Villain, Let Me Touch You! - Chapter 49
Demyr’s request was simple. It was to treat her nephew, Benz Peter.
“He suddenly started feeling unwell. Around six months ago? He began experiencing abdominal pain unexpectedly. He couldn’t sleep for days and nights, suffering from a high fever. He mentioned that no medicine would alleviate the pain, but after taking the medicine you prescribed, he recovered completely.”
“Th-that’s…”
It wasn’t the medicine; it was just my touch. I clamped my mouth shut, unable to confess the truth outright.
“He’ll soon be appointed as a professor at the academy. I hope you can cure him before then.”
“I can’t guarantee a cure or a timeframe without seeing the patient. The last medication could have been a fluke.”
“You don’t sound too confident.”
“I’m just stating the facts.”
Demyr was an impressive person, but in the field of medicine, I was a step ahead of her. I proudly displayed the authority that comes with expertise.
“We’ll have to set a date for the two of you to meet.”
“But I haven’t agreed to have him as my patient?”
Demyr tilted her head to the left.
“Refusing my request as my future daughter-in-law and as the prince’s physician is quite disrespectful.”
“Well technically, Your Majesty, I’m neither.”
We weren’t engaged yet, and Helios pretty much just fired me as the Crown Prince’s physician. I was a free agent.
“She’s quite a demanding girl,” Demyr said, looking at Helios, not me.
“All the better,” replied Helios eloquently. “Someone who just goes along with anything lacks charm, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so.” Demyr nodded, having been persuaded.
I couldn’t tell if I was being insulted or complimented.
For the first time in a long while, the two growling individuals reached an agreement. Them somewhat getting along didn’t look bad at all.
“Are you really going to refuse to take my nephew as a patient, or do I have to threaten you?”
It was the tone of a woman who’d been prepared to resort to threats this entire time. Demyr’s determination to make things go her way was evident in her sharp, emerald eyes. There was no doubt that with a snap of her fingers, her knights would come rushing in, brandishing their swords.
The atmosphere shifted drastically. She wasn’t asking for a favor anymore—this was a command.
But I wasn’t really intimidated. I was more curious to learn how she changed the mood just as quickly and easily as flipping her palm.
“I won’t refuse. Instead, I’d like to make a deal, Your Majesty.”
“Money?”
I shook my head.
“A title?”
“No.”
“Jewels?”
Somehow the scale was getting smaller and smaller.
“Land?”
Doesn’t land automatically come with a title?
“What is it that you want?” Finally, the words I wanted came out of Demyr’s mouth.
“Please expedite the engagement. Obtain the Emperor’s blessing, so neither His Highness nor I have to worry.”
Demyr raised an eyebrow. She gazed at me as if I were an intriguing object.
Helios smirked. “Rienna, do you really want to marry me so quickly?”
Ignoring his question, I laid out my final condition.
“Please protect His Highness and me from the Imperial Consort.”
“Me protect you both?”
There was a glint in Demyr’s eyes. She seemed amused, pursing her lips momentarily before breaking into a wide smile as she sipped her tea.
Though the answer didn’t come directly, I wasn’t too worried. Considering the history between Queen Demyr and Imperial Consort Priscilla, there was no way she would refuse.
“Asking for protection…you’re not a child…”
“A person is their parent’s child for their entire lives.”
“He’s not even my real child…”
“In that case, shall we consider you’re not a real mother-in-law either?”
I had my doubts whether she’d go this far for a mere nephew, but judging from the way Demyr tried to convince me despite my objections suggested that there was a good chance that he was important to her.
“Very well, then.” As expected, Demyr accepted my terms. “Shall we put it in writing?”
“Oh, dear. Family members don’t need written agreements.”
As I suddenly retorted, Demyr’s expression crumpled. It was a bit amusing.
“Rienna, don’t underestimate the Queen Mother,” Helios said, not caring whether Demer heard him or not. Of course, out of courtesy, he made a show of pretending to whisper in my ear.
“Even so, it’s not a formal agreement, Your Highness. It’s a recording instead.”
I beamed widely at Demyr.
“You have a magical recording device?”
