The Genius Physician Princess

Despite feeling a bit hurt from earlier, Ruben still felt more pride and admiration for Yeo-ul.

She was intelligent and bold beyond her years, and her dedication to patient care was unwavering. If Lantus allowed it, Ruben would love to take Yeo-ul on as his apprentice.

“Since you worry about others, can I worry about you, Yeo-ul? I noticed you were wearing new shoes. Are your feet okay?”

“My feet?”

Yeo-ul looked down at her heels and her eyes widened.

“Oh? They’re bleeding?”

“What? Yeo-ul’s feet are bleeding?” Kite exclaimed, rushing to check her wounds.

“Oh no! They’re cut! Didn’t it hurt, Yeo-ul?”

“It just stung a little. I didn’t think it would bleed. Ouch.”

“Stop touching it! What am I going to do? Lantus will kill me.”

Yeo-ul, grimacing in pain, turned sharply to Kite and stared at him.

“Where exactly is Lantus right now, and what is he doing?”

Kite, inspecting her wounds, quickly avoided her probing gaze and changed the subject.

“But what about the fireworks show? Yeo-ul, you were so excited about it.”

“There’s something I’m more curious about now, so it’s okay.”

Unfortunately for Kite, his distraction tactic didn’t work this time.

Once again, Ruben saved him.

“Were you planning to see the fireworks today, Yeo-ul?”

“Haha, yes. I bragged that it’s something you must see when you come to Wizardian.”

Kite, ignoring Yeo-ul’s piercing gaze at the back of his head, spoke to Ruben.

“By the way, doctor, can you treat Yeo-ul’s wounds? She can’t use mana.”

Ruben, looking thoughtfully at Yeo-ul’s shoes, nodded.

“I can treat the wounds, but if she keeps wearing those shoes, it’ll just get worse.”

“Oh, then I guess we should give up on the fireworks and head back to the mansion.”

Kite, seeing Yeo-ul’s determined expression, quickly changed his tune.

“…I mean, no! We should buy new shoes! So Yeo-ul can see the fireworks. Haha!”

“I said I don’t need to see the fireworks!” Yeo-ul gritted out.

Ruben chuckled heartily.

“You don’t get to see fireworks often. You shouldn’t miss such a good show. Wait a moment. I have a pair of shoes that should fit you.”

With that, Ruben left the room.

“Doctor! Take me with you!” Kite tried to follow but was stopped by Yeo-ul clinging to his arm with all her strength.

“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me about Lantus!”

“Ahaha, well, it would be good to help the doctor find the shoes, right?”

“Not until you tell me the truth about Lantus!”

“Cough, cough. What exactly do you want to know about him?”

“Lantus is hurt, isn’t he? He’s not okay! I’ve been playing board games every day without knowing!”

“No, really, he’s fine. When he comes back, you’ll see. He’ll be perfectly fine from head to toe.”

“Lantus uses magic, doesn’t he? Can’t wizards heal their wounds with magic?”

“They can’t use magic in a dragon’s territory. No matter how skilled he is, he can’t beat a dragon’s power. Don’t worry.”

“But if he can’t use magic, that’s worse! He can’t heal his wounds!”

“No, he’ll come back perfectly fine.”

“Then why were you so flustered earlier? What’s the reason?”

Unable to reveal the truth, Kite could only sweat nervously.

The vagabond and his guide—an old joke, but now it seemed more like reality.

‘I should have realized when Yeo-ul swiped the mercury.’

Seeing Yeo-ul’s tenacity reminded Kite too much of Lantus’s fierce determination.

Kite felt like crying.

* * *

“Hmm?”

Returning with a pair of Ed’s shoes, Ruben was surprised to find Yeo-ul in tears.

Kite was clinging to the wall, trying to avoid her gaze.

“What’s going on, Yeo-ul?”

“Doctor, Kite keeps lying to me.”

“Lying?”

“He won’t look me in the eye and keeps making excuses. Ugh.”

Yeo-ul was crying out of frustration and worry for Lantus. Although she understood Kite’s intentions, it didn’t help her anxiety.

Kite, equally distressed, felt a strong urge to come clean but knew Lantus would never forgive him.

‘Lantus doesn’t understand how persistent Yeo-ul can be.’

He feared what the future held but decided to focus on the present.

“Yeo-ul, really, nothing happened. If Lantus is hurt, I’ll change my last name.”

“Your last name? You don’t have one, remember? You gave up your family name!”

Kite’s second attempt at evasion failed, and he clutched his head in frustration.

“Ow, my head. It’s killing me.”

“Kite!”

“It’s true. I have a splitting headache. When Lantus gets back, I’ll go see that priest Michael for some treatment.”

“What does Michael have to do with this?”

“Headache treatment. By the way, you were worried about him, right? See, everything works out.”

“Stop changing the subject!”

Watching them, Ruben chuckled softly.

‘Yeo-ul is still a child after all.’

Seeing her cry out of worry reminded him she was still just a child, despite her mature demeanor.

Kite, realizing he needed help, sent a desperate look at Ruben.

Catching on, Ruben cleared his throat and knelt in front of Yeo-ul.

“Yeo-ul, I don’t know what Kite did wrong, but let’s go see the fireworks together. Kite can buy you something nice to eat.”

Still crying, Yeo-ul shook her head.

“I’m not going to the fireworks with Kite.”

“Come on, don’t be like that. I wanted to see the fireworks today too. My son didn’t want to go with me, so I gave up.”

Gently soothing her, Ruben treated Yeo-ul’s wounds and helped her put on Ed’s shoes.

The shoes were a bit big, but they fit well enough.

Ruben smiled, remembering when he first put them on his son.

“A bit big, but they fit. Your feet are the same size as my son’s when he was six.”

Wiping her tears, Yeo-ul looked at Ruben in surprise.

“These shoes belonged to your son?”

“Yes. My son Ed wore them when he was little. That was ten years ago.”

Yeo-ul looked at the shoes anew.

‘They’re so clean for second-hand shoes.’

Especially the soles, which looked untouched.

“But, Ed?”

Without thinking, Yeo-ul asked, “Doctor, is your son’s name Edward?”

“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

“I saw the name on the blanket in the cart. I thought it was a hospital cart, but it must be your son’s.”

“Oh.”

Ruben’s smile faded slightly, and he nodded.

“Yes, that’s my son’s cart.”

Yeo-ul paused.

A cart?

Ruben smiled faintly.

“I might as well tell you. My son can’t walk. It’s been ten years now.”

Yeo-ul’s eyes widened, and even Kite, who had been rubbing his head against the wall, looked back in surprise.

Ruben softly smiled and brushed the toe of the shoe.

“It used to hurt to see these shoes. No matter how much Ed wore them, the soles stayed the same. But it’s okay now. You can wear them and enjoy the fireworks for him. Right?”

Yeo-ul felt a lump in her throat.

Ruben’s sadness was all too familiar.

Her worn-out sneakers were what her brother had wished for the most.