Layla's
Future 5
「Which means...?」
When Carter-sama asked, flustered by His Highness the Second Prince's
threatening attitude, that gaze grew even stronger.
「The Director of the Medicinal Herb
Laboratory is the older sister of the King of Kanista. You, a mere Earl,
publicly insulted someone of foreign royal blood.」
...The
Director is the King's older sister?
Due
to the sheer shock, I let go of Ashren-sama's arm that I had been
holding, and asked his profile in a daze. Then, he returned a fearless smile in
silence, and blood rushed to my head.
To
think that I was the only one who didn't know, even though we were together all
this time! Why didn't anyone tell me? Even when I asked Flora and Tick,
they just avoided the question. The people in the Pharmaceutical Department and
the Knight Order... perhaps they thought I already knew, but. But, still.
Couldn't someone have told me?
「Layla, calm down. I wanted to tell you
too. However, perhaps because my mother loved my father deeply, she insists on
being the Marchioness Naturi and hates being treated as a former
princess. Her thoroughness is such that even when foreign dignitaries arrive,
she never introduces herself as former royalty. Therefore, it is an unspoken
agreement that everyone respects my mother's wishes and does not mention she is
royalty. That being said, her influence is still significant, though.」
Because
it was the Director who got things approved by the Knight Order and
civil officials, and even moved the royal family. Thinking about it that way,
my previous doubts suddenly made sense. But, I still can't accept it.
Besides,
I suddenly thought. The current King has one princess. This is quite dangerous
for the country. It is natural for a country to prepare a spare in case
something happens to the princess. In that case, who would be second in line to
the throne?
The
Director left the royal family and married into a Marquis family, so
she's excluded. The current Marquis Naturi has succeeded the Marquis
family, so he's also excluded. If someone props him up there's a possibility,
but at this stage, it's unthinkable that he is officially considered the
successor.
If
so. There is only one conceivable answer. It's terrifying, but I can't think of
anything else.
When
I firmly pulled his arm this time and questioned my realization, Ashren-sama
scratched his cheek with a wry smile, realizing he couldn't dodge this one.
「Well, I am just a spare in the end.
It's a succession right in name only.」
No,
no, "in name only", you say. Because proper royal blood flows in Ashren-sama.
And quite thick at that. And that goes for Marquis Naturi and Karin
too.
I
felt a slight dizziness. I was about to shout "Tell me!" when I
realized. Ashren-sama must have definitely, all this time, been enjoying
watching me not know anything.
「By the way, Your Highness Carlos.
I heard Lord Carter made a new medicine effective against the disease
that spreads in autumn.」
Carlos is the name of His Highness the Second
Prince. I realized somewhat belatedly that they were acquainted,
understanding Ashren-sama's position.
「Yeah, he exported it to the Kanista
Kingdom too. It's a specific medicine I approved.」
「That is poison. I believe it would
be a good idea to have production stopped immediately.」
「What!!」
I
also rolled my eyes in surprise at the sudden words. Because I don't know about
that specific medicine.
「We investigated it before
distributing it in our country. Then, we found out that medicinal herbs that
must be used after being completely dried were being used half-dried.」
「You're saying that makes it poison?」
「Yes. There are no noticeable side
effects when taken. This poison slips into the blood vessels, multiplies using
the blood as nutrients, gradually drains stamina, and ultimately leads to
death.」
His
Highness the Second Prince's face quickly changed color. Just as I
thought he started trembling, he suddenly grabbed Carter-sama.
「Hey! Is what Lord Ashren says
true? My daughter took that medicine a week ago. I was relieved her epidemic
disease was cured, but since last night she hasn't been feeling well.」
Hearing
that, the gathered people made a commotion.
「My son too. He drank that medicine
and his diarrhea certainly stopped. But day by day his complexion is getting
worse.」
「My grandmother too. Now she is
completely bedridden.」
The
whispers that were small at first grew steadily larger, and everyone's severe
gazes were directed at Carter-sama. Receiving those voices, Ashren-sama
took one step forward.
「Please rest assured. There is a way
to save them.」
「What kind of way!? I will pay any
price! Please save my daughter!!」
Where
did the rough attitude I saw at the evening banquet go? His Highness the Second
Prince clung to Ashren-sama with tears in his eyes.
「When we went to investigate the mass
withering of wheat, Layla coincidentally found a precious medicinal
herb. Using that as an ingredient, we made an antidote several times more
effective than conventional ones, and coincidentally... it is in my
carriage.」
「That woman there made it...?」
「Yes. Our country's excellent
researcher, who prevented the mass withering of wheat, made it. We also have a
large amount of antidotes and medicinal herbs loaded on our ship, so it is
possible to hand those over to you, but what will you do?」
His
Highness the Second Prince closed his eyes while unable to hide his
bewilderment, and after silently contemplating for a while, walked over to me.
「Lady Layla Wilbas, you are an
excellent researcher. I was trapped only by gender, and have lost a great asset
in you. I apologize for my rudeness at the evening banquet a year ago. Please
save my daughter.」
「I accept your apology.」
I
raised my face straight and smiled with dignity. Blushing in embarrassment,
being modest, or smiling cutely—those aren't like me. Regardless of being a
woman or a man, I am proud to have been acknowledged as a single researcher.
At
Ashren-sama's order, a servant brought the antidote from the carriage.
Upon receiving it, Ashren-sama and His Highness the Second Prince
hurriedly headed to the castle on fast horses.
It
was when I was also about to follow after them in a carriage.
「Well then, with this, we can finally
have our wedding, right!!」
A
stupidly out-of-place remark echoed, and everyone doubted their own ears.
However, Aisha smiled with satisfaction that attention was finally
gathered on her.
「Aisha, what are you thinking? Don't you
understand that the new medicine you two made is putting people's lives at
risk?」
「You're the one who needs to stop, Oneesama.
Do you dislike me being the main character that much? You've been the only one
standing out since a while ago, and going that far to tear apart my and Carter-sama's
relationship is disgraceful beyond measure.」
How
do you have to interpret that situation to end up like that? Now that the mass
withering of wheat is happening and the side effects of the new medicine are
known, why would she think they can have a wedding?
「Carter-sama, you investigated the side
effects of the new medicine, didn't you?」
「Of course.」
「Did you do it yourself?」
「No, I asked Aisha. Aisha,
there was no problem with the new medicine, right?」
Sure
enough, Aisha lowered her eyebrows as if troubled, and shook her head
while making her eyes tear up.
「What are side effects?」
Those
words were fatal. The occurrence of the mass withering of wheat, the sloppy
development of a new medicine, and the severe side effects caused by it. From
the surroundings, jeers started flying without holding back anymore.
「Are you guys still researchers
despite that?」
「Are you trying to kill people?」
Aisha was bewildered by the words far
from blessings, and though she tried to cry her way out of it, the criticism
didn't stop. Carter-sama fell to his knees and lay face down on the
floor, no longer moving.
I
left that place, which had begun to fall into chaos, and headed for my
carriage. There is no longer any meaning in being in this place.
Therefore, I don't know what happened to the wedding after that. I don't want to know either.