"Dr. Gotberg."
Falkenhain rose from his seat and walked solemnly toward me.
Standing close enough that the other court physicians couldn't see, his expression softened as he whispered in my ear.
"Does a medicine that truly restores hair actually exist?"
The desire for hair is stronger than any greed for wealth or power. With just a casual mention of hair loss treatment, his eyes had glazed over, and he'd completely become my ally.
Getting Falkenhain involved in the testimony I was about to give was essential.
"It depends on the case, but for your condition, Lord Falkenhain, it's possible."
"Ohhh!"
My diagnosis of Falkenhain revealed "circular hair loss." It wasn't a talent debuff but rather a condition that came with age.
"There are two types of hair loss. The M-shaped recession where the front hairline retreats, and circular hair loss where the crown becomes visible."
"That's right. I have circular hair loss."
"From the condition, it seems it hasn't progressed long. Six months at most, I'd guess."
"Precisely. It's been five months."
M-shaped hair loss is genetic and impossible to treat without hair transplantation.
But circular hair loss occurs due to stress or environmental factors, so it's possible to slow its progression or, with luck, restore it completely.
Falkenhain developed circular hair loss only at an advanced age, which suggests he has good overall health and few baldness genes.
I discreetly placed a prepared vial in Falkenhain's hand.
"This medication blocks the action of hair loss enzymes in the body. Simply put, hair will grow faster than it falls out, resulting in recovery within a few months."
It's essentially a version mimicking the hair loss drug finasteride. There are slight differences in the detailed components, but I've enhanced its enzyme inhibition capabilities.
"Good heavens, to think such a treatment exists. In all my life, I've never seen someone regrow lost hair. I would make a deal with the devil himself if it meant getting my hair back."
"I'm a doctor, not a devil. This is a month's supply. There are side effects, so you must take half a pill per day. Be careful not to take more, as increasing the dosage won't improve results."
"I'll keep that in mind. You truly are worthy of sainthood, doctor."
After carefully tucking the vial into his breast pocket, Falkenhain returned to his place.
"Lord Falkenhain, what were you just—"
"I was verifying some of Dr. Gotberg's claims. Please continue with the hearing."
Falkenhain smoothly answered the other court physician's question.
It was his signal that he was ready to defend me.
Alberich continued his speech.
"Court Physician Gotberg. Even if your medicines appear to heal patients immediately, they are undoubtedly extensions of folk remedies."
Alberich looked ready to tear out my throat like a dire wolf.
"He was the religious zealot type, wasn't he?"
Imperial healers like Falkenhain worship the goddess but still seek personal gain alongside their faith.
But a bishop from the Law Country, like Alberich, completely rejects any methods outside healing arts, just as he's doing now.
I expected some confrontation, but I didn't think he would attack so aggressively right from the start.
"The healer you employed was dismissed from the Imperial Medical Office for using forbidden folk remedies. Were you aware of this fact?"
"Yes, I was."
"Then you utilized that healer's techniques to create these so-called medicines?"
"No."
"No? The causality is clear thus far. Your rebuttal requires a proper explanation."
I needed to make things clear at this point.
"What I utilized was my own knowledge. The academic field of medicine. That healer merely had potential—I was the one who taught him."
"You admit it!"
Alberich jumped to his feet, pointing his finger at me. What a rude old man, considering we'd just met.
"You have disrupted the Imperial Medical Office's system with heretical techniques instead of healing arts. You've denied and blasphemed the Goddess's compassion and damaged the faith of the Empire's citizens! You're not qualified to be a court physician, let alone a healer!"
It's an excessive interpretation, but I understand his forceful rhetoric.
It's a tactic of starting with outrageous demands to eventually secure what you really want.
"He seems to want to damage my credibility."
It must be a check against the growth of the Wolgwang Palace faction.
In this setting, showing anger would be playing into his hands.
It was time to use the scenario I had prepared.
"There's a misunderstanding, Bishop Alberich."
"What misunderstanding?"
"It was none other than the Goddess herself who gave me the revelation to use medicine."
"...What did you say?"
