Dragon Knight Chronicles ~ From a mere mercenary, rise to success through tactics! A small harem with the princess and the lord's daughter!? I'll also develop my territory! ~ - Chapter 113

Chapter 113   Withering Flower Disease

The residence of the head of the Cade Confederation.

In the audience chamber, the head of the Cade, Don, and the renowned retainers of Cade were all in attendance.

“It is an honor to meet you. I am Ril, from the House of Rillburn.”

“Hmm, raise your head.”

The meeting between Don, the leader of the Cade Confederation, and the queen, pretending to be Io’s younger sister, Ril, proceeded in a cordial manner.

“As a token of goodwill between our two houses, we have brought this gift.”

“Oh…”

In truth, we had not brought any gift. What we presented was the platinum coin from an ancient civilization that we had found in the cave ruins.

“This is extraordinary! I’ve never seen one before!”

“Nor have I. As expected of the House of Rillburn!”

This gift left the dignitaries of the Cade in awe. I do not fully understand its value, but it must surely be an incredible item.

“Magnificent! Now, what of the matter we discussed?”

Don turned his attention to me, who was playing the role of the attendant.

“This is Doctor Gunter, the healer. He will immediately begin the examination of your daughter, Lady Fie.”

The daughter of the head of Cade, Lady Fie, had been suffering from a long illness.

For that reason, Cade had been searching far and wide for a skilled healer.

I, along with Doctor Gunter, withdrew from the audience chamber. Led by a maidservant down a long hallway, we headed towards Lady Fie’s chamber.

◇◇◇◇◇

Lady Fie’s chamber.

Rare furnishings were lined up to the point of filling the space, and a fragrant, likely expensive incense was burning.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Baron Reister.”

“You’ve come a long way. Everyone, leave us!”

As soon as we greeted her, the sickly princess suddenly dismissed everyone else from the room. The maids hastily left, and the door behind us closed heavily.

“…Now, there is no one here but us. You are Lord Rillburn, are you not?”

…Oh no, I’ve been found out. Is it that people who are physically frail, like both Her Highness and Lady Fie, have such keen intuition?

“I-I apologize. But please, keep this matter confidential…”

“I understand… And the one beside you is the healer?”

“Indeed, that is so.”

“I am Gunter, the healer.”

Dr. Gunter respectfully bowed to the princess. He then began the examination, including checking her pulse.

“…”

“What is my illness?”

The princess asked with an exasperated expression. It seemed that many healers had examined her before, but none could determine the cause. The heavy atmosphere suggested she anticipated a similar outcome this time.

“…”

“What is it? Speak up quickly!”

Unusually, Dr. Gunter’s complexion was not good. He spoke heavily.

“I cannot say with certainty, but it might be Withering Flower Disease…”

“What did you say!?”

…Withering Flower Disease. As I later learned from the doctor, it is a rare and incurable illness named so because people afflicted with it die around the age of 20, which is considered the prime of life.

However, the princess knew of this disease. She must have been self-educated, having studied many medical books on her own.

“I cannot say with absolute certainty, but that is my diagnosis.”

“…I see.”

The princess’s expression darkened for a moment but she quickly brightened up.

“You are called Gunter, yes? You have done well! All the healers before you could not determine the cause of my illness, but you have successfully diagnosed it. I will reward you later.”

“Thank you. Although there is no specific cure, I will immediately procure a medicine that is said to be effective.”

“Very well, I leave it to you!”

“As you command.”

“You both have traveled a long way. You may now take your leave.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

And so, we left the princess’s chamber.

◇◇◇◇◇

In the unified calendar year 568, January—
The city of Ram was also celebrating the New Year, and the streets were bustling with activity.

Her Highness was summoned by Don, the head of Cade, to attend the New Year’s celebration. Meanwhile, I had come with Dr. Gunter to the largest pharmacy in Ram.

The Ram Basin was blessed with an abundance of medicinal herbs, and medicines were among the city’s specialties.

“Do you have any top-grade Yellow Herb?”

“We do have it, sir, but it is quite expensive.”

“No matter!”

The owner of the pharmacy seemed to underestimate Dr. Gunter because of his youth, but when I pulled out a handful of gold coins from a leather pouch, he immediately changed his expression and bowed deeply.

“My apologies, sir.”

The Yellow Herb is a medicinal plant known for its restorative and tonic effects. There is no cure for Withering Flower Disease, but, conversely, the only treatment is straightforward nourishment and strengthening.

Common Yellow Herbs can be harvested from the mountains near the village and are affordable enough to serve as pocket money for farmers. However, top-grade Yellow Herbs are rare, only occasionally found in caves or high mountains inhabited by powerful monsters, and a small quantity is worth a fortune.

“…We’ll take all you have.”

“Th-thank you very much!”

The price whispered in my ear by the pharmacy owner was a staggering sum.

I hurried to the money exchanger in town, presenting a parchment showing a draft from the Owen Alliance Kingdom, and procured enough gold coins to fill three leather pouches to the brim.

“Will this be sufficient, sir?”

“It will do nicely.”

Dr. Gunter continued purchasing not only Yellow Herbs but also a variety of other top-grade medicinal herbs, one after another. The payment consumed nearly all the gold coins from the three pouches.

…On the way back.

In every castle town, including the city of Ram, there are, of course, the poor.

Beggars who could not celebrate the New Year were scattered throughout the city. There were also poor elderly people who, unable to afford medicine, slept under the bridges.

I felt a bit of doubt.
Only the princess, the lord’s daughter, could receive such expensive treatment.

Isn’t that a bit strange?
Perhaps it is because I, myself, am a lord who comes from a common background that I think this way…

“…I think so too.”

Although I hadn’t said anything, Dr. Gunter responded as if he had read my thoughts. He then continued speaking.

“…But I am a doctor. My sole duty is to save the patient in front of me. A doctor cannot save many of the poor.”

He spoke those words with a pained expression. I sensed his lips move slightly afterward.

…It is the duty of the kingdom’s nobility to save the poor.

“…”

I felt the weight of the burden I carried.