episode_0102

Episode 102. This is not it (1)

****

Mint kicked off the blanket in her room, hugging her teddy bear tightly. It wasn’t because she was particularly jealous. It was just because she liked it so much.

The memory of yesterday was still vivid in Mint’s mind. She hugged him tightly and begged Asterix to be her lover. It took some persuasion, but she succeeded on her first try.

“Hehe… … .”

To be honest.

How do you know what’s going through your teacher’s head right now? Even if you were close to him, there was no way to know what he would say.

I’m glad the response was positive.

To be honest, I was scared.

I had decided to confess a long time ago, but my teacher is such an unpredictable person.

I thought he might refuse with some ridiculous excuse or run away like he did when he left the palace. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case!

‘No.’

Mint played with her hair absentmindedly. She needed to feel more confident. Mint was a princess, and she was really pretty, wasn’t she?

Why would a teacher refuse?

If there was one reason Asterix could refuse, it would be this: he didn’t seem to be a good match for someone like the princess due to their status or age gap. Such nonsense.

It’s a good thing the teacher isn’t such a good person. He’s moving away for the princess’ sake, there’s no way he can get away with such nonsense.

The teacher had become much more gentle than when I saw him before. His personality was like that, and his somewhat stiff attitude toward Mint was also like that.

anyway.

My teacher and I are lovers now.

What happened in the past isn’t important. What’s important is what you do from now on. You should get along well with your teacher as a lover and even get engaged.

There were more than a few problems that needed to be solved before that, but Mint vaguely thought that they were all solvable problems.

Mint hugged the doll her teacher had given her tightly again. I should go see it again later.

That’s what Mint really wanted.

It would be nice if I could take my teacher with me to places like royal banquets and events.

I guess I should talk to them. The royal officials or family members might have something to say.

But. Even if Mint insisted on considering the conditions, she didn’t think the teacher had any particular shortcomings. Even if he wasn’t a noble from a traditional noble family.

The professor has saved countless lives and has achieved many academic achievements. He is someone who must be kept close to the royal family.

If the royal charter company I signed last time gets on track, or if I set up a hospital, I might be a better choice than any other noble spirit.

It wasn’t important to Mint, but if the royal family asked, that’s what she would say. Wouldn’t the royal family understand at this point?

I don’t know. But that was Mint’s plan.

****

The princess’s room was located on the top floor of the dormitory. It was a privilege given to the princess. It was a special room with space to bring in a servant if necessary.

This was Hazel’s workplace.

Hazel is Princess Mint’s maid, bodyguard, and servant. She was newly appointed this month. I thought it would be a difficult position.

When I actually tried it… … .

It was easier than I thought. It wasn’t difficult considering the amount of money I was receiving. The princess was also more lenient than I had expected.

Even though they were escorts, there was no need to fight. The princess, who had been at the academy for a few months, didn’t really show any resentment towards Hazel.

But, apart from the fact that her work was easy, the princess sometimes did things that were difficult to understand.

Hazel scratched her head as she looked at Princess Mint. What are you talking about this time?

“Are you going to date Professor Asterix?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh, why?”

“I like it.”

Hmm. Hazel thought about the scope of her duties. How far does protecting the princess apply…?

Is this the part that needs to be dried?

Hazel tried to think of who Professor Asterix was. She had seen him before. She had never thought he was a professor because of his appearance, but someone told her later.

He seemed young for a professor. Even if he didn’t seem to fit the princess perfectly, it didn’t seem like something to criticize.

“What did he say?”

“Of course I accepted it… … !”

Mint answered as if it was a given.

Well, how many people would have the courage to refuse? There’s probably no reason for you to want to refuse, and it’s questionable whether you’d be able to do so.

“To be honest… … . I am worried, Your Highness. Are you a good person?”

“Yeah.”

Hazel scratched her head. She seemed to be originally from the royal family anyway, so she seemed to know the princess well. Would it be pointless to say more?

“I don’t know.”

