Chapter 16

It had been a busy day. The royal court doctors rushed into Rosaline’s room one after another. They looked very nervous.

Heal Rosaline. If Rosaline doesn’t get better, your title will be stripped.

Doctors were indispensable, but they were also the most neglected. During a pandemic, the people on the streets were more interested in trying to move to a new building rather than looking for a doctor.

Pharmacies were rare and considered ‘witch huts’.

The doctors who studied the human body as a profession were treated poorly. Rosaline, who came from 21st century South Korea, did not understand this.

After becoming his secretary, Rosaline explained to Cahir that being a doctor is a noble and necessary profession. Eventually, Cahir stamped the emperor’s seal on Rosaline’s doctor training project plan.

In just three years, the empire’s rate of infections diminished significantly. The number of deaths caused by dysentery also decreased drastically.

Rosaline set out for a second time.

Cahir was persuaded to give titles to doctors who gave valuable contributions to the field of research. They were temporary and couldn’t be passed onto offspring, but people went crazy. The number of people who wanted to become doctors increased and medical advancements improved. Although, to Rosaline, it still wasn’t enough.

Anyway, these doctors studied hard and were paid for their research. Life for them improved after they received their titles. The economic improvement couldn’t be ignored, and the eyes of those who despised them changed.

If they hadn’t experienced these changes, then they would have remained clueless. But for those who had finally experienced a rich life, the thought of losing their titles was terrifying. (pgs 1-3)

It would be horrible if they did. That was why they were so nervous.

“Miss Secretary, may I touch your hand?”

“Miss Secretary, can you tell me where you feel uncomfortable?”

“Miss Secretary, do you usually have symptoms such as tremors under your eyes?”

“Hui, what is her diet?”

Rosaline was scared. The doctors surrounded her bed each time she said something, they listened solemnly, wrote everything down, and talked among themselves.

‘Is this what a lab rat feels like?’

While she was definitely treated better than an experiment, it was not a very pleasant experience to have doctors trying to monitor her every move and record the smallest of reactions.

“Whoa, I’m sorry doctors, but I have to go to work.”

“No!” a doctor yelled. Fear hung over the faces of all the other doctors.

‘What’s wrong with them?’

Rosaline looked to Hui for help.

“His Majesty said he would take away their titles if they could not heal the secretary.”

‘I’m going to die!’

Rosaline held her head. Her sudden migraine caused an uproar. (pg4 – 6.1)

***

Rosaline sent all the doctors back. She had to speak passionately to convince them that she was healthy. She ended up doing push-ups and pull-ups in front of everyone.

‘Oh my goodness, I’m so tired.’

She was going to get sick because of them.

“Oh, I really want to rest,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head.

***

Rosaline found Cahir in the library.

Located between the second and third palaces, it was famous for housing the most books on the continent. Many scholars even made it their greatest goal in life to visit the library of the Aetheus Imperial Palace.

Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, painting beautiful pictures on the floor. Kaleidoscopic colors flitted across Rosaline as she walked.

“Your Majesty.”

Cahir was sitting on a windowsill, reading a book about the Holy Land of Berlos. In the last war, the ruler of Berlos mediated between the countries and prevented the spread of conflict. It was an approach he personally disapproved of, saying that it was the perfect opportunity to wipe out the barbarians at once, but Rosaline disagreed.

Your Majesty, the people are dying.

Additionally, had Berlos demanded that Aetheus build a temple for their god, Berlios, in exchange for their mediation. Their demands were not unreasonable. Rather, their demands were so minor that Cahir had easily agreed.

However, since it was a temple dedicated to the god of Berlos in a country that served the goddess Eteusis, Cahir had asked everyone to learn more about Berlios in order to anticipate possible problems.

That’s why Rosaline should have been the one reading this book, not Cahir. She was going to read it, summarize, and teach the others. If Cahir hadn’t sent those doctors in the morning, she could have finished the book and written the summary by the end of the night.

Rosaline scowled at the idea that she wasn’t able to fulfill her duties as a secretary.

“You kicked out all of the doctors. Were they not good enough? As expected, it’s not enough to strip them of their titles. Do you want me to sell them as slaves?”

He said all of this while smiling at Rosaline. Considering how easily it came out of his mouth, anyone looking would have thought he was just joking around. Rosaline’s face darkened even more.

She glared at Cahir, who abruptly closed the book and held it out to Rosaline.

“I read 2,985 pages out of 3,890 pages. Rosaline, you finish the rest. My eyes are about to fall out.”

She put the heavy book down on one side of the table. “The inquiry about the temple needs to be answered by tomorrow. What do you think?”

A new representative was sent from Berlos a week ago. This was because Cahir had not been able to answer for months since he talked about seriously building the temple.

