Capitulo 39

Episode 39

I wondered if people could really live in a place like this.

Room 304 is the last address I know. Let’s go.

Do you really live here?

Daniel shrugged at my words.

There was no talk of going back to his family. This was the last place he stayed.

After that, I had no choice but to hope Robert was here.

Thinking positively, if he was in a financial crisis for whatever reason, he was more likely to accept my offer.

«Please let us meet you here.»

I prayed inwardly and climbed the stairs.

There was a creak as if I was about to collapse with every step I took.

We reached the third floor and stood in front of the room where he was supposed to be staying.

Are you inside? I want to talk to you for a moment.

Daniel knocked on the door first.

But there was no answer.

When he shrugged and turned to me, I pointed my chin toward the door to knock further.

Mr. Robert! Just a moment.

It was noisy outside, so the person next door opened the door and searched us.

It was a boy.

I grabbed the doorknob and approached the watchful boy and asked him.

Have you ever seen who lives next door?

The boy held out his palm.

I took a coin out of the bag and placed it in the boy’s palm.

It was enough money to buy food for a week.

The boy looked at the coins in his palm and nodded.

Can you tell me who it is?

The boy raised his palm again. I gave him a larger amount of coins than I gave before.

There is an old man with golden hair. From time to time, bad men come to visit.

Any bad guys?

Is it possible that the loan company has something to do with this place?

The boy waved his palm again.

I smiled and handed him the coin again.

These are wounded men. They come bleeding, screaming for help, and they make a lot of noise. But the sister and brother look fine*, so why are you here?

a

I didn’t respond to the boy’s words and just patted him on the head.

Nina!

The boy cringed at the nervous voice from inside.

I think I should go take a look.

Thanks for the information.

The child named Nina smiled broadly and closed the door.

Turning back to Daniel, I pushed him out and knocked on the door.

I came here because I heard you are a good doctor and I need help.

If I pretend to be a patient, it would be quicker to say I came for treatment.

My predictions came out beautifully.

Who are you?

A muffled voice was heard in the room.

I turned to Daniel. I nodded and he called out.

Are you Robert Chase?

The old door opened with a creak that seemed to crack at any moment.

Standing in it was a man with dirty blond hair.

His eyes were lifeless, and his hair had grown long and tangled.

He was also so skinny that he looked as if he would collapse at any moment.

Robert Chase?

He’s right, but who are you?

The two eyes that lost their guns popped out and looked at Daniel. Then he bowed his head.

Daniel and I’s breakup was pretty famous, so anyone who went to the same college would know.

After thinking for a moment, Robert slowly opened his mouth.

Daniel and his fiancée. No, you guys broke up…

You’re both right. This is Daniel Malphyrion, and I am the Pioneer Princess who broke off the engagement with him.

Robert’s eyes fluttered as if it were a confusing combination.

I scanned the room over his shoulder. It looked in disrepair, but it looked clean because he often had patients.

I want to talk to you for a moment, can I come in?

Come in.

More than expected, he gently led us inside.

There was a cold air in the room.

The only furniture was a bookshelf, a bed, a table and two chairs.

Under the bed was a large brown bag, which appeared to be a medicine bag.

Sit down.

Robert gladly gave us the chair.

I declined the chair and looked around the room as the water boiled.

Old medical books were stacked on the shelf and a small frame was overturned.

When I lifted the frame a little, there were drawings of the four people. They appeared to be friends who studied together.

«Oh?»

I said I could come in, but I never said I could touch things.

As I set the teacup down on the table to click, Robert openly expressed his discomfort.

I’m sorry. I’ve gone too far.

Robert’s face hardened as if he didn’t know that I, a princess, would apologize.

But he soon erased his expression.

I sat up, picked up the jagged cup and soaked my throat a little.

«Ah.»

It had almost no smell and was only used with old tea leaves.

It was better than what we saw at the door, but that didn’t make me happy either.

Why did these precious people come to such a pitiful place?

His tone was simple, but his tone was prickly.

Daniel looked at me.

I took a sip of my tea and explained my purpose here.

I am planning to open a general hospital soon.

Robert’s eyebrows twitched at my words.

I want to scout you as the head of that hospital.

Karina!

Daniel’s reaction was more intense than Robert’s.

I frowned and looked at him as I shouted. Daniel kept his mouth shut, but there was still dissatisfaction in his eyes.

Hey princess.

Robert shrugged his shoulders as if it was ridiculous.

Do you know why that friend is so angry?

No, I don’t.

Can’t you even look at my condition?

Having said that, Robert pointed around with an exaggerated gesture.

Is poverty a problem?

Hospitals are for nobility. What kind of noble would come to a hospital where a bastard like me is the head of the hospital?

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am the heiress to the most powerful family in this empire. Who can ignore a hospital I will build under my family’s name?

Robert’s eyebrows twitched at my words.

Did he feel bad for speaking so openly about my family name?

And I didn’t offer you the position of hospital director to give you treatment.

If you wanted a face-to-face conversation, you’re wrong.

You’re overestimating yourself, Robert. If you want a face-to-face, I’d have the Pioneer family doctor, not you, who has nothing left.

He picked him up and I made him aware of the reality he was facing.

If it was Robert before he left the medical field like he was going to run away, he could have become a beacon for the hospital.

But not now.

And that’s not what I wanted from him.

So what do you want from me?

The research you did three years ago. I want you to finish it.

Without responding to the other words before him, Robert flinched at the word ‘research’.

It didn’t sound very promising.

Ha. Be it would be. It’s better to do this kind of banter somewhere else.

I’m not joking. I’m very serious. I’m also interested in what you were researching.

I looked him straight in the eye. The pale blue eyes quickly averted his gaze.

After hesitating for a moment, he quietly opened his mouth.

There is someone better than me.

Who is that person?

He wrote two names on a piece of paper and handed them to me.

It looked like he was talking about the friends in the previous frame.

These are the people I studied with. They are much smarter than me, so he left it in their hands.

And he led us out of the room.

I hope I never see you again.

With a bang, he closed the door.

I stared at the door for a long time, fiddling with the paper in my hand.

I wondered more about what had happened to him.

* * *

After Robert shooed us away, we returned to the carriage.

On the way back to the Duke of Malphyrion’s residence, Daniel looked at me and opened his mouth.

How about looking for someone else? You don’t have to be Robert, do you?

I didn’t respond to Daniel’s words.

Because there was something more curious than that.

Do you know who Eric Foreman is?

Oh?

The person Robert told me about earlier.

Despite the title of Duke, Daniel had many friends of various kinds.

Because the Dukes of Malphyrion like to support any kind of talented people.

Since it was the first time he heard the surname Foreman, he probably belonged to the middle class.

If it was enough to afford the medical school he couldn’t afford, he would have been supported by someone, and it’s probably the Duke of Malphyrion.

Ah, he’s probably a friend and apprentice of Dr. Gregory, and I know he’s now a professor at the academy.

You know that, but you didn’t tell me.

His shoulders twitched at my words.