Shiori’s fever had subsided and she was recovering to the point where she could get out of bed without any problems. She has regained her appetite and is able to eat the food provided by Kurst and Syllabus.
However, because she was in bed for about three days, her body seems to have become dull. When she tried to get up to go to the bathroom, she couldn’t put strength into her legs.
“Wah. . .”
“Dangerous”
When she stumbled, she was supported by Kurst on the side.
Shiori’s heart jumped once at the body that was in close contact. Her cheeks heated up.
“I’m sorry.”
“No. . . .”
She apologized in Japanese and hurriedly distanced herself from Kurst.
Kurst looked puzzled when she avoided him, but Shiori was too embarrassed to turn her face toward him, so she had no way of noticing it.
The Kurst in front of me is real. It’s not an illusion caused by a high fever. Now that the fever has gone down, I know that.
And Shiori vaguely remembers what she was doing while she was asleep. She called Kurst’s name over and over again and asked him to hold her hand. . .
Shiori wanted to cover her face with both hands and squat down. What were you doing, me!
It’s nice to be with Kurst again. My heart is so excited that I feel like I can fly like this. Even no I can’t see him properly next to me.
But she was just as scared to talk to Kurst.
Even after three years, he still remembered Shiori, and he devotedly took care of her as if to repay her kindness in Japan. At the moment, he doesn’t seem to be annoyed, so I’m relieved for the time bein, but. . .
However, Shiori was nervous about when the topic of engagement would be brought up.
When he happily reports his engagement to the princess with a smile that seems to melt. . . If Kurst directly asked her about her feelings. . .
It’s too hard for this weak body. I might fall asleep again.
“Shiori, are you okay?”
Kurst said in fluent Japanese. I’m glad he hasn’t forgotten Japanese yet.
A hand was gently put on her shoulder, and Shiori shrugged her head.
“I-I’m okay. I can walk alone!”
While making a strangely loud voice, she takes a step back. Kurst’s hand naturally left.
Ah, it’s dangerous. . . Any more contact with Kurst is dangerous.
When I’m touched by his kindness, I feel more and more excited. Even though it can’t be helped that I’m raising feelings for someone who has a fiancée.
Because I have to give up on Kurst.
If she can get over this broken heart, she wants to be friends with Kurst.
But now she can’t. It just hurts when you’re near me.
I don’t want to touch Kurst as much as possible.
There is nothing more painful than kindness to a broken hearted person.
“Kurst, I’m fine now, so you can go back to work, okay? Thank you for always being by my side. I’m sorry for being a nuisance.”
“I don’t think it’s a nuisance.”
Kurst frowned a little angrily.
Shiori involuntarily apologizes.
“Sorry. . . . .”
“No need to apologize.”
Kurst hurriedly followed. A slight silence follows between the two.
Kurst timidly called out to Shiori, who was looking down. She has a somewhat painful look on her face.
“Are you still angry?”
“. . . . Eh?”
Shiori looked up at Kurst. Isn’t he the one who’s mad?
Kurst adds words to Shiori, who is confused.
“Garrell summoned you to this world. And I didn’t realize it for two months. I couldn’t protect Shiori, who was going through a difficult time.”
Kurst gritted his teeth as if a sword had been thrust into his heart.
“It’s natural for Shiori to get angry. I can’t forgive myself. Even though I was saved by Shiori all the time in Japan. . .”
Shiori hurriedly shook her head, knowing that Kurst was blaming himself. She worries that if he clenches his teeth so hard, his molars will crack.
“No, I’m not angry. You apologized for that earlier, and that’s enough, really.”
When Shiori’s fever subsided and she regained consciousness, Kurst and the red-haired magician Garrell first apologized from the bottom of their hearts. It was hard to stop Kurst and the others because they were about to kneel on the ground.
“It’s not like Garrell-san was mean to me either. . . He thought we were nostalgic for each other, so he just wanted me and Kurst to meet after a long time, right? You two don’t have to feel responsible. And because of what Kurst said to Schyle-san, I was able to move from the detention room to this warm infirmary room, right? Thank you.”
