Crown Prince Sells Medicine - Chapter 101

With red curly hair and freckles on his face, his physical appearance was drastically different. Unlike the slender Raciel, this black-haired man was, to put it bluntly, chubby. The sole resemblance was their height.

It was undeniably strange, almost unbelievably so. Adeline’s eyebrows furrowed even more.

“Tsk. No response? I, as the princess of Anbouaz, just asked you who you are.”

“At your service, I am—”

“Who?”

“The Crown Prince. Raciel.”

“…Thierry Knight? Arrest him. He’s being charged with impersonating the crown prince.”

The princess called over a knight standing nearby.

The knight approached the rotund man with a menacing demeanor. The rotund man exclaimed indignantly,

“Wait, I’m telling the truth! Have you forgotten the days when we teamed up and diligently shattered 16 magical stones?”

“…What?”

Adeline hesitated.

The man continued to shout.

“I have, ah! Endured over 500 of your mana shockwaves, ah! I even made soup for you that tastes like turtle armpit, ah!”

“…”

“Furthermore, I have, ah! Always given you plum and grape-flavored candies whenever you took herbal medicines, ah!”

“Could it be? Are you really the Crown Prince?”

“I’m telling you, I am!”

The man displayed a pained expression.

And then, a revelation.

“That man is indeed His Highness Crown Prince Raciel, Princess of Anbouaz.”

A handsome middle-aged man entered the lodging and spoke. His face was familiar – Raciel’s personal physician, Gardin. Following him was another black-haired man, Demian, who added,

“You might find it hard to believe just by looking at his appearance.”

“…”

Gardin and Demian.

Both were close confidants of the Crown Prince.

Then, it must be true.

Incredulity filled Princess Adeline’s eyes as she gazed at the rotund man, or rather, Raciel(?).

“How did this happen? What turned you into this?”

“Turned into what? What’s wrong with how I look now?”

“You appear to have been indulging in late-night snacks quite diligently for at least a year.”

“Isn’t it a jolly physique?”

“We humans call that obesity.”

“…”

“Anyway, if it weren’t for the testimony of your two close confidants, I would have never believed it. What on earth happened? How did you, the crown prince who was supposed to obtain the Emperor’s permission, return like this…?”

The princess was genuinely curious. What had happened in the meantime? A mysterious smile appeared on Raciel’s lips.

“Well, as I mentioned earlier, the secret weapon I prepared for His Majesty the Emperor worked. I obtained the permission.”

“Permission?”

“Yes.”

Raciel nodded.

Simultaneously, he suddenly recalled when he had approached the emperor for permission. In reality, obtaining that permission was a breeze. Not just easy, but remarkably so.

‘Because all I had to do was align my reason for wanting to go to Anbouaz with the emperor’s preferences.’

The emperor had learned about the civil war and the substantial number of wounded soldiers, with more expected. Raciel proposed that he could covertly integrate himself into the Anbouaz Kingdom Army, ostensibly to provide medical aid, with the princess’s assistance. This would grant him a unique opportunity to observe and experience the command structure, military administration, operations, and the evolving situation from a relatively secure rear position.

He emphasized that such a hands-on experience would be exceptional, and he was eager to learn as much as possible during his time there.

That was his pitch.

And what happened next?

He received a seal of approval—a necklace signifying the emperor’s consent. All thanks to his request, perfectly tailored to the emperor’s tastes.

‘As soon as he heard my proposal, the emperor was delighted. That’s just his way.’

He’s an emperor who constantly challenges his heirs, someone keen on toughening up his potential successors.

And here he was, volunteering to venture to another country’s battlefield to gain valuable experience while assuming moderate risks.

In layman’s terms, it’s like a child saying, “Mom, I want more English lessons. Mom, can I have another private tutor?” A request of that nature.

Any parent would be overjoyed to hear such an enthusiastic request from their child, and they would try to accommodate it as long as their finances allowed.

The emperor was no different. The moment he heard his proposal, he burst into hearty laughter. He inquired about the finer details and nearly gave him a standing ovation.

“…So, I asked the court magician for transformation magic. Naturally, His Majesty readily approved.”

“So, you’ve undergone a physical transformation because of that?”

