DNTMC 02

Chapter 2

Diego leisurely looked around.

With every step he took, the sound of his military boots striking the marble echoed through the corridor.

His dark-colored military uniform, which seemed particularly out of place here, stood out with an unmistakable presence. No, if one thought about it carefully, that presence came less from the uniform itself and more from the intimidation Diego radiated.

The sight of him walking through the medical college corridor was like a lone wolf released into a chicken coop. There was discipline in his unhurried stride, and a sharp edge in his languid gaze.

The fact that such contradictory descriptions suited him without seeming awkward was because he was Diego Cassis.

A man too sharp-edged for a nobleman, yet too languid for a soldier.

Diego smiled leisurely and praised the dean walking beside him.

“The reputation of being the oldest medical college on the continent is certainly not an exaggeration. One can feel the atmosphere of an old-fashioned and weighty scholarly institution throughout the building.”

Put indirectly, that was what he meant.

Put bluntly, he meant that the place was old and gloomy.

However, the dean, who was scurrying along trying to keep up with Diego, failed to notice the true meaning behind his words and instead wore a proud expression.

The only person who reacted was Javier, Diego’s retainer, who was following one step behind. He briefly raised an eyebrow before lowering it again.

“All of this is thanks to the support of His Great Majesty and the royal family. May eternal glory be upon the Divoa royal family.”

After adding the customary words of praise, the dean continued in a flattering tone.

“Divoa Royal University is located in the capital, but only the medical college is here in ‘Therapia.’ That is because this is the birthplace of Garcia Etura, known as the Father of Medicine. As you know, Divoa Royal Medical College is the birthplace of continental medicine and a hall of wisdom. Not only do talented individuals from every country line up to gain admission, but—”

Diego listened to the dean’s words with one ear and let them pass out the other while looking at each of the students who kept stealing glances at him.

Then he slightly curled the corners of his lips into a smile.

Those who happened to meet his eyes politely bowed their heads, even though they didn’t know who Diego was.

Judging by how nervous the dean looked around him, it was obvious enough that Diego was someone important.

Besides, Diego possessed a face that even another man could not help but acknowledge as handsome.

If one were to exaggerate a little, it seemed as though a ray of light followed only Diego’s path through the dim corridor.

The royal family was generally filled with people possessing blond hair and blue eyes, but Diego was the only one who had inherited ash-gray hair and black eyes.

He took after his mother, who had come from the Musco Peninsula.

Despite lacking the typical blond hair and blue eyes, he possessed an unmistakably striking air.

His ash-gray hair, commonly called mouse-gray, was deep and subdued like the sky just before snowfall. His black eyes, which at first glance appeared cold, shone brilliantly beneath the faint curve of his smile.

Diego passed a group of students with a gentle smile.

One of them suddenly widened his eyes.

“Uh…”

“What’s wrong?”

His classmate turned toward him with a puzzled expression.

The student could not take his eyes off Diego’s shoulder and merely moved his lips.

“There are stars on his shoulder straps…”

“Stars?”

Only then did his classmate look at Diego’s shoulders and gape as well.

There were four stars embroidered in gold thread.

“If it’s four stars… isn’t he the Commander-in-Chief? Why is he here…?”

The students, belatedly remembering the identity of the Commander-in-Chief, watched Diego’s retreating figure with their eyes.

Meanwhile, Diego’s languid voice reached the dean.

“Perhaps because this is a medical college, but I feel as though there is a faint smell of blood in the air. As you know, it’s a scent I’m quite familiar with.”

The dean looked around awkwardly.

“That can’t be… I specifically ordered the students to conduct a thorough cleaning yesterday…”

“Or perhaps it’s the smell of the blood and sweat shed by students striving to become excellent doctors.”

“…………Ha ha ha. That is probably it. When it comes to the students of our medical college…”

The dean gave an awkward laugh, unable to tell whether Diego was joking or serious, and was just about to launch into another lengthy speech when they finally arrived at their destination—the professors’ office.

It was fortunate for Diego.

His ears had been on the verge of going numb.

“Here we are.”

The dean bowed his head several times as he opened the door.

A professor and three students, who had been sitting with tense expressions, immediately rose to their feet.

Wiping away his sweat with a handkerchief, the dean introduced them to Diego.

“This is Professor Figueras, who is recognized as the finest professor our medical college has produced. His name has appeared several times in prestigious academic journals. Beside him are three graduating students who passed this year’s Royal Medical Examination with outstanding results. They are promising talents with very bright futures ahead of them.”

The dean briefly inhaled before looking toward the professor and students.

“And, as you all know, the gentleman standing before you is His Highness the Grand Duke Cassis.”

Numerous titles were omitted, such as the Third Prince of the Kingdom of Divoa, a Grand Noble, and the Commander-in-Chief.

Diego did not mind.

He removed his glove and extended his hand with a smile.

“Pleased to meet you.”

The three of them looked startled by his unconventional gesture of offering a handshake first to a professor and students.

They soon bowed deeply.

Only then did several rumors about Diego come to mind.

They said his gentle temperament was like spring, while his generous understanding was like the sea.

Like the endless titles that preceded his name, Diego was a noble existence who stood above everyone else.

Yet no one had ever seen him lose his temper.

There had even been an article in the newspapers claiming that when a maid accidentally broke his personal teacup, he had not raised his voice at her. Instead, he had asked whether she had been hurt.