“Peace and mercy are the core of the doctrine. They say to avoid violence and to respect all cultures.”

Rosaline knew that Cahir would eventually build the Temple of Berlios, just as he did in the original. However, it was supposed to be built after the war because of Ella. This time, the timing was a bit earlier.

“Then I will respect our culture and our goddess. Shall we finish the book?”

Rosaline settled down and opened the book. Cahir got up and closed it.

“You don’t have to read anymore. We are going to see the priest.”

“Are you finished?”

“No, I didn’t read it.”

“Then why won’t you let me read it?”

“You don’t have to. A genius like me knows everything from the beginning.”

“You told me to finish reading it earlier, didn’t you?”

“That’s, well….”

***

Cahir was speechless.

Truthfully, he had just finished reading it when he heard the sound of footsteps. Derek and Rosaline were the only people who could approach him while he was reading in the library. As soon as he heard the sound, he turned over the pages of the book without realizing it.

Rosaline’s face stiffened after seeing Cahir reading. He instinctively knew that she was uncomfortable.

‘Do you think I took your job? Or are you disappointed that you couldn’t work?’

Words popped up on impulse, even specific numbers. Cahir stared at Rosaline before turning away. Rosaline didn’t hear another word even after they left the library and arrived at the main palace.

***

Rosaline and Cahir went to see Anthony, the new priest from Berlos, who was currently staying at the Second Star Palace

Although it was right to discuss specific construction plans after deciding whether or not to build a temple at the meeting of aristocrats, it was impossible to leave the temple from the Holy Land of Berlos unattended.

It was necessary to say that the empire is favorable to the divine kingdom and is positively considering building a temple.

“Your Majesty, the Duke of Pasita is here.”

Derek busied himself and approached through the corridor. He offered Cahir an example and told him about his business.

“So?”

The Duke of Pasita, who came without an appointment, made Cahir feel sick.

“He says he has something to say.”

“Tell him to make an appointment first. Do I have to meet him each time he suddenly shows up and asks to see me?”

Derek furrowed his brows with a troubled expression. The Duke of Pasita was not a person who should be offended. He was the centerpiece of the nobles who supported Cahir.

“Your Majesty, you had better go. The construction of the temple is not in the agreement right now, is it? Isn’t it necessary for the emperor to meet at the new building if he is to make a good impression? I thought it was too much. I’m quite proud of myself,” Rosaline said with a coy look. “And you know very well that the Duke of Pasita is not a light-hearted person, right? It is definitely important, so please go ahead. I will meet with the priest.”

She was probably right. Cahir was not the pope of the kingdom, so he had no obligation to meet with a mere priest.

“I don’t want to, but it can’t be helped. James.”

“Yes!” the guard who always followed quietly, jumped out at Cahir’s call.

“Go with Rosaline.”

“Oh, Your Majesty, can I go alone?”

“It’s because I think I’m going to have a fight with the Empress Dowager.”

Was he worried about her? Did he think Azela was going to hurt her?

A bit of emotion seeped into Rosaline’s heart. However, the feeling didn’t last long.

“It would be troublesome to find a servant to replace you if she decided to do something.”

‘This jerk!’

Looking at Cahir’s receding figure, Rosaline clenched her fists.

***

“Rosaline Verite, the servant of the goddess Eteusis, greets Anthony, the servant of the god Berlios.” She curtsied elegantly.

“Respect to the goddess Eteusis and glory to the god Berlios. I am Anthony, servant to the god Berlios.

Anthony wore a white robe to symbolize his priesthood and a vest embroidered with ancient symbols. He was dressed neatly and gave off a reverential feeling.

Rosaline rose back up and looked at Anthony. She felt a sense of familiarity towards him. In the future, Anthony became the Pope of Berlos who claimed to be the empire’s strongest ally.

He was the most powerful, handsome, and benevolent Pope in all of history.

‘And he is a sub male lead’

When Rosaline’s sparkling eyes met with Anthony’s dark, twilight eyes, Anthony groaned softly.

“Oh, are you feeling unwell?”

Rosaline was surprised and approached suddenly. Anthony faltered and took a few steps back.

“No, I was surprised…”

“What surprised you?”

Somehow that line seemed a bit familiar. Where did it appear in the novel…?’

Rosaline tilted her head.

“Oh, that’s…” Anthony bowed his head, the back of his neck turning red as he muttered a little bit. “Alas, I’m sorry if I am being rude. It’s because your appearance resembles what I had imagined Eteusis would look like… Well, I mean, it’s not just your looks, but…”

‘I remember!’

Rosaline quickly looked into her handbag. Anthony’s words were cut off. He was getting restless because he thought he was in trouble for being rude.

‘When Anthony met Ella, he was an ambassador… Wait, why are you saying this to me?’