27 The Fort

Rosemary literally ran off with an embarrassed look on her face but from time to time, she would stop and look back at Cedar, who, in turn, would smile at her warmly while waving goodbye.

'Ah... yeah. I thought the ladies here are more conservative than the ones in my world, but to think that she'd actually throw herself to the prince just like that... oh well, I think that's what a handsome face can do no matter the culture.' Cedar thought as he respectfully bowed his head to the young lady as she gave a final look before taking a turn.

Being the only one on the empty hallway, he couldn't help but stare at Alexander's door that was tightly shut that not even a rat could dare to trespass.

After what had happened in the bath, Cedar doesn't really want to see the prince just yet. However, when his sensitive ears heard a coquettish voice of a female, he couldn't help but be curious. And before he knew it, he's already peeking outside.

That was when he saw Rosemary clinging on Alexander's arm. He just scoffed at the sight, thinking that the Prince would probably take her since it was his role to do such a debaucherous act, not to mention that Alexander was quite aroused from their earlier scuffle in the bath.

However, for some reason, Cedar felt a bit iffy about the whole situation. He didn't think that it was jealousy though since he had only been with Alexander for almost five days. And as he pondered about it, he suddenly smelled a familiar scent, and he recognized it immediately. So without thinking further, his body automatically went and covered the lady so that the 'foul' smell wouldn't reach the prince.

'I wonder if it's because this body is used to protecting the prince?' Cedar thought, 'Or do I not like what I saw? But why?'

'Am I disappointed that he's going to do it with— gasp!' While thinking about it, he caught his imagination suddenly turning into a weird direction.

"Ah! Stop! Forget it... Let's just sleep!"

***

Meanwhile, somewhere in the heavenly realm, a small crow landed on a wide courtyard with a white paver stone floor, contrasting his shiny, black feathers.

As the crow's feet touched the floor, he magically transformed into a young man with an unruly orange hair in an entirely black kimono and haori with a crow pattern on its back.*

The boy then glanced up at the main office's gate with his big doe eyes and gulped in nervousness. After all, the news that he must deliver isn't really good.

However, as he was the unlucky one who was picked by the lottery, he doesn't have any choice but to do his job.

"Well, it's not like our department was the one to be blamed for this..." Tightly clutching the scroll in his hand, he took a deep breath, "There's a bathroom inside, right?... Ah! Whatever!"

The boy steeled himself and he decisively knocked on the door that looks like a humongous wall in front of him.

****

The next day...

The Crown Prince and his envoy went to Timbreford's fortress located near the town's border to visit the Falcon troop's survivors from the necromancer incident. Not just to investigate the necromancer incident, but to check on the status of the fort itself.

Out of the 14 people who were supposed to deliver Isabella's corpse, only 3 had survived. All of them were gravely injured, each one of them missing a limb or two.

"You've done well, surviving." With a solemn expression, Alexander lightly patted the shoulder of the squad sergeant who lost half of his right arm.

Then, momentarily shifting his gaze to the snotty kid who was intently staring at him with sparkling eyes, Alexander said, "I'll make sure that you'll still be able to send your son to the academy. Don't worry. The empire won't abandon you."

Hearing the Crown Prince's earnest words, the squad leader bowed his head as he nodded repeatedly while tears streamed down his face. "Thank you your highness... thank you..."

As the prince was consoling the survivors and making sure that the families of the fallen ones were properly compensated, Cedar was taking a round at the building, observing the condition of the unit stationed at Timbreford.

Looking at the gloomy environment, it was obvious that the morale of the soldiers was low. However, it's not only because of the death of their comrades.

Even before the necromancer incident, a mysterious mist had already started to plague the place where the fortress was located causing the soldiers to get sick. For that reason, almost half of their numbers weren't able to carry out their duties and the crime rate in Timbreford had suddenly shot up in these past few weeks.

"You have to take this medicine three times a day for a week."

