âLady, how much of this herb should I put in?â
âPut in two more spoons.â
The fragrant smell of pounded herbs spread through the private room. If you add about four more spoons of hibiscus flower and mix it with raspberry juice and honey, you should be able to balance the color and scent.
âBy the way, Lady, what on earth are you making?â Daisy, who was helping me, asked.
To someone who didnât know it, it might seem like making medicine or creating a dessert.
âThis? Candy.â
âCanâŠdy?â
It would be more accurate to describe it as making a âdrug that looks like candy.â
There was a reason why I made this medicine myself. Redian, whom I met in the basement that day, was in a state of being addicted to sedatives. It was clear that he suffered from extreme insomnia, in which he couldnât fall asleep without taking sedatives.
Iâm sure heâll refuse if I give him medicine.
I never thought Iâd use the method I used when I possessed the imperial pharmacist here. The youngest prince didnât want to take medicine, so I made it into candy or chocolate as a gift. As a result, the prince, who should have been killed by the male leadâs scheme, was saved. Thanks to that, I was assassinated because I caught the male leadâs sight. Being good at everything was also a problem.
Of course, Redian wasnât as young and weak as the prince. However, as his vigilance was severe, this strategy was used.
âShould I make one for you too?â
âYes?â
Even so, Daisyâs chapped hands were bothering me. It was just a common case of dermatitis. Still, Daisyâs condition wasnât that bad, so if you mixed aloe veraâŠ
âItâs okay if I donât make it into candy.â
âOh my gosh.â
Daisyâs eyes widened as I made an ointment by combining herbs in an instant.
âIt will be effective if you apply it whenever you feel itchy.â
âI wonder if I dare accept something like this from Lady⊠Thank you.â Daisy, holding his hands together to receive the ointment, bowed. âI didnât expect Lady would take care of me too. When did Lady learn this knowledge?â
It was natural for her to be thrilled if she thought about Siani before being possessed by me.
âOh my. It feels like my skin has become softer, as if I had used a mana stone,â said Daisy, who applied a little ointment on the back of her hand. âOn top of that, itâs amazing that it smells so good.â
âThe maid who shares the same room with you looked particularly stressed about it. So share it.â
âItâs a very precious gift made by Lady, so Iâll share it with her. Thank you.â
I smiled tenderly.
Spread it everywhere. My skills were guaranteed anyway, so all I had to do was let them spread the news throughout the duchy. Pleasing the servants was a good thing for me too. No matter how well I try, itâll be over if my throat is cut off by Redian like in the original story.
âThat, Lady.â
âYes?â
Daisy carefully spoke to me, who was lost in thought.
âHow about making something for the duke as well? His hands chapped because he always handles the swords.â
âMy father doesnât need something like this. Because he has mana stone.â
The panacea here was mana stone. It was expensive and hard to get, but it didnât matter to the high-ranking nobles.
âEven though mana stones are effective, there are times when severe side effects appear.â
However, except the treatment effect depended on the mana stone quality, everything was only disadvantageous. It was hard to find, expensive, and had severe side effects.
âFrom what I heardâŠâ Daisy whispered, lowering her voice. âThe reason why Her Majesty doesnât go out at all these days is because of the side effects of the mana stones.â
âHer Majesty?â
âYes. I heard that she had red spots all over her face.â
âWhat? How did you know that?â
âThe more secretive the rumors, the more certain itâs real.â
That was true. Most of the nobles in society were deliberately created. On the other hand, the information from the maids was real.
If it was the empress, she would have been using mana stones all her life, but the side effect seems to be getting worse. If even the imperial family suffered that much, it would have been difficult for the duke to avoid the side effects.
âThe ointment Lady made is different. Lady can give it as a present to His Grace.â
It was slightly interesting. Well, thereâs nothing to lose. Especially for a duke who held a pen and sword simultaneously, something like hand creamâŠ
Wait a second. Hand cream?
I looked closely at the material placed in front of me. Lime flowers with antibacterial properties, cinnamon leaves, yuzu powder with excellent cleansing power, and citrus peels containing vitamins.
At that moment. I have a feeling about this. My golden hand seemed to smell money again.
Cosmetics from natural ingredients. If it worked for the duke, I could use it as a business bait.
