Chapter 10
While I blankly repeated Kairon’s unbelievable words in my mind, the doctor proceeded with the examination.
“Please extend both of your hands for a moment.”
The method of examination in this world was different from hospitals in my previous life.
The doctor instructed me to place both hands on a device that looked like a stone. It seemed to be an instrument that used mana.
As the examination continued, Kairon’s words kept replaying in my head.
“For now, don’t leave. I think I’ll stay in the capital a little longer.”
What about everything that needed to be done? Wasn’t it his role to struggle to eliminate the sub male lead as quickly as possible?
So now… are we supposed to stay together until the banquet?
Meanwhile, various colored lights began to ripple across the examination device.
“Hm…”
The doctor’s expression as he looked down at the device was ambiguous.
“Let’s try another test.”
The doctor removed the stone-like device and took out a bottle filled with a shimmering liquid.
“We’ll take a blood sample for a moment. Would that be alright?”
“Yes.”
“You may feel a slight sting.”
The doctor held my hand, pricked the tip of my finger with a sharp tool, and a single drop of blood formed at the fingertip. He then brought my finger to the bottle and let the drop fall into the liquid.
“Hm…”
That sound kept coming from the doctor’s mouth repeatedly.
“What is it? What are the results?”
In the end, I couldn’t wait any longer and asked first.
“Hmm… let’s run one more test.”
See? I knew this would happen.
Even in my previous life, no doctor had been able to find the cause of this illness. There was no reason it would be different here.
“Still nothing conclusive?”
From the side, Kairon—who had been standing with his arms crossed, glaring at the entire process—finally spoke.
“That is… yes, all the test results are coming back normal.”
The doctor, avoiding Kairon’s gaze with difficulty, answered while looking troubled.
As expected, even the doctor was afraid of him.
Kairon seemed displeased that the results weren’t coming out quickly, but fortunately, he gestured with his chin for the doctor to proceed with the next test.
The doctor brought out another piece of equipment. I noticed his fingertips trembling slightly. Perhaps this kind of patient was a first in his medical career.
“This will be the last test. Please don’t worry too much, madam.”
“I’m not worried. I’m fine.”
I was used to this kind of thing from my previous life.
Unlike Kairon, whose expression was stiff, I remained calm.
The doctor placed a long rod into my hand. As he channeled mana into it, that energy was transmitted into my body. A tingling sensation, like an electric current, passed through me for a few seconds.
“Hmm… that concludes all the tests. Thank you for your cooperation, madam.”
The doctor began packing away the equipment.
“And the results?”
Kairon still stood in the same spot, arms crossed, watching the doctor. His eyes were firmly fixed, demanding an explanation.
“So far, we have conducted all the detailed tests currently possible. However…”
The doctor hesitated. I could roughly guess what he was about to say.
“There appears to be no identifiable cause of illness. All results are normal.”
Just as I thought.
The doctor was sweating as he explained, his discomfort and apology clearly evident.
“We saw her coughing up blood and she even fainted several times, and yet everything is normal? Does that even make sense?”
“It seems there is nothing that can be identified with current medical knowledge. I’m sorry, Your Grace.”
With Kairon staring so intensely, his apology only confirmed that nothing could be found.
“However, I will prescribe medication that can be taken in case of coughing fits or hemoptysis. I will also provide a mana kit that can help determine whether it is an emergency when the madam faints. Lastly, I will give medication that can temporarily suppress coughing and bleeding during important occasions, but it should not be overused.”
Even after offering the medication and the kit, Kairon’s gaze remained hard and unyielding toward the doctor who had failed to find the cause.
“If you experience any emergency situations or have further questions, please call for me anytime. If it’s a summons from the Duke, I will come immediately.”
“So we are simply to wait and do nothing until the next unknown emergency occurs?”
“Since the cause has not been clearly identified, attempting other measures at this stage may be more dangerous. However, as a doctor, I would recommend that the madam seems to have a weak constitution, so maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise would be beneficial.”
“Exercise?”
“Yes. Building basic physical strength seems to be the best course of action for now.”
After finishing his words, the doctor bowed deeply before us. It seemed this would end as a completely fruitless examination.
However, as the doctor turned to leave, Kairon stopped him.
“…Can something intangible—such as the mind—be the cause of illness?”
What kind of question was that all of a sudden?
The doctor looked puzzled, just as I was, but answered Kairon sincerely.
“Yes. If mental distress becomes severe, it can manifest as physical illness.”
“If that were the cause, would those detailed tests just now fail to detect it?”
“Yes. Our examinations do not detect psychological factors, so they would not appear in the results.”
Kairon closed his eyes and pressed a hand to his head, looking somewhat troubled.
“I see. You may go.”
The doctor bowed once more and left.
I mulled over what I had just heard.
That a weakened mind could lead to deteriorating physical health… My illness wasn’t due to something like that.
Kairon faithfully followed the doctor’s advice to build physical strength.
As soon as he returned to the ducal residence, he told me to start exercising from the next day and immediately arranged for a trainer.
While spending time in the garden, a stranger approached and greeted me politely.
“Good day, Duchess. My name is Henson. I will be assisting you with basic physical training starting today.”
I hadn’t expected him to go so far as to assign a proper instructor. I had just planned to do some breathing exercises on my own.
“His Grace is very concerned about you, madam.”
Hah, concerned?
I scoffed inwardly. That man would hardly be concerned about me.
“Since today is your first day, we’ll start with some light stretching, and then move on to basic strength training to assess your condition.”
“My physical condition is obviously going to be terrible.”
“Haha, still, I need to see it with my own eyes.”
Henson had a friendly, approachable demeanor. His warm smile made it hard to complain further.
In the end, I changed into loose pants and a top as the maid helped me, and tied my hair up.
The training took place in a spacious empty room on the first floor of the mansion.
“Alright, let’s begin with stretching.”
Servants were present, watching in case anything happened. Exercising under everyone’s gaze was quite embarrassing.
And… Eket’s body was far stiffer than I had imagined. Even more than my previous body!
From the very start, when I rotated my neck as a warm-up, I could tell my body didn’t feel like my own. It felt sluggish. But when we moved on to more serious stretching, my body let out involuntary cries.
“Ugh! Ahh!”
“Oh dear, is it very uncomfortable?”
“I’m dying!”
When I sat down, extended my legs, and tried to reach my toes, I immediately realized this wasn’t going to work.
“Let’s stop here for today! It’s the first day, so maybe my body just isn’t warmed up yet!”
I said, sweating.
“Already giving up?”
But the response didn’t come from Henson.
When I turned my head, Kairon was standing there.
“Oh, Your Grace! Perfect timing!”
“Is it going well?”
“Madam seems to be struggling because she isn’t used to exercise yet. But it’s fine! She’ll improve soon!”
Henson replied brightly.
“Why are you here?”
“I was curious how you were doing.”
He must have had nothing else to do if he was here instead of working.
“Sorry, but I’m the type who performs worse when someone is watching. I’d really appreciate it if you could leave.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s embarrassing to exercise with a crowd watching.”
But Kairon didn’t seem to care at all about what I said. Did my words not even reach him?
Kairon walked over to me and sat down beside me, mirroring my posture exactly.
“Why are you sitting next to me?”
My voice carried a hint of wariness. Now that I thought about it, his outfit was also loose and suitable for exercising.
