Chapter 222 A Result Born of My Own Virtue♪
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Today, Ayumu was once again at the Imperial Court.
It was the final day of Empress Sarendra’s scar treatment. In her youth, she had suffered smallpox, and the scars remained as a painful reminder. Ayumu had been using a device that projected a laser beam—its wavelength shorter than microwaves—burning away the upper layers of skin little by little, until the marks would finally fade.
At first, the Royal Healers had mocked and resisted him. Yet lately they came to observe the sessions with curiosity, a good sign. In truth, the medical practice of this world was still far behind compared to his original one.
Here, religion forbade human dissection, and so there were no accurate anatomy charts. Even the Royal Physicians lacked proper understanding of the human body. Their treatments, while sometimes effective, often caused agony.
Some examples he’d heard made his skin crawl:
”For ear ailments, pack gray eels fermented in horse dung into the canal.”
”For jaundice, mix sheep droppings into beer, let it rest overnight, and have the patient drink it.”
”Gout can be prevented with a salve of pigeon dung.”
”Before applying medicine, pour urine on wounds to cure the plague.”
They really lean on dung and urine far too much… who on earth spread such nonsense?
Other so-called remedies were no better:
”Tobacco cures baldness.”
”Drink radium water and you’ll be healthy forever.”
”Protozoa from the Lusrith Beastfolk Kingdom can eradicate venereal disease.”
As if that weren’t enough, their “anesthetics” included henbane, hemlock, and opium. They even prescribed mercury and arsenic as medicines. Pure chaos.
If tobacco truly restored hair, everyone here would already be covered in thick locks… No thank you. I wouldn’t trust my body to these treatments.
Focusing on his task, Ayumu applied a numbing cream, then carefully passed the ruby-laser over Sarendra’s skin, burning only the outermost layer into a light scab. Once finished, she would drink an instant healing potion, and when the scabs fell away naturally, her skin would finally be smooth again. Makeup would no longer be needed to hide the ridges.
He reassured her, “The redness and pigmentation will fade over time.” Moved, the Empress smiled in gratitude. Satisfied, Ayumu excused himself.
As expected, he was soon caught by the ever-watchful nanny, Marie, and pulled into a coffee gathering.
There, over cups of steaming brew, the palace maids—Cecelia, Eclea, Oreana, and Rieana—shared the latest gossip.
”Hey, did you hear? Lord Doll sent yet another poem to Second Princess Ronafermia.”
”What?! Ew! She’s the same age as his daughter. How disgusting.”
”Oh, poor Lady Rona… I know he only wants to edge closer to the Imperial Family, but if it were me, I couldn’t bear such advances from someone so unclean.”
”Didn’t he already pester the First Princess, Her Highness Norfemina? And she rejected him flatly.”
”Yes, yes! And when he failed, he spread vile rumors—’The Princess must be sleeping with the stable boys’—just to spite her!”
”That’s awful…”
Ayumu blinked. Wait—he has a daughter my age? This is the first I’ve heard of it!
(…Well, not my problem.)
Thus, while Lord Doll’s shameless pursuit continued to plague the Princess, Ayumu brushed the talk aside, sipping his coffee.
What he didn’t know—what he couldn’t possibly imagine—was that he himself would soon be dragged into this mess.
T/N: The bizarre “remedies” mentioned (dung plasters, radium water, tobacco cures) reflect real pre-modern and early modern medical practices, many of which were harmful or entirely ineffective. The author uses them to highlight how far behind this fantasy world’s medicine is compared to Ayumu’s imported knowledge.
Ayumu finished his coffee and stepped into the Grand Palace courtyard for a change of air. But instead of peace, he found a crowd gathering. Curious, he pushed his way through.
To his astonishment, Lord Doll and Second Princess Ronafermia were clashing head-on, sparks flying between them.
”So, you’re the one spreading rumors that I lure stable boys and jailers into my bed at night, aren’t you, Doll?”
”My, my… I am shocked beyond words that Her Highness would believe such tales about me. To think you’d accuse me of such gossip—truly, I am surprised.”
