14.

Brum started by removing her linen which made Wilhelm hesitate. He can't risk her granddaughter's life.

"Calm down, he's treating your granddaughter." I said to him with confidence.

Brum then opened Felicia's eyes to take a look and he felt her pulse. He checked her body to see what kind of illness he'll be facing. A white light then shrouded Felicia's body for a few seconds.

He then covered her back in linen and looked at us.

"Her disease lowers... her ability to fight back... against diseases. She already... has one foot... in the grave. She's like in... a dream like state." Brum said but Wilhelm already knew about it.

"It might... be a little hard... to cure... and would be bloody..., if you can't bear... to see her blood spill..., I request that... you wait for me upstairs." Brum said.

"What do you mean spilling my granddaughter's blood?!" Wilhelm asked.

"What I... mean exactly. Her blood... is the carrier... of the disease... and what I'm going to do... is extremely bloody..., her organs... are also starting... to weaken..., thankfully, the heart... is not." Brum explained with a hoarse voice and Wilhelm didn't know what to do but his feet stayed rooted on the spot.

"Fine, boy... you better tell... the old man... to stop if he... gets agitated... or her granddaughter... will die. One wrong step... will take her... life so I need... to concentrate, if he... distracted me and I... made a mistake... and she dies, blame it... on him." Brum said and I just nodded.

Brum pulled out a box inside a cabinet and inside it were tools. I can see that they were kept in good condition. Brum then took a bucket of water and cleaned his tools.

With his tools clean, Brum started operating on Felicia. Wilhelm was so nervous and was afraid of losing her granddaughter but I held him back. I've got absolute trust on this man.

Brum opened up her body with her tools and started inspecting the insides of her body. He saw the badly damaged insides and started working on it. He placed his hands on top of the damaged organ.

Its a spell that focuses healing a specific part of the body. The higher amount of mana you pour, the faster it will heal the injury.

He did it a few more times on the other damaged organs and repaired them.

After healing the organs, I could see Brum sweating. I instantly figured out why he said that one wrong move will kill the patient. He doesn't have a huge amounts of mana to use healing magic.

He was about to do the final step but I stopped him.

"Brum, do you need him to transfer you mana?" I said surprising Brum but he nodded. He knew that the more mana he had, the more successful the operation will be.

I made Wilhelm pass his mana to Brum who started casting his spell.

A spell that cleanses the body of mental control. It is used to remove mind control and other mental attacks.

But what Brum did was simply amazing, he's using greater cleanse with pinpoint accuracy and only targeting the blood.

'Looks like he studied so hard and modified the spell all by himself.' I thought as I stared at Felicia who's blood came out of her pores turning it into black blood. She was covered in blood from head to toe that Wilhelm looked away. Brum didn't seem to mind it as he concentrated on his work. He stopped for a few seconds and closed Felicia's body and stitched it back. He then continued using that he modified to cleanse her blood.

After an hour, Brum stopped and sat down on the floor panting.

"*Huff* *Huff* Its... a success. Go... wipe her body... and clean her... up." He said to me.

Wilhelm used water magic and filled another bucket of water and took out a towel. He then slowly wiped her body with tears in his eyes. He could see from Felicia's complexion that she was better now, she isn't coughing, she doesn't feel cold to the touch, and she doesn't have a fever.

"It might... take a day... of rest... for her to... wake up." Brum said as he stood up and waited for us.

After Wilhelm wiped her body, he took out a leather bag containing a change of clothes for Felicia. The linen and clothing that is covering Felicia was so drenched in black blood. After dressing her up, he carried her personally in his embrace.

"The deal... is done... You may leave..." Brum said and we left his place.

We were walking in our disguise but I could still feel Wilhelm looking at me from time to time.

"What, curious that such a talented person is living in that hellhole?" I said and Wilhelm nodded.

"Yes." Wilhelm replied.

"He accidentally killed a patient. What's worse is that the patient is a noble. The nobles chased him down and tried killing him." I said but that was not exactly what happened.

