IPAMB 24

Chapter: 24

“‘The Duke and Cain have to stay apart until we secure more purification stones?’”

I blinked blankly.

From the context, it sounded like they were talking about the purification stones the maids mentioned—something meant to prevent the spread of the illness.

The physician had said to keep carrying one around, after all.

“Uh, then…”

Does this mean Operation: Make the Duke and Cain Get Along is over?

If what he said was true, their shared meals were finished.

I wanted to argue, but that person was a doctor.

‘The maids even praised his skills.’

Then what he said must be true.

I lowered my head gloomily.

The two men continued talking.

“Isn’t there any other way? Is there no faster method to obtain purification stones?”

“Hm, it will be difficult, but I will try to find some as soon as possible. However, if we do that, the price will be the issue…”

“You don’t need to worry about that. His Grace said the cost does not matter.”

“Well, if that’s the case… understood. Until then, please continue keeping your distance from the young master. If the purification stone’s divine power drops, it will no longer prevent the disease from spreading.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Please also refrain from conversation as much as possible. The purification stone you currently possess has almost exhausted its divine power.”

Wait a second.

I lifted my lowered head.

What did he just say?

‘Divine power… isn’t depleted.’

Even if I lacked medical knowledge, when it came to divine power, I was an expert.

And according to this expert’s judgment, the amount of divine power in the purification stones held by the servants and the Duke had hardly changed from a week ago.

In other words, saying it was depleted was a lie!

‘But why lie? They said he was highly skilled.’

There didn’t seem to be many possible reasons.

‘It’s probably for the money, right?’

From the conversation just now, it seemed the Duke was purchasing purification stones exactly as Zaira instructed.

And he didn’t care how much they cost.

‘Wow, what a scammer!’

I was shocked.

We’d never properly met, but I’d believed people from the North were kind!

‘Ah… don’t tell me the reason she’s avoided meeting me all this time is because she was afraid I’d expose her lie?’

A chill ran down my spine.

And once suspicion took root, my thoughts started spiraling.

‘Is she trying to separate Cain and the Duke so no one realizes purification stones don’t actually prevent the disease from spreading?!’

From the looks of it, she was trying to make them buy new purification stones. If Cain didn’t get infected during the replacement period, it would look suspicious—so she was laying the groundwork in advance.

“…I might actually have a talent for deduction.”

Of course, it was still only suspicion. I couldn’t jump to conclusions.

‘But the divine power depletion thing is definitely a lie, so I should hurry and tell the Duke!’

Just as I was about to run to him—

“And I will collect the depleted purification stones for disposal.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you as always.”

I stopped in my tracks.

‘Destroying the evidence?’

It was pointless, really.

I could just prove it using the Duke’s purification stone.

“I hope the young master doesn’t fall ill.”

But seeing Silven genuinely worried about Cain made my feet refuse to move.

In that case…

I grabbed the bag of cookies the maids had given me.

Then—whoosh!—I hurled it straight out the window.

“AAAH! What was that?!”

A woman’s scream rang out. It was Zaira, the attending physician.

I peeked my head out the window.

“Gasp! I’m so sorry! My hand slipped…!”

“You…!”

Zaira’s eyes widened when she saw me—like she’d just encountered something she didn’t want to see.

I put on an innocent, apologetic expression.

“I’ll come down right away, so please wait just a moment!”

“No, it’s fine—”

I ignored Zaira trying to stop me and dashed down the corridor.

A moment later.

After running until I was nearly out of breath, I arrived where Silven and Zaira were.

Thankfully, they hadn’t left yet.

“Thank you for waiting! I felt so terrible I wanted to apologize in person.”

“It’s fine, really… there was no need…” Zaira trailed off with a frown. She clearly wasn’t happy to see me.

She kept glancing at me up and down, as if checking whether I’d overheard their conversation.

“Anyway, may I go now?”

“Yes. Thank you for accepting Lady Winiel’s apology. Carrying something that large must have caused the slip.”

Silven chuckled warmly, holding the cookie bag I’d thrown.

It seemed he had personally asked Zaira to wait for me.

‘Sir Silven, you’re the best!’

I barely stopped myself from giving him a thumbs-up.

“Thank you for accepting my apology! But… aren’t you the attending physician who came from the North this time?”

“That is correct. She is highly capable. Have you not met her before?”

“No, this is my first time seeing her up close! Wow, a real doctor!”

I deliberately beamed and took a step toward Zaira.

As a result, Zaira—who had been trying to leave—halted.

“Hello! I’m Winiel, a Saintess candidate. I’m currently staying at the Argent ducal residence!”

“…Zaira Collins. Attending physician of House Argent.”

“You must be incredibly skilled. I spoke with others from the North and they all praised you endlessly!”

“Well, that’s only natural for someone who serves as the ducal physician.”

Zaira’s expression remained sour despite the compliments. She clearly disliked this situation.

“Now that introductions are done, I’ll be on my way. I’m a busy person.”

“Ah, wait a moment!”

I blocked her path and spoke earnestly.

“There’s something I’d like to ask you, Doctor.”

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere, Lady Winiel?”

Perhaps startled, Silven’s eyes widened. He immediately knelt on one knee beside me and examined me.

Ah—that’s not it…

“I don’t see anything obvious… Would you mind taking a look, Miss Zaira?”

Perfect!

I cheered inwardly.

“….”

Another crease formed between Zaira’s brows, clearly displeased by Silven’s words.

Pretending ignorance, I continued.

“It’s not me. I was wondering when Rain will wake up.”

“I don’t know that either. Since the patient was contaminated, wouldn’t you know better, Lady Winiel?”

“Ah, I suppose so. Since I’m a Saintess candidate.”

I nodded.

“You don’t seem very capable. The fact you don’t know even that.”

Zaira let out a short laugh. It was an obvious jab.

Normally I should’ve been offended, but I simply nodded as if it were natural.

“Yes, I’m lacking quite a bit in medical knowledge. Rain just hasn’t been waking up, so I wondered if she might have caught some other illness.”

“There was nothing of the sort.”

“Then that’s a relief! I was worried she might have contracted that disease only known in the North.”

Cough!

Silven suddenly coughed awkwardly.

For a moment, I thought I saw sweat on the back of his head—but that wasn’t important right now.

“…A disease only known in the North?”

“I heard it from the maids. They said it doesn’t spread if you have a purification stone? And that you were the one who said so, Doctor. That’s amazing!”

“….”

Zaira narrowed her eyes, as if searching for hidden meaning in my words.

“Well, I am impressive. Anyway, if we’re done talking, I’ll be going.”

“Yes, thank you for listening, Doctor!”

Since I let her go so easily, she seemed to relax, apparently deciding I had no ulterior motive.

Zaira walked away.

And just before she turned the corner, I said to Silven—

“I do have divine power, but just in case, I should carry a purification stone too.”

“Hoho, is that so? Unfortunately, we’ve run out of those purification stones at the moment.”

“What? I saw plenty of purification stones in the ducal storage.”

“Ah, those are different from these purification stones. These are much higher purity.”

“…!”

Zaira suddenly stopped walking, as if she had realized something.

But it was already too late.

“Oh my, what are you saying? These are much lower purity purification stones than the ones in the storage!”

I smiled with my eyes curved shut.