Layla's
Future 6
His
Highness the Second Prince's daughter recovered her health shortly after
drinking the antidote.
Carter-sama and Aisha's marriage
was broken off. Carter-sama took full responsibility and was fired from
his position as the Director of the laboratory, and is now in prison for the
crime of neglecting his duties and putting people's lives at risk. Aisha
apparently cried that she had nothing to do with it, but she was imprisoned for
the same crime. Her sentence will likely be lighter than Carter-sama's,
but no matter how much she dresses up and scatters smiles from now on, it is
unlikely anyone will appear to propose to her.
His
Highness the Second Prince was reprimanded by the King for easily
rewarding the medicine Carter-sama made, and it seems he will renounce
his royal status and move to a remote frontier. He will likely no longer be
involved in state affairs.
Ashren-sama had fully utilized his
position as second in line to the throne to obtain diplomatic authority
regarding the export of wheat and the antidote from the King of Kanista
in advance. Under that authority, he had apparently been negotiating the export
volume and prices with the King.
The
medicine we brought was immediately distributed within the Jilgista Kingdom
and ran out in the blink of an eye. Borrowing the hands of the Pharmaceutical
Department, I continued making the antidote with the remaining medicinal
herbs. Along the way, Ashren-sama, having finished his diplomatic
negotiations, helped me as well, but we haven't slept for almost three days.
We
still need more antidote, but we have used up all the medicinal herbs we
brought, and right now, the entire Jilgista Kingdom is rushing about to
secure more medicinal herbs.
Now
that things have settled down, Ashren-sama has collapsed onto the sofa
in the laboratory and is breathing softly in his sleep. As for me, a strange
feeling wells up that I never expected to be mixing medicine in this room ever
again.
When
I went to the next room, my desk was still left there, so I took out letter
paper, an envelope, and a pen from the drawer. The top of the desk was in a
terrible state, so having no choice, I placed them on the low table in front of
the sofa where Ashren-sama was sleeping.
What
arrived from my parents to me, who had been working while sparing no time for
sleep, was a letter of protest. Apparently, it was entirely my fault that Aisha's
marriage was ruined and she was imprisoned. An emptiness akin to resignation
occupied my chest, but as if to brush it away, I dipped my pen in ink and ran
it across the letter paper.
"I
am sorry that I could not become the daughter that you, Father and Mother,
desired. However, I am proud of the way I have lived my life."
I
suppose we will never meet again. Just as I was about to put it in the
envelope, my consciousness reached its limit, and I lay down on the other sofa.
When
I woke up, neither Ashren-sama nor the envelope was there, and a blanket
had been placed over my body. Waiting for a while, Ashren-sama returned,
and simply saying, "I handed over the letter," he smiled gently.
On
the ship heading back, as I watched the bright red setting sun sink into the
horizon, Ashren-sama was beside me before I knew it.
「It's gotten cold, here.」
Saying
that, he draped a stole over my shoulders. Replying, "Thank you," I
looked at his profile standing next to me.
「May I ask you one thing?」
「What is it?」
「Are you perhaps using spies or
something?」
「Why do you think that?」
Is
he trying to play dumb at this late stage, or is he looking forward to hearing
my deduction? He truly is an unreadable man.
「How did you know what kind of
medicinal herbs were used in the new medicine? You knew, which is why you were
able to prepare the antidote, wasn't it. Come to think of it, when we first
met, you also knew that the pesticide that received an award used a medicinal
herb that causes rashes on the hands.」
「You finally noticed? But it's not a
spy; it's information from a peddler who specializes in selling medicinal
herbs. So I don't know the detailed recipes.」
It
seems he obtained information on what kind of medicinal herbs were being
purchased, and made a guess as to which ones were used based on the announced
effects of the new medicines. That is something that can only be done with an
abundant knowledge of medicinal herbs.
「As expected of you.」
「Not as much as you, Layla.」
「So, you anticipated that side
effects would occur and loaded the antidotes onto the ship, didn't you. You
could have just told me; between this and the Director, you keep far too
many secrets, Ashren-sama.」
「Sorry. It's just that the antidote
was also a diplomatic card, so I wanted to bring it out at my own timing.
Forgive me.」
When
it comes to diplomacy, it's not something a mere researcher like me can
interfere with. However, I still can't help but think he's two-faced.
「Then, in this diplomacy, you
concluded the export of wheat and the antidote under conditions favorable to
the Kanista Kingdom, didn't you, Ashren-sama.」
「Yeah, and I also asked them to
spread the word to other countries that our country's medicinal herb research
is superior. It should serve as a foothold to clear our dishonor of being
inferior to the neighboring country.」
「Come to think of it, you did say you
would make up for the delay behind the neighboring country in two years.」
「It is turning out exactly like that,
isn't it?」
This
shouldn't be called cunning, but rather being a tactician. I counted off the
results on my fingers once again.
「The export of wheat, the export of
the antidote, the elevation of the Kanista Kingdom's status—these three
are the harvests this time. It goes beyond amazing; it's far too greedy.」
「No, there is still one more. For me,
a harvest greater than anything else.」
「Something that surpasses these?」
To
my exasperated face, what returned was a serious gaze.
「The fourth.」
Saying
that, he gently bent my ring finger and dropped a kiss there.
「This morning, I met your parents, Layla,
and obtained their permission to propose.」
Ashren-sama dropped to one knee, taking
out a ring and looking up at me. The sea breeze fluttered his silver hair,
which sparkled in the setting sun.
「Layla, I love you. I want you to marry
me.」
Is
it because of the setting sun that his cheeks are dyed red? I couldn't take my
eyes off his passionate, misty gaze. It looked as if he were begging me with
his entire being.
I
gasped at the sudden event, my heart leaping. Next, an overflowing joy raced
through my entire body.
「Yes, I love you too, Ashren-sama.」
At
my words, Ashren-sama broke into a broad smile just like a young boy,
which somehow looked cute. The ring he placed on my ring finger was a blue
diamond, the exact same color as his eyes.
「Let's live together forever from now
on. I cannot imagine a life without you, Layla.」
「It is the same for me. The only
place I can return to is by your side, Ashren-sama.」
My
life changed after meeting Ashren-sama. I met many people, experienced
kindness, was acknowledged, and was able to have pride as a researcher. I might
still lack charm, but I came to feel that it was okay for me to live true to
myself.
His
mischievous side, his gentle side, and the way he always cherishes
me—encompassing all of it, I love Ashren-sama. I never knew until now
that loving someone and being loved could fill one's heart to this extent.
Those
ice-blue eyes drew closer, and I closed my eyelids. Gentle, hot lips touched
mine, and after a few seconds, parted as if reluctant to leave.
Above
Ashren-sama, who looked up while feeling a little shy, was the first
star of the evening. The memories we make from now on will surely outnumber the
stars in the night sky.
After all, the story of the two of us has only just begun.