come to mind, even without me opening my mouth further.

“····You wish for this old woman to re-enter the political arena.”

Sadly, that was slightly incorrect.

I patted her shoulder once, the one that made me open my mouth for longer, and sat back in my seat.

“Nonsense. How could I ask someone I respect to do such a difficult thing? I am not so shameless as to request even that.”

I deliberately took a sip of tea, giving the physician a chance to speak first.

However, perhaps she wasn’t very clever.

The physician, with lips that had somehow become dry, merely stared at me with strange eyes.

‘Hmm, it would be good if she spoke up first.’

“····It is merely a desire for you to support us in some way. For example, yes. Teaching my brother who is beside me – that kind of method.”

“··Sister? I am already receiving instruction from the current Knight Commander, but-“

As soon as my words finished, my brother, who had been silent, spoke up.

It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was an appropriate sentence for stating the purpose of the education together.

“Yes, I know that well, brother. But what can be learned differs for each educator. The current Knight Commander may not have experienced it, but the Physician knows it very well……… There are such, things, aren’t there?”

As I stretched out my words and paused, the physician stood up abruptly, as if she had realized what I was saying.

I simply smiled gently, putting down my teacup, as if to say that what she was thinking was correct.

“····Eleonora-nim. Surely-“

Before her words finished, I wiped my mouth with a napkin, pressing down on my ring finger and tapping the back of my other hand.

This time, it was a very convenient signal, one that might have been interpreted with its original meaning.

“Yes? What is it, Physician?”

What she probably thought of as ‘such things’ would be war.

Indeed, what I referred to was something of a similar nature.

To reiterate, my brother is too soft, even too soft.

With that personality, it is highly likely he would act indecisively, unable to kill those who should be killed.

So, he needs to get used to killing people, or at least be able to tolerate it.

For me to teach that, my method of dealing with life is different – even using the same sword, it should be entrusted to someone who has killed people most efficiently.

Someone who has rolled around on the battlefield for a lifetime, killing humans most efficiently as an old person, wouldn’t that be a suitable opponent?

Yes.

“······It is nothing. Being old, it seems I misheard.”

It was the physician’s words.

However, given the characteristics of those who have fought on the battlefield, they are likely to generally dislike or fear war.

That is probably why she got up abruptly, as if having a seizure.

“That can happen. Anyway, I would like you to instruct my brother primarily on those matters.

And, as I mentioned earlier, while testifying on the opposite side of her, it would be even better if you could indirectly mention your support for me.”

The reason for being able to suppress that was likely due to the secret she knew about me.

To start another war, to live intoxicated by the ambition of a ruler… At best, three to four years.

Such a very short, time it was.

“If the Physician testifies on the opposite side like that, the credibility of the trial will also increase.”

And, the detailed matters were all written on the paper and placed in the physician’s hand.

I handed it over with the thought that she would probably understand roughly if she read it after leaving.

Unlike my naive brother, the intuition of an old veteran who had gone through thick and thin on the battlefield would be much better.

“If you do that, even if she receives a different verdict than execution, wouldn’t there be fewer people mentioning the unfairness of the trial? And, of course, I will make sure it happens.”

“···Yes, that will happen.”

The physician bowed her head.

As if agreeing with my words, she clenched her fist tightly.

Feeling the need to make that understanding a little clearer, I racked my brain and put together a few more sentences.

“It is simply regrettable that I could not handle it in a slightly easier way. If it had gone according to plan, I could have forgiven her crime in a slightly easier way, but sadly, my body has become like this.”

While deliberately spinning it differently once more, I emphasized the reason why it was necessary.

It seemed like a rather good sentence for legitimacy or reconfirmation of the relationship.

And, I should stop here.

Continuing the conversation here would only be disadvantageous for me, as I had to think a lot.

My fatigue would be on a completely different level compared to a normal person who converses smoothly while empathizing appropriately, as I had to pay attention to each and every one of those things while conversing.

Especially now, having talked in a disgustingly indirect manner, the fatigue accumulated faster.

The reason I preferred direct and short conversations was due to that innate disposition.

A mask was quite uncomfortable and suffocating when talking to someone.

The creeping anger towards myself for having to speak while wearing a mask was also contributing to the accumulation of fatigue.

