13 – Became Famous Again!
‘Indeed, I have been waiting for a day like today for a long time~’
Somehow, a famous line from the Jingoo movie popped up in my head.
Yes, once a rumor starts, it’s unstoppable by feeble human hands!
In fact, there are several plans prepared for this moment.
It’s time to put them into action!
“Lord Jackson, the rumor is fine. Could you kindly mention that lead cosmetics are not good? At this banquet, many young nobles using lead cosmetics suffered from headaches.”
“Hmm… even though one may have desires, you really… I understand. I will make sure to do that!”
Let’s reduce the patients for now!
Lord Jackson readily agreed to step up.
* * * *
Lead cosmetics cause mental disorders.
This news shocked many people in the capital, although not as much as the bathing craze.
Lead cosmetics are essential for noble ladies.
And it was fatal for their health!
Noble ladies and cosmetics manufacturers investigated the truth of the rumor, only to find out that it was spread by Lord Jackson.
If it’s the reputable Lord Jackson’s words, they can be trusted!
Soon, a large-scale “Boycott Lead Cosmetics Movement” began.
Discarded cosmetics piled up on the capital streets, and the nobles, now in better health, rallied behind Lord Jackson’s words.
“Lead cosmetics were really bad for health! I always had headaches when using cosmetics, but now I don’t feel them anymore.”
“Amazing. How did Lord Jackson know about this?”
“I heard that it was Mr. Charles who informed him?”
“Mr. Charles? The pioneer of the bathing craze?”
“Yes, that’s right! The pioneer of the bathing craze!”
Mr. Charles’s reputation soared.
Breaking conventional wisdom and spreading innovative treatments!
Mr. Charles, already famous for the bathing craze, gained even more popularity due to the rumors about him.
“When you hold Mr. Charles’s hand, you don’t need to bathe to get the bathing effect.”
“When you meet Mr. Charles, you don’t need to apply makeup to get the makeup effect.” and so on.
Poets who love to spread rumors enthusiastically promoted Mr. Charles at social gatherings.
After Kim Cheolsu returned as Viscount Roland, Irene welcomed a refreshing morning.
Now she no longer suffered from headaches.
She could get up on her own.
“Mr. Kim Cheolsu…! I got up, I got up on my own, I did well…”
Irene tried to receive praise from Kim Cheolsu.
While receiving Kim Cheolsu’s care, Irene found a new pleasure.
That was ‘receiving praise.’
Whenever Irene’s condition improved, Kim Cheolsu praised her.
It was a small thing, but how joyous it was.
Today, Irene was speechless, trying to receive Kim Cheolsu’s praise again.
Kim Cheolsu confirmed Irene’s recovery just yesterday and returned to Viscount Roland. Irene personally saw him off, but she was soon forgotten. She had become accustomed to the care he provided. His kindness in trying to heal Irene was so warm that she left the room like a child looking for a fireplace.
It felt like Kim Cheolsu would be waiting beyond the door as if by magic, but it was actually Laura, the maid, who was waiting for Irene.
“Miss?”
Irene was disappointed. At the same time, she realized that Kim Cheolsu had indeed left… Now, she was alone again.
Although Irene had returned to the familiar scenery, the grand and quiet corridor of the mansion seemed very cold to her.
—
Success, success. Success again! It’s about time for me to encounter an incurable disease, but I have succeeded in treatment once more! They say luck comes with skill. However, having studied nursing in modern times, I know that there will inevitably be a disease I cannot cure. I must prepare for that moment!
“You look happy, Kim Cheolsu,” Miss Catherine said, narrowing her eyes at me. Am I happy? Treating patients brings joy, but it’s obvious that many patients will soon arrive at Viscount Roland’s mansion.
Word of mouth is crucial in the business of hospitals. I brought a wooden plaque from Mr. Cotton, the carpenter at Viscount Roland’s mansion, and carefully engraved the letters.
“Kim Cheolsu, did you catch a chill from meeting remarkable ladies?” Miss Catherine seemed dissatisfied with my care for the valiant Miss Daisy and Lady Irene.
“Could it be that you harbor ill intentions towards Miss Daisy or Lady Irene?”
“Goodness…! Ill intentions! They are patients, Miss Catherine!”
“Then why lavish them with excessive care?”
“Oh, it’s nursing, Miss Catherine!”
Even in this era, there are nurses. Most practitioners do not perform nursing duties, leading to misunderstandings. Miss Catherine exclaimed in shock!
