Some time has passed since the Emperor’s arthritis treatment.
Thanks to the generously received funds, I’ve been grinning from ear to ear.
“Your blood pressure is normal. You’re good to go!”
After wrapping up Acella’s morning consultation simply, I tried to exit to the Inner Palace when she stopped me.
“Prince, you haven’t mixed up the dates, have you?”
I well understood what Acella meant.
“Today is my coming-of-age ceremony. You didn’t forget, did you?”
“And our engagement ceremony, too.”
Acella exhaled with a slightly tense demeanor.
“It’s an event primarily attended by young nobles, mostly around your and my age.”
“So, it’s the nobles who will soon inherit their family’s title.”
“Exactly. It’s a chance to make them supporters of the Moonlight Palace.”
That was Acella’s aim.
It’s not easy for the Moonlight Palace to break into the currently established social circles. Acella has primarily been recruiting young and fresh nobles until now, calculating that once they become heads of their families and the old folks retire, a new game will unfold.
Looking at the guest list, many significant figures were poised for major roles in the future. She has a sharp eye for people.
“We’ll hold the engagement ceremony and a speech to attract the nobles.”
“Excellent idea! I’m curious to see how powerfully you’ll sway the nobles with your speech.”
“I plan to declare my intention to enter the succession battle.”
“Excuse me?”
That was quite the bombshell.
The current contenders for the throne were Gunter, Heike, and George. Lau originally didn’t show interest, and George’s faction weakened due to a leader in absentia.
Acella was declaring her serious entry into that race. For the nobles, it broadened their options on which faction to support in the future.
Based on which faction they supported, the fate of those noble families would be determined for the next generation. Acella’s declaration would be a hot topic among them.
In Korean terms, it was like a person raising the support they’ve been building up quietly suddenly declaring their candidacy for the presidency while starting a new party.
With less than twelve hours left, why not mention such a crucial matter a bit sooner?
“I’m sure many nobles will support the Moonlight Palace after being impressed by the Royal Princess’s speech.”
As Acella’s servant, I had to say good things.
You know what they say about not wanting to take your medicine: just nod enthusiastically.
With a confident smile, Acella suddenly reached out and tousled my hair.
“What’s wrong?”
“This style suits you better. Prince, come back after work for Lucy to style your hair.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I shall comply.”
I cheerfully responded and headed to the Inner Palace.
As I started the general consultations, I heard the clatter of hooves.
“Urgent patient incoming!”
Chloe reported. The holy knights offloaded the patient from the carriage onto a stretcher.
Since I had a break between consultations, I utilized my diagnosis on the urgent patient.
“Where is this from? A construction worker? Fractures and bleeding from a fall. No need for surgery. Hugo, you take care of this one.”
“Yes.”
I issued instructions to the healers based on my diagnosis.
The holy knights who returned with the carriage saluted. I greeted them lightly.
“The ambulance works like a charm.”
“The evaluations from Empire citizens are very positive.”
It was a carriage pulled by two spirited stallions. The interior was designed to secure the stretcher and minimize external impact and vibrations.
Basically, we have three in the Inner Palace and seven deployed throughout the Empire, for a total of ten in trial operation.
We recruited holy knights from a noble household supporting the Moonlight Palace as paramedics.
One side of the cargo compartment bore the imperial emblem, while the opposite side prominently displayed the Moonlight Palace emblem.
Like a nightclub’s promotional vehicle, it had excellent advertising value.
“That must have cost a lot; are you sure it’s okay?”
Hugo brought up unnecessary concerns.
“Everything was covered by the Imperial Palace. Since I received an unlimited budget for once, we have to spend it lavishly.”
Since it was intended to widely showcase the Emperor’s grace, Ambrosia was also satisfied.
“Actually, the splint and the positive pressure device are in good use. Do we have enough spare parts?”
“Yes, I have them prepared.”
Both were commissioned from the dwarf craftsman who made the last mithril scalpel.
Without budget constraints, they were made perfectly.
They replaced expensive electric parts with magical stones, and the performance was excellent.
Thanks to the Emperor being very satisfied, the situation of Livio becoming the deputy physician was temporarily averted.
As I thought of it, I casually glanced at Livio, and he was treating patients as usual.
Our eyes met by chance, and he quickly withdrew his gentle smile once he saw me, turning back to a poker face.
I must have earned his wrath.
‘He’s not the kind of guy who just backs off.’
I intended to keep a watchful eye on his suspicious behavior.
Just then, the clattering of hooves sounded outside again. It was the ambulance.
The holy knights first checked the patient’s injuries, only taking them aboard if it was serious, thus urgent patients didn’t occur that often.
It was a quicker cycle than usual.
However, this carriage moved with a sense of urgency.
“Emergency patient! We need help…!”
A panicked holy knight shouted, carrying a patient on a stretcher.
All eyes in the Inner Palace turned to them.
“Hugo.”
“Yes.”
I too rushed towards the patient.
However, there was a problem with the diagnosis.
There were two stretchers.
“There are two patients?”
“Yes, yes…! Th-that’s!”
The holy knight’s arms were already blood-soaked from moving the patients.
Both patients looked in bad shape. Two women in their sixties, with similar builds, outfits, and even hairstyles.
They were twins.
Given their luxurious attire, they appeared to be at least nobles.
“First, move them inside. Be careful since they’re in bad shape. Hey, Chloe’s team! Stop what you’re doing and help here!”
The healers of the Moonlight Palace hurried over.
I used my diagnosis.
‘One has a concussion, skull fracture, laceration, and sprain. The other has a pulmonary contusion, fractures in the arms and legs, and this one is serious too.’