“···Ugh, hah. Hmm, important matters like the content of the testimony or how to conduct the trial will be conveyed gradually… It seems I should lie down again soon.”

Ending the conversation, I deliberately slightly twisted my expression.

As if enduring pain, as if appealing that I was barely standing in this spot.

I wasn’t sure if the physician would be able to see through this expression too, but even if she did, it didn’t matter.

It was clearly I who had started the conversation in this place.

It was also I who could end it.

Not only in conversation, but in the relationship as well, the balance had already tipped towards me, so it was only natural.

“···Just for the consideration you have shown up to this point, I am simply grateful. I will never forget the favor you have bestowed upon me.”

And, the most important thing would be the words left at the end.

In reality, the most important thing the physician had to do was something else.

“Favor, you say? Isn’t it something that should naturally be done? Please enter carefully, Physician. Please understand that I cannot see you out.”

She bowed her head.

Then she left the room with steps that were much more dejected than when she entered.

Perhaps a normal person, seeing that appearance, would express feelings such as pity or compassion.

But I was thinking of nothing but the timing to speak.

The truly important thing had not yet been said.

If I didn’t say this, the physician would become a difficult person to handle completely.

One step, one step.

Her steps were slower than usual, but as she normally walked very fast, she reached the door handle in no time.

And the moment I wanted was precisely when she grabbed the doorknob.

Thud-

“Ah, come to think of it, I forgot to tell you one thing.”

It was the moment she stopped at a place quite close to where the pen and paper were placed.

At the same time, it was a position that could hide the importance of the matter, as if conveying the least important content.

“···Perhaps, if you were thinking of visiting her, it would be better to give up that thought. You roughly know the reason, do you not?”

Her body, which was about to open the door and leave, stiffened for a moment.

Before the physician’s head completely turned back, I continued speaking.

“To carry out what I have told you well, it is impossible to only stand on the opposite side at that moment. Your actions in the trial will have stronger credibility only if, on the surface, the Physician has severed ties with your disciple.”

In fact, this was also what I wanted to convey most in this conversation.

At all costs, the physician had to become someone who had abandoned her disciple.

More precisely, she had to become someone who had abandoned her disciple and taken my brother as her new disciple.

“·······That, is…”

Of course, if that happens, when the disciple is released later, the physician’s image will become slightly bad.

But she herself said she only wanted her life saved.

What more could she ask for here?

The physician’s fingertips trembled.

It looked as if the tower of her last remaining pride was shaking.

Her trembling gesture was so amusing that I almost let out a silent laugh unintentionally.

It was quite interesting to see the old woman, who had lived a lifetime being respected after the war, practically living as the Duchy’s top elder, trembling like that.

She probably wanted to speak, but she also deeply understood in her heart that she was not in a position to open her mouth.

If left like this, she would either give up or assert her remaining pride.

That wouldn’t do; it would become a matter of her making the choice.

Therefore.

“Ah, do not worry about your disciple. I will convey the Physician’s true feelings separately. It seems even she shouldn’t be deceived.

Since I have mentioned it, why not write a few lines and leave them? I will make sure they are delivered well.”

A little reassurance, I should provide, shouldn’t I?

Because I still had to hold the initiative in the conversation.

“········That.”

“I will refuse any refusals first. You haven’t had a proper conversation with your disciple in a while, have you? You should have a little, shouldn’t you?”

Stretching out my hand, I pointed to the place where the paper and pen were placed.

It was a gesture that could be considered practically a compulsion.

Because the pain remained, my lifted arm was trembling the moment it was raised.

“·····For your kindness, I thank you once again.”

“As I said again, it is something that must naturally be done.”

The physician slowly sat down.

She began to scribble something on the paper.

With this, the primary objectives were all accomplished.

In essence, I had squeezed out everything I could from the physician for now.

From now on, it was time to focus on rest and slowly contemplate future matters.

As I sipped the last of the cooled tea, the fragrant liquid flowed down my throat.

It was a drink that could be considered the last luxury in a situation where the amount of medication would increase, and it was questionable if my sense of taste would even function properly.

Ah, come to think of it, did Mary make this tea?

‘Hmm, it seems I should deal with Mary as soon as I formally ascend to the position of Grand Duke.’

