Queen of The Scalpel - Chapter 57
Baron Wren could make supporters of the 3rd Prince speechless in a second but there was one thing he couldn’t do. It was speaking to girls.
He was quiet and strict, so Baron Wren wasn’t that knowledgeable about girls. The same went for him, since he was always buried in his work. He had never even held a girl’s hand. ‘But I can’t ask the Third.’
He thought of the greater womanizer in the Palace, no in all of Londo.
Mikhail de Romanoff. He was behind in line for the successor of the Emperor, but he was still famous. It was his third little brother, his political enemy, the 3rd Prince.
‘Mikhail.’ Linden’s face turned cold. Even if he was his political enemy, he didn’t have any personal enmity with his little brother. But he couldn’t forgive ‘them’ for doing what they did.
Then, Baron Wren spoke in a timid voice unlike his usual self.
“Your Highness, what about a jewel?”
“Jewel?”
“Yes, thinking about it now, I think Elise used to like shiny things since she was young. She liked dresses with jewels on them as well.”
“Jewels. I see.”
The Crown Prince nodded his head. It was a good present to express his thanks. And all women liked it. ‘But will Lady Clarence like it?’ He thought of the Lady Clarence who worked at the hospital in scrubs without any accessories. But she was still beautiful.
It was hard to think of her and jewels in the same train of thought, but since his trusted advisor and her brother said so, he decided to go with it.
He asked his servant to present a jewel for him. It was a shiny red ruby. 3 days later, when he went to receive his last treatment, he held out the present towards her.
***
“No, thank you.”
She didn’t even hesitate for a second.
“…”
Linden was speechless at the outright rejection.
“Why?”
“I didn’t treat you expecting presents like this.”
“It’s just a sign of gratitude.”
“I know. But I’m a doctor. A doctor treating their patients is the obvious thing to do. I only did something I needed to do, but I can’t take a present like this.”
“…”
She kindly smiled so his feelings wouldn’t be hurt.
“I know you gave it to me with a good heart. I’ll accept the thought instead.”
“…”
“But I can’t take it, because I only did something I needed to do.”
If he gave her something simple, like cookies or fruit, she would’ve happily accepted it.
But how could she accept this ruby that looked priceless? Her morals didn’t let her. Even when she was living as a poor doctor, she never accepted presents like this.
“Alright. Sorry. I shouldn’t have.”
“I’m sorry if you feel bad. I’ll gladly accept the thought.”
But the Crown Prince shook his head.
“No, I don’t feel bad. But.”
Yeah, he didn’t feel bad. It was just completely different from what he expected. He had a bad feeling from the start when he asked for advice from Baron Wren for dating advice. He was just surprised that that immature Elise he knew had changed this much. To be honest, it was touching.
“But what should we do?”
“What?”
“I don’t become debted to people. How should I pay back the help I received from you?”
“Oh, that. It should’ve been fine with the medical bill you paid since it was for nobles…”
Linden’s lip twitched.
“Are you talking about that small fee? Don’t you know that’s not what I’m talking about?”
“It’s really alright….”
“Tell me what you want. I don’t leave debts with others.”
He sounded like he wasn’t someone that had gotten help, but like Elise was indebted to him. Eventually, Elise spoke.
“Strawberry cake.”
“What?”
“I like strawberry cake. If we meet some time, buy me strawberry cake. From the bakery on Pike street. Their cakes are sweet and refreshing.”
“…”
As he closed his mouth, Elise spoke like she was being sincere.
“It’s true. I really really like strawberry cake. But my mother doesn’t let me eat it because it’s bad for me.”
It was a cute voice that her second brother Chris would die over. She looked like she was her age at that moment rather than the adult-like appearance she always had.
“What about mango pudding?”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t you like mango pudding?”
“Ah, yes! I like that as well. But how did you know that?”
“And banana tart? And you don’t like milk.”
“…!”
Elise’s eyes widened. How did he know this well? But it was then. She saw something that she couldn’t believe.
The man…who seemed like he would never smile…was slightly smiling!
“Alright. Let’s do that. The bakery from Pike street. And not only that, but mango pudding, and banana tart.
“…!”
At his smile, her heart beat faster.
Her second life. She didn’t know, but it was the first time she saw a genuine smile from this man. The smile that she so desperately wanted.
“I’ll let you eat everything. In the future.”