“Harboring ill intentions towards patients is a disrespect to them!”
While there are rare cases of mutual affection between patients and medical professionals, it is strictly forbidden. Engaging in romantic relationships in a hospital dedicated to healing is unacceptable, indeed!
“Sure…?”
Even though Catherine had a hesitant expression, there was an air of determination that was hard to ignore.
“I don’t care about the patients, right… Kim Chul-soo? I’m not Kim Chul-soo’s patient, am I?”
“Of course not, Miss. Haven’t you been managing your contagious dermatitis on your own?”
“Hehe… Is that so?”
Catherine suddenly felt better and smiled gleefully.
Just a moment ago, she had been complaining and harboring ill feelings towards another patient, but now she seemed to have let it go.
I somehow remembered when Catherine kissed me.
The sensation of her lips lightly touching my cheek and then disappearing, like a mark left behind.
“…Does Catherine have feelings for me?”
I had that misconception.
But that couldn’t be, right?
No matter how close Catherine and I were, what white person would like a person of color like me?
I think I’m seen as someone like, “He’s not a bad guy, more like a good older brother.”
And it would be embarrassing if I were to mistakenly believe that Catherine likes me because of some prince syndrome.
…Lord Rolang might come with an axe.
“Safety first!”
Being friends and staying safe is the best.
I pushed away unnecessary suspicions and focused on the characters on the page again.
Catherine, who had relaxed, now smiled and showed interest in what I was doing.
“What have you been doing since earlier?”
“It’s a lifeline to save me.”
I showed Catherine the signboard I was carving.
The characters on the signboard were “Away from desk.”
These magical characters would protect me from numerous patients.
Even if many patients come looking for me, they will see these characters and think, “Oh, Kim Charles isn’t here,” and leave!
That’s not all.
“On a business trip,” “On sick leave,” and so on.
I planned to make more signboards that would rescue me.
With just these, patients would think I’m not there.
“Hehe…”
Once the signboards are all made, I will hang them in front of my room.
I will be able to rest comfortably.
Catherine, who saw my grand plan, had a pitiful expression.
“Do I really have to go this far?”
“It’s just in case.”
“Are you doing this because you think there will be a lot of unnecessary patients coming to see Kim Chul-soo?”
How did she know?
Catherine is indeed quick-witted.
Seeing my embarrassed expression, Catherine let out a faint sigh and lowered her head.
“Kim Cheolsu, you don’t have to worry. There won’t be as many patients as you think.”
“Huh…? But I treated Daisy and Irene.”
“Well, that’s true, but there are many more skilled doctors than you. For example, there’s a saying that ‘Aureus, the healer, can bring the dead back to life with a touch of his hand,’ and ‘Galio, the healer, can cure any incurable disease with his divine power.’ People like Aureus and Galio deal with countless patients every day, unlike you, Kim Cheolsu. Although if the rumor of you healing a hero spreads, who knows?”
“Aureus can bring the dead back to life? Is that true?”
“Of course not.”
“Then is it a scam?”
“Hehe… most rumors and what poets say are usually scams.”
So, my rumor lacks a bit of sensationalism.
Well, I worried for nothing.
I roughly finished the sign I was making and threw it away.
* * * *
First of all, let me say that Catherine’s guess was wrong.
Outsiders swarmed into Roland’s Viscountcy like clouds!
Dozens of carriages stopped at the Viscountcy.
The carriages that couldn’t enter the Viscountcy stopped on the road and looked for Kim Cheolsu.
They were nobles who had come down from the capital.
“Is there a healer named Kim Cheolsu here by any chance?”
“Please just shake my hand… They say a nameless illness can be cured.”
Most of the outsiders came because they heard false rumors!
I immediately put up a sign in front of my door that said “Out on Business” and hid under the bed.
“Catherine…! You said there wouldn’t be many patients!!”
“I, I’m sorry! I didn’t expect so many patients!”
I was resentful of Catherine.
If I had known this would happen, I should have prepared a sign that said “Out on a Business Trip” or “On Sick Leave”!
I ordered Catherine to secretly observe the situation outside through the curtains.
Catherine, who had committed a crime against me, obediently followed.
“Kim Cheolsu… don’t you care about the guests at all?”
“Mmm… Catherine, for now, have the attendants check if there are any emergency patients.”
I barely held onto my shaken mental state and said to her.
There might be patients who need treatment.
Kim Cheolsu is in danger of overworking!