As Cedar arrived at the second infirmary where soldiers with fever are confined, he heard a soft-spoken man whose currently giving prescription to a patient.

In this world filled with magic, a doctor's role is still as important as the healers who use mana to heal. After all, compared to other classes, their numbers aren't that many, and if there was anyone with such a gift, that person would almost always choose to work on the capital and other large cities where there were more opportunities, aside from other various reasons.

"And, Martha? Can you please administer Mr. Milton's medicine for today? I have a lot to do due to the soldiers getting sick."

"Got it." the brown-haired nurse beside him readily agreed while writing something on her note. "By the way, Doctor, what— oh!"

Just when she was about to ask something, her eye caught Cedar's figure standing right outside the second infirmary's door. At the same time, the doctor also turned his head to look before politely bowing his head.

"Good day to you Sir Knight." he greeted. "My name's Klein. I'm sorry if I wasn't present to welcome your highness' entourage earlier.

"No, it's fine. The Crown Prince understands that the fort is not in a good situation right now and that there you have many patients to see. Besides, are you two the only ones who are taking care of the sick people in here?"

At Cedar's question, the doctor paused for a bit before he sheepishly scratched his face with a finger. "Unfortunately, yes. I am the only doctor available in Timbreford."

"Actually, it's not just in Timbreford." The nurse added. "Fleuriun and Ishmal too. Dr. Klein is the only doctor in the Milton Barony. He is everyone's doctor."

'So, the Barony's situation seems to be worse than what we had expected.' Cedar mentally noted. Then, while observing the surroundings, his gaze fell on the blonde man sitting beside a feverish soldier.

The blonde's palm was on the soldier's forehead and his lips were moving while chanting something under his breath.

"Isn't he a healer?" Cedar asked, while still watching the man.

"Oh, him? He was just a visiting family member of one of the patients. I heard that he's an F-rank medic and was about to enter the Luvrias Academy this school year."

"Luvrias? Really? That's awesome." The doctor who seems to be hearing it for the first time, exclaimed as he adjusted his black-rimmed glasses.

Luvrias Academy was an elite school that focuses on honing the healing class. However, getting in there was said to be harder than being admitted to the Empire's Knight Academy, much more so when the person is of the lowest F-rank.

"Well, he got admitted because he perfected the written exams. So he really must be an impressive person." Martha added in a proud manner as if she knew the blonde man well.

"Wait a minute, didn't he just arrived an hour ago? How'd you know his background?"

"Hee hee... He's handsome, you see." The nurse playfully answered as she winked at Klein, gaining a dumbfounded look from the doctor.

"That doesn't answer my question though."

"Psh.. you don't get it because you can't understand the things from a handsome man's perspective."

"What?! Is that how you should answer your superior?!"

"Hehehe... It's true though."

"Why you..."

"Ah! His complexion is fine now!" Changing the subject, Martha pointed at the soldier who was pale and feverish a while ago, before swiftly moving to check the patient's temperature.

"So, how is he? Did the spell work?" Before Dr. Klein could even say a word, the blonde, young man whose now sweating profusely had beaten him by asking the question first.

The nurse once again measured the soldier's temperature and other things before giving a thumbs up. "Good work! His condition has improved. It seems like the mist's effect was alleviated."

"Hah~ thank goodness..." the blonde man sighed in relief as he glanced at the sleeping middle-aged man lying on the bed.

"You've worked hard." Cedar complimented the blonde guy from behind.

"O-Oh! That was rude of me Sir!" The blonde guy, upon seeing the imperial crest on Cedar's breast plate, had abruptly stood up and bowed with a 90 degree angle. "I-I...Ivan M— my name is Ivan, Sir!

"Ah. Haha! You're quite an energetic one, are you?" Cedar smiled. "Stand up straight. You don't have to bow."

He stepped forward, intending to pat the young guy's shoulder.

However, "Ugh!" as soon as he took that step, Cedar's heart suddenly felt painful and blood spurted from his lips.