His treatment with the noble was a success but the noble didn't want to pay up. He then spread the news that he died because he wasn't treated well and the backlash from the nobles came as he expected. When he learned that Brum was nowhere to be found, he declared that he was still alive.

"Why don't you try to recruit him? He have the skills and talent." Wilhelm asked me.

"His pride as a famous person is deep in his bones. He's already living in that hellhole but he still asks a high price. If I take him back, our people won't be able to afford his price. He will just treat those who can pay for him. What I want is to ensure the health and safety of my subjects." I explained to Wilhelm who seemed to be confused about what I said.

The life expectancy of people from this world is just too low. Nobles will be able to live longer because they are living the good life but what about the commoners who are doing the hard jobs? Very few of them will be able to reach the age of 70 because their bodies are wrecked from working hard for all of their life just to have food in their table.

If the life expectancy of my subjects rose up, those elderly will start telling tales about how the territory cared for commoners like them. They will subconsciously instill loyalty to their offsprings towards my territory and prevent another rebellion from happening in my territory. With no conflicts, I could just focus on improving the the territory. Some people will say that I'm brainwashing my subjects but it is true that their life is way better now compared to those who are living in other territory.

Sighing, we returned to the manor in haste and removed our disguise. I still have to rest and prepare for the party tomorrow.

*

"We're here." Idom said and Wilhelm opened the door for me.

"Looks like they're having a blast." I said as I looked at the bustling palace. The moon that hung over the palace is shining brightly as if joining the party too.

I entered the place and the chattering turned silent.

"What's wrong Wilhelm, is there something wrong with me? Why are they staring at me like that?" I asked Wilhelm while Wilhelm just chuckled. Wilhelm now smiled more often and now have a sort of carefree attitude since the burden weighing down on him was finally lifted.

"You're just too stunning, Young Lord." He said as the chattering slowly picked back up but this time it was hushed.

"Oh please, I'm wearing a mask." I said as I rolled my eyes.

The nobles were talking while glancing at me from time to time.

"Its because you're quite famous, Young Lord." Wilhelm said to me.

"Famous? How?" I asked with a smile.

Wilhelm rolled his eyes at me.

"Who wouldn't? You brought 50 knights with all of their equipment forged with blankšum. Even the horses were equipped with horse armor made with blankšum followed by a regiment of mages. Tell me, who wouldn't be famous?" He said while I laughed lightly.

"I assumed that it worked then?" I asked while Wilhelm just smiled in reply. We both know that it worked and many greedy nobles have to think twice before crossing me.

"Duke Blackwood, I presume?" A man suddenly came in front of me and bowed.

"I am, indeed. May I know who this gentleman is?" I asked him.

"Baron Judeus, Lord Duke." He said and I stared at him.

"Yes, I remember. You're son, Mikhail." I said with a smirk.

"I apologize for my son's misconduct. Please, spare us. I can hand over Mikhail to you to quell your anger." Baron Judeus said to me.

'Ah, nobles. They will do everything just to keep their power, and riches.' I thought as I looked at the Baron.

"Since you showed your sincerity, I shall spare your Barony. Teach your son well." I said to him and he looked relieved.

"Thank yo-" I cut him off before he finished speaking.

"But, in exchange of sparing your Barony, hand over 50% of iron mined from your territory every month. Others might think I'm too soft and they would think that I'll just forgive those who disrespected me." I said with a smile. The baron's face paled but he can't do anything about it.

Blackwood Dukedom is now a strong force. It was a silent approval from everyone inside the baron circle that my territory is now at the top of the Duke power rankings, just below the Royal family.

"Thank you for sparing us, Duke Blackwood." Judeus left with a sweating back. Other than Judeus, no one tried to get close and talk to me. They got scared about my ruthlessness but they still continued observing me.

I yawned since the party is not yet officially starting. While I was thinking of what to do to get rid of boredom, a eunuch came and stopped in the middle of the hall.

"His Majesty, Gilltian Jedgar F. Roguepalace have arrived. Kneel." The eunuch said and knelt down and faced the stairs.