“Please stop saying thank you.”
“Then, Kurst, stop blaming yourself.”
When she said that with a troubled smile, Kurst reluctantly nodded, “Understood.”
However, Shiori thought that Kurst would never forgive himself in his heart. He is that kind of person. That’s why she fell in love with him.
“But then why. . .”
Shiori turned her gaze back to him when she heard Kurst’s mournful mutter. He has a sad face that looks like he’s going to cry at any moment.
“Why are you avoiding me? No way. . . No, I was prepared for that possibility, but. . . Do you have a lover in Japan? But Shiori misses Japan too much. That doesn’t seem to be it. . . Didn’t you also refuse Garrell’s offer to allow you to return to Japan?”
Even thought he brought up the subject himself, Kurst seemed to want Shiori to deny that possibility. Shiori is pierced by his gaze as if he is begging.
“I don’t have a lover. . .”
Shiori said softly. She couldn’t forget Kurst and she tried to make it.
“For the past three years, there hasn’t been a single one. Besides, I didn’t completely refuse Garrell-san’s offer. . . I plan to temporarily return once this case is settled and my suspicion is clear. There are things I have to do, such as explaining to my parents and canceling my apartment.”
She needed more time to decide whether to live in Japan or stay in this world.
I like the spirit of this world, the ease and warmth of the people in the city, and above all, I like the work. That’s why I don’t have much of a desire to go back to Japan, but now that I’m here, I’m a bit lost.
The cause is of course Kurst.
It’s hard to face him. The thought that she will see him and the princess happy again and again and hear rumors makes her stomach cringe.
Considering that, I think it would be easier to return to Japan and cut off all contact with Kurst. That might get him out of my mind faster.
Even if you love someone and you know it will never be fruitful, if you love that person, would it be happier to live in the same world and under the same sky?
Or is it happier to live in a completely different world without feeling that person’s existence?
When Shiori thought about such a thing and felt pain in her heart, Kurst, with a painful expression on his face, approached Shiori as if he had no composure.
“Then. . .! Did you get a guy you like in the last two months? Who is the other person? For him to be better than me-”
“Oh, were you fighting?”
A voice from a third party interrupted, and both Shiori and Kurst suddenly turned their attention to that direction.
Garrell entered the hospital room. He’s bright red as usual. Flashy, yet somewhat elegant.
He was here with Kurst when Shiori first woke up, explaining the situation and apologizing, but after that Shiori fell asleep again for a short time and when she woke up, he was out of sight.
“Hey! Are you feeling better already, Shiori! Your complexion is getting better!”
When Garrell raised his voice in his usual tone,
“. . . Great Magician Garrell, I’m sorry, but could you please keep your voice down in the Infirmary? She’s not in good shape yet either.”
A gentle caution flew from the next room. He was invisible from Shiori’s position, but this voice is Syllabus.
He seems to be tending to an injured knight over there, and occasionally he hears a short scream from a young man, “Ouch. . .!”
“Excuse me, Syllabus-san.”
Garrell casually responded to Syllabus, who was much older than himself in appearance.
Then lowers his voice a little and says,
“Hey, Shiori. When you can walk, come to my room. It’s much more comfortable than the poor bed here.”
“Eh, that’s it. . .I don’t need to sleep anymore, and if I move around on my own, Schyle-san will get angry.”
Shiori spoke Japanese with Kurst, but answered Garrell in this language. Her mind, dulled by her sickness, takes a moment to form her words.
Garrell smiles. It’s a smile that somehow retains its innocence. he says,
“Schyle can’t hold you anymore. Shiori’s innocence has been proven! You’re free!”
“Great Magician Garrell, in the infirmary. . .”
When Garrell unintentionally raised his voice he heard a second scolding from the next room.
Shiori’s eyes sparkle at the wonderful word ‘free’.
“Free, really? Have they finished analyzing the items in the store?”
“Yeah, I’ve finished investigating everything. And as a result, I didn’t find anything suspicious.”
