A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

21 – Go Get Some Popcorn

After meeting Crown Prince Adran, we went straight to the Matap where Princess Celine’s academic conference was being held. We were warmly welcomed here as well.

“Welcome, Viscount Rendor.”

Just like the Adran faction, the scholars of Matap stood up in awe as soon as they saw me. It was inevitable, considering that they had rebuilt one of the Mataps and generously provided research funding. But the main figure here was clearly not me.

With an expression that seemed several times more awed than towards me, the scholars welcomed Dean Samir.

“Oh my!! Isn’t this the famous Dean Samir!! hahahahaha!!”

“The reputation of the Maladina School is heard even here!! hahahaha!! You’re truly doing remarkable work! Especially in the field of surgery to cure people! It’s new to us, but it’s a truly special approach!”

“Please, have a seat!! We have so much to discuss!!”

Kale Hansen, Karla, and I were dumbfounded in an instant. The scholars started conversing excitedly with Dean Samir.

“How is it possible that the heart doesn’t stop and that excessive bleeding doesn’t cause death?”

“I heard you perform brain surgery. Is that true?”

“You don’t use magic or sorcery, so how do you make diagnoses? How do you look inside the body?”

“I have so many, many questions about the medicines you produce. How is disinfectant made?”

Very professional stories were exchanged, and the interpreter made desperate efforts to interpret the conversations of the scholars with a look as if he was about to die. In the meantime, we were thoroughly excluded, and Princess Selene brought us out of the conference room.

“There are limited beings that possess divine power, and there are too many patients who need treatment. There was once research conducted in Matop, suggesting to try treatment through methods other than divine magic.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It happened decades ago. We invested a lot of money and time to bring various medical books from the Western Continent and started researching. Now it has developed into the field of human anatomy.”

“But why…”

“Well… Many scholars were dedicated to the research because it had a good purpose, but actually treating the people and studying the human body were completely different fields for them. There was progress in various techniques such as examining the human body, making precise diagnoses, and identifying symptoms, but performing fundamental therapeutic acts was beyond the capabilities of the scholars.”

My eyes widen at those words.

“There are many techniques for examining the body and identifying symptoms?”

“Yes. We have developed devices that generate strong magnetic fields using mana stones to perform precise internal diagnoses, as well as machines that use ultrasound for scans and technologies that utilize light to destroy specific cells in the body, and so on. There have been various advancements.”

I am left speechless.

If I heard correctly, the things Princess Selene mentioned just now were MRI and ultrasound scanning devices and techniques used in cancer treatment.

“You mean you have developed medical devices?”

“Yes. Human anatomy is one of the main research areas in Matop. We need to have a more accurate understanding of the human body in order for the wizards to use magic more precisely. Normally, research is focused on studying the characteristics of the heart, meridians, and mana circles around the head.”

“T-Those techniques!!!!…”

As I was about to say that I would invest immediately, Selene gracefully smiles.

“You don’t have to make such a surprised expression, Randal. I was planning to share the technology with your Merchant Guild. Of course, with proper royalties. However, this time, I was thinking of setting the royalties quite low.”

Selene quietly gazes outside the palace. Through the window, I see a busy street with numerous people passing by.

“People should be able to receive timely treatment even if they are poor and sick, don’t you think?”

Selene, the embodiment of grace.

Truly living up to her name. I laugh brightly and tightly hold her hand.

“Thank you, Your Highness. It will be a great help! Many people will receive more accurate diagnoses and be treated excellently!”

Selene does not refuse my actions. She quietly holds my hand.

“I will believe in your words that you will make the Empire stronger. I will expect to hear good news in the future, Randal.”

“hahahahaha! Of course!”

“Go relax somewhere else. I think the conversation with Dean Samir will be quite long.”

After saying so, Princess Selene leads the three of us to a high-end cafe inside Matop, where I start getting excited and talk loudly while enjoying snacks and pastries.

“Medical device technology already existed! And they have been researching it for decades! Matop is amazing!”

“Princess Selene is invincible! hahahahaha! This…this. I can’t wait to see how ecstatic the doctors from the Malin School, who will receive support even for advanced medical devices, will be! Kyahahahahaha!”

It was obvious why Carl Hansen, who seemed uninterested in public healthcare and citizen welfare, was laughing like this.

“Prince Roland II. No one will go to that piglet!!!! I’m thrilled just imagining how crushed his face will be! hahahahaha!”

I also burst into laughter at Karl Hanson’s wicked laughter.

“Let’s really screw him over.”

“Of course!! That pig bastard. We should put him on a diet!! hahahahaha!! I’ve never had such a delicious dessert before!!”

Karl Hanson began eating the desserts in front of him, making loud slurping sounds. I, too, had my appetite stimulated and tried a bit of the dessert. The sophisticated sweetness spread in my mouth.

“Princess Karia, please try this once. It’s very deliciou-“

As I was about to suggest it, thinking of recommending it to Karia, I had to abruptly stop.

Karia’s expression was strange.

She was laughing, but I don’t know how to describe it… She looked strangely pissed off?

“I didn’t know you were so close to Selene, brother Rendor. It was nice to see you holding hands just now.”

“Uh…that, well…”

“I’m sorry. I’m just a woman who’s only good at breaking things, like medical equipment, unlike Selene, who can help Rendor by developing such things.”

