Doctor Resignation

Looking back at the building, quite a few rooms were still lit.

‘There’s a lot of visitors.’

Since the Duchess doesn’t enjoy social activities, it was extremely rare for guests to come to the castle.

So seeing the castle so crowded with nobles, I felt strangely alienated.

It suddenly occurred to me that the comfortable life I’d been living so far was just a meaningless apparition.

The succession ceremony, Erhan, and the guests occupying the gorgeous rooms were the world of “real” nobles.

I belonged to a world of servants, wagons, or whatever that followed after them.

After arriving at the garden along with Zickel, I involuntarily exclaimed.

“Ah….”

“I’ll be on my way then.”

Zickel bowed, no longer said anything, and disappeared. All kinds of beautiful flowers were lined up in the small garden.

And Erhan, who was standing in the middle of them, approached me and gave me a bouquet of flowers.

“You came, Lise.”

I felt dizzy at the smell of flowers.

“What’s all this?”

“I heard it from the knights.”

He said with a deep smile.

“I heard you went out for a walk in the garden because the flowers were beautiful.”

“Oh…. Yes, I did.”

There was a table and chairs between the colorful flowers. And the table was full of sweet cakes and cookies that I liked.

I sat on a chair and looked around in a daze.

“I told them to collect all the most beautiful flowers in the garden.”

“Why?”

“You didn’t come to the ceremony. You even had dinner in your room.”

“There’s no reason for me to go there. It’s a place where the vassals and relatives gather.”

Sincerely, I had no intention of going to dinner. Of course, the Duchess said it was okay to come since there was a lot of delicious food, but I refused right away.

Because if I was to sit there, I would be the only commoner among the nobles. It was terrible just thinking about the eyes that would be on me.

“But I kept thinking about you.”

He cut the cake, put it in my mouth, and said.

“Thanks to you, I was able to become the Duke of Cerceus, not only that, but the list really goes on.”

I nodded because it wasn’t wrong.

“When I see pretty things, I think about you; when I see delicious things, I also think about you.”

“Me raising you well seems to be worth it then.”

I swallowed a sweet cake and said proudly.

“Now that we’re on the topic, let me tell you, when I first met Master Erhan, you were so weak that you could collapse any time. I fed you well and put you to sleep, I’ve also used all kinds of medicinal herbs just to raise you.”

“That’s right.”

He gave me another piece of cake and smiled with his pretty eyes.

“That’s why, to me…. You are my whole world.”

I wonder if it’s because it came out just right out for dinner, but the cake tasted pretty good. Or perhaps, it’s because of Erhan’s face, who was staring at me while watching me eat.

“If I complain that I’m sick, everyone will comfort me. But you were the only light in my world full of endless darkness, pain, and loneliness.”

What the hell….

In the past, there were also patients who expressed excessive gratitude when I treated and cured them.

Even Kansia returned the time as appreciation.

It is because of this rewarding feeling that I became a doctor.

“How could someone so smart, pretty, cool, and brilliant come to me one day, when I was dying?”

“Well.”

I replied, scratching my chin.

“Think of it as fate. You were destined to survive.”

“Yes.”

He laughed as he fed me another piece of pecan pie. I could eat with my own hands, but there was no fork in front of me.

“Lise, you know what? This morning, the knights dismissed some people from their duty.”

“Oh…. The people that were gossiping in the armory?”

At first, I was definitely listening to their conversation but was halted at some point. When I recalled the moment I was hugged by Erhan, My ears suddenly felt feverish.

I drank tea in a hurry to erase the memory quickly.

“Yeah, I thought that they would only make the atmosphere in the Order even muddier. Then I told them distinctly,”

As expected, I was the only one thinking strange, and his voice continued calmly.

“Now that the true master of the knights has returned, I will not tolerate factions and politics inside the Order.”

“Good job.”

The last few days, he showed his skills while fighting with Joaquin at the morning training, and the knights who had been in the Duke’s Castle immediately lowered their heads.