The one who replied to Shiori, who still couldn’t believe it, was Schyle, who entered the room behind Garrell.
As usual, he puffs out his chest proudly. He glanced at Kurst behind Shiori, then shifted his gaze again to Shiori in front of him. The arrogant attitude hides a little.
“Shiori, you were innocent. . . . I’m sorry, I did something rough at first.”
She’s still not used to Schyle being humble. Is it because the first impression is too bad?
Kurst yelled in the background, “Something rough?”, but Shiori accepted Schyle’s apology. If he apologizes honestly, she has no choice but to forgive. They must have had a job too.
And now there is no anger towards Schyle. Even though he didn’t let her out of the detention room, he was completely on Shiori’s side halfway through.
“So, Roche. . .”
When she suddenly noticed and asked Schyle,
“His innocence has also been proven.”
It was returned with a dissatisfied face. As usual, he doesn’t seem to like Roche very much.
“It’s true that nothing was found in the store’s confiscated goods, but above all, the maid changed her statement.”
“She changed her statement?”
When Shiori asked, Schyle nodded.
“That’s right. Even after being persuaded by the Queen, she kept her mouth shut, but after being begged to tell the truth by someone she admired, she finally decided to tell the truth. She didn’t buy the poison from Roche Ghoul.”
“Then who is the real culprit who sold the drugs?”
“He hasn’t been caught yet, but I have a guess. When I showed the poison to Roche Ghoul, I found out that it was a medicinal herb that could only be harvested in a certain area of the neighboring country. . . I hate to admit it, but his knowledge is the real thing. It’s a medicine when it’s raw, but it seems to be a special medicinal herb that becomes toxic when dried.”
That’s all he heard from Roche. Schyle explains reluctantly.
“So, regarding the true culprit, it turns out that the manservant she was close with when the maid was still a lower-ranking noble was from that village. There are also eyewitness testimonies that they were dating, and rumors that they were once in love.”
“That means that former manservant was cooperating with the maid. The poisonous medicinal herb must have been taken from his hometown. And the maid was protecting him.”
When Kurst interjected, Schyle answered while becoming even more sullen.
“Yes. However, the maid still doesn’t admit to the servant’s cooperation. No matter how much the queen persuades her.”
Shiori suddenly raised her voice after listening to the story.
“Then where is Roche now-”
“I’m here.”
Roche slowly appeared from the infirmary room door. He seemed more energetic than Shiori, but he still gives the impression of being a little haggard.
“Roche!”
When she happily rushed over, Roche smiled awkwardly.
“Hey, how are you? You had a fever?”
He caressed and stroked her head as gently as he had ever done before.
Not knowing that Kurst was frozen behind her, Shiori worriedly looked up at Roche.
“Yeah, it’s okay now. Is Roche okay? When did you get out?”
“While you were sleeping-”
Roche cuts off his words and says apologetically after a pause.
“. . . I’m sorry. I got you involved. Did you lose a little weight?”
Shiori’s eyes widened at the unexpected apology. On the contrary, she got scared that Roche apologized.
Or rather, she just got an apology today. Kurst and Garrell, Schyle and Roche.
While being slightly shaken by Roche who was worried about her, Shiori said,
“What are you apologizing for Roche? Even Roche had nothing to do with it.”
“But it’s not completely irrelevant.”
Schyle snorted and glared at Roche. On the other hand, Roche has a bitter face. He had an unusual demeaner for a man who was always easygoing.
“What do you mean?”
In response to Shiori’s question, Roche reluctantly began to explain.
Roche, who seems to have met with the maid after he was cleared of suspicion, said that there was something familiar about her face. However, when he couldn’t remember her name, let alone where he had seen her, the maid behind the iron bars began to explain with cold eyes.
“You don’t remember me, but I remember you very well. Before the merciful queen reached out to me, I was in a large merchant’s mansion. You were just selling drugs to the man for work, you didn’t do anything directly to me. But I hated you. That’s why I thought I’d have you take the blame for this matter.”
Having heard that far, Roche finally realized the identity of the maid.
