Ryan Bennett was also sizing up the girl before him—an elf. Truly a masterpiece of the gods. People often say that no matter how beautiful a girl is, she can't withstand close scrutiny, but clearly, this saying doesn't apply to the elven race. Even at such close range, Ryan Bennett couldn't spot a single flaw on her face, as if she had been meticulously sculpted by an artist.

Beautiful is the only word for it, and there was a faint fragrance emanating from her—not perfume, but the natural scent of flowers and fresh grass.

So beautiful. Unconsciously, Ryan Bennett leaned in closer...

"Ah!"

The girl's soft cry snapped Ryan Bennett back to his senses. His face flushed red, and he hurriedly sat back in his seat, apologizing, "Sorry, you're just so beautiful—I couldn't help myself."

A vivid blush rose to the elf girl's cheeks. Ryan Bennett's honesty and straightforwardness left a deep and favorable impression on her. He didn't pretend to be a gentleman, but could openly praise her beauty, and at the same time, he was able to control himself and apologize immediately after losing composure, behaving politely and with grace. Although just now... he had almost kissed her, Emily Brooks found that she wasn't angry at all.

The girl shook her head, still blushing. "It's fine."

"By the way, what's your name?"

"Emily Brooks."

What a lovely name. The young man silently repeated it twice. "My name is Ryan Bennett. Nice to meet you."

The girl seemed a bit shy. Compared to humans, elves are a more bashful race, but Ryan Bennett's witty words soon eased the awkward atmosphere.

"By the way, Xu... Ryan Bennett gege, are you really a doctor? Will you treat the princess?"

"Well..." Ryan Bennett's expression fell instantly. As if he could! He leaned in and whispered into the girl's ear, "Girl, I lied to them. I'm just stalling for time, looking for a chance to slip away."

The elf girl's eyes widened in shock. Lying—oh my, that's a crime against the monarch! This human brother was truly bold.

Ryan Bennett gently pulled back the curtain and glanced outside. The clatter of armored cavalry filled the air; all around the carriage were fully armed horsemen. Damn, that earl seemed to have already guessed his intentions.

"What should we do?" The elf girl leaned in closer.

"Girl, looks like this time, I'm the one dragging you down."

The girl smiled and shook her head. She knew the situation was dire, but for some reason, Emily Brooks didn't feel afraid. Even though it was her first time meeting this human boy, being by his side gave Emily Brooks a strange sense of security.

At this point, the plan to escape halfway had fallen through. For the moment, Ryan Bennett was at a loss for a good idea and could only take things one step at a time.

About half an hour later, the procession arrived at the imperial palace.

"You two, please get out of the carriage."

As the center of power in the empire, here, except for His Majesty the Emperor and a select few with his special permission, everyone else had to dismount or get out and walk, as a sign of respect for the royal family.

Ryan Bennett jumped down from the carriage, then reached out to help Emily Brooks down. He turned to look around at the surroundings—what a magnificent imperial city.

Imposing and grand, clearly the work of a top architect. The outer walls were made of massive bluestone, incredibly sturdy, and even reinforced by mages. On the ramparts were powerful bows and crossbows, and even a few magical weapons that had long since been lost to history...

Passing through the city gates, the majestic palace came into view: red bricks, yellow tiles, marble railings. Following behind the earl, the two of them stepped into the imperial palace.

"Girl, don't be afraid!"

For Emily Brooks, who had grown up in the forest, today's experience was overwhelming. The little girl's eyes still held a lingering fear. Ryan Bennett sighed and gently took her hand.

Warm as jade, soft as if boneless—the elf girl's hand was so soft. But at this moment, Ryan Bennett had no intention of teasing her. This intimate gesture was meant to help the girl dispel her fear, and it worked quite well; the fear in Emily Brooks's eyes lessened considerably...

Along the way, many palace maids pointed and whispered about the two of them. Since Her Highness the Princess fell ill, countless famous doctors had been sought, but never one so young.

Could he really do it? The earl himself had no confidence at all.

"Royce, is this the doctor you found for my daughter?" Looking at Ryan Bennett standing below, the Emperor of the Empire, Baron Fairfax XV, was full of doubt.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The earl's forehead was beaded with sweat. At this point, he could only help Ryan Bennett boast, saying his master was a reclusive sage of medicine, and that this young man was a genius, and so on...

The emperor frowned, his expression skeptical, but there was no time to verify everything. Alice's illness was getting worse by the day, and they couldn't afford to delay any longer. For now... he would let him try.

"Very well, come with me." Baron Fairfax XV sighed. At this moment, he was no longer the emperor of the empire, but a father worried about his daughter.

As the saying goes, being forced onto the stage, what could Ryan Bennett do at this point but follow the emperor forward.

The princess's bedchamber.

Contrary to Ryan Bennett's expectations, it was not lavish, but rather fresh and elegant.

"Your Majesty!"