"Congratulations on being selected as the royal physician, my son."
After the final selection, I had a conversation with my father in the main hall.
Father seemed quite excited about my selection as the royal physician. He forgot his dignity as the head of the family and couldn't hide his broad smile.
"Haha, the student surpasses the master, doesn't he? It's all thanks to your teachings, Father."
"No, I didn't properly teach you about healing arts or the wisdom of life. I deeply regret not paying enough attention to you earlier. This success is entirely your own achievement, Lars."
Father placed his hand on my shoulder and nodded.
"Brother, congratulations on passing."
"Ah, Neria. Thank you for the congratulations."
Neria seemed somewhat downcast.
"Neria, is something wrong? Lars has received good news, but you don't look happy."
"No, that's not it. It's just..."
Neria hunched her shoulders and answered in a small voice.
"Brother, you're going to the Imperial Palace now, right? I finally got to talk with you, but now I won't be able to see you..."
"Haha."
How does Neria manage to say everything so sweetly?
I patted her head as I answered.
"I'll be able to take leave often, so you'll see me soon. I've already arranged it."
"Really?"
Only then did Neria's face light up.
"Yes. While I'm at the Imperial Palace, I have something for you to do."
"Me?"
"Yes. You know the rose garden in front of the annex, right?"
"Oh, I know it well. I always had to pass by there when leaving the mansion..."
Neria quickly covered her mouth with both hands, as if she had made a slip.
So that hole in the fence was indeed what Neria used to sneak out.
"I want you to grow that garden and cultivate many roses. You'll need to regularly send me the petals along with honey candies."
"Rose petals and honey candies..."
"It's important. Can you do it?"
"Of course! Leave Brother's garden to me!"
Neria clenched her fist and showed a confident expression.
I can definitely trust our Neria with this.
Next, I visited the barracks.
Despite yesterday's large-scale operation, Captain Tanya wasn't resting.
She was continuing her strength training by carrying stones on the training ground, and my presence didn't seem to bother her.
When Tanya spotted me, she immediately ran over.
"Hey, Captain."
"Young Master, I heard the news. Congratulations."
"This is just the beginning of my hardships."
I answered casually while crunching on a candy, and Tanya smiled, brushing back her sweat-soaked bangs.
"Am I interrupting your routine?"
"Not at all. This estate belongs to the Gotberg family, so you can come and go whenever you please. I'm the one who needs to be prepared."
"Hmm, good. Keep this attitude."
"As long as you continue to be as diligent as you are now."
I just can't win an exchange with her.
Truly remarkable people are different in every way.
"Captain, I'll be starting my duties as the royal physician at the Imperial Palace tomorrow."
"I see."
"As we discussed, I'd like you to accompany me as my knight guard. What do you think?"
I suggested it casually, as if inviting her for a neighborhood stroll.
At my words, Tanya stepped forward as if she had been waiting for this and offered me a handshake.
"I look forward to working with you, Young Master."
"A handshake? Shouldn't you be kneeling and pledging your loyalty?"
"You know the style of Northern knights."
"Try that at the Imperial Palace, I dare you."
Tanya smiled lightly and shrugged. Instead of a normal handshake, we locked thumbs and bumped shoulders.
Tanya seemed to prefer that greeting.
"I'm allowed two guards. Do you have any recommendations for the second knight?"
"How about Boris? Aren't you close with him?"
"Close? He can't come right away because of his injury, and I can't take a soon-to-be newlywed."
"Hmm... that's true. But let's talk to him anyway."
When we visited Boris in his sickbed, he immediately recommended a knight.
"What a shame, it would have been fun to accompany you, Young Master. But I believe my place is here in the marquisate. It's my homeland, after all. Instead, I recommend Bruno."
When Boris called, Bruno immediately presented himself, ready.
He wasn't in my group during the monster subjugation, but he was a knight who had performed quite well.
His large build reminded me of a gray bear.
"Bruno, the Young Master needs guards while he serves as the royal physician at the Imperial Palace. Would you like to join me?"
"It would be an honor."
Bruno accepted the offer cleanly.
I liked his straightforward attitude.