“That woman was the ‘mistress’ of a client I was close with until a few years ago. At least that’s how I recognized it at the time.”
She always had an expressionless face, and it seemed that she was languidly snuggling up to the big merchant, and it is said that Roche never even exchanged words with her directly.
And it seems that she was always dressed in a luxury dress, had her hair done, and looked like she was being treated with care. He seemed to have a serious and gentle personality as a merchant, and at first Roche was surprised that he bought aphrodisiacs.
However, according to Schyle’s addition, she had a very miserable life under the merchant. It was such a disgusting thing to say that when Schyle explained it to Shiori, he had to choose less stimulating words. Every day, the maid was forced to commit acts that trampled on a woman’s dignity.
The maid said to Roche,
“When you came, the night was hell. I, too, felt ashamed of my body, which showed selfish reactions due to the effects of medicine. You are a really good pharmacist. But that’s why I hated you.”
Roche said exhaustedly,
“It may sound like an excuse, but i didn’t know that woman was going through such a terrible experience. No matter how much money is piled up. . . Due to the nature of the medicine, I thought I was paying attention to those who abused it, but I was naive.”
A tired tone. Roche may have been in shock, too. There was a person who had a terrible experience with his own medicine. Not everyone uses drugs to deepen their love life with their partner with mutual consent.
“But you were just about to be falsely accused, so you’re still a better person.”
Schyle looks at Roche and interjects. Then, he shifts his gaze to Shiori, who had a questioning expression on her face, and explained.
“Actually, the merchant was brutally murdered about a year ago. The body was in a terrible state, and the investigation was continued as a bizarre murder, but today the maid admitted that she killed him. The former manservant probably cooperated in that crime as well. With the power of a woman alone, an adult man’s body could not be in such a terrible state. I sympathize with her situation, but what she did was just unforgivable.”
Shiori nodded while listening to Schyle’s calm voice. While there are people who end their life without salvation, she was once saved by the queen. Couldn’t she somehow change her life there?
Nonetheless, if she were to experience the same thing, she might not be able to get rid of her resentment easily.
Shiori felt helpless.
“Roche. . .”
“I know what you mean.”
Roche stops Shiori who is about to speak.
“But if you do that, your salary will be less than half what it used to be. Well, me too.”
Schyle and the others made a face that they didn’t understand, but Shiori nodded firmly.
“I’m fine. If I work hard from now on, I’ll be able to do something about the money. . . . Let’s stop doing the business behind the scenes. It’s not illegal, but if there’s an example like the maid, I don’t want to make aphrodisiacs anymore. It may be good to sell it to men who really need it.”
As Roche fell silent, Kurst’s surprised voice, “Aphrodisiac? An energetic agent?”
Shiori continues.
“Roche, you just said you understand what I wanted to say. In other words, Roche was thinking the same thing. Right?”
Once upon a time, I remember Roche telling me about his upbringing. It seems that Roche grew up in a poor village, where even if someone got sick, they couldn’t buy enough medicine. Poverty-stricken people cannot afford medicine.
Roche didn’t say more, but I think that past made him a pharmacist. He ripped off his back room customers, but the front medicine was priced a little too cheaply for its quality.
Shiori thinks that it would be better to quit the back room business completely and go back to the beginning and get serious.
“Don’t worry! Roche’s medicine is of the highest quality, and the effect is outstanding. If you advertise it, the store will surely be crowded.”
Shiori said confidently. His skill is certain. And he’s so serious and diligent about medicine that you can’t imagine from his appearance. The amount of knowledge is not inferior to other pharmacists.
“The store is in a difficult place to find, so I’ll hand out flyers. I’ll also put up a guide sign on the main street. Once they use the medicine, I’m sure everyone will become regulars.”
As she was saying this, she was filled with motivation.
I have a goal to live in this world – to make Roche’s store more prosperous than it is now.
“Let’s do our best!”
She cheers Roche up with a lively voice.
Roche laughed like an adult and silently patted Shiori’s head, then muttered, “I’m going to live a frugal life for a while.”
