"Good day," Lumina greeted as she was directed into the Royal Physicians’ chambers.
"I will be working as one of the royal physicians now."
All the men present exchanged glances, hesitation clear in the way their shoulders stiffened.
A few of them shifted as if the ground itself had betrayed them.
What shocked them was the fact that not only is she a woman, but also blind and the last wife of the prince everyone had cast aside. Also with their years of training here no woman had ever gotten the chance to become one of the King’s royal physicians.
Only the Chief Royal Physician, Lord Drex broke the awkwardness since he already got the news from the King.
He stepped forward before anyone would make an insulting comment and bowed a bit.
"Welcome, Princess Lumina."
The other physicians hesitated, then bowed after him, though the stiffness in their movements betrayed their unease.
"The king and I will not tolerate any disrespect from any of you," Ord Drex announced, his eyes sweeping across the room.
"If anyone feels dissatisfied with what happens here, you are free to leave. But remember, she is not only the princess of the Celestial Realm, she is the wife of the Last Prince. Her position deserves your full respect."
Some of the men lowered their gazes, ashamed, while others bowed more deeply to mask their reluctance.
Lumina leaned her head gracefully. "Thank you for the warm welcome. I will do all I can to prove my worth, despite my... deficit."
Her fingers twitched slightly as she spoke, betraying the shadow of her nerves, but her voice remained calm.
"You once healed the queen," Lord Drex reminded her gently. "There is no need to prove anything further to us."
The sincerity in his tone warmed her heart. For a moment, Lumina allowed herself a small smile. But the moment was quickly disrupted.
"Forgive me, Princess," Ord Drex continued, his expression sobering,
"But from this moment on, your maid will not be permitted to remain at your side here. This chamber is devoted entirely to the king’s health. Only physicians may work within."
The words struck Stella like a blade. She stepped forward, her hands tightening into fists, her chin raised.
"Then I refuse," Stella declared. "I cannot leave her alone among strangers. She needs me."
The physicians murmured among themselves, their voices a low tide of disapproval.
Then Lumina reached out, finding Stella’s arm with gentle assurance.
"Stella," she shouted, at the little disrespect she had cast on Lord Drex despite his warm welcome.
"Do not worry. I will be fine. This is something I must do on my own."
Stella froze, her lips trembling with unspoken protest. Finally, after a long, tense pause, she bowed her head, her voice breaking slightly.
"If this is truly your wish, my lady... then I will obey."
Then Lumina glanced at Lord Drex’s direction, "I apologize for my maid’s outburst, she is just overprotective of me."
Lord Drex nodded approvingly. "Good. Princess, I will assign someone to guide you. He will show you where each medicine is kept, which shelves hold the herbs, and the order of records. He will answer every question you have."
"See Stella, I will be fine." After much consideration, Stella could only agree and leave.
Then Lord Drex gestured to a young physician who stepped forward nervously.
The man bowed before Lumina, his voice low, "Princess Lumina... I am Kennedy, and I will be the one guiding you here... till you master it all."
Lumina smiled and nodded, though she was trusting him fully. The thought in her head as he moved closer was, "Any messing up she would take care of him."
But then before he could get closer to hold Lumina’s hand a voice rang out from the door
"There will be no need for him to guide her," Everyone turned to the door.
At the doorway stood Princess Aurelia and Serena having a huge grin on their faces as they found their way inside the chambers now leaving the remaining men on edge.
These are like three respectable women in the place now joining the chambers in a day, they didn’t know what more to expect.
"I would like to guide her instead," Aurelia said smoothly. "After all, I know the chamber well."
Murmurs erupted again, Lumina’s lips curved. She could not see Aurelia’s face, but she could tell clearly that the smile had a dangerous dagger underneath.
"Welcome, Princess Aurelia," Lumina spoke up. "I would be grateful to know that you will be guiding me."
Before Aurelia could step forward, Serena stepped past her, grabbing Lumina.
"I have always heard about you, it will be a great pleasure working with you." Lumina tried to withdraw her hands but Serena wasn’t letting go.
"Princess Aurelia and Lady Serena," one of the physicians whispered, bowing. "It is an honor to see you both here."
Serena smiled warmly, and when her gaze fell upon her father, the Chief Physician, her expression softened further. She finally let go of Lumina’s hands and stepped toward him, her voice tender.
"Father..." she murmured, reaching out to take his hand.
He smiled, poking her forehead gently as though she were still a child.
"Hey... if the Princess hadn’t come, I am pretty sure you wouldn’t have come."
The lightheartedness broke some of the awkwardness, drawing a few chuckles from the physicians.
But Aurelia did not waste time. She crossed the chamber and reached for Lumina’s hand.
"Well," Aurelia said sweetly, "I heard Princess Lumina now works in the physician’s chambers. So Serena and I planned to help guide her. It will be better coming from ladies, will it not?"
Her words dripped with charm, but the underlying message was suspicious.
"Wow," one of the men muttered under his breath. "That is... a good idea."
Lumina felt the tension pressure Aurelia’s grip but refused to flinch. She smiled politely.
"I will be pleased to learn from you both." Aurelia and Serena exchanged a glance, their smiles bright, almost dazzling.
"That would be great!" they both let out at once while Lumina only had her silly thought boring inside of her.