The sun began to rise.
Raciel regained consciousness shortly after sunrise. Thankfully, he felt quite full of energy.
Is the crown prince feeling improved now?
Ive been perfectly fine from the beginning.
Of course you have.
Rattle, rattle.
A playful smile ford on Princess Adelines lips. The wider she smiled, the more assertively Raciel prodded at his salad with his fork. However, Adeline paid no mind. Her eyes glistened as she gazed at Raciel from across the lengthy dining table.
Do you rember what you said just before you passed out yesterday? It was incredibly embarrassing.
No, I dont recall.
Of course youd say that. You were staring right into my eyes when you said it. What was it again?
Thats all for todays session.
If I agreed to undergo treatnt
Enough.
You are my
Thats all.
patient.
Oh, co on.
Raciels expression turned sour.
Did you co this early just for this?
No, absolutely not.
Of course you did. Youre teasing while looking right at . Whats this called?
A well-intentioned visit?
Yeah, right.
Crunch.
Raciel grumbled as he bit into a carrot.
Anyway, Im fine. Yesterdays incident was an unavoidable part of the treatnt process. So, you dont need to worry about it affecting my ability to treat.
That was the truth.
The extracorporeal shock wave treatnt for Princesss gallstones required him to absorb the shock. He had anticipated that, having practiced with Demian. However, the power of the mana Adeline emitted with her authority was stronger than he had anticipated.
Indeed, it had the power befitting a mid-level expert martial artist.
The mana emitted by Demian, who primarily used a sword, was different when produced with bare hands. The mont Raciel redirected and absorbed that mana, he felt as if his stomach turned upside down.
It felt like the figurine in the hand of a three-year-old on a holiday being deconstructed and then gently and satisfyingly reassembled. The esophagus, the villi of the small intestine, and the pyloric sphincter seed to join hands in this process.
But he had chosen this treatnt thod.
He endured with sheer grit.
Then he fainted. Up until then, it was okay. The problem was that he had shown an unimpressive image in front of the patient. This was Raciels main concern.
In any case, the treatnt will continue without issues. This morning, I have to see other patients, so you can co back at noon. Ill keep the entire afternoon free for your gallstone treatnt. Also, for the procedures stability, please fast for at least three hours.
Raciel earnestly requested, hoping to shift Princess Adelins focus.
Firstly, the princess should not doubt the treatnt. She shouldnt question Raciels skills either. She needs to trust him completely so the treatnt can proceed smoothly.
So, I must not faint today. Absolutely.
He resolved internally.
At that mont,
Hehe.
Princess Adeline chuckled mysteriously.
It seems the crown prince is worried I might doubt the effectiveness of the treatnt?
Was he caught? As Raciel was about to frown, Adeline unexpectedly said,
Its okay. In fact, Im grateful.
Excuse ?
I saw yesterday. How much effort you put into treating . How much you endured on your own. And how you didnt show any of it.
Thats why I trust the treatnt you provide. Since that mont yesterday, I have chosen to believe in the presence of the gallstones and that I need to eliminate them to survive.
Really?
Yes, wholeheartedly.
Adeline nodded.
It was her genuine sentint.
At first, I questioned your intentions, whether you were attempting to deceive . From my perspective, it was only natural to feel that way. But now things have changed. I believe in your noble intentions, providing free treatnt to countless people in Imperial Capital and your altruistic offer of assistance to the royalty of a potential rival nation.
Um, so, why did the Princess visit so early in the morning?
I wanted to express this to you. Thank you.
Ahem!
Raciel concealed his flushed face with a feigned cough. Receiving such straightforward praise caught him off guard, leaving him both flattered and embarrassed.
I thought she barged in during breakfast to voice a complaint or sothing.
He wondered if she had co to protest. Or perhaps to voice doubts about the upcoming treatnt. So, he made an effort to explain and appeal. But it seems that wasnt necessary. Sohow, he seed to have received a sowhat favorable(?) misunderstanding.
A noble heart and altruistic intent ?
Absolutely not.
The reality is the opposite.
Treating the people of Imperial Capital? Its just a desperate effort to gather extra lifespan to survive. Bringing the Princess here for treatnt? Its to prevent the impending major war and the resulting devastation.
In other words, all these treatnts are nothing but a personal and selfish investnt for him. However, it appears that the Princess views these actions differently.
Well, if she sees it that way, theres no need to correct the misunderstanding.
Because that would be advantageous.
Raciel shrugged. Once he reached a conclusion, his face hardened like a paving block that gets replaced every year-end.
Sigh. I thought youd perceive it that way, and I was going to pretend not to know. Its embarrassing.
I dont think thats it.
Ahem! Anyway! Yesterdays incident was a part I naturally had to endure for the treatnt. I was prepared. Honestly, I was scared and worried, but the determination to assist the patient was stronger, which made it possible.
Well, sothing along those lines.
You seem oddly pleased.
Ahem!
In any case, it was evident that the Princess had placed complete trust in him. A significant gain. Raciel capitalized on the montum. From that day forward, he embarked on thorough kidney stone breaking. Every afternoon, he conducted extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
Ready?
Go ahead.
Adeline inquired.
Raciel nodded.
Imdiately after.
Thump-!
The Princesss fist launched a self-shot towards her right vital point. Powerful mana surged forth. Simultaneously, Raciel acted.
