Monitares Flowers and Sap 2
Dinner, as expected, was spent with Prince Elliot, which
consumed a considerable amount of my mental stamina.
Blake-san had told us beforehand which dishes
used the Monitares sap, and warned us not to eat them. Prince Elliot,
who saw Ashren-sama as quite a rival, kept pestering me.
If it hadn't been for Ashren-sama casually saying provocative
things and Blake-san being so good at reading the room... I don't even
want to think about what would have happened.
After the meal, I decided to take a stroll alone in the garden of the Hadren
villa for a change of pace.
「I wonder if tomorrow will be like this too.」
As I sat on a bench, looking up at the night sky with a heavy heart, I
felt a presence nearby. Thinking it might be Ashren-sama, I directed my
gaze, but standing there of all people was Prince Elliot. He had wine
and a glass in his hands.
「Layla, so you were here. I looked for you.」
「...I hit a bit of a wall with my research, so I was doing some
thinking.」
「Alright then, I'll hear you out. Pharmacology is my specialty, after
all.」
Sitting down beside me without permission, Prince Elliot offered
me a glass. Since I had been told not to drink alcohol, I shook my head and
declined, so he poured a glass only for himself, crossed his legs, and beamed a
full-faced smile at me. This person, only his face is good, isn't it? His eyes
shining under the moonlight look like obsidian.
「Are you captivated by my face?」
「I do think you have handsome features.」
「Right?」
Nodding without denying it is just like Ashren-sama. I wonder if
handsome men are always like this.
「So, what are you troubled about?」 he said
while trying to wrap his arm around my waist, so I quickly put some distance
between us and brought up a few harmless topics about medicinal herbs. Then,
surprisingly, Prince Elliot really did seem to have knowledge about
medicinal herbs, and a proper conversation was established. Since the
preparation methods for medicinal herbs and the ways of making medicine differ
depending on the country, the methods of the Tarteria Kingdom were very
interesting. That being said, I don't really want to get close to him, though.
「...I see, so there was that method. Why didn't I notice it?」
When the conversation touched upon the healing salve I handed him
earlier, a topic came up that seemed like it could be used for the extraction
method of the Monitares flowers. The reason I hadn't noticed it despite it
being a relatively popular method was that in the Kanista Kingdom, that
method isn't used for flowers.
「? Did something happen? However, that healing salve was wonderful.
Since women who are this knowledgeable in pharmacology are rare, it makes sense
that Ashren took a liking to you. That's right, the garden is getting
cold, so after this, in my room...」
「Layla, what are you doing?」
Before I knew it, the distance between Prince Elliot and me had
been closed, but as if to pry me away, arms wrapped around me from behind, and
simultaneously a familiar scent enveloped my whole body. Looking up, standing
there as expected was—
「Ashren-sama!」
Looking at me with eyes that were not smiling in the slightest, Ashren-sama
formed a beautiful arc with his thin lips. Ugh, he is quite angry.
「I-I am very sorry.」
Unwinding the wrapped arms, I stood up and stood next to Ashren-sama
behind the bench. Then this time, switching to a sweet, lingering smile, he
took a lock of my hair and dropped a kiss on it.
「So you were here; I was waiting for you in the room the entire time,
you know.」
While keeping Prince Elliot in check, Ashren-sama wrapped
his hand around my waist. The distance is a bit too close.
「The room? Which room do you mean?」
「...The room with the large bed.」
I feel like Ashren-sama's eyes are prompting me to read the
room, but I am sorry to say I am bad at that sort of thing. The room with the large
bed—he must mean the room where we were making perfume earlier, right? Ah, he
looked unenthusiastic earlier, but does this mean he is going to help me? In
that case!
「I am sorry. U-Um. I have been thinking about various things, and there
is something I would like to try out; would that be alright?」
「Try out?」
「Try out?」
For some reason, I heard Prince Elliot's voice as well, but
ignoring that, I firmly clenched my fist.
Making perfume is outside my field of expertise, but if it's completed,
it might be of use to the Princess, and by extension, to the country. And if
component extraction from petals succeeds, it should be something that can be
utilized in future medicine making.
「Since we have the opportunity, I think I will challenge myself to
various things. I don't know if it will go well, but perhaps a new discovery
will come from it, so Ashren-sama, will you keep me company?」
I thought he would definitely say yes, but Ashren-sama placed a
hand on his forehead and was pondering something. Behind us, Prince Elliot
muttered, "You are unexpectedly proactive, Layla," but I think
it's only natural as a researcher.
「Yeah, I was a bit confused, but knowing your personality, Layla,
I understood what you were trying to say.」
「Haa... in that case, is it alright?」
「We might not be able to sleep peacefully tonight, but are you fine with
that, Layla?」
For some reason asked in a captivating voice, I blinked repeatedly.
What could it be? The conversation should be established, yet I feel a subtle
discrepancy.
「Yes. Of course!」
At my energetic response, Prince Elliot behind us coughed and
choked with a gaho gaho. His words and behavior have been strange for a
while now, I wonder what's wrong with him. While being somewhat curious,
prompted by Ashren-sama, I left that place behind.
「Ashren-sama, the night breeze feels nice, so
shall we take a short walk like this?」 「...Before that, may I ask one thing? What do you want to try out?」
「The extraction method for the components of the Monitares flower.」
When I answered that I was planning to talk while walking, Ashren-sama
let out a deep sigh and dropped his shoulders for some reason, saying, "I
thought it was something like that. No, I actually knew." Whether it's
Prince Elliot or him, both of them are strange tonight.
「Your obliviousness reaches a level of threat, Layla.」
「I do not understand what you mean.」
「So, what is that extraction method?」
「It uses the solution we used when making the healing salve.」
The color in Ashren-sama's eyes suddenly changed, and he made a
regretful face as if asking why he hadn't thought of it.
Since some components of medicinal herbs are difficult to dissolve in
water, at such times they are soaked in a special solution to extract those
components, and then heated to evaporate the moisture. The viscosity of the
finished product varies depending on the medicinal herb, ranging from something
thick like honey to something with the hardness of butter. It is a method used
as a pre-treatment for relatively thick and hard parts, such as veined leaves
or roots.
「If it's the solution you improved, Layla, it might be usable
even for thin petals. Did you bring it with you?」
「Yes.」
Thinking we might find rare plants, I brought it in a bottle just in case. I never thought I would use it for making perfume, but there is plenty of it, and even if it runs out, it seems it can be made with the medicinal herbs in the greenhouse we saw today.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
Nepheos
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Tbaum56
Baelee
Christopher Feliciano
Ctdela
Curious Panda
nick nasca
SD Fox
Taylor King
Z
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----