Where the Completed Medicine Went 1
Returning from the field investigation, I headed straight to the main
residence and handed the finished book to Claude-sama.
Along with that, when I also handed him the letter entrusted to me by a
servant of the Hadren family who chased after me on a fast horse during
the return trip, deep, deep wrinkles formed between his eyebrows. The letter
was from Ashren-sama.
「A few days ago, a letter arrived from Ashren stating only that
his return would be delayed, but... so this is what it was about. Speaking of Bareinurake
disease, it is an endemic disease that has plagued the Tarteria Kingdom
for a long time. To think you made an antidote for it.」
「It is the result of a stack of coincidences. Even so, he mentioned he
was sending a letter, so I completely thought it was written in detail.」
To think he only wrote that his return would be delayed. He was
certainly very busy, but there should have been a better way to write it.
「The men of the Naturi family are a man of few words, after all.
Welcome back, Layla.」
「Director. I apologize for the delay. Without
delay, I will compile the recipe for the antidote.」
「No, it is already late today, so take your time and sleep. You pushed
yourself quite hard, didn't you? Rest your body tomorrow as well; you can come
to the medicinal herb laboratory the day after tomorrow. You can write the
recipe then.」
The book I was asked for was completed two days ago so I am not that
tired, I thought, but being strongly reminded by both of them that I absolutely
must not work, I nodded with a wry smile.
The next day, it was already high noon by the time I woke up.
It seems the travel alone placed a burden on my body, and I was more
tired than I thought. Perhaps when I met Claude-sama and the others, my
face looked quite tired, and that might be why they persuaded me to rest.
While I was thinking of taking them up on their offer and relaxing, in
the afternoon, the furniture I ordered was delivered.
For the furniture in my room, I had thought about the layout as Ashren-sama
told me to, so they were able to carry it in smoothly, but I have no idea about
the bedroom. The bed was large and wouldn't fit through the door as it was, so
they brought it into the room separated into smaller parts and assembled it on
the spot.
I heard the placement could be changed later, so when I asked them to
just leave it up to them for now, it was placed bam! right in the middle
of the room. The sense of presence is overwhelming. Yeah, let's pretend I
didn't see it.
And the next day, I went to the pharmacological laboratory for the
first time in a while.
I felt sorry for not having any rare medicinal herbs (souvenirs), but Flora-san
and Tick were surprised that we had made an antidote for Bareinurake
disease, and watched me write the recipe from behind the whole time.
「We have to quickly make a report and formally announce this. This is a
major discovery.」
「But there is also the matter of side effects, and I think we should
wait for Ashren-sama to return and write that part as well. Furthermore,
my knowledge of Bareinurake disease is lacking, so there are things I
want to investigate by reading literature.」
If we are going to compile a proper report, we should also write about
the relationship between temperature and Bareinurake disease, and detail
the Monitares flower. I borrowed a book about the temperatures of the Tarteria
Kingdom from Blake-san, but there might be others if I go to the
castle's library. When I explained this,
「It is amazing that you created an antidote without knowing those
things.」
「As I also told the Director, it was a stack of coincidences. It
was because we were originally trying to make perfume with Monitares flowers,
protected an injured monkey, and had everyone's cooperation besides that, so I
can only say we were lucky.」
I couldn't have done it alone, of course, nor could just Ashren-sama
and I. It is all thanks to everyone involved.
「That modest side of yours is very you, Layla. If there is
anything we can help with, please tell us anything.」
「In that case, could you make a lot of insect-repellent aroma candles
for me? It seems Claude-sama wants to show off items made in the Kanista
Kingdom at Princess Stira's birthday party.」
Yesterday evening, Catherine-san brought muffins, and we talked
about various things while having tea then. When I casually suggested
decorating the garden in front of the venue with aroma candles, she agreed
saying, "That's a great idea!", and told me she would pass the application
so I should make a lot of aroma candles.
「If the two of you make the aroma candles, I can do other work.」
「Understood, ssu. Then, leave the aroma candles to me and Flora,
ssu.」
「Tick, I am the senior here; that is my line.
