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Chapter 60
The snakeberry pill was one of the items I had once believed would make me a fortune. I just hadn’t known the right timing. But if I managed to be the first to create and sell the medicine, I was certain I could earn big.
Meril had taken the snakeberries and left, promising to return with the completed pill.
Hider came to me with an expectant face, holding a bunch of snakeberries he had picked himself.
“You can’t eat them raw. Even healthy people get an upset stomach from eating too many snakeberries.”
“…So we’re stuck waiting three days?”
“That’s not bad. Better than not even knowing what the illness is, right?”
“Well, that’s true.”
Hider sighed, clearly disappointed. He looked like he wanted to heal me right away.
He really was kind.
“When the pills are ready, I think they should be distributed through the Dell Merchant Guild under Meril’s name. And we should try to keep them affordable, if possible.”
The raw ingredients were cheap, and this had to do with a contagious disease. In situations like this, it was usually the commoners like me who had trouble getting medicine.
They didn’t have money. Unlike the nobles, who could pay a premium to save their lives.
That’s why I thought the medicine to counter the soon-to-spread epidemic—called “Snake”—should be cheap and accessible.
“Let’s do it that way.”
Hider agreed without resistance.
“That easily? Aren’t you going to ask why?”
He replied gently.
“I’m sure you have your reasons. The fact that the disease spread through eating snake meat probably means most of the infected are commoners.”
“….”
“And if you’re confident it’ll spread nationwide, I believe you.”
“…You’re right.”
“Even if we sell it cheaply, we can still earn plenty. So there’s no reason to charge a high price. This way, even those without money can access it easily.”
I nodded. I really had raised him well. I was amazed by how he understood what I meant without me having to explain.
“I’ll do everything just the way you want. So, Rani, all I want is for you to rest and focus on getting better.”
His words made my heart swell. Knowing someone cared about me this deeply… it was moving.
Especially for someone like me, thrown into this world alone.
I had finally found an ally.
My heart fluttered.
I lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket up to my nose. I felt squirmy all over with embarrassment.
Hider gently patted my arm.
“Go to sleep, Rani. Three days will pass in no time.”
With his words, I slowly closed my eyes. He kept patting me until I drifted off.
It might have looked like the roles of master and servant were reversed, but just for today, I didn’t mind at all.
I had a feeling I’d have a really good dream.
Five Days Later
After taking the pill Meril had painstakingly made, Rani made a full recovery. Every symptom vanished like a dream, and she became more energetic than before.
Even Meril, who had been skeptical up until the last moment, couldn’t doubt the medicine anymore.
What was strange wasn’t just Rani, who rattled off the disease’s cause and the pill’s recipe so fluently, but also the people in this mansion.
“Rani made the medicine? That sounds about right.”
“Haha, of course she did! You must’ve been surprised, Meril. Gosh, to walk into an epidemic the moment you arrived!”
Everyone in this mansion accepted the current situation as if it were perfectly normal.
It felt like stepping into a strange, fantastical world. Like something straight out of a fairy tale.
In fact, Meril was starting to feel like she was the odd one out.
She slowly scanned the field, now thick with snakeberry plants, after only five days.
“…How did this happen?”
Berries out of season growing in such abundance was strange enough, but the fact they had grown in mere days was baffling. Was there some kind of magic involved?
A maid about Rani’s age was walking between the rows. Wherever she touched the plants, they seemed to become greener and more vibrant. Was she imagining that?
“Haha, Meril, you still haven’t adjusted, huh? Oh, and by the way, Madam Luella asked me to show you the herb storage. She said you’re free to use anything you need.”
“The herb storage?”
“Since you’re already out, why not take a look?”
“…Sure.”
Meril nodded. And once again, she was met with a whole new world.
She had never seen a treasure trove like this in her life. Not even her teacher’s herb vault—supported by the Viscount Aros—could compare.
“…Where did you get all this? Isn’t this ‘Mansolsam’? The one that only gets supplied to the imperial palace!”
Meril shouted in excitement.
“Oh, those? Once planted, they grow just fine. The seeds are hard to come by, but thankfully, Viscount Aros got them for us.”
Meril snorted with excitement.
“If there’s anything you need, just say the word. I’ll grow it for you right away.”
She was going to lose her mind. This place wasn’t strange at all—it was paradise.
Meril silently applauded her past self for choosing to come to Catieron.
That was the best decision of your life, Meril.
The pill released by the Dell Merchant Guild caused a massive sensation across the nation. In truth, the imperial family had been worried about the social ramifications and had held off making any official announcements, but they were in turmoil behind the scenes.
Even some nobles were starting to show symptoms.
Then came the news that the Dell Guild was selling medicine. A small guild had accomplished what even the most renowned imperial doctors could not.
“Summon Viscount Aros immediately!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The Emperor, beaming with joy, sent for Viscount Aros. No one could ignore a summons from the Emperor, so Aros canceled all his plans and headed to the palace.
Naturally, the other nobles waiting for an audience with the Emperor were pushed back.
Among them was Marquis Aites.
That bastard…!
When Aites saw Viscount Aros being ushered into the throne room, he grabbed the chief attendant.
“Why is he meeting His Majesty?”
“Because His Majesty called for him.”
“What’s the reason?!”
“Lower your voice, Marquis. His Majesty is in a very good mood right now. You don’t want to ruin that, do you?”
Aites gritted his teeth but held his tongue.
“The pill the Dell Guild is selling has proven effective against the epidemic. His Majesty was delighted by the news. That’s why he called for Viscount Aros.”
Epidemic…?
“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
That was expected. The imperial family hadn’t made an official statement yet. It was still only circulating through private channels.
“You wouldn’t have. In any case, the announcement will be made soon. Until then, it’s best you keep this conversation to yourself. His Majesty wants to avoid causing panic in the Empire. You understand, don’t you?”
“…Fine.”
One wrong word and the consequences would fall on him.
The attendant quickly walked off. Aites bit down on his lip as he watched him go.
For some reason, Dell and Viscount Aros had been bothering him lately. He hadn’t thought much when he sold it to them.
If I hadn’t sold it, all the money would be mine!
His stomach began to ache.
Technically, even if he hadn’t sold it, the money would’ve belonged to Catieron. But that concept had long since vanished from Aites’ mind.
Taivern had been missing for a long time, and it was now almost certain he was dead.
Herder had no interest in managing the house, so Catieron would surely fall into Aites’ hands.
What infuriated him was that he had no way to strike back at Dell or Viscount Aros, whom even the Emperor now favored.
Hadn’t Kiera also recently been scolded by the Empress?
They were completely untouchable—like sweets behind a glass case.
