She’s a very rational person.
“Oh, that’s right. Where are you developing your new medicine?” he demanded.
“I have already told you that the research building is not fully operational yet, so I cannot show you that area.”
“I want to see it. Take me there.”
“I cannot do that.”
“You... I’m a duke! How dare you speak to me like that.” He glared daggers at the guide.
Sensing that we were at a tipping point, the other members of the observation group recognized that this was turning into an unpleasant predicament and began to panic.
Because of all his shouting, a few employees peeked out from the surrounding rooms. “Do you need help?” their gazes asked.
What should I say? Personally, I want to throw this man out of here, but he said he’s a duke. He may be a noble from another country, but we won’t get away unscathed if we defy someone who could potentially come into royal power.
This world is unfair. It doesn’t matter how many wrongs this man has committed, or if our reasons are justified—all of it is meaningless. Justice lies with power.
“No matter what you demand, I cannot do what cannot be done.” The guide, pale-faced and trembling, rejected his demand.
“Hah! Fascinating! Then I’ll do as you wish! You’ll find out firsthand what happens when you go against me!”
Seeing the duke roar with laughter made me despair over my own helplessness. What kind of doctor forsakes her own colleague? Such a person is not qualified to save others. I castigated my quivering legs, and I was about to run over to the guide’s side when it happened.
A regal voice rang through the air. “What is all this fuss about?”
A peerless beauty suddenly appeared, and everyone forgot the situation for a moment; the observation group—including the duke—was entranced by her entrance. Her face was as dignified as her voice, and I unwittingly gawked at her.
“I’m certain that we informed you that you must be quiet in the hospital.” The gorgeous woman—Lady Rosemary—unhappily furrowed her shapely brows.
“W-Well... Um...”
The observation group members turned as white as sheets. They dripped with sweat as they exchanged glances. However, the duke was unperturbed.
“That guide of yours was rude to me first. Shouldn’t you be apologizing?” he arrogantly asserted.
“I heard from my informants that you were the one who violated the terms first.”
One of my coworkers must have gone to call Lady Rosemary to explain the situation.
“That’s a load of hogwash. Do you have any proof of that?”
The duke could take on such a brazen attitude because he didn’t believe he was at fault whatsoever. I hated it, but I didn’t feel like we had him cornered. However, Lady Rosemary was undaunted.
“This is the inpatient ward, which is off-limits to visitors. The fact that you are here is proof in itself,” she countered in a matter-of-fact tone, shutting the duke up. She glanced at the petrified man and then turned to the other members of his group. “To those of you in the Grundt observation group...” she began.
“Yes...?”
“Unfortunately, your tour will be canceled. All of you are forbidden from entering the medical facility for the time being.”
“Surely not...?”
“The exit is that way. Please take care.”
Lady Rosemary’s frosty demeanor made their shoulders droop. Their reaction was understandable. On top of causing trouble in another country, they had lost an opportunity to study medicine.
“Y-You...!” The duke snapped out of his stupor and flew into a red-faced rage. “How can you be so impudent to me, a duke! This will turn into an international issue!”
Lady Rosemary’s blue eyes narrowed coldly. The duke and the rest of the inspection group froze from her disdainful gaze.
“Yes, you’re right. This is an international issue.” The corners of her lips curved into a sweet smile.
Overwhelmed by her eerily beautiful smile, the duke was a beat slow to respond. He quickly realized she was looking down on him though—he opened his mouth to yell, but the other members in his group clamped their hands over his face.
The rest of them understood that any further folly on their end would negatively affect the Kingdom of Grundt’s good name. All of them held back the struggling duke and fled the premises.
“L-Lady Rosemary... My apolo—”
“Are you all right?!”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry I came so late. You must’ve been terrified.”
Lady Rosemary hugged the guide before she could finish her apology.
“I... I...” the girl stuttered and began to cry in her embrace.
“I heard you did a splendid job.” Lady Rosemary rubbed her back to soothe her. Then, she addressed me—I was standing nearby. “I didn’t think this would happen. It was an oversight on my part... You must’ve been frightened as well.”
“No, I couldn’t do a thing...” I said darkly.
“That’s not true. Thank you for stopping him in my place earlier,” the guide chimed in.
I was so scared and happy that I started tearing up too. Lady Rosemary watched over us, her eyes full of compassion.
After that incident, our relationship with Lady Rosemary changed a little. Having said that, we couldn’t treat the duchess the same way we did our colleagues. We were still courteous to her, but we stopped fearing her for no reason and purposefully keeping our distance.
Lady Rosemary is different from that high-handed duke. She doesn’t use her authority to diminish others. She only exercises her power to protect those of lower status like us. I wholeheartedly believe that.
“Oh my, you’ve got quite a load there again. I’ll help you.”
Lady Rosemary tried to take the entire stack of books from my hands, as she had done once before, but I suggested something else instead.
“Then how about you take half instead?”
Caught off guard, her eyes widened for a split second and then they softened into a gentle smile.
“Yes, of course.” She beamed at me happily as she held the two books in her arms.
Her knight moved to snatch them out of her hands again, but she angled away to stop him. She sulkily knit her brows together and sent him a small glare.
“They are mine to carry,” she said.
I am truly blessed to be able to work under such a lovely duchess.