Chapter 55

Episode 55: Threshold of Agony (3)

Priest Tirielle was sitting peacefully by the patient’s bedside, reading the newspaper he had requested.

I and Istina stood a little distance away, watching the patient. Though they appear calm now, you can’t trust a drug addict.

Should we even call them addicts? Anyway, you shouldn’t trust someone with substance dependency – not because they’re bad people, but because their thought processes are completely different from ordinary folks.

Under torture, humans will sell out friends, colleagues, even nations – it’s just human nature. Pain wasn’t meant to be endured.

Many die for their country, but almost no one withstands torture for it. That’s just how it is.

In fact, modern waterboarding was so effective that subjects often revealed too much information, causing its own set of problems.

Anyway, what I’m saying is… Drug addicts are like people perpetually under torture, always seeking their next fix. You can’t trust them. That’s why this patient is still under surveillance.

“Will you be alright?”

“We don’t use opium in my ward. At least not while this patient is here. Their addiction won’t worsen.”

Tirielle is currently only taking vitamins. Normally, naltrexone can’t be administered until a week after the last opioid use. It’s a drug that requires complete abstinence for a week.

If not, they could experience withdrawal symptoms similar to when we administered naloxone earlier. Why are the names so similar?

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe because they work similarly? Though naloxone is for acute cases, while naltrexone prevents relapse.”

Istina tilted her head.

“Do we really need to keep someone who isn’t in pain in the hospital?”

“They aren’t pain-free. Their brain is sick. Even if they seem normal on the surface, it’s just an appearance. Remember the seizure during admission?”

“Yeah.”

Of course, normal people don’t do that. Istina seemed thoughtful.

“It’s tricky. Some patients who look fine are seriously ill, while others who seem near death turn out fine.”

“True… It happens often.”

Tirielle quietly turned the newspaper page. Hopefully, there aren’t drugs hidden somewhere on him.

Istina looked at me, as if remembering something.

“Oh right, I’ve been thinking about the present for Her Imperial Highness.”

“What about it?”

“She probably has plenty of clothes already. Buying them wouldn’t be impressive or touching. Same goes for jewelry bought with money.”

“Likely true.”

“How about a doll? It’s awkward to buy one, especially as a formal or professional gift.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… She’s probably annoyed about missing her birthday already.”

“May I ask…”

What’s she getting at?

“Go ahead.”

“Why should the professor be responsible for the princess’s birthday? Is there any specific reason…?”

Ah… Good question. There are many reasons I care for Mint, but the most important one…

“Because she’s our liege. What choice do I have?”

“I see.”

“I’ve decided to try matching her schedule as much as possible for birthdays.”

Istina nodded, though not entirely satisfied. So she wants me to buy a doll for the princess?

Where am I supposed to find one? This’ll be tough.

***

Mint visited the research lab today.

Thankfully, endless waiting in the lab is a thing of the past. Mint looked a bit tired, probably from finishing her classes.

“Teacher.”

“Good day, Your Highness.”

She had a lot to say apparently.

“Today was exhausting. There were mana beetles in the Academy’s magic department library, so we had to evacuate. Do you know what mana beetles are? They’re bugs that live in spellbooks…”

Mint was chatting about some incomprehensible topic – classes, mana beetles in school, that sort of thing. Are those tiny beetles really worth evacuating over?

I wasn’t paying full attention.

“I see.”

As I daydreamed, Mint suddenly turned to face me, checking my reaction.

“What did you do today, Teacher?”

Caught off guard!

I met Mint’s gaze.

“I just finished examining an opium addict. Drugs truly are terrifying.”

“So… Is the patient alive?”

The princess looked at me with bored eyes, though she seemed willing to maintain basic courtesy. In the past, she probably wouldn’t have cared about other patients at all, let alone initiated conversation on other topics.

Though that’s not the case now!

“Saved them.”

“Good job.”

“Hey, Princess!”

“Hm?”

“I prepared a gift for you. Took some thought figuring out what to get…”

Mint looked at me.

“What is it?”

“A doll. It’s hidden behind the door.”

The princess waved her hand, revealing a light brown bear slightly smaller than a person hidden behind the door.

“Still treating me like a kid, huh?”

Knew it would be like this.

“I figured more mature gifts would come from others. That’s why I chose this after some consideration.”

“Dreams versus interpretations.”

“Princess! What does a doll have to do with being treated like a child? Isn’t liking cute and beautiful things perfectly fine? Do people who keep dogs and cats as pets count too?”

“You just like arguing with me, don’t you?”

“Not at all.”

First one to complain about being treated like a child was her. Stupid princess. Still, I should be the adult here.

“You’re too uptight, Teacher.”

“Sorry. If you don’t like it, I’ll give it to someone else.”

Mint shook her head.

“I’ll take it. Thanks.”

Even suggesting she take the gift required considerable effort on my part. Surprisingly, Mint surrendered her flag today – practically a first.

Most people would be disappointed by such a reaction, but Mint’s personality is unusual. Still, she accepted the gift, which is fortunate.

“You know I was just teasing, right?”

“The ‘thank you’ part?”

“No, the argument.”

I checked Mint’s expression. The princess still wore her usual blank face – probably an offhand comment. Thinking about it, it made sense.

“I consider it tennis practice. Though it’s surprising you’re aware enough to make such comments.”

“There you go treating me like a kid again.”

“I’m not!”

Not sure what I’m saying anymore, but Mint seemed in better spirits. The doll sat opposite her.

“What do you think people will think if they see me carrying this around?”

“They’ll probably think ‘there she goes again.’ Aren’t narrow-minded people the strange ones?”

“True. You live like that anyway.”

No response to that. Ignoring others’ opinions might be seen as a character flaw by some. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend living exactly like me.

Mint started putting the doll back in the box. She planned to take it home in the box, judging by her actions. Perhaps she liked it more than she showed.

“Forgot to mention – it’s not store-bought. I put dried lavender inside.”

“Oh? How’d you do that?”

“Cut it open, stuffed it in, then sewed it back up.”

“Ah, makes sense.”

Mint waved her hand, lifting the gift box into the air. She slowly walked out of the lab, levitating the box beside her.

“When will the lab be empty?”

“Around 7 PM.”

“Got it.”

And with that, the princess disappeared down the corridor.

***

Today’s conversation was tiring, but Mint achieved what she wanted – the gift she thought I’d forgotten about. She practically asked outright for it, though I had forgotten.

With a snap of her fingers, Mint dismantled the gift box, leaving the bear sitting on her bed. She stared at it.

Honestly, the gift itself didn’t matter much. The princess likely didn’t need anything specific. She could just buy whatever she wanted.

Still, the “treating me like a kid” thought lingered, but what can you do when the giver sees it differently? Decided to let it go.

Falling for the teacher’s silver tongue isn’t exactly new. Actually, isn’t the entire academic community being manipulated by it right now?

Mint wanted the act of receiving the gift more than the gift itself. To put it bluntly, the sentiment behind it.

She hugged the bear as tightly as possible, and just as the teacher said, the faint scent of lavender rose from within.

Maybe… Just maybe, this was a better gift than expected.

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