Chapter 48

The next morning, Lia filled a basket with glass bottles containing the potion and went up to the fourth floor.  

Isabella and Johann, who had been informed in advance, were waiting for her in Penelope’s room.  

“This is the potion, isn’t it?”  

Johann picked up one of the small bottles she had brought.  

The transparent liquid inside shimmered without any impurities.  

“You’ve worked hard; you look so gaunt.”  

Isabella noted Lia’s face, which had grown thin from spending every day making the potion.  

“Should this be taken daily?”  

“Yes, you should drink one bottle after each meal.”  

Lia answered Isabella, who was clasping her hands tightly, perhaps out of nervousness.  

Passing the two of them, Lia approached the bed where Penelope lay.  

“Miss, I’ll come by every morning and evening to check your condition and see if your symptoms improve.”  

Lia handed Penelope a notebook, a quill, and ink.  

“If you notice even the slightest change, please write it down here and let me know.”  

“Yes, I will.” 

Penelope replied, her face slightly flushed.  

After breakfast, she would finally take the medicine that might cure her.  

It had been a long time since she had given up hope of recovering her health, but thanks to Lia, she felt hope again.  

‘…I really hope this time I can get better.’  

Penelope wanted to believe in Lia, who was sincerely explaining the potion to her.  

“Then, I’ll come back this evening.”  

After explaining the dosage and instructions to Isabella and Penelope, Lia left the room with Johann.  

“Are you going back to the laboratory?”  

“Yes, the lab has become so messy from making the potion that I want to clean it up thoroughly.”  

“You’ve worked hard making it.”  

“Thank you.”  

Parting with Johann on the first floor, Lia’s footsteps echoed lightly in the hallway as she headed to the laboratory.  

‘I used to hear compliments like that all the time from my grandmother, but why do they feel so embarrassing here at the ducal estate?’  

Lia spent the day cleaning and organizing the cluttered laboratory with Dorothea.  

Afterward, she had dinner with Rafaella and then visited Penelope again.  

“You’re here?”  

Penelope greeted her with a cheerful voice, as if she had been waiting for her.  

“How are you feeling?”  

“It’s only been a day, so I can’t say for sure, but my thirst has definitely decreased.”  

Penelope opened the notebook where she had recorded how much water she drank today.  

“I used to drink at least ten glasses of water a day. I’d even wake up at night because I was so thirsty.”  

“That’s why we even had to place a portable chamber pot in her bedroom.”  

Isabella chimed in, explaining from the side.  

“But today, I only drank three glasses after breakfast and two after lunch.”  

“That’s a significant decrease.”  

Even the child in the village experienced a reduction in thirst first, so it seemed the improvement followed a similar pattern.  

If that was the case, there was a high chance that Penelope’s tongue would return to its normal state next.  

“Is there anything else that feels uncomfortable?”  

“No, if anything, it’s more convenient now that I don’t have to go to the bathroom as often.”  

Penelope smiled brightly, like a girl her age.  

From that day on, Lia visited Penelope daily to check her condition.  

In the now neatly organized laboratory, she worked tirelessly with Dorothea to make more potion for Penelope.  

Since the potion needed to be taken for at least a month, they had to prepare a large quantity.  

After a week, Penelope no longer woke up at night due to thirst.  

‘She’s down to drinking about four glasses of water a day.’  

Since even ordinary people drank at least three glasses a day, it could be said that her thirst had almost completely disappeared.  

“Let me take a look at your tongue.”  

The tongue, which had previously been a bluish-purple color, was now starting to turn red.  

‘The wounds on her fingers have also significantly healed.’  

Penelope’s face, which had gained some vitality and a slight fullness in her cheeks compared to a week ago, now often reflected her joy in a mirror on the bedside table.  

She couldn’t help but check her face frequently, delighted at the thought of returning to her former self.  

“…I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this kindness.”  

Isabella, who had accompanied Lia to the door to see her off, wiped tears from the corners of her eyes.  

“She’s not completely healed yet, so it’s too early for gratitude.”  

“Lia, no mage or healer has ever achieved even this much!”  

Isabella lightly grasped Lia’s shoulder as if to emphasize her words.  

“You’re curing Penelope, whom no one else could heal. Not even the Emperor could do that.”  

Lia was at a loss for words as Isabella praised her, even bringing up the Emperor.  

“There’s no need to be modest. Once Penelope fully recovers, consider applying for a patent for this potion.”  

Every spring, purification mages would visit the northern regions to cleanse areas where monsters had been.  

However, patients affected by mutated fish monsters continued to appear year after year without fail.  

