"As I thought, you're no different from the other healers..."
Seeing Elsa lost in thought, First Prince Edmond spoke with a look of disappointment.
"No, just give me a little more—"
But Edmond cut her off.
"Enough. I have no desire to subject my father to the gaze of incompetent healers any longer."
"Th-then, tomorrow, please let me try once more."
"Hmph. Do you expect to understand tomorrow what you could not understand today?"
Elsa nodded firmly, as if to push back against his dismissal.
"Yes."
For a brief moment, Edmond’s eyes flickered with a look of amusement, as if he had found something interesting, but his expression quickly returned to its cold mask.
"Very well. However, if you don't have an answer by tomorrow, that will be the end of it," he declared heartlessly.
"...Understood."
It was frustrating, but she couldn't deny her current lack of progress. As a small consolation, Elsa decided to cast a spell before she left.
"Genesung."
It was the pinnacle of internal healing magic. In the past, Elsa would have exhausted her stored mana after a single cast, but since being cured of Mana Overload Syndrome, she had more energy to spare.
"Oh!?"
Under the influence of Elsa’s magic, King Alois III’s complexion visibly improved.
"...This should... hold him... at least until tomorrow," Elsa said, her breath hitching slightly from the strain of casting such high-level magic.
"Now... if you will excuse me... for today."
Elsa bowed deeply and exited the room. Prince Edmond and Prince Arthur watched her retreating back intently.
A maid guided Elsa to a guest room on the second floor of the Royal Castle. Naturally, it was separate from Jin and the others.
"Um, where are... the others?"
"I do not know. I was only ordered to guide our guest here."
With that short reply, the maid left the room.
Only Elsa and Edgar remained. Sinking into the sofa, Elsa couldn't help but feel a sudden wave of loneliness.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
When Edgar opened the door, Prince Arthur was standing there.
"Miss Elsa, do you have a moment?"
"Ah, yes, please come in."
Elsa hurriedly stood up from the sofa to welcome Prince Arthur.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Unlike Prince Edmond, Prince Arthur’s manner was gentle. Elsa found she could respond to him without the crushing tension she felt around his brother.
They sat across from each other at the table. Using the room's provided tea set, Edgar brewed tea for the two of them. A pleasant herbal aroma filled the air.
"...Please do not think too ill of my brother's attitude. He is simply worried about our father in his own way."
"...Yes."
"Have you heard about our mother? When she was on her deathbed, healers from across the country came to diagnose her, but none could save her. In the end, she passed away. Because of that, he harbors a deep distrust toward healers....We both do."
"..."
Elsa remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Seeing her reaction, Prince Arthur changed the subject.
"...Have you grasped anything regarding my father's condition?"
"Yes. His liver is in a very poor state."
"You mentioned that earlier. But the healing magic you performed just now—could he not be cured if you used that repeatedly?"
Elsa understood his logic. To a layman, it certainly seemed like a valid solution.
"No, it won't work. Unless the cause of the illness is removed, it will eventually recur."
"The cause?...I see..."
Prince Arthur furrowed his brow at her answer.
"I am sorry my skills have not been enough. But please, let me examine His Majesty once more tomorrow."
"...Thank you, for my father's sake."
Arthur stood up and took Elsa's hand.
"...You have my thanks for your sincere efforts and your treatment."
He then gently kissed the back of her hand.
"...Ah."
Elsa hurriedly pulled her hand back, her face flushing crimson.
"Miss Elsa, I have faith in you. Please, save my father. Now, if you will excuse me."
Prince Arthur gave a polite nod and left the room.
"..."
In her lingering loneliness, a single tear unintentionally escaped Elsa's eye.
"Jin-nii..."
(...I decided I would do my best. I can't let myself get discouraged by this.)
Elsa whispered the words to herself, trying to bolster her resolve. It was then that Edgar spoke.
"Elsa-sama, I have a message from Jin-sama."
"...From Jin-nii?"
Her heart gave a sudden thud.
"Elsa, I heard from Laojun. It sounds like you've had a rough time."
The call was being relayed through Laojun, but Jin's voice reached her clearly through Edgar.
"...Mm. But I'm going to keep trying."
"Good. Well, Laojun and I have been looking into things."
Jin began to convey his own thoughts regarding Alois III’s condition.
"There's a possibility it's not poison."
"What do you... mean?"
"I heard from Lies just now that the King visited Lake Manuse before the summer."
"Lake Manuse?"
"Yeah. It’s a lake near the Great Shama Marshland where dragonic eels are caught, and apparently, it’s rich in other freshwater fish as well. Does that ring any bells?"
Elsa thought for a moment, and then an idea finally clicked into place.
"...Para...sites?"
"I think there's a high possibility. Back on Earth, there are many that infect freshwater fish, crabs, and shellfish. I even know of things like Echinococcus being carried by foxes."
Elsa recognized the term from the knowledge she had gained from Jin, but since the concept was virtually unknown in this world, it hadn't occurred to her.
Unless one examined a patient with that specific intent, even a magic like Diagnose wouldn't reveal them. Furthermore, since parasites were living organisms, they wouldn't be flagged as foreign matter unless the caster knew what to look for.
"Jin-nii, thank you. I'll check again tomorrow."
"Yeah, do your best. I’ll be there in a heartbeat if you need me."
The call ended there. Since Lieschen was with him, he had likely waited for a moment she stepped away to contact her.
The call had lasted less than two minutes, but the realization that she wasn't alone made Elsa’s heart swell with warmth. No longer concerned about the incident with Prince Arthur, she decided to rest her body in preparation for the following day.
Jin, meanwhile, had been gathering information from Third Princess Lieschen about her father, Alois III.
"...Father is quite fond of the trout caught in Lake Manuse. Every year in June, when the fishing season opens, he visits Dekubo Village for a couple of days of holiday."
"How is that trout usually prepared?"
"Usually it is grilled with salt. However, I heard that he tried a new delicacy this year. I was not there myself, so I am not entirely certain, but... I heard they sliced the raw trout, sprinkled it with vinegar, and served it with vegetables."
Jin guessed it was a dish similar to a marinade or carpaccio.
He assumed the vinegar should have neutralized any parasites, but there was always the chance the preparation was insufficient.
(I should tell Elsa about this...)
Taking advantage of a moment when Lieschen left his side, Jin linked to Laojun via Reiko. Laojun then linked to Edgar, allowing the conversation with Elsa to take place.
In this way, the possibility of a parasitic infection was conveyed to Elsa.