“That’s putting it a bit bluntly. Let’s say I’ve become more prosperous instead.”

“So, how many steaks can you devour now?”

“The external appearance is merely a disguise; my physical attributes remain unchanged.”

In response to Adeline’s playful inquiries, Raciel let out a snort.

“It’s just a change in appearance. My weight hasn’t altered, and my limited eating capacity remains the same because this transformation magic only alters the ‘appearance.’”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yes. Even a significant physical impact could undo the transformation.”

“How forceful of an impact…?”

“Sufficient to render someone unconscious.”

“So, there’s no risk of the magic wearing off in everyday life?”

“Correct. Thanks to that, I can maintain my disguise without concern. For example, with this identity.”

Raciel extended a document, causing Adeline’s eyes to widen.

“What’s this?”

“An identification certificate issued by His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…”

Adeline skimmed through the document.

“Name… Rihan Belkin… age 23… a descendant of the fallen noble Belkin family, who has excellently completed public medical education in Imperial Magentano…?”

“Well, it’s a fabricated identity with just enough credibility.”

“Rihan is quite an unusual name.”

“I came up with it on the spot.”

Raciel chuckled somewhat awkwardly.

Rihan.

In fact, it was his original Korean name with a minor alteration.

“Regardless, that’s the false identity I’ll be using. A young doctor from a fallen noble family, Rihan, who coincidentally forges a friendship with the Anbouaz princess and joins her with promised support.”

“Sounds like a plot from a novel?”

“Well, a young man with aspirations to hone his skills while serving as a military doctor in the Anbouaz Kingdom Army, all thanks to the princess’s sponsorship.”

“Quite ambitious…”

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Adeline’s candid words struck a nerve.

She then inquired,

“So, what about these two individuals here? Are they also accompanying you?”

She gestured toward Gardin and Demian. Raciel nodded affirmatively.

“Yes, these two will address me as ‘Young Master’ from now on.”

“‘Young Master’?”

“It’s the role of loyal followers in a fallen family.”

“You’re surprisingly dedicated to the role.”

“I have to be, for the false identity to be convincing.”

In any case, as long as they don’t draw attention when heading to Anbouaz, everything will be fine. It’s only a problem if they are discovered before the civil war ends.

‘Besides, as a low-ranking military officer working in the rear, I won’t attract much attention.’

His plan was to diligently care for the wounded until the end of the civil war, reaping the benefits like a seasonal business, much like picking ripe fruit. He intended to harvest only the benefits, as if plucking out chicken legs.

‘Just complete that task and return. Then, I can gain a substantial bonus in lifespan. If I perform well, I might accumulate a lifespan that would take years to acquire by running the Star Palace Clinic.’

He had made thorough preparations for this. He temporarily entrusted the Star Palace Clinic to werewolf nurses who could diagnose minor illnesses with their keen sense of smell, often more accurately than some doctors.

He passed on several herbal medicine recipes suitable for treating various ailments and provided recorded prescriptions for every current inpatient. The clinic could operate smoothly for at least a few months without him.

“And Crown Prince Raciel will limit contact with outsiders due to health concerns… That will be the official statement.”

“So, are we prepared now?”

“Yes, how about your side, Princess?”

“We’re also prepared.”

The princess boarded the carriage, and Raciel followed suit. With that, all the preparations were complete.

The carriage departed.

He left the Star Palace, blending in with the princess’s entourage. They swiftly exited Imperial Capital Magentano, passing through checkpoints, traversing roads, fields, rivers, scaling hills and mountains, and passing multiple cities and fortresses. Day and night cycled repeatedly, and eventually, they crossed the border between Magentano and Anbouaz.

As they crossed the border, Raciel made a personal resolution.

‘Let’s provide excellent care to the wounded.’

He pledged to save as many lives as possible and accrue a substantial bonus in lifespan. Nothing else would matter. His sole focus would be on treating the wounded and accumulating bonus lifespan in the coming months.

‘So, keep to yourself and do your job,’ he vowed to himself, again and again.

Little did he know– how his personal and self-centered resolution would have a profound impact on Anbouaz’s civil war, making a significant contribution that would be remembered in the annals of history. At that moment, he had no inkling whatsoever.

(To be Continued)

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