Chapter 55
He was a suspicious man in every way.
It wasn’t just that he wore a black hood pulled down low like a thief — what was most suspicious was his attitude.
“You’re a doctor?”
“Yes.”
The man’s voice, calmly answering the Grand Duke’s question, didn’t waver at all.
The Grand Duke was a man among giants — even high-ranking nobles found it difficult to speak with him.
And yet, this wandering doctor stood there with composure?
Even his posture and manner of speech carried an air of refinement.
That wasn’t something one could learn overnight, nor was it something that could be faked in a moment.
The gaunt Grand Duke stared sharply at the man’s face hidden beneath the hood.
“Experienced doctors couldn’t find the cause. Healing magic didn’t work either. And yet you say you can?”
“Yes.”
A doctor claiming he could cure the patient without even seeing their condition — anyone would find that suspicious.
But now was not the time to be picky about hot or cold water.
“…This way.”
When the Grand Duke rose and began to walk, the suspicious man followed behind him.
From outside the parlor, Baratheon and Sische watched the scene cautiously, eyes full of suspicion.
“He looks like a quack to me.”
“Then we’ll just kick his ass out.”
Even though it was obvious he could hear their muttered words, the man silently continued walking forward.
Their steps eventually brought them to Danae’s room.
As if the air itself was trying to warn them of the danger befalling its master, the room was heavy with gloom.
The man entered and looked around slowly, as if searching for something.
Danae lay on the bed, her face pale.
Marina, eyes red from crying, stayed faithfully by her side.
Lucas hovered nearby, worriedly brushing the patient’s hair away from her forehead.
The man’s gaze drifted over the three of them — then stopped on the empty birdcage.
“Where’s the bird?”
“See? I told you he’s a damn quack! He’s supposed to treat a person, and he’s asking about a bird?!”
Baratheon angrily kicked the table at the man’s question.
The sound startled Miri — who had been visiting Danae daily, insisting she had to stay by her sick friend’s side — and she began hiccupping.
“H-Hic!”
Miri trembled violently, clapping her hands over her mouth, but the sounds still escaped between her fingers.
“Marina.”
“Yes.”
At the Grand Duke’s glance, Marina picked up Miri and carried her out of the room.
As she was taken out, Miri’s terrified eyes remained fixed on the strange man.
Once the door shut and the brief commotion ended, the man asked the same question again.
“Where is the bird?”
“Old man, he’s not a quack — he’s a lunatic!”
Baratheon growled and grabbed the man by the collar.
The strong grip pushed back the hood, revealing the man’s face at last.
Silver hair.
Pale blue eyes.
A flawless beauty, as though he had just stepped out of a sacred painting.
“Wha—…”
Baratheon was so stunned by that divine face that he momentarily loosened his grip, losing his wits — though he quickly regained himself and grabbed the man’s collar again.
“We must find the bird if we’re to heal the patient. The bird that was here — where did it go?”
Instead of looking at Baratheon, the man turned his gaze to the Grand Duke, who stood a little farther away.
He clearly knew who held the true authority in the room.
He was no ordinary man — certainly not a mere doctor.
“…Lucas, Theon, Sische.”
After a brief exchange of looks with the man, the Grand Duke issued his command.
“Find the bird.”
“Old man!”
“I said find it.”
Baratheon shouted in protest, but the Grand Duke ignored him, repeating his order with finality.
Baratheon scowled and shoved the man away before storming out.
Sische followed, face creased with a frown, and Lucas trailed behind, his expression dark.
“Your Grace, please leave as well.”
To leave his precious granddaughter alone with a suspicious wandering doctor — it was an absurd command.
The Grand Duke stared into the man’s steady, unwavering eyes for a long moment, then bit his lip hard.
“If anything happens to her, you’ll die by my hand.”
“That won’t happen.”
As before, the man’s tone was calm and unshaken.
The Grand Duke pressed a soft kiss to Danae’s forehead, shut his eyes tightly, and left the room.
Now, only Danae and the man who called himself a doctor remained.
“Haa…”
The man approached Danae, ran a hand through his hair, and sighed deeply.
“Danae, you really are a handful.”
For the first time, a crack appeared in his expression — the face that until now had shown no emotion whatsoever.
12
Opening my eyes again was easy.
Like waking naturally from a deep sleep, my eyes just opened on their own.
“My lady!”
Marina, who had been sitting beside the bed wiping my body with a damp cloth, cried out in joy when she saw I was awake.
“You’re awake! How do you feel? Are you in pain anywhere?”
I wanted to say I’m fine, but my throat was so dry no sound came out.
Marina saw my mouth open soundlessly and jumped to her feet.
“Ah, right! Water! I’ll get you some water!”
At the mention of water, a sharp thirst burned in my throat.
I gulped down the cup she handed me. Even swallowing water stung my throat.
“I’m fine,” I managed to say.
My voice was hoarse, but at least I could speak.
“My lady…”
Hearing me say I was fine, Marina slumped into her chair with relief.
“Do you know how scared I was? You suddenly collapsed like that… The Grand Duke and the young masters were all terrified…”
She clutched her chest, saying her heart still raced when she remembered it.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, why are you apologizing, my lady?”
“Because I made you worry…”
“Don’t say that! It was my fault for not taking proper care of you!”
“Marina, what are you talking about?”
If anyone was to blame, it was Blanche — that bastard.
He said it was just one small teacup!
He must’ve drunk so much of my blood that I not only fainted but even had my magic turned upside down.
Grinding my teeth, I glared toward the birdcage — but it was empty.
Well, of course. After causing that much trouble, he wouldn’t still be here.
But then Marina said something unexpected.
“The doctor took the bird away. He said it was dangerous to keep it near you.”
“The doctor… took the bird?”
“Yes. I always thought that bird was clever for finding its way home on its own, but it must’ve really been some kind of spirit creature.”
Marina glanced nervously at the empty cage.
“I don’t know all the details, but the bird apparently carried a rare kind of dark magic. It put too much strain on your body, and that’s what caused the collapse.”
Well, saying a demon creature carries dark magic isn’t exactly wrong…
But there was no way the former Demon King Blanche would let himself be captured by an ordinary doctor.
That doctor…
“How did he treat me?” I asked.
“No one saw the treatment.”
“No one?”
“Yes. He said it was a secret technique passed down in his family, so he couldn’t show it to anyone.”
Well, it makes sense — curing me wouldn’t be something ordinary.
And that voice I heard in the black void…
I was certain it was my master’s.
Piecing everything together, a single realization struck me.
That doctor — he must be Master. He didn’t die back then.
Even if not, he had to be connected to him somehow.
I have to meet him before he disappears!
I threw off the blanket and sat up abruptly.
“Marina! That doctor — he’s still in the mansion, right? He hasn’t left yet, has he?!”
