Queen of the Scalpel - Chapter 17 - The Unfair Bet

Chapter 17: The Unfair Bet

“I’ll give you some time to prove your usefulness as a doctor. To be precise, if you show that your worth as a doctor exceeds your worthiness as Crown Princess, I’ll let you go.”

“….!!”

Elise looked at the Emperor in surprise. The Emperor had a mischievous face.

“But if you can’t, we’re gonna do what I want. How’s that?”

“Is there a time limit?”

“When you reach adulthood. I can’t wait longer than that, considering the law.”

“…!”

She understood what the Emperor was trying to do. She only had about 6 months until her adult ceremony. ‘Show my worth as a doctor in 6 months.’ It was impossible. The bet was impossible. ‘He’s hoping I give up and become the Crown Princess.’ To be honest, his offer wasn’t a bet, but to organize her thoughts and to return with the mind to become princess.

Also, he spoke about her ‘worth as a doctor.’ Not her potential. It was an expression of many different meanings, but didn’t she have to become a doctor first? Becoming a doctor in 6 months. Under normal conditions, she would’ve lost without a chance. It was a completely unfair bet. She could feel the Emperor’s strong will to make her Crown Princess.

“It’s too much, right?”

However. It was only unfair under normal conditions. Elise steadily replied.

“I may be lacking, but I will do my best. Thank you for your generosity.”

“…?!”

At her immediate response, the Emperor widened his eyes. He thought Elise had just agreed because she didn’t know about the process of becoming a doctor. There was only one way to become a doctor of the empire. They needed to work as an apprentice in a hospital, and after they were acknowledged by the professors, they could take the nationally administered test. There wasn’t an easy part about it. It wasn’t as noble as it was portrayed in books. She had to confront horrid diseases.

Would a sheltered lady be able to endure the job? ‘It’s hard for even a man to endure it. She’ll soon give up.’ He looked at Elise’s doll-like face. A face that looked like it hadn’t touched a single drop of blood, no, not even a single drop of water in her entire lifetime. There was no way she would endure it. He had set a time limit of 6 months, but he probably didn’t even need to wait that long. ‘But wanting to save people, isn’t that such a precious thought?’ He wasn’t disappointed in Elise. Rather, he was extremely proud of her. The lady of the empire needed to have that mindset. ‘If it wasn’t for the marriage with the Crown Prince, I would’ve cheered her on.’

The Emperor had already decided on her as the Crown Princess. He decided to wait for her to organize her thoughts and give up on being a doctor. ‘It’s not something a sheltered noble lady can do easily anyway.’

And so the bet between Elise and the Emperor was made. To anyone who knew about it, it seemed to be obvious that Elise would lose. It seemed.

***

After the conversation about the engagement finished, they continued on with their normal conversation. Elise spent that time answering questions because she had overworked herself mentally from speaking about the engagement. When it was time to return to her residence, the Emperor spoke.

“Oh, I just realized us old men didn’t let you young folk catch up. It’s been a while since you saw each other, no?”

“Hm?”

Elise’s eyes widened after some confusion. After she realized he was talking about her and the Crown Prince, she shook her head.

“N-No, Your Majesty. It’s fi…”

But the Emperor spoke to the Crown Prince.

“Prince, take a stroll with Elise around the garden. I had something to speak about to the Marquis, anyway.”

Elise felt uncomfortable, but the prince just nodded his head.

“Yes, sir.”

So she ended up spending some time alone with the Crown Prince.

“Come this way.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She received his dispassionate escort and sighed.

‘…It’s awkward.’

In her past life, she loved him. Passionately. More than anything. From his sculpted face to his cold personality, there wasn’t a single thing she hated. He was the only thing that existed in the world.

‘It’s all in the past.’