“……Let’s try on the dress.”
“Shall we?”
Cynthia felt grateful to Mila and Kaisel for trying to do something for her.
‘When I get money from selling the herbs, I should get them gifts too.’
What would Kaisel like?
She couldn’t imagine what expression he would make upon receiving a gift.
❀❀❀
As Kaisel had mentioned about a visitor, two days later, a special figure arrived at the grand ducal residence.
Even the servants who usually commuted were planning to stay at the mansion to attend to the guest, bringing life to the previously quiet atmosphere for the first time.
As carriages the size of houses passed through the gates one after another, the grand ducal residence instantly became as busy as a carriage depot in a bustling district.
Cynthia, who didn’t need to formally greet anyone, stood with Mila at a distance, gazing at the visiting guest.
When an elderly man with neatly combed short white hair stepped out of the carriage, the surrounding servants bowed.
With his large build and straight posture, he looked more like a swordsman than a mage.
“That’s the tower master, Marquis David Vyntert. The carriages accompanying him are likely gifts and attendants sent by His Majesty the Emperor.”
Cynthia nodded, understanding Mila’s words.
‘Indeed, the Tower Master is such an influential figure that even the Emperor can’t ignore him. Since Kaisel is also a mage, they must be acquainted.’
Marquis Vyntert had briefly appeared in the original work.
More precisely, it was his daughter, Countess Adeline Caban.
‘She became Iris’s guardian and strong support. Thanks to her, even the Empress, who learned Kaisel had a companion, easily permitted the relationship with Felix.’
In fact, Adeline and Marquis Vyntert had a sad story.
When Marquis Vyntert’s son-in-law, Count Caban, died in battle during a sudden attack by demonic beasts on his territory, Adeline, shocked, gave birth prematurely at the imperial palace. However, the baby was stillborn.
Having lost both her husband and child, Adeline was a fragile woman with emotional scars.
Marquis Vyntert also closed his heart after that incident, secluding himself in the Magic Tower and not showing his face.
Adeline and the Marquis, who happened to meet Iris at the imperial hunting festival, were drawn to her bright personality and became her strongest supporters.
She had thought Marquis Vyntert disliked the imperial family and might be hostile toward Kaisel, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
‘So they had such a connection.’
While conversing with Kaisel, Marquis Vyntert kept coughing, covering his mouth with a handkerchief.
“Is he ill?”
Just as she instinctively began to worry as an apothecary, a man who had belatedly exited the carriage hurriedly inserted himself between them.
“Mila, who is that person?”
“He’s barely worth calling a person.”
“Hmm?”
Cynthia tilted her head, puzzled by Mila’s unusually harsh words. She sighed softly and answered.
“That’s Baron Istad Solta. The master’s ‘former’ physician and currently Marquis Vyntert’s physician.”
Judging by her emphasis on “former,” Mila must really dislike this person.
Being such an important nobleman, the Emperor seemed to have assigned not only attendants but also an imperial physician.
“Baron Solta is a vile man who harasses women. I thought he was so insignificant that I could just warn you and ignore him… but I never imagined he would tamper with the master’s medicine.”
Recalling how he had prescribed strong medicine despite knowing Kaisel consumed alcohol and medication, she suddenly felt disgusted.
“He couldn’t have returned to the grand ducal residence with pure intentions.”
Hearing her voice full of wariness, Cynthia also scrutinized him suspiciously.
A special guest and his attached parasite.
‘As the former physician, he must be trying to find out what herbs are suppressing Kaisel’s curse. And since he’s also the Marquis’s physician now……’
Unlike Kaisel, who was allowed free diagnosis to break the curse, she couldn’t diagnose or prescribe for the Marquis when he already had an assigned physician.
She steeled herself, thinking she should prepare for Istad’s schemes.
“Miss Cynthia. I’m not sure what mischief that man might attempt. May I stay at the cottage for a while to protect you?”
“Hmm? Of course.”
Though Kaisel had placed various spells around the cottage, having Mila there too would be truly reassuring.
Receiving her ready permission, Mila nodded with inner relief.
“Mila, just so you know.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been keeping a snake lately.”
“You mean the snake that was bothering you?”
Mila asked with a surprised face. Cynthia nodded, hiding her embarrassment.
“Surprising after all that fuss, right? Strangely, the snake follows me. I’m telling you in advance so you won’t be startled if you encounter it.”
“……I understand.”
“It’s quite docile, but seems to dislike people. It mainly appears in my bedroom, so don’t worry.”