Perhaps it was because these tiny fish could easily avoid purification magic.  

For such patients, this potion would be desperately needed.  

‘I didn’t realize there were so many patients affected by monster fish.’  

Having lived isolated in a mountain village, Lia had thought the village child and Penelope were rare cases.  

Although there weren’t many patients yet, if these mutated small monsters continued to appear, it would become a significant issue not just in the northern regions but throughout the Empire.  

And without a cure, the problem would only worsen.  

If Lia’s potion were to be distributed, it might solve half of this issue.  

* * *

After spending a week making a considerable amount of potion in the laboratory, Lia finally went for a walk in the garden with Rafaella.  

The garden was in full bloom with various spring flowers meticulously planted and tended by the gardener.  

In the fragrant garden, Lia was making a flower crown for Rafaella.  

The head gardener had told Lia she could use any flowers in the garden.  

He even said it would be an honor if they were used to make a flower crown for the young lady.  

He also added his thanks.  

“Thank you so much for curing our Lady Penelope.”  

The gardener, with tears in his eyes, bowed deeply.  

When Lia said it was too early to accept gratitude since Penelope wasn’t fully healed yet, the gardener replied:  

“It’s already hard enough to make a single flower bloom. Healing a person must require even more effort.  

“But Lia, you’re doing your best to achieve that difficult task. Please accept my thanks.”  

Hearing those words, Lia could only accept the gratitude and promise to work hard to restore Penelope’s health.  

She hadn’t done it for the sake of receiving thanks, but the heartfelt gratitude of the people warmed her heart.  

“Wow, Mom, it’s so pretty!”  

Rafaella clapped her hands in delight as she watched Lia skillfully make the flower crown.  

“Do you want to try making one, Rafaella?”  

“Can I make one too?”  

“Of course. You can definitely do it.”  

Lia let the child choose the flowers she wanted for her flower crown.  

After carefully picking the flowers Rafaella selected, Lia sat down again and taught the child how to make one.  

Rafaella worked hard with her small hands, trying to follow her mother’s example.  

“…It doesn’t look as pretty as yours, Mom.”  

The child compared the flower crown she had made to her mother’s, holding one in each hand.  

“I think you did a great job, Rafaella.”  

“No, mine is crooked here and here.”  

“Well, it’s your first time making one. It’s hard to get it perfect on the first try.”  

Lia gently poked Rafaella’s chubby cheek with her index finger.  

“I think you’ll be able to make one just like mine after a bit more practice.”  

“…Really?”  

“Of course.”

“Then, I’ll make another one!”  

“…Make what?”  

A voice suddenly interrupted from behind Lia.  

“When did you get here?”  

Startled, Lia turned her head.  

‘I thought he had work at the Imperial Palace today. Did he already return?’  

“Mom and I were making flower crowns!”  

Rafaella, wearing the flower crown Lia had made, held the one she had made in both hands and approached Johann.  

The child tapped her mother’s hand and whispered something in her ear.  

When Lia smiled and nodded, Rafaella took a step closer to Johann.  

“This is for you.”  

Rafaella proudly handed him the flower crown she had made.  

“Thank you for bringing Mom home early, Dad.”  

“……”  

Johann froze in place like a statue, staring at the flower crown.  

Rafaella had never directly called him ‘Dad’ before.  

She had only used the word ‘Dad’ when referring to him, but never addressed him directly.  

But today, Rafaella had called him ‘Dad’ herself.  

To other nobles, it might seem improper for her to say ‘Dad’ instead of ‘Father,’ but he didn’t care about their opinions.  

What mattered was that Rafaella had finally called him ‘Dad.’  

‘…To think I’d be so moved by a simple word like Dad.’  

It felt ridiculous to him, but he was genuinely stunned and touched by that single word.  

“…Dad?”  

When he remained frozen for a while, the child called out to him worriedly.  

Lia, standing nearby, also looked at Johann, wondering if he was upset.  

“Rafaella, can you say it again?”  

“Say what?”  

“…‘Dad.’”  

He crouched down to meet Rafaella’s eyes.  

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he looked into the child’s eyes.  

“Dad! Don’t you like the flower crown?”  

“…It’s not that.”  

“Then I’ll put it on you!”  

Rafaella laughed brightly and placed the flower crown she had made on Johann’s head.  

He gently patted his daughter’s head, then hugged her with relaxed arms.  

Though his expression remained stoic, Lia could tell he was deeply moved.  

“Hehe, it looks pretty.”  

“…Thank you, Rafaella.”  

“Dad, we’re going to eat pie now. Come with us!”  

After their hug, Rafaella grabbed Johann’s right hand.