Chapter 11

That fire wasn’t something a small child could survive.

Mali felt crushed. He thought it would’ve been better if he had died and Celine had lived. The guilt hit hard.

“Don’t think like that. Celine is alive and safe.”

“What?”

“My daughter survived because of that doctor. She was dying, but the doctor saved her. She was almost dead, but now she’s alive, thanks to her.”

Miriam’s eyes shone with strength. Mali looked at her, then glanced at the people around them.

Normally, these villagers would’ve been the first to talk badly about potions and reject them. But now, they avoided eye contact and said nothing.

Some even nodded in agreement with Miriam.

“Don’t you dare insult her in front of me,” Miriam said firmly, putting her hands on her hips.

“No matter what anyone says, she’s the savior of our Lueta village.”

“Miriam…”

“If I hear anyone talking nonsense, I’ll be the first one to step in!”

After saying that, Miriam turned and left. Mali was speechless. Tony chuckled beside him.

“Tony!”

“Mali, you survived thanks to her.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“If she hadn’t helped, your son would’ve lost his father.”

At that, Mali’s heart dropped. The image of his son’s young face came to mind.

He couldn’t say anything. He just tried to calm his emotions while Tony gently patted his shoulder.

Mali’s eyes turned again to the woman called Rita.

“Come on, drink it.”

“No! It’s too bitter!”

“Someone’s acting spoiled…”

“Mmgh!”

The woman shoved the medicine bottle into Enok’s mouth and wiped her hands.

Enok looked pale, but the rashes on his skin slowly started to fade. The medicine worked.

“It’s like a miracle. She saved dozens of people. I’d believe it if someone said she was a messenger of the gods.”

“Well… her temper doesn’t really match a holy messenger…”

The pink-haired woman stomped around like an angry squirrel.

“Still, we should be grateful.”

Feeling quiet and respectful, the two men fell silent.

Inside the shelter, Rita’s sharp voice rang out.

“What do you mean, you’re spitting it out?! This stuff is expensive! …What? You want chocolate flavor? Are you kidding me?!”

From that day on, a rumor spread through Lueta Village:

There was a doctor so blessed by the gods that even her bad temper came from being “over-gifted.” But don’t mess with her—she bites back.

“Your Highness. We received a report from Lueta Village.”

“What’s the damage?”

“More than ten homes burned down. Three people died. Many more were injured, but the doctors are treating them in a shelter.”

Cedric tapped his desk and let out a sigh.

It was a serious incident. Some were saying the fire was arson.

The knights were chasing the suspect, but strangely, the person kept getting away.

Relief goods and helpers were sent right away, but usually in disasters like this, the best outcome was just recovering the bodies and treating a few survivors.

“…Wait. Only three deaths?”

“Yes.”

“Are you saying the rest were badly hurt but survived?”

Cedric wasn’t saying three lives were nothing. But still—it seemed like too few.

Lueta Village was full of wooden buildings, and there had been a huge explosion. Many should’ve been caught in the fire.

Even the blacksmith shop alone had over ten workers.

Cedric looked at Harun.

“Yes, but apparently they’re all recovering now.”

“…How?”

“They say a very skilled doctor appeared.”

Cedric’s eyes widened slightly.

A sudden fire—and a skilled doctor just happens to be there? Was this all just coincidence?

He knew that miracles did happen sometimes, but never to him.

Harun hesitated, then added,

“There’s something else you should know.”

“Go ahead.”

“The doctor… has your official appointment letter.”

Cedric gave a dry laugh and rubbed his forehead.

“My letter of appointment?”

“They say the medicine works very well. Even the soldiers aren’t sure what to think.”

“Did you see it yourself?”

“Not yet. I did send someone, but the doctor already treated so many people that disturbing her now didn’t seem wise.”

“…Right. If we act suspicious now, it might scare the people of Lueta.”

Cedric tapped his finger on the desk. Harun glanced at him carefully.

“Find out who that doctor really is.”

“Yes, we’re working on it.”

“Find out everything—who they are, what kind of treatments they use, what’s in their medicine, and why they have my letter. If anything seems strange, stop the treatment immediately.”

“We checked the treatment process. Nothing strange was found. But…”

Harun cleared his throat and glanced toward the person sitting next to Cedric.

“They say the doctor uses something like potions…”

After saying that, Harun counted silently.

One, two, three…

“Did you just say potion?”

Right on cue, a rough voice spoke up.

It was Tinte, the Grand Duke’s royal physician.

“Tinte, sir.”

“I asked if you just said ‘potion.’”

Harun sighed and replied.

“Yes. But the doctor made the potion openly and honestly in front of everyone. Other duchy doctors were there too.”

“That’s what they do! They pretend everything’s normal and honest. Then they trick people with pretty-looking potions, and in the end, it all goes wrong. That’s what potion sellers are!”

Tinte shouted, his face slightly red.

He was normally calm and gentle, but he completely changed when potions were mentioned.

It had been two years since potions lost their reputation.

Back then, many nobles who used potions ended up coughing blood. Some said dark magic was involved.

Nobody knew for sure, but people believed the crown prince of Ludentio almost died because of a potion.

Because of that, the eldest daughter of Count Sycline lost her title and was punished.

The Grand Duchy had already been avoiding potions for many reasons—even before that event.

But the biggest reason was this: no good, safe potions were being sold anymore.

“Tinte.”

“You’re going to say I’m being stubborn again, aren’t you, Harun?”

Harun quickly swallowed his words.

“But listen. When we go against nature, it always brings disaster. Healing injuries instantly and saving lives that are already at death’s door will eventually cause even worse problems.”

Tinte had good reason to feel this way.

His own son became a vegetable because of potion side effects.

There was no better doctor than Tinte in the whole empire. But not even he could fix what the potion had done.

That’s why he firmly believed potions went against nature.

“That’s enough.”

“Lord Cedric!”

“Tinte, I know what you’re trying to say. Potions… they’re dangerous. Especially in times like this.”

Cedric tapped the table again and spoke slowly.

“But for the last few weeks, I’ve felt really healthy.”

“Yes. I noticed that too. I was surprised when you didn’t return from your trip.”

In Cedric’s mind, the image of an old wooden cabin passed by like a dream.

And along with it—the moment that short-tempered, brown-haired woman shoved a bottle into his mouth.