Shiori’s fever had subsided and she was recovering to the point where she could get out of bed without any problems. She has regained her appetite and is able to eat the food provided by Kurst and Syllabus.
However, because she was in bed for about three days, her body seems to have become dull. When she tried to get up to go to the bathroom, she couldn’t put strength into her legs.
“Wah. . .”
“Dangerous”
When she stumbled, she was supported by Kurst on the side.
Shiori’s heart jumped once at the body that was in close contact. Her cheeks heated up.
“I’m sorry.”
“No. . . .”
She apologized in Japanese and hurriedly distanced herself from Kurst.
Kurst looked puzzled when she avoided him, but Shiori was too embarrassed to turn her face toward him, so she had no way of noticing it.
The Kurst in front of me is real. It’s not an illusion caused by a high fever. Now that the fever has gone down, I know that.
And Shiori vaguely remembers what she was doing while she was asleep. She called Kurst’s name over and over again and asked him to hold her hand. . .
Shiori wanted to cover her face with both hands and squat down. What were you doing, me!
It’s nice to be with Kurst again. My heart is so excited that I feel like I can fly like this. Even no I can’t see him properly next to me.
But she was just as scared to talk to Kurst.
Even after three years, he still remembered Shiori, and he devotedly took care of her as if to repay her kindness in Japan. At the moment, he doesn’t seem to be annoyed, so I’m relieved for the time bein, but. . .
However, Shiori was nervous about when the topic of engagement would be brought up.
When he happily reports his engagement to the princess with a smile that seems to melt. . . If Kurst directly asked her about her feelings. . .
It’s too hard for this weak body. I might fall asleep again.
“Shiori, are you okay?”
Kurst said in fluent Japanese. I’m glad he hasn’t forgotten Japanese yet.
A hand was gently put on her shoulder, and Shiori shrugged her head.
“I-I’m okay. I can walk alone!”
While making a strangely loud voice, she takes a step back. Kurst’s hand naturally left.
Ah, it’s dangerous. . . Any more contact with Kurst is dangerous.
When I’m touched by his kindness, I feel more and more excited. Even though it can’t be helped that I’m raising feelings for someone who has a fiancée.
Because I have to give up on Kurst.
If she can get over this broken heart, she wants to be friends with Kurst.
But now she can’t. It just hurts when you’re near me.
I don’t want to touch Kurst as much as possible.
There is nothing more painful than kindness to a broken hearted person.
“Kurst, I’m fine now, so you can go back to work, okay? Thank you for always being by my side. I’m sorry for being a nuisance.”
“I don’t think it’s a nuisance.”
Kurst frowned a little angrily.
Shiori involuntarily apologizes.
“Sorry. . . . .”
“No need to apologize.”
Kurst hurriedly followed. A slight silence follows between the two.
Kurst timidly called out to Shiori, who was looking down. She has a somewhat painful look on her face.
“Are you still angry?”
“. . . . Eh?”
Shiori looked up at Kurst. Isn’t he the one who’s mad?
Kurst adds words to Shiori, who is confused.
“Garrell summoned you to this world. And I didn’t realize it for two months. I couldn’t protect Shiori, who was going through a difficult time.”
Kurst gritted his teeth as if a sword had been thrust into his heart.
“It’s natural for Shiori to get angry. I can’t forgive myself. Even though I was saved by Shiori all the time in Japan. . .”
Shiori hurriedly shook her head, knowing that Kurst was blaming himself. She worries that if he clenches his teeth so hard, his molars will crack.
“No, I’m not angry. You apologized for that earlier, and that’s enough, really.”
When Shiori’s fever subsided and she regained consciousness, Kurst and the red-haired magician Garrell first apologized from the bottom of their hearts. It was hard to stop Kurst and the others because they were about to kneel on the ground.
“It’s not like Garrell-san was mean to me either. . . He thought we were nostalgic for each other, so he just wanted me and Kurst to meet after a long time, right? You two don’t have to feel responsible. And because of what Kurst said to Schyle-san, I was able to move from the detention room to this warm infirmary room, right? Thank you.”
