If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Episode 98

Mandrake, the main ingredient that constitutes the Devil’s Nap.

Since only imperial physicians from the imperial clinic can prescribe Mandrake as a medicine, it’s possible to prove the fourth prince’s guilt if she entered the imperial clinic’s greenhouse and found out how Mandrake was used and who it was prescribed to.

Leonhart sighed quietly as he looked down at his motivated wife.

“My wife is still reckless and bold.”

“This time, it’s a compliment, right?”

“…It’s not a reproach.”

Dooha smiled at the Duke’s worry filled face.

“That’s all right then.”

“But Madam, this is the imperial castle. Even if you can deal with dozens of soldiers by yourself, the imperial castle is a place where you don’t know what will happen.”

Leonhart frowned as he looked at Dooha, who looked exceptionally beautiful today.

“So, you don’t have to go this far.”

“But this is the easiest way.”

Even if the Duke of Esbaden was akin to a superhuman, he only had one body.

Before the hunting contest, not only did he have to report to the emperor, which he’d pushed back till now, he also had to take account of his connections with the central aristocracy.

It would be quite difficult for him to gather counterevidence of the fourth prince’s wrongdoings, when he was so busy.

There were too many eyes trained on the duke’s movements, so he couldn’t order his knights to search for it in his stead.

In that sense, to the duke, Dooha’s request was no different from an opportunity that he’d never obtain again.

“Trust me. I’m confident that I can quietly escape any troubles, as long as I’ve discovered evidence.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m just worried about the situation’s variables.”

“It’s okay. I’m someone that’s naturally lucky in times of crisis.”

Dooha asked him, who was still blocking her path.

“And you’re also aware. The fact that this is a really good opportunity.”

“…Yes, it is.”

The problem was that he knew this all too well.

Eventually, Leonhart couldn’t help but be persuaded by the duchess’s words.

“I know that you wouldn’t listen to me anyways, but I’ll still say this.”

Leonhart trapped Dooha between the pillar and him and continued.

“You shouldn’t trust anyone in the imperial castle. If someone speaks to you on your way there, don’t allow the conversation to drag out.”

As he spoke, his brows were furrowed, like he was still anxious.

“…It won’t happen, but if you do encounter the fourth prince, run away. Don’t pay him any mind.”

This wasn’t the ducal castle. Even if the prince was incompetent, he couldn’t be offended by anyone other than the emperor within the imperial castle.

“Alright. I’ll escape the moment I spot even a strand of the fourth prince’s hair.”

Dooha supported herself on the duke’s shoulder as she tiptoed and gave him a light peck on the cheek.

“You…”

“So don’t worry. Haven’t you seen firsthand how quick I am?”

Just as Leonhart was still about to say something with a dissatisfied expression.

“Excuse me, Duchess Esbaden?”

A maid that seemed to be a servant of the Imperial Palace was standing a slight distance away with a troubled expression.

“I’ve come to guide you to the imperial clinic under the lord chamberlain’s orders. Should I come back later?”

“No, give me a moment.”

Dooha faced her husband and shrugged her shoulders.

Eventually, Leonhart let out a sigh and took a step back.

“I’ll see you later then.”

“…Yes.”

She followed the maid and left, leaving behind her husband, who stood there like a bronze statue.

As she walked towards the end of the hallway, she could sense a persistent gaze on my back.

Although she hated being detained, she didn’t dislike the Duke’s obsession.

When Dooha suddenly burst into laughter, the maid stole a glance at her.

‘I heard that the Duchess of Esbaden was a rather scary-looking woman.’

She tilted her head and looked at Dooha’s amused face.

She thought that other than beauty that made others gasp in admiration, the rumoured Duchess of Esbaden was more ordinary than she imagined.

* * *

“Welcome, Duchess of Esbaden.”

As soon as she arrived at the imperial clinic, Dooha was greeted by imperial physicians.

Her face was filled with bewilderment at their unexpectedly warm hospitality.

“I seem to have caused trouble for you busy people. There’s no need for you to do this.”

“No, we cannot be negligent in our hospitality for His Majesty’s esteemed guest.”

One of the oldest-looking members of the imperial physicians fussed as he stepped forward.

“I’ve heard that the Madam is quite interested in the empire’s medical botany. May I know what you are most curious about?”

“Ah…”

Dooha’s head began racing quickly.

If Mandrake was used as a medicinal ingredient, a prescription record must exist.

However, prescriptions are generally confidential, so it’s impossible for outsiders to look at them.

‘In that case, I can only personally check the condition of the remaining Mandrake in the greenhouse.’

