The Genius Physician Princess - Chapter 24

Yeo-ul looked at Ruben in surprise.

“A new medicine? Can I really see something so precious?”

“Of course. Who else would I show it to if not an excellent guest like you, Yeo-ul?”

“Oh, thank you.”

Yeo-ul’s cheeks turned rosy at Ruben’s compliment.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go get the medicine.”

“Yes, doctor.”

As Ruben went to fetch the medicine, Kite gave a thumbs up.

“Yeo-ul, you were amazing today. I heard Dr. Ruben is quite particular about medicine, and it seems he really likes you.”

“Hehe, really?”

Yeo-ul felt a bubbly happiness rising inside her.

‘Finally, I’m proving my worth at Wizardian.’

She couldn’t wait to tell Lantus the good news.

‘When will Lantus come? I want to see him soon.’

Yeo-ul looked up at Kite with a bright smile.

“Will Lantus come tomorrow?”

“Well… I’m not sure. I don’t really know.”

Kite avoided Yeo-ul’s gaze, feeling a pang of guilt.

The truth was, Lantus hadn’t contacted Kite; it had been the dragon Medeia.

And it wasn’t every other day, just once.

“Lantus is injured. He’s in critical condition, so we put him to sleep and will send him back once he’s recovered and completed his tasks.”

Even Kite, who had known the risks, felt his heart drop when he heard this.

If Medeia had intervened, it meant Lantus was gravely injured.

Kite regretted not stopping Lantus properly for days.

But he didn’t show any of this to Yeo-ul.

It was what Lantus wanted.

“Lantus is late. I’m worried. He’s okay, right?”

“Hey, don’t worry. As long as he’s alive, he can heal from any injury and come back just fine.”

Kite tried to be cheerful, but it was a huge mistake.

Yeo-ul, now alarmed, questioned him.

“Just alive? What does that mean? Is Lantus hurt?”

“What? No? Not at all? It’s just a saying. Haha!”

Cursing his big mouth, Kite hurriedly looked away from Yeo-ul.

Seeing Kite flustered made Yeo-ul even more anxious, her eyes widening.

‘Could it be…?’

It felt like the time she heard about her brother’s accident.

Yeo-ul stared at Kite’s side profile with cold dread.

Kite, sweating nervously under Yeo-ul’s unrelenting gaze, thought, ‘Why is she so perceptive?’

There was no doubt in her mind now.

Just as Kite was racking his brain for a way out, their savior appeared.

“Did I keep you waiting?”

Kite jumped up and approached Ruben.

“Yes! It seemed like you were gone for a while, even though it wasn’t long. I must have been really eager to see the new medicine. Haha!”

Yeo-ul’s heart pounded with a sense of impending doom as she watched Kite’s frantic behavior.

She wanted to ask about Lantus’s condition directly, but now wasn’t the time.

Reluctantly, she turned her attention to the glass vial Ruben handed her.

Yeo-ul’s eyes widened in shock at the familiar name on the label.

“This is a mercury ointment from the Eastern Continent. It’s said to be a cure for syphilis.”

Mercury?

Ruben, unaware of the danger, smiled contentedly.

“We plan to start using it on patients in a few days.”

* * *

Humans have used mercury for thousands of years.

As cosmetics, dyes, and even medicine.

They had no idea mercury was highly toxic.

Countless people died from mercury poisoning without knowing why.

And now, Ruben had brought this dangerous substance, calling it a new medicine.

He planned to use it on patients in a few days.

Seeing Yeo-ul freeze in shock, Kite tried to shift her focus entirely to the mercury.

“Oh, is this mercury ointment? It looks fascinating. Can I touch it?”

“Of course.”

Yeo-ul snapped back to reality as Ruben began to unscrew the vial’s cap.

Before the lid was fully open, Yeo-ul urgently grabbed Ruben’s hand.

“Wait!”

Both adults looked at her in surprise as she stared up at them with trembling eyes.

Mercury vaporizes at room temperature.

The lid must never be opened.

But how could she explain that without proof?

“Um, can I check something first?”

Seeing the desperation in Yeo-ul’s eyes, Ruben felt a strange sensation and nodded.

“Alright. Go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

Yeo-ul quickly took the vial and hid it behind her back.

‘Calm down. If I explain well, I can convince him.’