“Please stop saying thank you.”
“Then, Kurst, stop blaming yourself.”
When she said that with a troubled smile, Kurst reluctantly nodded, “Understood.”
However, Shiori thought that Kurst would never forgive himself in his heart. He is that kind of person. That’s why she fell in love with him.
“But then why. . .”
Shiori turned her gaze back to him when she heard Kurst’s mournful mutter. He has a sad face that looks like he’s going to cry at any moment.
“Why are you avoiding me? No way. . . No, I was prepared for that possibility, but. . . Do you have a lover in Japan? But Shiori misses Japan too much. That doesn’t seem to be it. . . Didn’t you also refuse Garrell’s offer to allow you to return to Japan?”
Even thought he brought up the subject himself, Kurst seemed to want Shiori to deny that possibility. Shiori is pierced by his gaze as if he is begging.
“I don’t have a lover. . .”
Shiori said softly. She couldn’t forget Kurst and she tried to make it.
“For the past three years, there hasn’t been a single one. Besides, I didn’t completely refuse Garrell-san’s offer. . . I plan to temporarily return once this case is settled and my suspicion is clear. There are things I have to do, such as explaining to my parents and canceling my apartment.”
She needed more time to decide whether to live in Japan or stay in this world.
I like the spirit of this world, the ease and warmth of the people in the city, and above all, I like the work. That’s why I don’t have much of a desire to go back to Japan, but now that I’m here, I’m a bit lost.
The cause is of course Kurst.
It’s hard to face him. The thought that she will see him and the princess happy again and again and hear rumors makes her stomach cringe.
Considering that, I think it would be easier to return to Japan and cut off all contact with Kurst. That might get him out of my mind faster.
Even if you love someone and you know it will never be fruitful, if you love that person, would it be happier to live in the same world and under the same sky?
Or is it happier to live in a completely different world without feeling that person’s existence?
When Shiori thought about such a thing and felt pain in her heart, Kurst, with a painful expression on his face, approached Shiori as if he had no composure.
“Then. . .! Did you get a guy you like in the last two months? Who is the other person? For him to be better than me-”
“Oh, were you fighting?”
A voice from a third party interrupted, and both Shiori and Kurst suddenly turned their attention to that direction.
Garrell entered the hospital room. He’s bright red as usual. Flashy, yet somewhat elegant.
He was here with Kurst when Shiori first woke up, explaining the situation and apologizing, but after that Shiori fell asleep again for a short time and when she woke up, he was out of sight.
“Hey! Are you feeling better already, Shiori! Your complexion is getting better!”
When Garrell raised his voice in his usual tone,
“. . . Great Magician Garrell, I’m sorry, but could you please keep your voice down in the Infirmary? She’s not in good shape yet either.”
A gentle caution flew from the next room. He was invisible from Shiori’s position, but this voice is Syllabus.
He seems to be tending to an injured knight over there, and occasionally he hears a short scream from a young man, “Ouch. . .!”
“Excuse me, Syllabus-san.”
Garrell casually responded to Syllabus, who was much older than himself in appearance.
Then lowers his voice a little and says,
“Hey, Shiori. When you can walk, come to my room. It’s much more comfortable than the poor bed here.”
“Eh, that’s it. . .I don’t need to sleep anymore, and if I move around on my own, Schyle-san will get angry.”
Shiori spoke Japanese with Kurst, but answered Garrell in this language. Her mind, dulled by her sickness, takes a moment to form her words.
Garrell smiles. It’s a smile that somehow retains its innocence. he says,
“Schyle can’t hold you anymore. Shiori’s innocence has been proven! You’re free!”
“Great Magician Garrell, in the infirmary. . .”
When Garrell unintentionally raised his voice he heard a second scolding from the next room.
Shiori’s eyes sparkle at the wonderful word ‘free’.
“Free, really? Have they finished analyzing the items in the store?”
“Yeah, I’ve finished investigating everything. And as a result, I didn’t find anything suspicious.”
