111. If Only Every Day Were a Banquet
Mint seemed to be in a better mood for some reason.
The Imperial Princess bounced back to my side.
“What did Elise say?”
“Something about the green dress. It’s bad for her health. There are also a few harmful cosmetics.”
While technically patient information regarding Miss Elise, I didn’t elaborate too much on it. Mint nodded with interest,
“Oh, really?”
“It’s possible the green dye is arsenic-based. If I were you, I wouldn’t wear it. You should avoid green clothing too, Miss Mint.”
The princess tilted her head curiously.
“But Elise wears green dresses too—does that mean hers are bad as well? I see her in them sometimes.”
“You won’t die from wearing one a few times, but it’s still risky.”
“So I thought you embarrassed Elise or something. Guess not.”
I shook my head. It wasn’t my intention to embarrass or upset Elise.
She did seem a little down, but that wasn’t intentional either. Sometimes things just happen. People process information differently after all. I once met a young man who joked about his leg being amputated due to a compound fracture, saying he was lucky not to have joined the army yet.
“Well, everyone reacts differently. Anyone would feel uneasy hearing their clothes might be poisoned.”
Mint sipped her wine glass, scrunching her nose slightly as the drink touched her lips.
“Ugh, Teacher, this tastes awful.”
“I agree, it does. Terrible stuff.”
Mint took another small sip of the white wine we’d had earlier—it tasted like nothing.
“Is the princess old enough to drink?”
“There she goes again.”
“Have you ever tried alcohol?”
“A couple of times, but I don’t enjoy it.”
Mint stretched her arms as if doing a yawn, then rested her arm on my shoulder.
“We’ve been together all day.”
“Yes, we have.”
“Thank you for spending the whole day with me. Ah… I wish every day could be a banquet so I could stay with you longer.”
“It’d probably get exhausting having banquets every day.”
“You’re such a buzzkill. I’m saying I enjoy spending time with you.”
Having to make small talk with random guests all dressed up in fancy suits all day… It’s not like I can skip out on it though.
To be fair, the princess has it relatively easier since royalty doesn’t need to worry about social cues as much. I gently patted Mint’s head.
“I appreciate your kind words.”
It’s almost time for the banquet to wrap up, isn’t it?
Elise reflected. Despite thinking she had control over the conversation and dealing with someone who only focused on academics, a boring professor…
Was it just an offhand comment to dodge the situation?
Upon further reflection, it seemed possible the healer simply reacted negatively to something Elise said and responded without much thought.
Though technically possible, Elise didn’t think that was the case. The person didn’t seem malicious at all.
The atmosphere shifted completely.
That professor. Initially smug and condescending, responding arrogantly until suddenly mentioning something about eye drops and strange pupils.
Could there really be something wrong with the eye drops?
Since the healer immediately noticed it, there must be some truth to it. They even warned against wearing green dresses and using belladonna eye drops, citing the risks of prolonged toxin exposure.
Elise sighed, pressing her temples.
Why does Mint hang around with someone who isn’t even nobility? But meeting them face-to-face made it somewhat understandable.
Even more specifically, it explained why the imperial court tolerated it. A skilled healer can save lives.
No one values their own life lightly—not even the imperial family. Perhaps a top-tier healer in the empire could hold sway equal to or greater than some high-ranking nobles.
Still, when will we visit the hospital next?
Elise originally planned to accomplish many tasks during this banquet but found herself distracted by everything going on. Her mind was racing.
Rumors centered around the imperial prince.
A new royal-chartered company would soon form, and those involved would make fortunes. At the center was a scientist closely tied to the imperial court.
At first, Elise dismissed the rumors as typical gossip.
But come on—it makes sense, right? The very person she just saw earlier could identify potential illnesses upon brief eye contact.
The “top healer in the empire” title wasn’t exaggerated. At least not in Elise’s judgment.
Meaning… this royal-chartered company isn’t just another scam or money-grabbing scheme—it’s a legitimate investment opportunity involving capable people.
I should use my connections to investigate further.
Another morning began in the research lab.
While many might find joy in the Splendid Imperial Banquet Hall, and there were certainly benefits, I preferred the tranquility of the lab over the chaotic banquet halls with blinding chandeliers.
Spending time with Mint was enjoyable, but…
I hope networking at the banquet helped open doors for funding or investments. It’d be great to secure some financial support for research.
Realistically, Arina might be the only one likely to send funds.
Aside from her, no concrete results came from the event. While some showed interest, no definite commitments for financial backing emerged. Maybe some letters will arrive if word spreads.
“Good morning, Professor.”
“Are you starting your shift now?”
Istina froze momentarily before glancing at the wall clock. She arrived right on time—but a bit late.
“Oh, sorry. I’ll try harder to come before you from tomorrow…”
“That’d be ideal.”
Istina dropped her bag and slumped onto the lab sofa, spreading out her books.
“Professor, I heard you attended the banquet yesterday.”
“Yes, I did.”
“To be honest, I expected you’d be gone for a few days.”
“It ended sooner than expected.”
I thought it’d last two days. Istina nodded and looked at me.
“Did you achieve anything significant?”
Aside from nearly swindling a rookie, not much. I pondered how to explain to Istina.
“Oh, yeah. Met lots of important people, so research funding and investments will pour in soon.”
“That’d be great.”
It’s a hopeful scenario, but still plausible.
After all, maybe someone at the banquet was impressed enough to send funding?
Unlikely, but possible.
“By the way, I picked up gifts for everyone yesterday. I’ll give them to you when we leave today.”
“Wow, thank you! What is it?”
“You’ll see. Probably pound cake.”
Istina nodded.
“Istina, do you know if arsenic is used in green dyes? I saw someone in a green dress yesterday and wondered if arsenic poisoning might occur.”
“Ah, yes. Some claim arsenic is dangerous, but others argue wearing it poses no real threat.”
“Does that sound reasonable?”
“Which perspective?”
“Visit factories or workshops handling arsenic. Would you eat something lethal and then casually wear it? It’s abnormal.”
“Fair point.”
Yesterday, seeing Elise did cause a momentary panic, but upon further reflection, it wasn’t that severe.
Reconsidering, atropine eye drops’ effects are temporary, and arsenic doesn’t accumulate excessively in the body.
If there are currently no symptoms, halting toxin exposure should significantly reduce risks. Treatments exist for both arsenic exposure and atropine poisoning, but…
I glanced at Istina briefly.
“By the way, how’s the patient with the broken leg?”
“They seem much better.”
“Did you thoroughly check? Is the leg bending properly? Did you confirm sensations daily?”
“Yes.”
There’s a specific method for checking sensations: tapping symmetrically with something like a toothpick to ensure both sides respond equally.
Did Istina and Amy handle everything correctly? Honestly, doubts and mistrust surfaced first. Of course, they’re intelligent individuals, but…
Would I trust my life to Istina or Amy? Probably not entirely. Though they do their best.
“Any discoloration on the patient’s skin? Any open wounds? Any signs of re-fracture?”
“No issues noted.”
Well then.
Seeing Istina confidently answer reassured me the patient was likely fine. If any problems arose, they’d surely have complained loudly upon seeing me.
“Let me see the medical records.”
I reviewed the medical records of the patient with the broken leg from last time. Everything matched what Istina mentioned—daily examination logs.
“You’ve been diligent.”
“Thank you.”
“Even with multiple daily examinations, if things don’t go well, it’s fate. No major issues here, right? The patient didn’t complain of pain?”
“Yes.”
Looks like everything’s fine then. We’ll document this case extensively later. Now, we just wait for research funding to flood in!