Say, Layla, since we have the chance, how about coloring the aroma
candles or mixing in flower petals? I'm sure it will be more romantic.」
「Wonderful! Please do. I am out of touch with that sort of thing, so I
will leave it to you, Flora-san.」
I left the place to the two who immediately started thinking about the
design of the aroma candles, and headed to the library. The castle's library is
spacious, and this room, filled with a dead silent atmosphere and the smell of
books, is my favorite place next to the medicinal herb garden. When I went to
the shelf gathering books from neighboring countries and was looking for the
book I wanted, my hair was gently stroked from behind. Thinking there is only
one person who would do such a thing, I turned around full of joy.
「Ashren-sama! You're already ba...」
However, standing there was a man with tanned skin floating a frivolous
smile. My whole body quickly turned cold.
「You were slow, Layla. Haven't you lost a little weight?」
「...Prince Elliot.」
I tried to back away with a bah, but my back bumped against the
bookshelf. Seeing my state, Prince Elliot deepened his smile, stepped
one step closer, and narrowed his black eyes while reaching his fingers for my
hair again.
「I wanted to see you.」
Moving sideways as if to dodge his hand, I took some distance and
greeted him with a curtsy.
「How has your physical condition been since then? Actually, mild side
effects appeared in several of the patients who took the antidote.」
「Hmm, side effects, huh. I have no problem, but as expected, the
antidote wasn't perfect. Well, since a researcher of the Kanista Kingdom
made it, it can't be helped. If Monitares flowers bloomed in the Tarteria
Kingdom as well, an antidote without side effects would have been developed
a long time ago.」
His way of looking down on the Kanista Kingdom angers me, but I
cannot deny that possibility.
But I dislike this kind of 'what if' talk. At least Ashren-sama
wouldn't say such meaningless things.
「I am glad there are no side effects. Are you currently staying at the
castle?」
I tried to take one more step back, but Prince Elliot moved
faster and placed a hand on the bookshelf as if to block my path.
I glared up at him sharply, but as if enjoying my reaction, he took a
lock of my hair in his hand and... to my disbelief, Prince Elliot
pressed his lips to it. A feeling of disgust ran through my whole body, and I
got goosebumps. At the same time, feeling that it would be dangerous if I
didn't leave here quickly, I grabbed the base of the hair Prince Elliot
was holding.
「Please stop.」
Because I pulled my hair forcefully, there was the pain of a few
strands being pulled out, but I don't care about that. Anyway, I just want to
leave this place quickly; with that single thought, I tried to slip past his
arm, but this time Prince Elliot placed both arms on the bookshelf,
trapping me between them.
Not willing to flinch here, I glared at him while saying, "Please
remove your hand," but he raised the corners of his mouth in a smirk and
brought his face closer to me.
「Hey, choose me. Ashren will become an Earl, right? If you become
my concubine, you won't have to work, and you can live in luxury as much as you
want. You can get gorgeous dresses and precious jewels.」
「I want to do research, and I have no interest in dresses or jewels.」
「I hear you were treated terribly in the Jilgista Kingdom. You
might feel indebted to Ashren for taking you out of there, but there is
no need for that.」
It seems he investigated me quite a bit in a short amount of time.
However, the fact that the Kanista Kingdom's antidote saved the people
whose lives were endangered by the side effects of the medicine Carter-sama
made is something His Highness the Second Prince is talking about in
various countries. Perhaps it isn't that difficult to reach me from there.
「I am not marrying Ashren-sama for such reasons. If it isn't
him...」
「Ah, enough!! Everyone, everyone is so annoying with 'Ashren, Ashren'.
Just what is so good about that guy? What is so amazing about him? If it
weren't for that guy, by now, I, I would...!」
「Ouch!!」
Suddenly my chin was grabbed, and Prince Elliot's face came even
closer. I wanted to turn my face away, but his strength was unexpectedly
strong, and his fingers dug into my cheeks.
「I wonder what kind of face that guy will make if I make you mine, Layla?」
At the moment the blood drained from my entire body at that low
whispered voice,
Bata bata batat! A violent sound came from the
bookshelf next to us.