He employed Asrahan Core technique to harness the released mana. Guided it. Like the spirit of the Seupta Craft guiding a nuclear missile. Or akin to a great white shark in a pool of fresh blood.
He lured it to a single point.
And struck the kidney stone.
Crack!
!
Each ti, Raciels face reddened. Yet now he didnt faint as before. His face didnt even turn pale. He had gradually grown accustod to it.
Uh! Oof! Gulp! Gack! Groan!
He had developed a thod to withstand it.
Whenever a shock wave struck, he held his breath. He expanded his abdon with diaphragmatic breathing, maximizing his intra-abdominal pressure. He employed the Valsalva maneuver utilized by weightlifters and fitness enthusiasts. Concurrently, he expanded his mana circle extensively.
The experience itself had beco specialized training for him.
Ding dong!
[You are absorbing potent external mana shocks through Asrahan Core technique.]
[In this process, you learned not to passively endure the shock, but to absorb, neutralize, and integrate the shock as your own.]
[This series of processes has enriched your expertise in Asrahan Core technique.]
[Level of Asrahan Core technique has increased.]
While resolutely enduring the shock waves, a congratulatory ssage appeared. Raciel swiftly read the ssage.
[Skill Na: Asrahan Core Technique]
[Level: Single Circle Lv.4]
[Absorbs ambient mana. The absorbed mana is processed and amplified within a circle around the heart and operated. As the number of circles increases, the amplification rate significantly rises.]
[Mana amplification rate: %]
[HP needed for next level up: 1,800]
[Current HP: 2,500]
Oh!
Could there be a better tonic?
[With the advancent of the Asrahan Core technique, the circle slots you possess are also impacted.]
[The storage capacity of the circle slot expands.]
[Slot number 1 has been expanded.]
[Max capacity of slot number 1: 12 liters -> 13 liters]
As he endured the pain, his mind, on the brink of blacking out, grew alert. This enabled him to concentrate even more.
Days went by. Every afternoon, without fail, he shattered one gemstone, totaling 15. The Asrahan Core Technique climbed to a single circle level 6. The circle slots capacity impressively expanded to 15 liters.
Perhaps it was thanks to this.
Adapting to the shock delivered by external shockwaves beca less challenging. Like strengthening core muscles, the circle grew more resilient. The circle slot also solidified. His abdominal muscles beca slightly tougher. His patience increased. Thankfully, he no longer fainted as easily.
Instead, I now only feel queasy but can endure it, like a true man. Ugh-
Dont worry. Its just a little nausea Ugh-
Why does the Princess keep looking like that Ugh-
Could you do that vomiting thing elsewhere?
But Uh, I need to check if the gemstone broke properly
If you make that noise again, Ill strike you.
Understood? The nausea.
Yes.
Hehehe.
Raciel struggled to suppress the urge to vomit as he faced the princess, who towered over him by half a head. Perhaps due to her combat training since childhood, her physique was also impressive. Confronting such a fierce princess, one could only maintain politeness(?).
Oh, if only I had my Korean physique!
He might have had a slight belly, but he wasnt a stick either. Raciel swallowed his sense of indignation and chuckled.
If you continue to threaten , Ill have no other option.
No other option?
I might rcilessly wield the power of the Imperial family.
How petty.
Regardless, the fifteenth gemstone shattered nicely. The process is proceeding smoothly. With a few more days of treatnt, we should be able to address all the remaining gemstones.
Already?
Yes.
Raciel nodded.
Its thanks to the princesss active cooperation. The shockwaves you emit are so intense and forceful.
Does that an the gemstones break effectively?
Yes. Although at tis, I feel like my life force is on the verge of breaking as well.
Oh, oh. Youre making feel guilty.
Just be appreciative.
Your words of gratitude seem to carry an undertone of seeking compensation.
Theres no such thing as a free lunch, right?
So, what kind of compensation would satisfy the prince?
Well, for example-
For example?
Not waging war against our Magentano. For a lifeti.
He genuinely proposed this idea to Adeline. She hesitated, gazing at him intently with a curious expression. In response to her gaze, his shoulders instinctively tensed.
Why?
Why was she observing him so intently? Did he overstep with his recent statent? Adeline didnt answer directly, instead offering a more enigmatic response.
Well, what you said caught off guard.
What was so unexpected about it?
Furthermore, for soone like its a first.
What does she an by that?
He couldnt comprehend. All he knew was that after her cryptic remark, she gave a faint smile.
Anyway, that concludes todays treatnt. You put in a diligent effort today. See you tomorrow.
Ah, yes
Understanding human emotions.
Comprehending a womans emotions.
Its truly complex to understand.
He had straightforwardly expressed his desires. Why did she look at him with that gaze and wear that mysterious smile? Why did she steal glances at him twice as she left the treatnt room?
It was puzzling. So he responded with an awkward smile. Naturally, neither of them had any clue.
Princess Adeline, who ca for treatnt every day, and him, who allocated his afternoon treatnt ti exclusively for her. People within the palace were gossiping about the two of them, and the rumors spread throughout the entire kingdom.
Little did they realize that these rumors would eventually reach the ears of the emperor, who was undergoing stroke rehabilitation. Up until this point, they truly remained oblivious.
(To be Continued)
To read ahead
Patreon Subscription Tiers
$5/month8 chap ahead 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead 6 chap/week
Reviews
All reviews (0)