The one who replied to Shiori, who still couldn’t believe it, was Schyle, who entered the room behind Garrell.
As usual, he puffs out his chest proudly. He glanced at Kurst behind Shiori, then shifted his gaze again to Shiori in front of him. The arrogant attitude hides a little.
“Shiori, you were innocent. . . . I’m sorry, I did something rough at first.”
She’s still not used to Schyle being humble. Is it because the first impression is too bad?
Kurst yelled in the background, “Something rough?”, but Shiori accepted Schyle’s apology. If he apologizes honestly, she has no choice but to forgive. They must have had a job too.
And now there is no anger towards Schyle. Even though he didn’t let her out of the detention room, he was completely on Shiori’s side halfway through.
“So, Roche. . .”
When she suddenly noticed and asked Schyle,
“His innocence has also been proven.”
It was returned with a dissatisfied face. As usual, he doesn’t seem to like Roche very much.
“It’s true that nothing was found in the store’s confiscated goods, but above all, the maid changed her statement.”
“She changed her statement?”
When Shiori asked, Schyle nodded.
“That’s right. Even after being persuaded by the Queen, she kept her mouth shut, but after being begged to tell the truth by someone she admired, she finally decided to tell the truth. She didn’t buy the poison from Roche Ghoul.”
“Then who is the real culprit who sold the drugs?”
“He hasn’t been caught yet, but I have a guess. When I showed the poison to Roche Ghoul, I found out that it was a medicinal herb that could only be harvested in a certain area of the neighboring country. . . I hate to admit it, but his knowledge is the real thing. It’s a medicine when it’s raw, but it seems to be a special medicinal herb that becomes toxic when dried.”
That’s all he heard from Roche. Schyle explains reluctantly.
“So, regarding the true culprit, it turns out that the manservant she was close with when the maid was still a lower-ranking noble was from that village. There are also eyewitness testimonies that they were dating, and rumors that they were once in love.”
“That means that former manservant was cooperating with the maid. The poisonous medicinal herb must have been taken from his hometown. And the maid was protecting him.”
When Kurst interjected, Schyle answered while becoming even more sullen.
“Yes. However, the maid still doesn’t admit to the servant’s cooperation. No matter how much the queen persuades her.”
Shiori suddenly raised her voice after listening to the story.
“Then where is Roche now-”
“I’m here.”
Roche slowly appeared from the infirmary room door. He seemed more energetic than Shiori, but he still gives the impression of being a little haggard.
“Roche!”
When she happily rushed over, Roche smiled awkwardly.
“Hey, how are you? You had a fever?”
He caressed and stroked her head as gently as he had ever done before.
Not knowing that Kurst was frozen behind her, Shiori worriedly looked up at Roche.
“Yeah, it’s okay now. Is Roche okay? When did you get out?”
“While you were sleeping-”
Roche cuts off his words and says apologetically after a pause.
“. . . I’m sorry. I got you involved. Did you lose a little weight?”
Shiori’s eyes widened at the unexpected apology. On the contrary, she got scared that Roche apologized.
Or rather, she just got an apology today. Kurst and Garrell, Schyle and Roche.
While being slightly shaken by Roche who was worried about her, Shiori said,
“What are you apologizing for Roche? Even Roche had nothing to do with it.”
“But it’s not completely irrelevant.”
Schyle snorted and glared at Roche. On the other hand, Roche has a bitter face. He had an unusual demeaner for a man who was always easygoing.
“What do you mean?”
In response to Shiori’s question, Roche reluctantly began to explain.
Roche, who seems to have met with the maid after he was cleared of suspicion, said that there was something familiar about her face. However, when he couldn’t remember her name, let alone where he had seen her, the maid behind the iron bars began to explain with cold eyes.
“You don’t remember me, but I remember you very well. Before the merciful queen reached out to me, I was in a large merchant’s mansion. You were just selling drugs to the man for work, you didn’t do anything directly to me. But I hated you. That’s why I thought I’d have you take the blame for this matter.”
Having heard that far, Roche finally realized the identity of the maid.
