Don’t Tame It [Novel]

19.

“You don’t *really* intend to become the Grand Duke’s personal physician, do you? He only made that offer because he doesn’t know you’re a troublemaking disaster. If he found out what you’re actually like, he’d surely be disappointed. So don’t even dream about becoming his physician. You, as his physician… that’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all year.”

Leticia’s stinging warning came to mind.

“I cannot become a physician who treats people.”

“I know. You said you dislike people.”

Pausing there, Diego narrowed his eyes and curled his lips into a sweet smile. It was smooth, like a potato peeled without a single blemish.

“How about it? Do you dislike me?”

“…”

If she had to divide the world into “like” or “dislike,” he still leaned toward “dislike.” Irene didn’t like potatoes. On days when they were the main staple, she would rather starve.

“If that’s the case, then why did you stop the bleeding without a moment’s hesitation? If I am so repugnant, it would have been better to leave me be.”

“That is…”

Irene lowered her gaze.

Why was it?

She stared down at her gloved hands. The moment the blood flowed, her hands had moved on their own.

Diego whispered in a low, suggestive voice. As secret and sweet as a devil tempting the first human.

“If you don’t want to be a physician, then stay by my side and be the physician who treats only me. If I have an unforeseen accident like before, I need someone I can trust and rely on. A physician to stop my blood from flowing.”

Irene slowly raised her head, meeting Diego’s eyes directly. He crinkled his eyes and curled his lips into a perfect smile.

“I need Miss Irene Rios.”

But Diego was not a potato without a blemish. He looked fine on the outside, but inside, he was thoroughly festering.

Irene had no interest in people who were smooth and flawless. However, those who were wounded were always the object of her obsession.

Especially if the patient suffered from an unknown genetic disease for which no treatment had yet been developed.

Meeting Irene’s gaze, Diego smiled even more brightly. At that moment, Irene’s heart leaped.

*Thump.*

Her heart contracted, pushing blood into her arteries. It must be the excitement that came from being able to observe an unknown disease.

What other reason could there be? She had no underlying conditions like arrhythmia.

Irene opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“How much did you say the weekly salary was?”

“…”

“If I recall correctly, you said ten thousand gold with a one percent increase every month. Does that still stand? It would be best to draft a contract and put such things in writing, wouldn’t it?”

Human memory was not perfect; people often remembered the same situation differently. It was better to codify it than to rely on uncertain memory.

“Would it be better to include a special clause regarding sweet potatoes in the contract? Something like providing sweet potato dishes at least once a week.”

“Ahahaha.”

Diego, who had been wearing a blank expression, finally doubled over laughing. He wiped away stray tears with his fingers and waved a hand languidly.

“I shall send my lawyer soon. Tell them whatever conditions you desire. Not just once a week, but every day would be fine.”

“Yes.”

As if that settled the matter, Irene bent down, picked up the scissors from the floor, and cut the end of the knotted thread.

*Snip.*

Her connection with Therapia ended here. She wouldn’t have to worry about rent anymore. Leticia’s warnings were none of her concern.

Looking at the neatly sutured body, Irene thought that perhaps this was for the best.

Starting a new life in a place where no one knew her—wasn’t that what she had wanted so desperately? She had no ties to Norte, and no one would be able to find her.

Even someone who knew her well.

She would work hard for a few years and save money. Then she would move to a quiet countryside and farm sweet potatoes.

It was a sudden thought, but it seemed like a good plan. For the first time, a dream took root in Irene’s heart.

She wasn’t thinking about what to do today, but what she would be doing in five years, ten years.

*Thump-thump. Thump-thump.*

Her heart began to race again. Tilting her head, Irene placed a hand over her chest. She had been experiencing tachycardia quite often today.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t been sleeping well due to all the worrying.

“I will send a carriage to the front of your dormitory at noon tomorrow.”

Snapping back to reality, Irene shook her head.

“There is no need for that. I am fine on my own.”

“I am not fine.”

For an instant, Irene’s gaze landed on the ends of Diego’s eyebrows. His well-defined brows were twitching as if he were angry.