That's a complete lie, of course.
Judging by the murmuring court physicians, I'd succeeded in causing some commotion.
They're all skilled court physicians, and while perhaps not all of them, a good number are devoted to the Goddess's faith and have diligently cultivated their piety.
Everyone understands the weight carried by a claim of receiving divine revelation from the Goddess.
"The Goddess told you to use that technique?"
"Yes."
"Are you now claiming to be a healer so full of faith that you receive divine revelations?"
"I am full of faith."
Alberich, having found an opening to attack me, grew confident at this unexpected development.
"You know that blasphemy against the Goddess is a serious disqualification that will get you expelled from the Imperial Medical Office."
I'm sorry to disappoint Alberich's expectations, but I have insurance.
"Surely I'm not so ignorant of such basic principles. Fortunately, someone who can verify my faith is present here."
"Indeed I am."
Falkenhain answered as if he'd been waiting for this moment and began his oration.
"As you all know, I possess a talent. The eyes to see faith. I can easily tell who is an excellent healer. Through this, I've trained myself not to waver in faith and have been able to rise to this position."
Falkenhain made his case with a strong, unwavering voice.
"Court Physician Gotberg is a talent I personally brought from my training center. Let me testify to one thing with certainty here."
Falkenhain extended his palm toward me and spoke with a voice full of conviction.
"The doctor is a person with deeper faith than any healer I've seen in my lifetime. Even now, I can see with my own eyes that his righteous heart burns more passionately than anyone else's."
Alberich, displeased, counterattacked.
"Lord Falkenhain, we are determining the truth regarding a serious offense of blasphemy. Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"Responsibility? Are you asking me, the court physician of Tojin Palace, if I can take responsibility, Bishop Alberich?"
Falkenhain raised his voice as well.
He too is the leader of the Second Prince's faction of healers. He's not in a position to remain silent about such an attitude toward his subordinate.
"Are you doubting the talent bestowed upon me by the Goddess?"
"I never doubt the Goddess. I doubt your distorted faith that places loyalty to your lord above the Goddess."
"Are you suggesting I'm falsely defending Dr. Gotberg on my lord's orders? Ha! You seem behind on how things work in the Imperial court."
"Are you denying it? Do you really believe this green young healer has the strongest faith among everyone here?"
"To me, you also seem like a wet-behind-the-ears brat."
"Brat? This old geezer has finally lost his mind. Has your head not only dried of blood but also lost all its hair?"
"You'll cross the Jordan River before all my hair falls out."
"Human life is precious, but no matter how short my lifespan, it'll be longer than yours who's on death's door. If you've got dementia, retire and change your grandchild's diapers."
The sight of these old men spitting as they argued like children was quite unsightly.
It was entertaining, though, so I had no intention of stopping them.
"These are just empty words. There's no evidence anywhere that Gotberg has abundant faith."
"Fine, I'll show you evidence."
Falkenhain pulled out a holy book. Holding it reverently to his chest, he raised his other hand and closed his eyes solemnly to make an oath.
"With respect to our revered Goddess, I swear only the truth: as seen through my sacred eyes, Dr. Gotberg possesses faith far deeper than Bishop Alberich."
Whoosh!
A strong light burst forth from behind Falkenhain like a backlight. The powerful divine energy emanating gently from his body formed a halo.
This phenomenon can only be seen in high-level healers and clergy.
"Such pure divine power."
"The halo doesn't waver."
"It means he hasn't sworn any falsehood that would crack his faith."
"Is Court Physician Gotberg truly such an outstanding talent?"
The other court physicians murmured among themselves.
"To go as far as making an oath for something like this..."
Even Alberich seemed taken aback, not expecting Falkenhain to go this far.
He should have kept his provocations moderate.
I stepped forward and spoke.
"The proof seems clear. As I said, my practice of medicine is not heresy."
"It's not orthodoxy either. A healer should offer prayers, not feed poison to patients!"
Alberich still had veins bulging in his neck.
That's when it happened.
The doors to the hall burst open with the sound of heavy footsteps.