This is getting good… I need to see how this ends! Ayumu thought, settling in to watch.
”Stop that shameless act! How disgraceful!”
”Heh… And yet, perhaps such whispers spread only because Her Highness so cruelly ignored my love letters.”
”As if I would ever accept them! A vassal daring to lust after his liege’s daughter? Know your shame! Filthy creature!”
”Such hatred… painful indeed. Still, if a high noble such as myself were to wed Your Highness, my house would prosper, and you would not risk becoming a spinster like your elder sister, Princess Norfemina… ohoho.”
He leered, his gaze crawling over her form, and Ronafermia shuddered, crossing her arms protectively. Disgust was plain on her face.
Then—she acted.
With a sharp motion, she pulled off her glove and hurled it at his cheek. A duel challenge.
In this world, the gesture came from knights throwing down gauntlets, declaring, “Even one hand is enough to beat you.” To refuse was to admit inferiority.
”Your Highness,” Doll sneered, “do you understand what you’ve just done?”
”Of course, Lord Doll! By tradition, I challenge you to a duel!”
Naturally, Doll stooped, picked up the glove, and accepted.
The crowd roared. “A duel! A duel!!”
Ayumu, now hooked, stayed to see where this storm would go.
Lord Doll snorted. “So bold. And what terms of battle shall we set?”
”I will name a champion! For my honor—let whoever deems themselves worthy step forth now!”
Ayumu blinked. Wait, she’s recruiting… here?
”Someone—anyone! Will no loyal soul fight for my honor?! Cowards, the lot of you!”
But none stepped forward. Silence spread. Ronafermia’s outburst went unanswered.
Ayumu smirked at first. Ha! This is what comes of her haughty ways.
Yet he failed to notice the others shrinking back… leaving him conspicuously at the front.
By the time he realized, it looked as if he himself had stepped out.
”Ohhh! The Honorary Count! How gallant!!”
”…Eh?”
He froze, glancing around in shock, but the crowd was already cheering his “bravery.”
”T-This cannot be…” he whispered, trembling.
How did it come to this…?
Meanwhile, Ronafermia’s eyes gleamed. With her champion finally secured, she puffed her chest and proclaimed, “Behold! This is the fruit of my virtue!”
Lord Doll, having witnessed it all, gave a contemptuous snort. “Very well. I’ll gladly remove this insolent brat’s head. It will be a pleasure.” With those murderous words, he turned and stalked away, leaving Ayumu pale as death.
Notes:
• Empress Sarendra – Aare’s mother who expresses quiet resentment towards Aare’s existence.
• Lusrith Beastfolk Kingdom – A kingdom that encompasses the Danucool Autonomous Region of Kettsie.
• Cecelia – Blonde sharp-tongued marquis daughter, socially slick and used to court games. Childhood friend of Yoluminette. First appear in chapter 182.
• Eclea – Efficient, no-nonsense attendant to Empress Sarendra. All business, little small talk. First appear in chapter 182.
• Oreana – Highborn and calculating, one of Sarendra’s favored ladies-in-waiting. Keen observer in social settings. First appear in chapter 182.
• Rieana – Quiet and watchful lady-in-waiting, tends to blend into the background but misses nothing. First appear in chapter 182.
• Doll – Margrave-Marquis of Yugan’s Eastern District, lord of Elzurk, ex-master of Yoluminette. Pro-War Faction, commands strong northeast border force. Known for grudges, blunders, and lechery—spread rumors after princesses spurned him, ranted over taxes, demanded duels. Humiliated when Ayumu beat him with sand tricks and revolver. Reminder: arrogant warlord, dangerous but absurd.
• Ronafermia – Second Princess, Norfemina’s younger sister. Harassed by Doll’s poems, then slandered with rumors of stable boys. Publicly shamed him, hurled her glove, and forced a duel—pushing Ayumu to fight as her champion. After his win, she claimed it as proof of her virtue. Reminder: fiery, reckless, twists scandal into pride.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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