"With both the Captain and Bruno gone, our knights' strength will be weakened for a while."
"You'll manage well, Boris."
"Oh my, are you appointing me as deputy captain? With extra pay?"
"No additional pay, but more vacation days."
"Hmm, I suppose that's acceptable."
And so, the members accompanying me to the Imperial Palace were neatly decided.
The next day, I left the annex wearing clothes prepared by the servants and Sivers.
"To think that Young Master would finally enter the Imperial Medical Office as a royal physician—I'm moved!"
Sivers always overreacts. Though I haven't seen him much, I wonder if I'll miss him later?
"Fortunately, the clothes you ordered have arrived just in time, Young Master."
I didn't wear the sacred robes that healers typically wear.
Instead, I wore my usual formal attire with one specially ordered garment.
A white coat, the symbol of a doctor.
"Send the extras as they're completed."
"Of course. Leave it to me."
I crossed the garden and left through the main gate of the marquisate.
Father, Neria, the servants, and the knights.
Many people waved at me as I departed. I waved back casually.
Leaving the mansion, I headed toward the teleport gate.
Two knight guards accompanied me.
And at the end stood a small army of knights and servants.
In the center was Asella, holding her chin high and looking down at me proudly.
"You're late."
I checked my pocket watch and saw it was still well before our scheduled departure time.
"I'm not late."
"If you made me wait, then you're late."
Of course, Your Highness.
Because you are the standard by which the world operates.
Shortly after, Queen Camilla also emerged from the mansion and joined us.
The court magician, who had finished preparations in advance, channeled mana, and a portal opened through the gate after receiving a signal from the Imperial Palace.
A flood of blue light.
Just before walking into it, Asella asked me:
"Young Lord, have you used a gate before?"
"No."
I answered that way because I hadn't experienced it since my regression.
Asella seemed pleased with my answer and laughed like a demon.
"Good. It will be a fresh experience for you."
With those words, Asella walked ahead with dignified steps.
"Shall we go, Young Master?"
"Let's go, Captain Tanya. And one thing—from now on, call me 'Teacher.'"
"Understood, Teacher."
I may be a quack, but now I have the title of royal physician, so this level of respect should be fine.
I put a honey candy in my mouth and threw myself into the blue light.
***
The first teleportation I experienced after my regression was terrible.
My head spun so badly that I collapsed right there in an undignified heap.
Asella mocked my appearance, and I had to be carried into the Imperial Palace on Captain Tanya's back.
"So this is the Imperial Palace."
Tanya seemed fascinated by the magnificent red buildings of the Imperial Palace, looking around eagerly.
The Imperial Palace grounds are located in the center of the capital.
As expected of an imperial palace, its scale was far beyond comparison with the Gotberg marquisate mansion.
The main palace where the Emperor resides is practically a fortress, with several separate palaces for the imperial family members.
Asella and Queen Camilla reside in a place called "Wolgwang Palace," located in the northwest part of the Imperial Palace grounds.
"And this is the room where I'll be staying."
It was really right next to Asella's room.
I thought there would be some distance, but it was located on the second floor with just one wall between us.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Much better now."
"There's an appointment ceremony this afternoon. First, let's unpack and prepare."
"What's my work schedule?"
"It starts immediately tomorrow."
Tanya brought me a schedule.
A royal physician's basic duty is to check the health condition of their assigned patient—an imperial family member—daily.
The mission is to immediately detect and heal even the slightest abnormality, maintaining optimal condition.
"Checking magical power from the crack of dawn. I see dedicated artifacts have been prepared."
My room was filled with all kinds of tools and high-grade artifacts for a royal physician.
"All useless for Asella, who's immune to healing arts."
I put the mana measuring device in the drawer and closed it.
"Asella promised to prepare the environment for me."
I should be able to request any necessary materials.
"What are you planning to do?"
Tanya and Bruno looked at me curiously. I raised the corners of my mouth in a smirk.
"I'm not planning to get revenge for what I've suffered, but this much should be fine."
"You mean... the Princess?"
"Yes. Surely the Princess isn't afraid of needles, is she? What do you think?"
As I checked the description of my [Blood Test] skill, Tanya blinked her eyes blankly.