Spies are not one or two, and those who need to be dealt with as a priority are not just one or two… but anyway, the only one whose name I had memorized was Mary.

To comfortably drink tea in the future without needing to stir it with a silver spoon, I had fulfilled a certain justification.

The performance of the artifact was excellent, so I didn’t need to worry about assassination attempts from outside, but food was a different matter.

The most important thing, perhaps, was simply that I was looking forward to the ‘conversation’ itself.

‘Conversation’ with others, especially ‘conversation’ with Mary, seemed to have quite a lot to gain from.

“···Are you finished? If you leave it there, I will have a servant deliver it.”

As if she had finished writing everything she had to say, the physician was slowly standing up, holding the paper she had written on.

“·······That-“

“I will call for you gradually from now on. Please leave today, Physician. Please understand that I cannot see you out.”

I cut off the physician’s words as she tried to convey something.

I erased my smile.

From now on, it was unnecessary, excessive response.

“······I understand, Eleonora-nim.”

Clank-

The door closed.

The sound of footsteps slowly faded away.

Wiping my hands with a napkin, I remained seated in silence.

The chilly silence in the room was both intended and unintended.

Knights were said to have sensitive senses, so it was intended that if I opened my mouth rashly now, it would clearly reach the physician’s ears.

And, it was unintended that my brother, who should have realized something after hearing the entire conversation a moment ago, remained silent.

‘·······Hmm, he should definitely say something, so why is he quiet?’

The conversation just now was one with more gain than loss, and it must have been harsh on the physician.

Perhaps it is because he has realized, just a little, that his sister is not a kind person?

If so, perhaps it would be better if I offered him some appropriate words.

Likely, the most suitable thing to find-

“······Brother.”

“Sister.”

···Oh?

“Ah, Sister, you first-“

“No, no. You speak first. I spoke first because I thought you might have something to say.”

Yes, yes.

He must have something to say.

“I understand. That, Sister, you are-“

What would come first, what would he have realized first?

The way I ignored the physician and clearly established the superior-subordinate relationship through actions and word choice?

The way I deliberately burned time, making the other person reveal their desperation with their own mouth?

The way I cut off unnecessary words and forced a choice?

No, no.

In fact, these were trivial matters.

Superficially kind, yet necessary words to obtain what I wanted, yes.

However, the important thing was hiding the true intention with those subtly hypocritical and rude actions.

What I gained from the conversation just now was very large.

It was large, diverse, and certain.

“It seems that-“

The basis of support as Grand Duke, the foundation of the image I would gain in the future, and the person of the physician herself.

I do not ask for all three to be mentioned.

I wasn’t expecting that much from my naive brother in the first place.

At least one thing, if he would just say one thing-

“····You are, too soft.”

············Ah.

“Sonia, isn’t she the physician’s disciple? If so, wouldn’t it be better to hold the physician responsible as well, and show Sister’s decisiveness as Grand Duke?”

····Ah.

“It is already not enough to treat her even more harshly, yet such excessive honorifics… Rather, they make Sister seem too approachable.”

‘Hah.’

“As I have said several times, treating people so kindly, so affectionately-

“······Brother, I am sorry to interrupt, but could you bring me that letter from above?”

“Uh, ah? Yes, yes. I understand.”

I took the letter my brother brought.

I quickly skimmed it with my eyes.

It was a letter full of emotional words, one an old person might write.

However, what was not particularly important-

Tear-

-was the content.

“····Now, do you have anything more to say?”

What was more important was whether my brother understood this.

“That, if you hold it like that, you might cut your hand-“

‘······Ah, damn it.’

Yes, at least I should acknowledge one thing about the late Grand Duke.

That he was so utterly clueless that he couldn’t detect the spy hiding in his own family.

That he couldn’t properly teach his only successor even how to speak indirectly.

Even though he was one of the strongest people in the world, he died inexplicably and came back.

“····It is alright. Let us learn slowly.”

At least, he didn’t get cuckooed.

With that level of cluelessness, it would have been understandable if he had been duped at least once, but he somehow succeeded in having a son who looks exactly like him.

“Yes? What-“

I stroked my brother’s shoulder.

I quietly sighed inwardly.

I couldn’t help but feel in my bones how far, truly far, the road ahead was.