"Dr. Neil, since you are here I guess there is something that you want to tell me?" I ask softly while looking directly at the man in front of me.
From having a bad mood earlier my mood now swings like 360 degrees. I am now in a calm and a better mood, ready for a short chit-chat. Truly a full stomach and a serene environment bring magic in me.
"You guess it right your highness," Doctor Neil said while averting my gaze.
My eyebrows furrowed at his gesture. "Are you afraid of me?" I said while observing him. These past few weeks I noticed that most of the servants that I met are avoiding my gaze, if not, they look like they are trembling in fear whenever I am around.
I admit that I am not in my best mood lately, I might bring fear to them because of my behavior but certainly, I will not kill them or punish them as they thought.
Doctor Neil suddenly looked at me with his startled face and begin to apologize to me rashly as his life depended on it.
" I'm so sorry your highness. Please do not misunderstand my behavior. I do not mean to be rude to you or anything this Is my first time talking to you and no! I'm not that scared of you. I know that you are a very kind person. I'm just nervous! Yes just nervous."
I can't help but blink my eyes once he finished, I am amused at how fast he talked to me. "Are you convincing me? Or you are convincing yourself"
Doctor Neil bewilderingly looks at me while his mouth opened, he then avoids my gaze, and slowly a shade of red is starting to appear in his ears.
I stifled my laugh and look at my empty cup.
"Alright... What do you want to tell me?. I seriously said while holding back the smile on my lips. I put my right elbow at the table with my hand supporting my face, giving him my full attention.
"I just want to say that You are Incredible your Highness!!"
"What?" I confusingly asked him.
"I said you are incredibly amazing Prince Luan!." Doctor Neil said in a high-pitched voice. He looks so excited that I am afraid he will jump off his seat.
"What made you think that?" although my face looks serious my heart is overwhelmed by his joy.
"Because you save this crisis we are having right now!. " he added with his eyes full of joy. He is no different from a child who receives a Christmas gift from Santa.
However, what he said made me silent for a while I do not want to pop his bubble but in contrast to his feeling, my disposition turned sour as I remembered what happened earlier.
"Ahem.. well, It's not yet solved like what most of you are thinking. " I snorted.
"I also think the same Prince Luan," says the doctor while nodding his head, ignoring the sarcasm in my voice. "but the mere fact that you can distinguish it and know the medicine they need, it's more than enough. You know, what we have right now is no different in facing war and in a war, knowing your enemy will greatly increase your chances of winning."
"You give us hope and light that nobody can do. And I want to know how? How did you do it, your highness? How did you find out that there is a flu going around and not the usual cold?!" he asked interestingly.
"Don't you think you are belittling yourself and the other doctors here? I have just read it in a book " I said casually, hoping that for this reason Doctor Neil will stop but unfortunately he didn't as Doctor Neil frowned his eyebrows, unbelief showed on his face and he started to ask me several questions.
"Forgive me your highness but may I ask what book is it? Because his majesty allowed us to read all the books in the Royal Library but I hadn't read anything like that and I'm sure of it. "
"And what made you say that? There are tons of books at the library!" I answered back.
"Because I stay. I stay there and read all night long!" he defended, stressing every word to me. "And when I figure out that there is no such thing that happened before I decided to stay at the hospital and then observe the patients. I can only hope that there Is something that I can find to help the people." He continuously said and that brings an eerie feeling at the moment.
"Hmmm,... You are very kind Doctor Neil. The king must reward you for your dedication." I softly said hoping that he will no longer ask any questions about it.
"This is my country, the place where I was born and the place where my children and my future generation will live. I never intend to be rewarded or to be recognized. But If your highness thinks that a nobody like me due to his compassion and love for his country deserves a reward. Instead of his Majesty the king, may I ask for his Highness for a reward.?"
"Doctor Neil! Don't be so rude to the prince." Butler Hector said breaking the tension between me and the doctor.
Instinct told me that I will not like it. Whatever he will ask will surely be difficult for me.
On the other hand, he is a man that is kind, passionate, has integrity and dignity. As a Prince can Isay no to him to a doctor who is concerned for the citizen of the empire? As a doctor can I not share my knowledge with him?
Doctor Neil ignored what the head butler said. His eyes are still looking expectantly to me.
Silence is been drawn between the two of us, both are sizing each other up.
"And what reward do you want me to give to you?".
Doctor Neil's face softens and in a soft voice, he said" I do not believe when you say that you read it in a book unless you can tell me the name of the book and let me read it by myself. I also feel that you know more about the medical field your highness. So as a reward what I want is for you to tell me the truth and be your student."