The Genius Physician Princess

Some memories stay vivid as if they happened just yesterday, even after many years have passed.

On January 25th, when Yeoul was five years old, her mother left the house after learning about Yeoul’s illness, and her father decided to abandon her as well. That was the day her brother came into her life.

“You can’t send Yeoul to an orphanage. She needs medical care,” her brother argued.
“Well, I’m going to. Do you think money grows on trees?” her father retorted.
“How can you say that? You’re her father!”
“Don’t act so high and mighty. You didn’t even know you had a sister.”
“That’s because…!”
“I’ll handle my child my way. Just stay out of it. That woman’s child turned out to be just as shameless.”
Her brother was a child her mother had before she met Yeoul’s father. Their father shot a contemptuous glance at Yeoul, who was barely able to stand against the wall.
“If I had known something like that would be born, I would have done anything to prevent it.”
“Shut up! She can hear you!”
Yeoul wobbled as the strength left her hand that was holding onto the wall.
Her brother pushed their father away and rushed to Yeoul.
“Yeoul!”
He lifted her up and asked urgently,
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
Yeoul shook her head slightly.
“I’m sorry. Your dress… it’s all dirty.”
Her brother laughed with tears in his eyes as he brushed the snow and dirt off her dress.
“Sorry for the late introduction. Nice to meet you, Yeoul. I’m your brother. Your mom had me a long time ago.”
Yeoul was shivering from the cold. Her brother quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around her. The warmth surprised her.
He held her close and took a few deep breaths before turning to their father.
“I’ll take Yeoul.”
“What?”
“I’ll compensate you generously. I will raise her, so give up your parental rights.”
At that time, Yeoul didn’t understand what compensation or parental rights meant. She only knew that cold snowflakes were piling up on the thin shirt her brother wore as he sheltered her with his coat.
“Yeoul, let’s go with your brother. I promise to make you well again.”

—

“How… How did you…?”

Lantus stared at Yeoul in disbelief, tears welling in his eyes.

Yeoul was reminded of the first time she met her brother. He had looked at her with the same mix of sorrow and determination as he brushed the snow from her dress and wrapped her in his coat.

Lantus looked down at the stone Yeoul was holding and whispered, his voice trembling,
“You… You were the Wanderer all along.”

“Me?”

Yeoul blinked in confusion. She was the Wanderer Lantus had been searching for so desperately?

“What is a Wanderer?”

“A Wanderer is a soul that comes to this world from another.”

Lantus’s voice shook as he spoke. The realization that Yeoul was the Wanderer had struck him hard.

“Another world?”

Yeoul was bewildered. Lantus spoke as if she was aware of the existence of all worlds. This was supposed to be a novel, so how…?

In her confusion, Yeoul muttered to herself,
“Is it because this is a dream?”

Lantus’s face contorted with anguish. As a guide, he needed to make Wanderers realize that this place was not a dream but reality. However, saying those words was agonizing. He remembered the despair on the face of the Wanderer he had met long ago when they realized this was their reality.

“It’s not a dream. This is real. I know it’s hard to accept, but you need to recognize this as reality to survive.”

Lantus clutched Yeoul’s hand tightly. Her hand was becoming transparent again, though Yeoul seemed unaware.

“Before your soul disperses, we need to make a pact. The Guardian’s Oath.”

Though it was necessary, Lantus was terrified of repeating the same failure from fifteen years ago.

‘Not this time.’

If this child, who had already become so precious to him, made the same choice as the previous Wanderer…
“I’m sorry, Guide, but I have to return. Even if my choice means eternal death, I can’t give up,” the Wanderer had said, ending their life with their own hands.

Just the thought of it made his heart sink.

“If we make the pact, your soul will stabilize, but you won’t be able to return to that world. Of course… you might have cherished things there. Family, friends. But still… still….”

Lantus quickly continued, hoping to persuade Yeoul even a little.
“If you choose to stay here, I will do everything in my power to make you happy in this world. I will give my all.”

“….”

“Additionally, the pact will allow you to bring one thing from your world here. It could be anything, except for a human soul.”

So please, forsake the place you’ve always known for this meager compensation.

As he struggled to convince Yeoul, Lantus felt a pang of self-loathing.

But he paused when he saw the overflowing hope in the tears filling Yeoul’s eyes.

“Is that true?”

Yeoul whispered again,
“Can I really stay here?”

Suddenly, their conversation from before came back to him. Before falling asleep, Yeoul had wished for this dream to last forever.

“Yes, if you wish.”

For the first time, a glimmer of hope sparked in his heart that had been consumed by fear.

“Can this really become my reality?”

“Yes.”

Maybe, just maybe, this child…

“I’ll do it. I’ll try.”

Might make a different choice.

“I’ll do it. That pact.”

Lantus infused the stone Yeoul was holding with power. The stone, which had identified Yeoul, transformed into a small light containing the Guardian’s strength.

“You need to swallow this.”

Yeoul wiped her tears and looked at the small, warm light in Lantus’s palm.
‘It’s the opposite of when I helped Lantus.’

Carefully, she picked up the light and placed it in her mouth. It melted instantly on her tongue.

And in that moment,
‘Ah.’

Everything changed.

What had felt like a vague, semi-transparent veil between her and the world was now clear and vivid. Her senses became sharper, and everything she saw, heard, and felt seemed to whisper,
This is real. If this isn’t reality, then what is?

With trembling eyes, she looked around the room and then at her own hand. She watched as her fingers curled slowly, responding to her will. Tears fell onto her hand.

“Ah…”

She was alive. Truly alive, in this new world, with a healthy body.

“Thank you…”

This isn’t a dream. I can stay here. I can move. I don’t have to be in pain anymore.

Tears of joy streamed down her face.

“Thank you for letting me stay here.”

Yeoul covered her mouth with her hands, trying to stifle her sobs. Lantus’s eyes glistened with tears as well.

He had saved a Wanderer. Unlike fifteen years ago, he had succeeded this time. But why did his heart still ache so much?

“Yeoul.”

Lantus embraced her. The small child clung to him, wailing.

“It’s okay. Now.”

“Waaah.”

“Everything will be okay. I promise.”

Not knowing what else to say, he kept repeating those words while gently wiping away her endless tears.

***

The Missing Royal Heir

Fátima, the wealthiest kingdom on the continent.
The heart of the continent’s trade and the land with the most valuable mines.

Late at night, without the moon in the sky, the ruler of this land, Emperor Romanov, stared at his daughter in disbelief.

“What do you mean…!”

He sat up urgently from the bed.

“Isolde, did you really say that child is alive?”

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t exert yourself.”

“Answer me. Did Princess Seyla give birth to that child seven years ago?”

His daughter, Isolde, nodded with tear-filled eyes.

“Yes.”

“Hah… Ha.”

Romanov’s breath grew ragged. Isolde quickly supported him, helping him lean back against the cushions. His trembling hand clutched her arm.

“This isn’t the time to be lying down. Isolde, we can’t waste any more time. I must see that child immediately. We can’t lose them again.”

“Father, I’m sorry.”

Isolde couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. It broke her heart to have to stop her father when he was so desperate.

“I haven’t confirmed if the child is still alive. All I have is a testimony that Princess Seyla gave birth to a daughter seven years ago and then passed away. I’m so sorry. I’m truly sorry, Father.”