A valiant woman strode in confidently, her cape billowing behind her.
It was the First Princess, Heike.
All the court physicians conducting the hearing bowed their heads in respect. I did the same.
Heike quickly surveyed the hall and issued a command like a soldier.
"Everyone except Alberich and Gotberg, leave."
The court physicians immediately vacated their seats.
Hmm, I almost forgot the gravitas because I was with Lauga just before this.
This was the true weight carried by words from imperial bloodlines.
"Alberich, I ask you. Why did you convene a hearing to dismiss Court Physician Gotberg?"
"Princess, this meeting wasn't intended to dismiss him, but to resolve suspicions and verify his qualifications..."
"Isn't that the same thing? Don't waste my time. I've already wasted enough visiting Gotberg's office."
So Heike came looking for me personally.
I definitely didn't have a good feeling about this.
When Lauga visits, she dumps a month's worth of conversation on me at once, making my head spin.
This was surely going to be troublesome.
"I ask again, why did you convene this hearing?"
Alberich, sweating nervously, slowly answered as if making an excuse.
"...It seemed Your Highness was concerned about Wolgwang Palace's healing budget and wary of the Third Princess's faction's growth."
"In a broad sense, that's correct."
"Then, might there not be an issue with this meeting?"
Thud!
Heike stomped her foot and glared intensely. Alberich flinched and shook his head.
Even I would dodge that gaze within a second.
If Asella's gaze was like someone coming to kill you with malice, Heike's felt like a killing machine who would end you without emotion if you pressed the wrong button.
"Bishop, what is your profession?"
"...Court physician, Your Highness."
"Do I appear so incompetent that I would entrust political judgments to a court physician?"
"Of-of course not."
"Are you my advisor?"
"No, I am not."
"I ordered a reduction in Mokhwi Palace's healing budget, not to check Wolgwang Palace. I make those judgments. Am I wrong?"
"Your words are a hundred times correct."
Alberich could only purse his lips and affirm everything Heike said. His mental anguish was evident from the dark circles that had fallen to his cheeks.
"Now, Court Physician Gotberg."
"I am honored by your presence, Princess."
Finally addressing me.
From their conversation, I gathered this was related to penicillin.
"I wish to recruit you into my faction."
An offer beyond my imagination.
Even Alberich was left with his mouth agape at Heike's sudden move.
"May I inquire about your true intentions?"
"It's exactly as I said—a love call. I want you. Become my deputy court physician and introduce new healing mechanisms."
Poaching personnel from other factions must be common in the Imperial court.
Even the Imperial Knights frequently change factions.
My position as Asella's court physician doesn't seem to be an issue for Heike.
To them, retainers are possessions. It feels like she's trying to take her younger sister's toy.
Despite their age difference of over ten years.
"By that, do you mean you want me to use medicine?"
"Yes. I will provide an environment to actively utilize medicine to develop, mass-produce, and monopolize pharmaceuticals."
Hmm, being Heike's subordinate.
The conditions aren't bad. Her faction is the most prominent in the Imperial Palace, and if Asella doesn't become the next Emperor, Heike has the highest probability of taking that position.
She's a woman who calculates gains and losses clearly. The rewards for loyalty are guaranteed.
But.
"I apologize, Your Highness. I have already pledged my loyalty to Princess Asella."
Getting deeply involved with the Imperial family would be a loss for me, certainly not a gain.
Once you're waist-deep in the quagmire, there's no way out.
My goal is simply to delete the bad endings. Joining Heike's faction would only increase my workload and make it harder to return home later.
"Why? Aren't you merely a court physician under contract?"
"Haha, I'm a court physician, but also her betrothed."
"You mean a politically arranged betrothal determined by your family."
Heike saw through the situation and looked for an opening.
"Do you desire a nominal betrothal to the Imperial family?"
"Pardon? That's not—"
"As it happens, I don't have a betrothed either."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Isn't it common sense that broken engagements and new betrothals happen frequently due to power struggles between families before marriage? Court Physician Gotberg."
Heike looked directly at my face and asked in a serious tone.
"Do you want it?"