She must have misseen it. Diego, who immediately broke into an attractive smile, continued in a social tone.

“I cannot have a lady carry heavy luggage and walk such a long distance. My coachman will take you to the station.”

She had pondered it, but Irene still couldn’t understand. She was the one carrying the luggage, and she was the one walking the long distance—so why was Diego not fine?

On the days she went home, Irene always walked that path. For four years.

And that wasn’t all. On days with practical training, Irene had to haul her own share of tools. No one ever helped her.

Sometimes Maxy would grab her luggage, scolding her for being a nuisance, but that was a separate matter.

Watching Irene’s expression, Diego let out a light sigh and smiled.

“I am not the type of person who treats my physician so poorly.”

When he put it that way, she felt she could understand. Although there were still parts that remained puzzling, Irene gave a faint nod as if forcing herself to accept it.

At the same time, Diego’s smile deepened slightly. An average noble lady would have blushed and let out a soft exclamation at the mention of being a “lady.” They wanted to be protected by Diego.

But Irene Rios was different. She didn’t need Diego’s help. As she said, she was fine on her own.

The problem is, *I* am not fine.

Diego hid his suspicion beneath his bright smile. He didn’t know why, but his insides twisted at the thought of Irene carrying luggage in both hands and walking that long road.

Perhaps it was because he compared Irene’s situation to that of her four family members who lived in luxury. Yes, that must be it. He was a righteous man who got angry at things that were unfair.

“Still, there is no need to send a carriage. I have to stop by my house anyway. There are things I need to pack.”

“Home, is it.”

Diego muttered with an inscrutable expression. Then, he readily nodded.

“I will tell the coachman, so stop by your house first. I will wait for you at the station.”

Actually, Irene never knew how to respond to times like these. It would have been easier on her mind if he had been cynical or mocking.

She had never received unconditional favor, so she was at a loss as to what expression to wear.

“I would like to come and pick you up myself, but I have things to attend to as well, so I hope you understand.”

Irene thought he must be a generous employer to his staff, and she forced herself to nod. It was far better to have a generous employer than one who was stingy.

Of course, she had never worked for anyone until now.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“I guarantee, you will find my estate to your liking, Miss Irene.”

Diego’s radiant smile brightened the dim anatomy lab. Irene rubbed her eyes with her gloved hand and looked at him again.

The halo that had been shining behind his back until a moment ago vanished, as if it had been a hallucination.

***

She heard the sound of a carriage slowing down. Irene pulled back the curtain slightly and looked outside.

A flashy carriage, far removed from her own tastes, was parked below the building. She took her pocket watch from her pocket. The polished piece, worn from use, indicated exactly 12 o’clock.

Irene quite liked the coachman, whose face she hadn’t even seen yet. She liked people who kept their appointments.

Unlike the diligent coachman, Irene’s peers never knew how to keep a schedule properly. If they agreed to meet at 2 o’clock for an assignment, it was normal for them to show up at 3 o’clock.

Then Irene would have to sit there, staring blankly into space for an hour. When asked why they were late, they would all widen their eyes and chide Irene instead.

―What? Were you really waiting since 2 o’clock? Meeting at 2 means meeting at 3, you know.

While attending college, Irene faced countless difficulties. It wasn’t because of the exclusion of women, nor because of difficult exams.

It was because of trivial issues exactly like this. Why did “meeting at 2” mean “meeting at 3”?

A peer who noticed Irene’s confusion added with a pathetic look.

―You’re a Baron’s daughter, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you don’t even know the basics?

Irene didn’t know the things that ordinary people knew without needing to be told. That was why she was treated as even more of a weirdo.

It was natural. Irene had never had any human relationships other than the Baron Rios family and the servants in that house.

So she never had the opportunity to learn the basics that everyone else knew. The Baron and his wife didn’t introduce Irene to those around them, and if guests came, they sent her up to the attic. She had never been to the temple to pray, nor had she ever attended a banquet.

Perhaps it was difficult to explain the existence of a grown child who had suddenly appeared.