Karl Hanson, who was energetically stuffing his face with dessert, suddenly set it down with a face that seemed to be gasping for air. Karia still had a smiling face as she elegantly drank her tea.

“I’ll be at the Dragon’s Keep, Rendor. Come after you’re done with your work.”

She got up from her seat and disappeared. Karl Hanson and I didn’t utter a word. I didn’t say anything either.

“Lord Rendor, can I say something vulgar to you?”

“What is it?”

“Do you think you’re screwed?”

“Damn it… I know.”

I had to splash cold water on my face.

I had been extremely busy with the Maoldina Sect’s migration for the past few months. So I haven’t paid any attention to Karia during that time.

“What should I do?”

“Many men have asked that question the same way. None of them gave a satisfactory answer.”

“…”

Karl Hanson’s words were right.

It seemed like I was also screwed.

Karia walked down the streets of the capital, desperately holding back the tears welling up in her eyes. As she walked, she suddenly looked down at her own hand.

“Oh!”

A hand with calloused skin, filled with hardened flesh from holding a sword.

It couldn’t be seen as a woman’s hand at all.

Having lived in the military all my life, my muscles were tightly built, and I didn’t have a body that men would find attractive.

The bright smile that Randor had just shown, trying to hold Celene’s hand, was something that Caria, who had always been by his side, had never seen before.

It can be naturally compared.

The queen of the social circle.

An excellent scholar who can engage in conversations with the scholars of Matop.

In the capital, Selena’s popularity was said to be explosive.

Randor as well.

Naturally, wouldn’t a man with only one eye prefer a warm-hearted woman like her rather than a rough soldier like himself?

Thinking that way made Caria feel so miserable.

While holding back the tears that were about to burst, she tried to make her way to the headquarters of the Dragon Knights, where the Guardian Dragon was being maintained.

“Caria.”

Someone placed their hand on her shoulder. When she turned around, Randor, who had sprinted over in a hurry, was there, gasping for breath. Randor quickly grabbed Caria’s hand and led her to a luxurious carriage nearby, which had been prepared in advance by the Merchant Guild, and locked the door.

“Caria. As a princess, you shouldn’t wander the streets alone without any escorts.”

“Do you think I need escorts?”

It’s possible that escorts may not be suitable for a woman like her, who is considered to be the embodiment of the Empire’s strongest sword. However, Randor could tell how emotionally upset Caria was from the fact that she ignored the principle.

“Caria.”

At Randor’s tender call, Caria’s eyes welled up even more, and she lowered her head.

“Things like jealousy. It’s really gross, isn’t it?”

“No. It’s beautiful.”

“After seeing you hold your sister’s hand, I couldn’t bear it. Randor and you… You looked so good together.”

“I only have Caria.”

“Lies. What’s good about a woman like me who can’t even hold hands and has a muscular body and no aegyo?”

Randor didn’t respond to her words. He just kissed her without saying anything. Caria’s eyes widened. Her face became as hot as heated steel, and her heart began to beat uncontrollably.

The feeling of despair that had been overwhelming just a moment ago quickly turned into the pinnacle of happiness with a single kiss. Caria couldn’t regain her composure amidst these intense emotional fluctuations.

After the kiss ended, a teasing game of mocking the tongue, which was patented by a traitor who had feasted on the Empire, began.

“Your hair is beautiful. It’s like hair made of gemstones melting with the sunset light in the golden meadow.”

“Ugh, stop…”

“Your eyes are pretty. They are a dreamy black color that seems to have taken a part of the most beautiful night sky and turned it into your pupils.”

“Enough…”

“Caria.”

After gently kissing Caria’s cheek, Randor hugged her.

“Please don’t criticize yourself again. You are beautiful and amazing. You are a woman deserving of love. Stand tall, lift your head up, and confidently live your life. Even the most beautiful woman will look unattractive if she is burdened by self-doubt and inferiority. Do you want to make yourself a man who loves even the ugliest of women?”

Karia, overwhelmed by happiness, tears streaming down her face, quietly nods.

Randor smiles, his lips curving into a grin.

“I love you, Karia. I love you.”

“Sob….”

Karia embraces Randor tightly. But the problem didn’t end there.

“Randor… Randor, I love you. I love you.”

“Karia… Karia? Wait, Karia. It’s daytime. We’re in the middle of the city. Karia!!!!!!!”

Fortunately, the carriage Randor had prepared once again was a luxurious one with exceptionally comfortable cushions. Even if intense movement continued inside, it didn’t create a disaster that would let onlookers inside the carriage speculate on what was happening.

As always, Randor was the one who ended up being used by the princess.

The next day.

Prince Adran, through Randor, presented the emperor with a report regarding the exorbitant medical expenses of the healing sect that had been meticulously collected over the years. With skillful persuasion, Randor easily obtained the emperor’s special permission for an investigation.

And as soon as permission was granted, Prince Adran swiftly prepared a severe and meticulous investigation by selecting dozens of infamous prosecutors known for their brutal tactics to dismantle the healing sect. Amidst the impending storm.

“The special investigation has begun! Randor! Ronald II is completely screwed! hahahahaha!! What do we do now?”

“We, without any power, are useless. Bring me a sword or a popcorn.”

“What is popcorn?”

“….Well, I guess we don’t have popcorn yet. I’ll show you by frying some myself. Let’s start a popcorn business. Sword.”

A man was frying popcorn.