The amount of Devil’s Nap that was in Paul’s possession was considerable.

In order to produce that amount, a large amount of Mandrake would have been used.

If the fourth prince was the culprit that distributed the drugs that were banned in the duchy’s territory, there’s a high probability that there’s a low amount of Mandrakes remaining in this greenhouse, or that there were more newly planted Mandrakes.

“I want to visit the greenhouse first. I prefer seeing them in person.”

“I see. In that case, I’ll take you to the greenhouse immediately.”

The imperial physician led Dooha to the greenhouse without a shadow of doubt.

The greenhouse was enclosed with large panels of glass, while the temperature and humidity was maintained at a suitable level with magical power.

“Wow, it’s amazing.”

Dooha forgot her role momentarily and let out a pure sigh of admiration.

It’s because the scale of the greenhouse was rather large, and there were diverse varieties of herbs grown within it, and all of them were of good quality.

Not only medicinal herbs were present, but also beautiful plants that were placed in appropriate spots that showed off their beauty.

It felt like she was in an unknown forest, and not a greenhouse.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an herb called Sage. It will be burned in order to purge areas that were contaminated by monsters. It can also be ground and spread onto wounds to prevent them from worsening.”

“And what about that?”

“Oh, that’s…”

Although it was informative, they proceeded to engage in a meaningless conversation.

The imperial physician slowly walked through the greenhouse and explained any questions that Dooha had kindly.

And finally, they reached the place where Mandrake grew.

Dooha stopped before it intentionally and made an interested expression.

“It’s called Mandrake? I’ve never heard of this medicinal herb before, and the leaves also look quite unique.”

“Oh, Madam has rather keen eyes. Mandrake is a special herb that can only be grown in the imperial castle.”

He straightened out his shoulders and put on airs.

“As it is such a difficult herb to cultivate artificially, it can only be grown here in the Krone imperial castle’s medicinal greenhouse.”

“…I see.”

Dooha’s eyes sharpened for a moment, but the imperial physician didn’t seem to notice.

“It must be hard to cultivate. Seeing how there’s only a few of them here.”

“Oh, that’s because the fully matured Mandrakes were recently disposed of…”

Instead of speaking animatedly, the imperial physician had an expression that said,”Oops.”

He cleared his throat a few times, replaced the plants back to its original state and got up.

“This kind of herb is toxic, so it’s dangerous to remain close to it for a long time. Let’s head somewhere else, Madam.”

“This herb has toxicity?”

“Truthfully, this sort of plant is close to a poisonous plant. However, depending on the dose, it can be used as medicine…”

Just as the imperial physician was about to continue explaining.

Someone rushed over from afar.

It was one of the imperial physicians that she saw a while ago.

“Head physician, head physician!”

“What is it?”

“T, that’s…”

He whispered something in the elderly imperial physician’s ear while examining Dooha’s mood.

Meanwhile, the elderly imperial physician, who was called the head physician, had a grave expression, like he’d heard something shocking.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, that’s…”

“Please speak comfortably. Has something happened?”

“My sincerest apologies, Duchess. It seems like there’s an urgent situation that requires my attention. May I take my leave for a moment?”

There’s only one kind of situation that urgently requires an imperial physician’s presence.

Dooha gave a smile.

“I’ll be fine. If an imperial physician is urgently needed, it means that a person’s life is hanging in the balance, so go and take a look.”

“…thank you.”

The head physician greeted her with a serious expression and hurried out of the greenhouse with the imperial physician that came to inform him.

Dooha turned her head towards the maid from the emperor’s palace after watching them leave.

“Can I request a favour from you?”

“Please speak, Madam.”

“I’m suddenly feeling thirsty, could you bring me a glass of water?”

The maid would naturally be bewildered by the sudden request, but she bowed nonchalantly.

“In that case, I’ll make a trip to the imperial clinic, so please wait here for a moment.”

The maid walked out of the greenhouse with short strides.

After ascertaining that the maid had left completely, Dooha quickly stepped into the flowerbed where Mandrake was planted.

She carefully pulled out one of the sparsely planted Mandrakes.

Not only was the fruit that should have been hanging from the end of the roots immature, it was small and unattractive, as though it had just been planted.

It’s obvious that it was a recently planted seedling.

Just as Dooha’s mouth curved into a confident smile.

“Are you certain that the Duchess of Esbaden is here?”

The moment she heard a voice that invoked unpleasant memories with its mere sound, Dooha hid herself in the bushes that were right next to her.

It was none other than Justin, the fourth prince, who appeared with five to six escort knights.

He was blocking the greenhouse door with brightly shining eyes.

* * *