Hazel sighed inwardly. The princess may have her own thoughts, but it was also true that there was something about it that made her feel a little uneasy.

There’s the difference in status, and the age difference. In the end, it’s up to the princess, so I guess there’s nothing I can do. It’s not like we’re getting engaged right away.

Mint tsks quietly.

“Hazel. I appreciate your concern, and I could list all the reasons why you’re a good teacher. But I don’t have a reason to justify my choice to you?”

That was right.

The princess’s tone was mixed with irritation. Since Professor Asterix was a close friend of the princess, she would know best, right?

Hazel concluded that:

“I’m sorry.”

“No, that could be it.”

The princess seemed sincere.

Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.

In the end, it was a matter of the princess’s mind. If Miss Mint was sure of her intentions, there was no one who could stop her.

Hazel thought about it for a while again.

Anyway, I have to tell the royal family that something like this happened. I have to meet the professor in question and ask him directly. If possible, without telling the princess.

Take back what I said about it being easy.

Just thinking about it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t know how the royal family will react, and I don’t know what Professor Asterix will say.

****

I was sitting at my desk in the lab, thinking. Yesterday, there was a big incident where the princess confessed to me, but…

Still, I had to go to work.

Even if the sky split in two, that wasn’t a reason to not go to work. There were still sick people left in the ward.

I looked at the stack of papers on my desk. What should I do first?

There are still one or two inpatients. I have to see outpatients tomorrow, and I also have to check if Natalie is feeling better after taking the amphetamines.

I also had to find out how far along the plan was to build a penicillin factory. I heard a few people were gathering.

I fiddled with my pen.

Most of what I did went smoothly.

I’m just a little busy. That’s why I’m sitting in the lab early in the morning, before the graduate students even come in. When are they coming?

I was looking at the lab door. After a while, Istina came to work. Right on time.

“Hello. You’re early?”

“Yeah.”

Istina hung up her coat roughly and rummaged through her bag to put down her luggage. It seems a little chilly outside today.

“That’s right, Professor. The stethoscope has arrived.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I heard a bunch of boxes arrived in front of the professor on the first floor? There was a stethoscope in it.”

I stared blankly at Istina.

“What did you do, you didn’t bring it.”

“Ah. I’ll go and come back.”

Istina left the lab again.

I didn’t know the stethoscope was already finished, I thought it would take a long time. It took me over a month to make the one I was going to use at first.

Well, it’s good that it happened quickly.

Istina arrived about five minutes later, along with Amy, dragging a box containing a stethoscope. It was a larger box than I had expected.

Amy was on her way to work at the lab when she was stopped by Istina, asking for help.

“How many stethoscopes did you get?”

“There are 50 of them this time.”

I nodded.

“Go and give them one each.”

“To whom?”

Istina tilted her head as if to ask what he was talking about. I told you last time. Who would it be? Of course, it would be the doctors and professors who should be treating patients.

“Huh? Professors of the Department of Healing.”

“Ah… … .”

Istina trailed off.

It would be difficult to visit each and every professor. Still, it is a necessary process for the sake of the patients currently in the ward.

****

This is not it.

Istina sighed.

The professor may ask you to do something annoying. He may even ask you to do something difficult. If he asks you to do something important, it means he trusts you. But this is a bit too much.

You want me to hand out stethoscopes to the professors?

It’s already overwhelming to see just one person. I have to see and greet dozens of other professors. Isn’t that inhumane?

Moreover, the professors of the Department of Healing Medicine have a lot of work to do, such as visiting patients and going around to treat patients. It would take a long time to distribute it to everyone.

Istina considered her options.

“Hey, this time, why don’t you hold an academic conference or event and distribute it all at once?”

“I already did that.”

It had already been announced. Professor Asterix seemed unwilling to teach that class again.

“Come as if you were selling. Rather than just handing it out, I think it would be better to give it to them directly and briefly explain what it is.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Just thinking about it gave me a headache. Istina sighed again so the professor wouldn’t hear.