Where the Antidote Went 5
He says it casually, but it must have been incredibly difficult in
reality. A medicine that was just created, and only about ten people had taken
it.
In that situation, to convince the King of another country and secure coal,
just what kind of conversational skills did he use... Thinking that far, I hit
upon a certain thing, and the blood drained from my entire body.
「...Ashren-sama, could it be.」
It can't be, I thought, and as I peered into
his light-blue eyes, he seemed to guess what I wanted to say and awkwardly
averted his gaze. Like a child caught in a prank, he muttered, "...It was
fine," but that is not the problem.
「I knew it. You ingested the Monitares sap harvested in the Hadren
territory, didn't you?」
「Hah? You mean you ate the sap knowing I had those symptoms?」
Even Prince Elliot widened his eyes in surprise at this. Ah, why
didn't I realize that possibility? If I had known, I absolutely would have
stopped him.
To have them understand that the antidote is effective, it is necessary
to first ingest the toxic sap, and after the symptoms have sufficiently
manifested, take the antidote. This person drank the antidote with a body
afflicted by a high fever and broken out in purple rashes, and repeatedly
negotiated in a dizzy state.
「W-Why did you push yourself so hard...」
「Isn't it obvious? I will do anything to keep you from being taken away,
Layla.」
「Even so... please do not drink poison.」
Floating a troubled smile, Ashren-sama pulled the shoulder of a
tearful me into a hug. My heart is a mess with the frustration of not having
noticed and the joy of knowing he cares for me that much.
「Then, the fact that the export of coal has been decided means...」
「The reason Prince Elliot was a candidate for Her Royal Highness
Princess Stira's prince consort lies in the coal. Well, that is
something His Majesty the King of Kanista will decide, so I can't say
anything myself.」
Saying that, Ashren-sama headed toward the entrance door that
had remained open, called out into the dark hallway, and several men appeared.
Three people in the same clothes as the Tarteria Kingdom's guard
knights. And one man in clothes clearly indicating high status, who walked over
to me together with Ashren-sama. Although his eye color is red, his
tanned skin and facial features closely resemble Prince Elliot.
「My younger brother has caused you trouble. I apologize. I am the Second
Prince of the Tarteria Kingdom, Carol. My brother will not attend
the birthday party and will return to our country with me just like this.」
Instead of me, who was flustered at being bowed to by such an
incredible person, Ashren-sama told him to raise his head.
「If you do that, it will be a help to us as well.」
Prince Carol raised his head, then closed in on Prince Elliot
and grabbed him by the lapels.
「Elliot, what on earth are you doing in a
neighboring country!」
「B-Brother, why are you here?」
「I was ordered by His Majesty the King to actually go see the Monitares
flowers. Elliot, to steal someone's research and announce it—that is the
act of a thief; shame on you. Not only that, but your disrespectful remarks
about this country cannot be overlooked.」
「But, that is the truth...」
「Are you still talking? It is true that the Kanista Kingdom used
to be said to be inferior to neighboring countries, but are you unaware that
this perception is changing? Among them, their pharmacology is outstanding, to
the point where it is now widely acknowledged.」
At Prince Carol's intimidating aura, Prince Elliot turned
pale and began to panic.
「Since they will likely become an important country to the Tarteria
Kingdom, we decided to have you, the only unmarried royal, attend the
birthday party.」
「Then, I wasn't abandoned...」
「Abandoned? What are you talking about. It is true that the next King
has been decided as our older brother, but that doesn't mean we have been
abandoned. Rather, we were worried about you, who only cared about the
complexion of our grandfather, the Prime Minister.」
With a gakuri, as if all his strength had left him, Prince Elliot
crouched down on the spot. Looking down with pity at his younger brother, who
was blankly staring at the floor, Prince Carol returned his gaze to us.
「It seems my younger brother understood nothing. I believe the Kanista
Kingdom is an important existence to our country. Including the antidote
for Bareinurake disease, we would like to continue our friendship from
now on.」
「That is the same for the Kanista Kingdom.」
Calling the guards waiting in front of the door, Prince Carol
ordered them to bring Prince Elliot, and left the room. Waiting for
their retreating figures to disappear into the darkness, I looked at Ashren-sama
once again. The antidote seemed to have worked properly, his complexion was
good, and I was relieved that he looked healthy.
「Please do not do anything reckless anymore.」
「I intend to.」
Shrugging his shoulders, Ashren-sama looked around the
laboratory. Fortunately, no experimental tools were broken, and it seems I can
perform perfumery as planned starting tomorrow.
「What will happen to Prince Elliot after this?」
「Hmm, normally he would go to jail for trespassing and attempted theft,
but he is still royalty of a neighboring country, after all. To put them in our
debt, we will hush up this incident requiring strict secrecy, and at a later
date, my brother will probably secure agreements or treaties favorable to our
country.」
Since it's Claude-sama, he will likely arrange various things
under conditions favorable to the Kanista Kingdom with his two-faced
smile. When I imagine it, there is something slightly terrifying about it.
「Even so, you did well bringing Prince Carol to the laboratory in
the middle of the night like this. What did you explain to him?」
「That took some effort.」
According to what he told me with a sigh, Prince Carol, who came
to the Kanista Kingdom with Ashren-sama, ended up staying at the
castle. Partly because their arrival was late, they apparently intended to tell
Prince Elliot about it in the morning. After returning home once, Ashren-sama
came to the laboratory to look for me. But because it was locked, he thought I
might have already gone home, and when he went to check the light in the
window, he apparently found Prince Elliot holding a stone.
Immediately understanding what he was trying to do, Ashren-sama
apparently went to call Prince Carol without stopping Prince Elliot.
Of course, to show Prince Carol the scene of the crime.
「While I was persuading him that I wanted to show him the flowers before
they withered, it was unexpected that you returned to the laboratory, Layla.
I completely thought you had returned to the separate estate, missing me.」
「I had gone to the Pharmaceutical Department. I am sorry for causing you
worry.」
「It is not something you should apologize for, Layla. However,
when I saw that guy pushing you down, my mind went completely blank, and before
I knew it, I had kicked him.」
Saying so, he touched my cheek as if to check the wound.
「If a scar remains, I will not let that guy live.」
「Fufu, something like this is nothing for my ointment.」
「That's true. Did he do anything else to you?」
「I am fine. Ah, a little while ago he kissed my hair, and I ended up
washing my hair three times that night.」
「Tch, as expected, should I poison him right now with something that
leaves no trace?」
I heard some disturbing words, but you haven't completed a poison, have
you?
「You must not make poisons that put assassins to shame, okay?」
「I think I could make one.」
「Please deny it there.」
When I looked at him with suspicious eyes, he returned a chuckle with a
kutu kutu. The usual banter loosened the tense atmosphere.
「I'm home, Layla.」
While saying that, Ashren-sama dropped a kiss on my forehead.
「Welcome back, Ashren-sama.」
Happy to hear his voice for the first time in a while, for the first time, I threw myself into Ashren-sama's chest on my own. Though slightly surprised, Ashren-sama gently hugged me back, and dropped many kisses on my hair, saying, "Disinfection."
-----
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
-----