And that was not all.

Unlike ordinary nobles, Diego valued ability over social status, and his surroundings were crowded with talented people of common birth.

In other words, as long as one had ability, one could become one of Diego’s close confidants.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

“Sit.”

Ignoring the curious gazes directed toward him, Diego walked toward the seat of honor.

They must be wondering what the royal wastrel is doing here.

Diego knew the rumors that followed him.

No, it would be more accurate to say he knew them better than anyone.

Some people had even speculated that he liked men because he remained unmarried despite being well past the age when nobles were expected to marry.

However, thanks to the scandalous rumors that decorated the tabloids every year, that particular claim had become too insignificant to attract much attention.

Diego was currently the most popular nobleman among the public.

As a result, rumors of romantic affairs followed him like summer leaves.

Whether it was a young lady from a noble family, a countess, or an opera singer, any beautiful woman who crossed paths with Diego was liable to have a rumor linking her to him.

Even if he merely smiled and exchanged greetings with a young lady he met at a banquet, a new romantic scandal would appear in the newspapers the next day.

It was easy to see why people had also come to take the rumor that Diego never rejected women who approached him and never pursued women who left him as established fact.

All of those rumors were baseless.

But Diego neither confirmed nor denied them, allowing people to make whatever assumptions they pleased.

That was more advantageous for Diego as well.

He didn’t have to make excuses for why his marriage was being delayed.

Of course, that did not mean the reason was particularly pleasant.

Contrary to the rumors that he was a womanizer, Diego did not particularly like women.

The mere thought of marrying someone and having children made him feel nauseous.

You expect me to pass this cursed blood on to my child?

Not a chance.

Diego concealed his twisted thoughts beneath a dazzling smile and surveyed Figueras and the students.

At the dean’s signal, Figueras pointed to each student one by one.

“This student is Maxi Rosano, the second son of Count Rosano’s family. He has excellent grades and exemplary conduct, making him a model student. And the student beside him is David Morena, the third son of Viscount Morena’s family.*

“The final student is Jose. Although Jose is not of noble birth, he is an outstanding student who ranked fourth in this year’s medical examination.”

Each student bowed toward Diego as his name was called.

The Third Prince.

What more powerful connection could there be?

Diego was a direct train that could take them straight to the highest rung of the ladder of power.

The dean nervously wrung his handkerchief and cautiously voiced the question he had been holding back.

“Um, Your Highness. But may I ask what brings you here…?”

Diego slowly leaned back against the sofa.

That simple movement alone gave the atmosphere surrounding him a leisurely quality.

He knew exactly how to obtain what he wanted.

Javier described this side of him as devious.

Diego himself preferred to call it shrewd.

“I’m looking for a new personal physician.”

At Diego’s words, the eyes of all three students immediately lit up.

Diego noticed the greed and ambition in their eyes faster than anyone else, but he maintained his relaxed expression as though he had noticed nothing.

The dean looked as though he had heard something completely unexpected.

“A personal physician?”

It was understandable.

Diego was third in line for the throne and a Grand Duke who possessed his own territory.

And that wasn’t all.

He was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Divoa military.

In other words—

He stood at the pinnacle of power.

Diego’s personal physician was one of the most renowned doctors in the kingdom. With a single word from Diego, distinguished doctors from all over the kingdom would line up outside the palace gates.

And yet he had personally come all the way to a medical college to find a personal physician?

To meet students who had not even graduated yet?

Guessing what the dean was wondering, Diego narrowed his eyes into thin slits and smiled.

For all his appearance, the dean was still a dean, apparently.

Thankfully, his half-bald head still seemed to function properly.

“Of course, my current physician is doing his job very well.”

“Yes, I’m sure he is.”

This time, Figueras answered.

Diego noticed the sarcasm hidden within his words and slowly raised only his eyes.

Figueras met his gaze and added with an expression that clearly showed his reluctance,

“I studied alongside Miguel Flichi.”

“I see.”

Diego nodded indifferently.

Figueras faintly frowned as he remembered Miguel, who had once been his rival.

When Miguel had been selected as the royal physician, Figueras had cursed him as a “pig blinded by money.”

He believed that a true scholar should remain dignified in the face of money.

But Miguel had ultimately decided to become the royal physician, and now he had firmly established himself as Diego’s personal physician.

Tapping his finger lightly against the armrest, Diego continued slowly.

“There are still localized battles taking place in my territory. It’s because of that mad king of the uncivilized Kingdom of Albar.”

Everyone nodded with grim expressions.

The Kingdom of Divoa was a land blessed with nature’s gifts.

Mountains, plains, and the sea—all were embraced by its fertile territory.

By contrast, the Kingdom of Albar was known as a land abandoned by God.

Wasn’t that alone reason enough for the King of Albar to constantly covet Divoa?

Despite Albar’s repeated provocations, the reason Divoa remained this peaceful was entirely due to Diego.

His army had repelled Albar’s attacks every single time.

Of course, the biggest reason was that the King of Albar had been too occupied with the turmoil within his own kingdom to attempt an all-out war.

“But my personal physician tends to pray over soldiers whose legs have been severed and soldiers whose abdomens have been torn open.”

“A prayer for eternal rest.”

A faint laugh escaped between Diego’s teeth.

Before anyone could realize that it was a mocking laugh, Diego added,

“You should have seen the expressions on my soldiers’ faces.”