He giggled at me.

“That’s how knights are. You end up kneeling down to someone stronger.”

It was really great news that he brought the knights together and took control. 

Before my regression, they were known as sloppy knights, but after they fell into Wederick’s hands, they just became sloppy rebels.

“This again, is thanks to Lise.”

“Yes, in fact, it is.”

“I was wondering if I was idolizing you too much with my childhood fantasies….”

Erhan, who was looking at me softly, slowly raised his hand. A warm body temperature slowly touched my lips and then immediately fell. After wiping the whipped cream off my lips, he slightly licked his long fingers.
It wasn’t a big deal, but his eyes were bright, giving it a strange weird atmosphere. I kept repeating to myself that his actions meant nothing. 

The very first day he returned, I had not forgotten that he reacted coldly when the Duchess brought up the topic about me.

When I recall his aristocratic-centered tone at that time, I just know there was no way he’ll have romantic intentions with me, a commoner.

I thought it would be much better to just let it go, thinking that it was just a strange habit that he came up with in the five years we were apart.

I admit that Erhan, which was remarkably different from when we were young, changed a lot and pledged to accept that fascination as it is.

“But no, you’re still the same.”

“W-what?”

“The smartest, brightest person in the world who cares about me the most.”

“I told you in the past. I don’t lie.”

I took another sip of the tea for no reason, avoiding his strangely deep eyes.

“What are you saying? Adopted daughter? Brother-in-law? If you’re going to say that, I’ll take the Duke’s title as soon as possible.”

Even so, I know that the world we live in is different.

Or perhaps I was also a bit hurt at that time.

Anyway, now, our boundaries are clearly divided. Because he really has become a true Duke.

Though it was also an accomplishment for a high noble like him to say that he was really grateful for being helped by a servant, that, or he’s just sorry to me in his heart.

As expected, he seemed to be really grateful to me for raising him well when he was young.

“Yes, you were never wrong.” (Erhan)

This time, he cut a pumpkin pie and put it in my mouth. Everything that came into my mouth was so delicious that it felt good.

“And my longing and waiting weren’t wrong.” (Erhan)

I felt like I was dreaming. Flowers beautiful enough to make my eyes shine, vivid stars that seemed to be pouring, and a handsome man who constantly fed me sweet things were right in front of me.

“I was a bit surprised when you said you’re weak to my looks and touch, but on the other hand, it seems to be a rather fortunate thing.”

I tried to refute the remark, but I ended up nodding my head sullenly, unable to lie, because of Erhan’s straightforwardness.

“Grow up quickly, Lise.”

He whispered with a big smile.

“I’ll be really good to you until then.”

I put a chocolate cookie in my mouth and asked back.

“What are you talking about?”

“I became 19 first. And today, I became the Duke. Now all I have to do is wait for you.”

Erhan’s birthday was in spring and my birthday was in summer, so it wasn’t too far.

“Well, when I reach my adulthood, I’ll be able to formally become the Duke’s primary physician. I’m an assistant right now.”

I shrugged my shoulders and said sincerely.

“Congratulations on becoming the Duke.”

He looked at me quietly, then slowly held his chin and smiled wide. He looked as pure and pretty as when he was young.

“Lise, the inauguration was spectacular and grand. There were a lot of people, and the procedures were complicated.”

I also smiled at him broadly, as if someone really happy to see him after a long time.

“But now that I’ve been congratulated by you, I feel like I’ve really become the Duke…and I couldn’t be even happier.”

“I’m also very happy that you’ve taken over the Duchy safely.”

We looked at each other and laughed just like when we were children.

No matter how many things have changed since then, it was a night when the promise of a certain day when we were young – that we’re going to be the only one for each other – surfaced once again.

There was only a small table and sweet desserts without drinks, but it was our own succession ceremony surrounded by beautiful flowers and twinkling stars.