"Of course, we wait," Zora said calmly, her smile cold and confident. "If I appear too early, how will anyone understand how difficult this illness is? Only when everyone knows they can't cure it will my skill truly shine."
She was right.
For the next two days, just as she predicted, doctors from every direction rushed into the palace.
Some were old physicians with decades of experience, others were famous wandering doctors who rarely showed themselves. Every single one of them left with a pale face, shaking their heads.
No one could recognize the strange blisters.
No one could treat the pain that tore Philip apart.
Of course, they couldn't
Scorpion Venom Powder and her exclusive itch powder came from a lost era.
The knowledge had faded from the world long ago. Even in ancient times, very few understood these poisons.
And Luna… the poor girl hadn't left the medicinal hall for days. She had scratched her skin raw trying to stop the itching. She didn't even appear in the palace today, which quickly caused people to whisper.
Everyone knew Philip and Luna were together all the time.
Why wasn't she here now?
Had something happened between them?
As for Zora, she didn't know how much Luna had ruined herself, but she could guess. Her exotic itch powder was vicious. If Luna scratched even a little, she would definitely leave scars everywhere.
You poisoned me, she thought coldly.
Now suffer your turn.
*
Rumors about Philip spread faster than wildfire.
"He's worse today. None of the doctors could cure him."
"I heard he's screaming so loudly the palace servants faint."
"The blisters are huge… they say he can't even stand the pain anymore."
"Be quiet. If someone hears you, you'll be punished."
"Tch… Prince or not, he's arrogant every day. Who knows what bad deeds he's done? Maybe this is retribution."
More and more people gathered outside the palace gates, whispering and guessing. Some were worried, some curious, some just enjoying the spectacle.
As the third day arrived, panic filled the palace. The Emperor was furious as the doctors became helpless, and the servants were terrified of being blamed.
And at last, inside Origin Medical hall, Zora gently lifted her medicine box, with a faint glow of excitement in her eyes.
"It's time."
If she waited any longer, Philip might actually die, and that would be too merciful.
She stepped out of the Medical Hall and headed toward the palace.
*
When she reached the massive gates of the Imperial City, a group of palace guards instantly stopped her.
"Who goes there?"
"I am a physician," Zora said calmly, her voice light but sharp. "I'm here to treat His Highness."
The guards stared at her blankly.
"A little girl like you? Enough nonsense, leave."
But Zora simply lifted her chin.
Her eyes filled with cold arrogance, and a pressure honed through years of command washed over them.
"I said I'm a physician. If you block me and it delays the treatment of the Prince, be careful you don't lose your head."
That icy, fearless, and commanding voice struck them like thunder.
For a moment, the guards froze.
This girl…
She was young, but the aura around her was terrifying, far more intimidating than the nobility they usually served. Even the Prince himself lacked this natural authority.
They exchanged uneasy looks.
Who exactly was this girl?
With stiff movements, one guard bowed. "This way, Physician."
*
The palace swallowed her like a vast, solemn monster. Golden tiles, towering pillars, carved dragons, and wide marble paths... the ancient dignity of the imperial dynasty could be seen from them alone.
Under the escort of the guards, she walked straight to the Eastern Palace.
Normally, it used to be quiet and peaceful, but the area was now chaotic. Groups of doctors were clustered everywhere, whispering heatedly.
When they saw a new doctor arrive, they barely reacted.
Since yesterday, doctors had been coming nonstop.
A woman was nothing special…
Until they actually looked at her.
Shock rippled through the crowd at once.
"A child?"
"She can barely read medical texts."
"She's joking, right?"
One of the palace doctors, old, stern, and easily offended, stood up in anger.
"Who brought this girl in here? Are you people insane?"
*
Even if the palace doctors had failed one after another these past few days, it still didn't mean they would tolerate a child walking into their already chaotic medical hall. To them, this was adding foolishness on top of disaster.
The guard who escorted Zora inside had clearly predicted this reaction. Hence, he simply dropped her off and ran, not wanting to get caught in the arguments and scoldings he knew would erupt very soon.
All around, the doctors watched with expressions similar to Rolant's, like annoyed, doubtful, and even offended. A girl this young, wanting to diagnose a prince at death's door? Truly absurd.
But Zora didn't flinch even a little.
"Mister," she said lightly, "you haven't even let me see the Prince yet. How do you know I can't treat him?"
Her voice was calm, her posture straight, and her face seemed composed. Not a hint of panic or insecurity as she tried to deal with them.
For a moment, Rolant hesitated.
This girl was young, yes, but her psychological strength was not something he could dismiss. There was something unshakable about her. Atleast that was what his guts screamed at him.
But in the end, he furrowed his brows and carefully said, "Based on your age, even if you studied medicine even while you started speaking, you can't have mastery yet. This place is dangerous today. It's better for you to go back, not try your luck."
He wasn't trying to insult her.
He was warning her that any doctor who caused trouble today might be punished when the Emperor's anger erupted. There was no need for a child to risk her life here.
But before the Zora could reply...
A loud, arrogant voice boomed from behind.
"What rubbish... bringing some little brat to treat the Prince? The physicians of this palace really are all waste."
Everyone turned toward the source.
A man in his forties waddled into view, with a round belly leading the way beneath a dark green robe. His small eyes were full of vicious pride, his chin lifted as if he were above everyone present.
Rolant's face darkened instantly. "Aurelius."
Aurelius smirked, clearly satisfied with the effect of his arrival.
"I was kicked out of the hospital by you back then. Who would've expected you'd come crawling back today, hoping I'd help? Isn't fate a funny thing?"
"You, who lack medical ethics, should never have been in the hospital," Rolant replied sharply, unable to tolerate this man.
Aurelius snorted. "Medical ethics? Those won't cure a dying Prince. What matters is skill. And I am far more skilled than all of you. Especially now that you are so desperate you've resorted to bringing in children."
His tone further dripped with contempt before Rolant could respond. "I've been gone only a few years… and it seems the quality of this so-called Imperial hospital has fallen so far you're relying on a little girl."
The humiliation was unmistakable.
Zora's brows lifted slightly. She hadn't even opened her mouth yet, and this man had already dragged her into his insults?
Truly unlucky to be shot while lying down.
Around them, the pharmacists and doctors whispered in growing irritation. To insult everyone here before even examining the Prince's condition, what kind of self-important fool was this?
Aurelius then noticed Zora's gaze and sneered openly. "Little girl, what are you staring at?"
At that moment, Zora's expression turned cold as frost.
"Walking Fatty Pig," she replied lazily, "I'm staring at you. What about it?"