âIâm not making a comparison.â Daisy, who was looking at me, spoke with difficulty. âBut Lady Luna picks out good tea leaves every week and gives them to His Grace.â
It meant I should try to be a nice daughter like Luna. But that didnât suit me. But if that meant he would give me more money, I would consider it.
Luna Lev. Come to think of it, I had never run into Luna after the last meal.
âCanât you see Luna these days?â
âHmm, I guess sheâs busy preparing for the soon-to-be welcome party for Grand Prince Benio.â
T/L note: Starting from this chapter the title for Ash Benio will change from grand duke into grand prince.
Has time passed quickly? It seemed that the day Ash Benio would return to the capital was approaching.
âBecause of that welcome party, every famous salon is fully booked, and you have to wait.â
Since Ash is being treated almost like a crown prince.
Currently, the emperor and empress have only one daughter. Thanks to that, Ash enjoyed popularity comparable to the crown prince. Since it had been a few years since he returned, all women in the capital must be bound to be excited.
âLady, are you sure youâre not going to attend this party?â Daisy looked disappointed. âI heard that Lady was the only one who didnât reply to his invitation.â
âI suppose so.â
âWe never know. There must be a reason why the grand prince also sent the invitation to Lady.â
But I was only interested in the money I would make from this ointment.
âWell, Iâll think about it if the grand prince kneels before me and offers the invitation.â
âYes, yes?â
âOther than that, thereâs no reason for me to go, right?â
âButâŠâ Daisy was surprised and amazed at my reaction. It couldnât be helped because she remembered how Siani clung to Ash.
You make a lot of noise when you return. He gave all kinds of shame when he announced the annulled engagement to Siani. But it was funny that he sent an invitation to Siani. Did you think Iâd run out barefoot and receive your invitation?
Whenever I was possessed, the first thing I dealt with was to cut off my relationship with the male lead. So annulling engagements, overturning marriages, and giving cool divorces were my specialties.
âDaisy, get me a box for this ointment. With a ribbon tied around this size.â
I drew a picture and explained the shape of the box to Daisy. It was an ordinary box that could be sold in a small store or in a stand.
âAh, yes, I understand.â
Daisy tilted when she saw the drawing. She seemed to wonder why I asked her to get such a shabby box over a rare jewelry box.
âAh, pick some wildflowers too.â
âWildflowers?â
âIâm going to decorate the box for my father. If Iâm going to play the role of a daughter, I better do my best, right?â
The personality of the deceased duchess could be known just by looking at the mementos left for Siani. She must have been a kind and modest person.
âOh my, but Lady made two ointments. Shall I prepare two boxes?â
âNo. Just get one ready. Because I will use this.â
I grabbed the remaining ointment and got up from my seat. Looking out the window, it was a dark night.
He must have fallen asleep soon. I didnât have to make it into candy this time. Because I could apply it directly.
* * *
I purposely headed to the basement only after a little deeper night.
âP-Princess.â
âGasp.â
The two trainees standing on guard looked surprised.
âH-how did you come here again at this late hour?â
âAs far as I know, John is the trainer who is on duty today.â
I asked them who were making faces as if they had seen ghosts. âWhere is John? Answer that at the same time in 5 seconds.â
âT-that John is not feeling well today.â
âJohn has an education today.â
The two menâs mouths shut.
He must have gone to Irik. It was something I expected. He would go to Irik every night and report the story of what happened in the basement. He must have told Irik about what I had done a while ago. Still, with one trainer gone⊠the basement became quiet.
âP-Princess, itâs not like that.â
âJohn is s-sleeping now.â
Looking inside the cage, I gestured with my eyes as if they were too noisy. Still, it seems they followed my words, telling them to move him inside the carriage.
âBe quiet.â
I could see a sleeping figure curled up in the darkness.
âMy child is sleeping.â
âC-child, w-whose childâŠâ
Perhaps shocked, their eyes rolled back and forth.
Of course, just looking at those wide, square shoulders, it was very too much to call him a child. Well, it wasnât entirely wrong to call him a child since he only ate candy-shaped medicine.
âWhen John comes, tell him I went to see Redian again.â
ââŠCough.â
âI will look at every nook and cranny to see if there were any other injuries.â
Leaving behind the trainers who were avoiding my eyes, I entered the cage. Well, letâs get started.