Taking a deep breath, Yeo-ul began to speak slowly.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t use this mercury. It’s extremely dangerous.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Mercury can never be medicine. It’s a poison.”

“Poison? What do you mean?”

Ruben was shocked.

“That can’t be. In the Eastern Continent, mercury is used to treat syphilis.”

“Mercury’s toxicity might kill syphilis bacteria, but many more people have died from mercury poisoning.”

Yeo-ul’s explanation was calm yet tense, leaving Ruben bewildered.

Claiming a well-used medicine in the Eastern Continent was poison?

If another child had said this, he might have scolded them harshly.

‘But Yeo-ul wouldn’t say such things without reason. There must be solid evidence.’

Ruben knew from the short time they had spent together that Yeo-ul wasn’t one to speak nonsense.

‘If mercury is truly poisonous, she’s not just saving the patients but me as well.’

Ruben had likely been exposed to mercury too.

With a serious expression, Ruben asked, “Do you have proof?”

“Proof?”

“Proof that mercury is a poison. If you have evidence, we need to inform the Eastern Continent. Patients are being treated with mercury right now.”

Yeo-ul was speechless.

She had no proof.

“I don’t have proof, but I’m certain mercury is poisonous. I swear on everything.”

“No proof?”

Disappointment flashed in Ruben’s eyes.

‘How could she act without any evidence?’

Despite his high regard for Yeo-ul, this was too much.

Shaking his head firmly, Ruben said, “Without proof, I can’t discard the mercury based on your word alone.”

“But, doctor.”

“Yes, mercury could be dangerous as you say. But throwing it away isn’t the solution. Even poison can be medicine if used correctly.”

Yeo-ul bit her lip.

True, some poisons do become medicine, like pufferfish toxin used as a painkiller.

But not mercury.

Mercury could never be medicine, no matter how it’s used.

‘Should I just take the real medicine and run?’

Yeo-ul stepped back, still hiding the vial behind her back.

She was ready to flee with it if necessary, even if it meant losing all the points she had earned today. Preventing patients from mercury poisoning was more important.

Seeing her intentions, Ruben couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Haha, this is something.”

He knew she was no ordinary child, but to think she’d go this far.

Glancing at Kite, who was equally flustered, Ruben realized Kite couldn’t control her either.

‘An unmanageable child, even by her guardian.’

After some thought, Ruben decided to concede for now.

“Alright. If you’re so sure, we’ll hold off on using it and review the materials again.”

“You need to dispose of it, not just hold off.”

Even with Ruben’s concession, Yeo-ul didn’t back down.

Irritated, Ruben stared at her.

He knew she was smart for her age, but she was still just a child.

He had spent more years studying medicine than she had been alive.

Yet she was this stubborn.

“Sigh.”

Instead of getting angry, Ruben took a deep breath.

Calming down, he found he had a bit more patience for Yeo-ul’s actions.

‘Her intentions aren’t bad.’

Having decided to give in for now, he thought he might as well go all the way today.

It could be a way to repay her for making him laugh and momentarily forget his worries about his son.

“Let’s do this. Let’s meet at the hospital soon. We’ll each bring our materials and decide whether to use mercury then.”

“What about the treatment?”

“Of course, we won’t use it until then. In fact, I won’t use mercury on anyone until you approve it.”

Finally, Yeo-ul felt the tension drain from her body.

‘I’ve bought some time.’

Ruben might try to convince her, but she had no intention of being persuaded.

So as long as he kept his promise, no patients would suffer from mercury poisoning.

Yeo-ul handed the mercury ointment back to Ruben and bowed.

“I’m really sorry for being stubborn, doctor. And thank you for giving me a chance.”

Though she couldn’t make him dispose of it immediately, she knew he had made a significant concession.

“It’s alright. Sometimes a doctor must be stubborn to save lives. I believe you’ll become a great doctor.”

“Doctor.”

“Yes?”

Yeo-ul looked at Ruben with concern.

“Please don’t handle or inhale mercury. Have you already…?”

Ruben shook his head with a small smile.

“I’ve only opened the lid a couple of times briefly. It was so hard to get that I just kept it and only looked at the materials.”

“Phew. That’s a relief.”

Yeo-ul, who had been worrying about how to treat Ruben if he were mercury poisoned, finally smiled.

Seeing her smile, Ruben’s eyes sparkled with newfound determination.

‘She really is exceptional. If raised well, she’ll become a truly outstanding doctor.’