Mila furrowed her brow, lost in thought.
Even with her sensitive sense of smell, she hadn’t detected any trace or scent of animals.
Though she felt sorry for Cynthia, who saw the snake as a pet, if it was dangerous, she couldn’t allow it near her precious friend.
❀❀❀
Late at night, darkness had settled.
Only Istad’s office remained brightly lit. On his table lay Kaisel’s herbal tea, which he had secretly obtained.
Upon arriving at the grand ducal residence, Istad had presented the Emperor’s letter to Kaisel and pleaded tearfully.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke, why have you appointed an inexperienced novice as your dedicated apothecary when there are excellent imperial physicians? Both Their Majesties are extremely worried.”
Kaisel, who had been conversing with Marquis Vyntert, frowned as if annoyed.
Soon, an exceptionally sharp voice flew to Istad’s ears.
“I wonder who the real novice is. Shouldn’t the answer be obvious since I’m not wearing a mask?”
Recalling those words that had hit the mark, Istad’s cheeks burned again.
He was instinctively overwhelmed with anxiety. Until now, no physician or priest had ever treated Kaisel.
Wasn’t it natural that the Grand Duke’s pain couldn’t be treated because it was a curse placed on the imperial family?
The scaly, hideous appearance was gone, and Kaisel, showing no sign of pain, was merely a noble and beautiful member of the imperial family.
‘If not for Marquis Vyntert’s minimal entourage and the Empress’s plea, I couldn’t have returned to the grand ducal residence as the Marquis’s physician.’
Marquis Vyntert, from the north, was particularly vulnerable to heat.
The Empress, under the pretext of accommodating the Marquis, drastically lowered the temperature in his room, and the elderly Marquis, with his reduced ability to regulate body temperature, soon complained of cold symptoms.
Thanks to the Empress’s scheme, Istad was easily assigned as his physician.
He couldn’t lose everything like this.
He absolutely had to discover the herb that suppressed the Grand Duke’s curse.
A grinding sound escaped from between Istad’s teeth. He barked at his assistant apothecary, Finn, who was beside him.
“Why are you dawdling today of all days!”
“I-I’m sorry, Master. Please wait a moment.”
Finn bowed his head and concentrated again on the taste of the tea in the cup.
As Kaisel’s former physician, it had been easy for Istad to steal the herbs.
Having lived in the mansion for a long time, he simply had to order his pre-planted spy to bring the spare tea leaves—a simple task.
Coincidentally, due to Tower Master Marquis Vyntert’s visit, the Emperor had sent the chief chamberlain and court officials to the grand ducal residence to attend to him meticulously.
Istad planned to discover Kaisel’s antidote amid the confusion caused by the crowd.
But things weren’t looking good from the start. The apothecary novice was far from easy to deal with.
‘How dare they be so impudent.’
The tea leaves in the canister were in powder form, rarely used in the Empire.
Who would brew tea leaves in such a powdery state?
It was a strange method of consumption, neither medicine nor tea, unheard of anywhere.
Moreover, the curse-suppressing tea leaves weren’t the only ingredient; they were mixed with various materials, making it impossible to identify the main herb.
After tasting the tea several times, Finn finally gave up.
“M-Master, I apologize. I simply cannot tell. Dried lemon and jujube from the eastern continent were added to mask the herb’s scent, but even my tongue cannot identify the key herb.”
Finn wasn’t a qualified apothecary but a chef with an exceptional sense of taste.
A genius who could identify all ingredients after just one taste, not only herbs but also various spices and food ingredients.
However, he was clumsy with his hands and loved gambling, so Istad had employed him as an apothecary’s assistant because he needed quick cash.
Istad had used Finn to discover the raw materials of popular medicines and tonics. He then resold them at higher prices, making huge profits to line his pockets.
But to think even Finn couldn’t identify this herb—it was infuriating.
“According to the spy, that apothecary grows herbs directly in the cottage… Perhaps we should go there?”
“Good. Go and find out what herbs they use immediately.”
Finn fidgeted, making circles with his fingers. Istad narrowed his brow and threw a pouch from the table drawer at him.
Finn’s eyes gleamed with greed as he confirmed the heavy gold coins. With the satisfying amount in hand, he quickly rose from his seat.
“Wait.”
At the sudden voice, Finn awkwardly froze in place.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
bluemoon238
The Duke should make her cottage an area with such restrictions that trespassing warrants execution… or something like castration. Pretending to be his lover should be enough to keep out all such men