“Was it an accident?”
“It was a car accident! The carriages collided on a narrow mountain road and fell down the slope!”
“How long ago did it happen?”
“Thirty minutes ago!”
The knight lifted the stretcher onto the cart. Our healers began the handover.
As we transported the patients inside, the healers stayed by their sides to perform emergency treatment.
They infused enough divine power to maintain life.
Chloe noticed something strange during the process.
“Eh? The rings the patients are wearing…”
“Wha- the Imperial seal?! Now that I see it, could it be…?”
They were royalty.
Seeing as they were twins, I also guessed who they were.
‘It’s the Emperor’s sisters, Wanda and Gesa.’
The patients were princesses.
‘So that’s why the holy knights were in such a frenzy.’
If they end up causing harm to royalty, the consequences would be severe.
‘Whatever happens, it’s important that they’re alive.’
For me, they were patients that had to be saved, regardless of their status.
‘Both need immediate surgery. But.’
I only have two hands.
I immediately returned to the treatment area and shouted.
“Archbishop Alberich! I need hands!”
As eyes turned to me, Alberich grumbled but walked towards me.
Upon seeing the patients’ conditions, he was horrified.
“Ugh, this is serious. Are they nobles? They look hopeless.”
“Whether hopeless or not, we have to save them. It’s Princess Wanda and Princess Gesa.”
“W-what?!”
Alberich jumped up in surprise, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.
“I’ll take one. You handle the other, Archbishop.”
“Wait, that…”
Alberich hesitated.
Time was of the essence, and he was stalling.
“Hurry up, time is ticking.”
“Such severe injuries… I-I can’t.”
Alberich waved his hands and stepped back.
I grabbed his arm as he tried to flee.
“Why can’t you?”
Alberich looked terrified.
“…Besides, the two princesses already have attending physicians. In situations like this, the rules dictate that they should heal first. I don’t even have their medical records. If they had pre-existing conditions, healing them could be fatal!”
“Their attending physicians were with them during the accident. They weren’t in critical condition but lost consciousness, hence they are undergoing treatment right now!”
The holy knight reported. Alberich’s expression hardened further.
“Archbishop, look at their condition. This isn’t the time to be nitpicky.”
“Which is exactly why I can’t! If I save them, I would gain a fortune, but if I mess up, severe penalties could follow. With them in this condition, there’s no chance.”
Alberich was panicking.
“Some of this is your fault, Gothberg.”
“My fault?!”
“You will surely do anything to save the one you take on. If the other ends up perishing, you’ll become a lesser healer than before – they’ll point fingers at you in the Inner Palace!”
“What kind of excuse is that?”
“No, it’s just…”
He was rambling now to avoid responsibility.
Healing in a state of panic would only poison the patient.
Alberich deemed himself unusable.
There wasn’t room for this. We might already be missing the golden time right now.
At that moment, a calm voice echoed in my ear.
“How intriguing.”
Before I knew it, Livio had inserted himself between me and Alberich.
Not an assassin, but a man who unsettlingly approached without making a sound.
He raised his hand.
“I will take over.”
Alberich looked surprised as if he never expected Livio to step up.
“Y-you?”
“Yes. You said to the Archbishop that if the princesses weren’t saved, he would lose to Gothberg.”
Livio adjusted his glasses.
“Conversely, couldn’t it be the case that I could save them and you fail?”
“What the hell, brat?”
I almost let out a curse without realizing it.
He usually looked somewhat composed, so I was nearly deceived.
Does this guy see patients merely as means to an end?
They’re royal patients. Surely saving them would gain significant gratitude and interest.
Livio seemed to see this as a good opportunity to get closer to the Emperor.
“Which patient should I choose?”
Livio started scrutinizing the two princesses on the cart as if he were at a fish market.
His gaze was unsettlingly predatory.
“Don’t waste time, kid. We need to get into the operating room ASAP!”
“Pardon me. I would like to choose the one with the lesser injury if possible.”
That was insane.
Livio was treating this like a leisurely competition with me over healing.
Unable to stand his attitude any longer, I shoved him aside and immediately moved the cart.
“Get the healing started right away. I swear I’ll handle the more severe case. Don’t play with the patients.”
Since he wanted to gain the upper hand over me, he’d certainly try to save them desperately too.
He wouldn’t intentionally slack on the healing.
“Get the whole cart to the operating room!”
At my command, the healers became busy.
Thanks to the training, all the healers involved in emergency treatment showcased their teamwork like a well-oiled machine.
We brought our patient, the younger twin princess Wanda, into the surgical room of the Moonlight Palace’s office.
“Whew.”
Chloe moistened her throat with the water she fetched and took a deep breath to prepare.
After disinfecting, we changed into surgical gowns.
Chloe was primarily handling the blood transfusion and emergency anesthesia for the patient entering the operating room.
We quickly took X-rays and MRIs to determine the detailed state and projected with a hologram to share with the team.
Four healers finished preparing to assist.
“There are contusions on the left lung, multiple organs are damaged. There’s a laceration on the abdomen. If we cast a healing spell right away, the insides would be torn apart, leading to a collapse of the circulatory system and cardiac arrest. We have to connect bypasses first, suture up, then move to healing. Chloe, prepare the external circulatory system. Keep checking the oxygen saturation and blood pressure.”
A branch was lodged in the left lung, nearing functional failure.
For now, a foreign object blocked the airway, but if all air escaped and both lungs collapsed, she would die.
We needed to pave the way for blood laden with oxygen to reach her.
“Emergency treatment on the fractured areas. I’ll treat the chest right after.”
“Yes!”
I picked up the scalpel.
“I’m starting the surgery.”
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