Laboratory
of the Kanista Kingdom 4
The
Medicinal Herb Department is located at the back of the castle. While
heading there through a place like a courtyard, I felt some sort of gaze. When
I stole a glance next to me, Ashren-sama had a composed face, so I
didn't think I needed to mind it.
Entering
through the castle's back door and knocking on the first door, a reply came
from inside. I opened the door in place of Ashren-sama, whose hands were
full.
「Reizan-dono, I have brought the items you
requested.」
「Ashren, thank you. You saved me.」
An
elderly, tall man came out, so when I stated my name and bowed my head, the man
intently observed me from head to toe.
「Oh, is she the woman you fell in
love with at first sight? She is a lovely person.」
「Isn't she?」
Ashren-sama smiled warmly. I was taken
aback by that composed profile of his. Did it just sound like he affirmed it?
「Are the back shelves fine for the
medicine?」
「Yeah, that helps.」
Even
though he should have noticed my gaze, Ashren-sama briskly headed toward
the shelves in the back. There were a few other people in the Medicinal Herb
Department, but since everyone was looking at me, I couldn't stand it and
decided to chase after Ashren-sama.
「Ashren-sama, what on earth was the meaning
of that just now?」
When
I asked in a low voice while hiding in the shadow of the shelves, Ashren-sama
lowered his eyebrows and made a fed-up expression.
「Everywhere I go, it's rumored that I
brought home a bride. The source of the rumor is probably my mother.」
「Is that so. And you denied it,
didn't you?」
「I did it properly at first. However,
even when I tried to clear up the misunderstanding, it was only thought of as
hiding my embarrassment, and I was dumped by several young ladies with tearful
eyes saying, 'I give up.' Thanks to that, the young ladies who usually cling to
me annoyingly have completely stopped coming. It's truly comfortable.」
Um,
could this possibly mean... When I looked at him with suspicious eyes, Ashren-sama
floated a frivolous- looking smile on his lips.
「You used me as an excuse, didn't
you.」
「Even you would feel awkward
freeloading at the Marquis estate for nothing, right, Layla? I
provide a place to sleep and meals, and you become a bug repellent for me. It's
a give-and-take.」
As
expected, this guy is two-faced. And pitch black at that. Just like jet-black
darkness.
「When it's time for you to leave the Marquis
estate, I'll spread a rumor that I was dumped, so don't worry.」
「Then, I will find a place to live as
early as tomorrow.」
「Haha, there's no need to rush so
much. Take your time.」
Ashren-sama was clearly enjoying watching
me tremble with anger as I clenched my fists. Uncontainable laughter was
leaking from the corners of his lips, after all.
「Don't be so angry. You're
surprisingly expressive, aren't you.」
「Thanks to you.」
「You're much cuter than when you're
acting aloof, you know.」
「Eh!?」
My
cheeks grew hot in the blink of an eye. It was the first time in my life I had
been called cute, and I didn't know what to do.
「...U-Um. You two, would it be
alright if I intruded?」
Startled,
I looked around and saw Reizan-san peeking his face out apologetically
from between the bottles placed on the shelves. Why would he go out of his way
to peek from there...
「Yes! What is it? Please don't mind
us and tell us anything.」
「Is that so, I'm sorry about this. I
just wanted to see the documents Lady Layla brought as soon as possible.」
「Ah, I'm so sorry. I completely
forgot to hand them over.」
When
I hurriedly stepped away from the shelves and handed them over, he must have
been looking forward to it, as he began flipping through the pages right on the
spot.
「Layla, I'll clean up here, so could you
go explain it to him over there?」
「Me?」
「Obviously. They are your research
results, Layla.」
Because
it's my research, it's only natural that I explain it. Just how huge of a thing
that was to me.
Reizan-sama lined up two chairs in front
of a long desk in the corner of the room and offered one of them to me.
「Then, first, these are the recipes
for the medicine made today. I don't think this requires much explanation, so
may I move on to the explanation about the medicinal herbs' drying times?」
「Right, I will slowly decipher the
recipes later.」
Well
then,
I thought, and began explaining about the medicinal herbs. Partway through, Ashren-sama,
who had finished lining up the bottles, joined in as well. Both of them are
smart, and the questions they fired off one after another were all right on the
mark.
「...And so, that concludes my
explanation.」
By
the time I finished the dense thirty-minute discussion, the people from the Medicinal
Herb Department had surrounded me in multiple layers.
「Amazing! Isn't this already a
treasure of the Medicinal Herb Department?」
「Let's pass it down for generations
as a prized heirloom.」
「Eh, um. That's exaggerating...」
「What are you talking about, Layla?
This is something magnificent.」
When
Ashren-sama flatly asserted that, everyone nodded in strong agreement.
「Creating documents to this extent
must have been incredibly difficult. Repeating the same thing over and over,
it's a job that requires concentration and perseverance. Not just this; the
medicines you've made up until now are, no matter what anyone says, the result
of your talent and effort, Layla. You are a splendid researcher, Layla.」
At
those words, I remembered how I had repeated my research from morning until
night, day in and day out.
Cutting
down on sleep all alone in silence, becoming unsteady on my feet. In
experiments with no end in sight, Carter-sama would get angry saying I
was inefficient, and there are even research results I wasn't permitted to
write down.
Without
realizing it, a single tear had spilled out.
I
was more surprised by that fact than anyone else. Drip, drop. Tears just
silently slid down my cheeks. I saw Ashren-sama's flustered face beyond
my blurred vision.
「Hic...」
A
pathetic sound came out of my throat. The tears gained momentum and overflowed.
「Th-Thank you very much. Because no
one has ever said such a thing to me until now.」
Even
when I wiped the tears with the back of my hand, they wouldn't stop at all. I
have to stop crying; this is a workplace, after all. That's what I thought,
but.
I
had always, always wanted someone to acknowledge me. While feeling like I'd be
crushed by loneliness and anxiety, I worked hard because I wanted to be
praised.
Through
Ashren-sama's words, I felt as if all the efforts I had made up until
now were finally rewarded. I want to let the me from back then hear it.
In
the depths of my heart, the part that had grown completely cold and numb became
faintly warm. Ah, I realized for the first time that I was this starved for
kindness.
Softly,
my shoulders were pulled into an embrace.
Gentle,
yet strong arms. Warmth transmitted from the chest I pressed my ear against,
which was more sturdy than it looked.
Ashren-sama gently patted my head with his
large hand.
「You've done well working so hard up
until now.」
「Ugh, sob...」
Why
must you say such gentle words at a time like this? The words I had always
wished for someone to tell me.
As if something stuck in my chest for many years had burst like a dam, before I knew it, I was clinging to Ashren-sama, crying out loud.
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