Moving only my eyes to look, for some reason the bookshelf was leaning,
and several guard knights were supporting it, trying to return it to its
original position. Since several books were piled on top of each other at their
feet, it seems the sound just now was from when they fell to the floor.
「You guys, what are you doing!」
「We apologize. For some reason, the bookshelf suddenly fell over...」
The one answering like that was the guard knight with graying hair.
When he met my eyes, he gave a small nod and quickly moved his gaze to the
entrance door of the library.
「Why would a bookshelf fall over on its own... Hey! Layla!! Where
are you going. Tch, damn it.」
Taking advantage of the opening, I shook off Prince Elliot's
hand and ran desperately, pushing the door open as if crashing into it and
flying out of the library. Running just like that, running until I was out of
breath, I eventually stopped and sat down as if collapsing.
「Haa, haa... Ugh, hic... Ashren-samaaa.」
Even though I know he won't answer even if I call out, I feel so sad
that tears overflow. Before my eyes, medicinal herbs were swaying gently in the
early summer breeze.
To think the place I arrived at running unconsciously was the medicinal
herb field; if Ashren-sama were here, he would surely laugh, saying it's
just like me. It was only recently that we ate breakfast here like a picnic. I
can even remember the menu. Ever since coming to the Kanista Kingdom, Ashren-sama
has always been by my side. We go to work together, work in the same
laboratory, and return in the same carriage again. After dinner, we enjoyed tea
together, and sometimes talked late into the night. Of course we weren't
together 24/7, but still, I could always feel his presence like a breath.
「...Layla? What is wrong, in a place like this. Weren't you going
to the library?」
Looking in the direction of the familiar voice, I saw Flora-san
running over to me looking surprised. Since the basket in her hand is full of
eucalyptus leaves, it seems she came to gather ingredients for the aroma
candles.
「Just a little, at the library with Prince Elliot...」
「Prince Elliot!? That rude person appeared again? Are you okay?
...Did he do anything terrible to you?」 Crouching
down in front of me, she reached out her hand looking worried and touched my
cheek.
「It's red.」
「I'm fine. I was just a little surprised.」
Reflected in Flora-san's eyes, I had a face like a lost child.
「He didn't do anything to you?」
「No, the guard knight was quick-witted, so I'm fine. Just...」
「Just?」
Sniffling with a zuzut, I smiled as if troubled. Perhaps because
of my blurring tears, Flora-san's face looked distorted.
「...I just ended up wanting to see Ashren-sama.」
「Layla. Prince Elliot and...」
「I'm fine! Really, nothing happened. I got tangled up a bit
persistently, but I managed to escape successfully.」
Thanks to the guard knight with graying hair intentionally knocking
over the bookshelf, it created an opening for me to escape.
That person is faithful to his duties and serves Prince Elliot
with all his heart, but he has common sense. He cannot stop Prince Elliot's
tyranny head-on, but even within that, I am grateful that he used his wisdom to
try and help me. Right about now, he might be putting away the books while
being scolded by Prince Elliot.
「It's my first time being apart from Ashren-sama like this, and I
just felt a little insecure. It's no good, I have to be stronger.」
「What are you saying, Layla? You are too strong. You should
depend on others more. You are too serious; I think you could learn a little
from Tick's laid-back nature.」
「Flora-san, that makes me feel sorry for Tick.」
When I giggled kusu kusu, Flora-san also laughed fufu.
Then, like an older sister, she gently stroked my head.
「Don't push yourself, don't shoulder it all alone. Promise. Also, I'll
pass on that line from earlier to Ashren-sama for you.」
「From earlier?」
「Yes, that you wanted to see Ashren-sama. I can already picture Ashren-sama
desperately suppressing a grinning face, trying to put on a poker face.」
「No way. Ashren-sama would just brush it off smoothly and that
would be the end of it.」
「...Layla, are you saying that seriously? If so, I feel sorry for
Ashren-sama.」
Feel sorry? Seeing me involuntarily burst out laughing at the word most unsuited for Ashren-sama in this world, Flora-san laughed again too, making my sunken feelings become a little lighter.
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