“That woman was the ‘mistress’ of a client I was close with until a few years ago. At least that’s how I recognized it at the time.”
She always had an expressionless face, and it seemed that she was languidly snuggling up to the big merchant, and it is said that Roche never even exchanged words with her directly.
And it seems that she was always dressed in a luxury dress, had her hair done, and looked like she was being treated with care. He seemed to have a serious and gentle personality as a merchant, and at first Roche was surprised that he bought aphrodisiacs.
However, according to Schyle’s addition, she had a very miserable life under the merchant. It was such a disgusting thing to say that when Schyle explained it to Shiori, he had to choose less stimulating words. Every day, the maid was forced to commit acts that trampled on a woman’s dignity.
The maid said to Roche,
“When you came, the night was hell. I, too, felt ashamed of my body, which showed selfish reactions due to the effects of medicine. You are a really good pharmacist. But that’s why I hated you.”
Roche said exhaustedly,
“It may sound like an excuse, but i didn’t know that woman was going through such a terrible experience. No matter how much money is piled up. . . Due to the nature of the medicine, I thought I was paying attention to those who abused it, but I was naive.”
A tired tone. Roche may have been in shock, too. There was a person who had a terrible experience with his own medicine. Not everyone uses drugs to deepen their love life with their partner with mutual consent.
“But you were just about to be falsely accused, so you’re still a better person.”
Schyle looks at Roche and interjects. Then, he shifts his gaze to Shiori, who had a questioning expression on her face, and explained.
“Actually, the merchant was brutally murdered about a year ago. The body was in a terrible state, and the investigation was continued as a bizarre murder, but today the maid admitted that she killed him. The former manservant probably cooperated in that crime as well. With the power of a woman alone, an adult man’s body could not be in such a terrible state. I sympathize with her situation, but what she did was just unforgivable.”
Shiori nodded while listening to Schyle’s calm voice. While there are people who end their life without salvation, she was once saved by the queen. Couldn’t she somehow change her life there?
Nonetheless, if she were to experience the same thing, she might not be able to get rid of her resentment easily.
Shiori felt helpless.
“Roche. . .”
“I know what you mean.”
Roche stops Shiori who is about to speak.
“But if you do that, your salary will be less than half what it used to be. Well, me too.”
Schyle and the others made a face that they didn’t understand, but Shiori nodded firmly.
“I’m fine. If I work hard from now on, I’ll be able to do something about the money. . . . Let’s stop doing the business behind the scenes. It’s not illegal, but if there’s an example like the maid, I don’t want to make aphrodisiacs anymore. It may be good to sell it to men who really need it.”
As Roche fell silent, Kurst’s surprised voice, “Aphrodisiac? An energetic agent?”
Shiori continues.
“Roche, you just said you understand what I wanted to say. In other words, Roche was thinking the same thing. Right?”
Once upon a time, I remember Roche telling me about his upbringing. It seems that Roche grew up in a poor village, where even if someone got sick, they couldn’t buy enough medicine. Poverty-stricken people cannot afford medicine.
Roche didn’t say more, but I think that past made him a pharmacist. He ripped off his back room customers, but the front medicine was priced a little too cheaply for its quality.
Shiori thinks that it would be better to quit the back room business completely and go back to the beginning and get serious.
“Don’t worry! Roche’s medicine is of the highest quality, and the effect is outstanding. If you advertise it, the store will surely be crowded.”
Shiori said confidently. His skill is certain. And he’s so serious and diligent about medicine that you can’t imagine from his appearance. The amount of knowledge is not inferior to other pharmacists.
“The store is in a difficult place to find, so I’ll hand out flyers. I’ll also put up a guide sign on the main street. Once they use the medicine, I’m sure everyone will become regulars.”
As she was saying this, she was filled with motivation.
I have a goal to live in this world – to make Roche’s store more prosperous than it is now.
“Let’s do our best!”
She cheers Roche up with a lively voice.
Roche laughed like an adult and silently patted Shiori’s head, then muttered, “I’m going to live a frugal life for a while.”
