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Chapter : 19
“Isn’t this starting to look like a security issue?”
Before anyone realized it, the pharmacy had become packed with people.
Especially the locals—many of them made the effort to come specifically to Sophie’s pharmacy. Just drinking the herbal tea seemed to make their lingering symptoms disappear, so they made time to visit no matter what.
With both nobles and commoners mingling together, Sophie was starting to lose her mind.
Rumors bred more rumors… and Sophie had a bad feeling the crowd would only grow.
“If this many people keep coming, your safety could be at risk! I’m serious!”
Everyone was drinking tea, nibbling on snacks they’d brought from outside.
The pharmacy walls were lined with fragrant plants, and even spirits—rarely seen—floated about.
This was definitely a pharmacy… really, it was!
“That’s why, for your own safety, I think it’s best if you two stop coming!”
People thought the herbal tea was some trendy new drink. The tea the prince and the duke drank, no less.
But those two were drinking it purely for medicinal purposes.
Sophie figured that if the prince and duke stopped coming to the pharmacy, the crowds might disperse.
Then Arthur gave a troubled smile.
“Are you trying to kick out your regulars? Besides, we’re desperate patients in need of Sophie’s help.”
Cunning Arthur was hitting Sophie where it hurt. He knew her too well—how she was totally devoted to her patients.
“There’s no need to worry about security, Sophie.”
Just then, Valentis took a sip of tea and said casually,
“Even if everyone in this room were assassins, I’m confident I’d walk away without a scratch.”
“…I’d get hurt, though. And my pharmacy wouldn’t be safe either.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Valentis said with a sly smile, absolutely infuriating.
“Anyway, Sophie. If it’s too much, how about hiring someone? Even just a server.”
“That would officially make this a teahouse. This is supposed to be a pharmacy…”
Even though the place reeked of herbs and medicinal plants were drying outside, people thought it was a café.
They probably saw it as a trendy, nature-themed teahouse, especially with how popular that aesthetic had become.
“And besides, it’s really hard to chase these people away…”
These were people who genuinely needed Sophie’s help. They came simply because they heard the tea cleared up their symptoms.
How could she kick such patients out? Sophie had a headache just thinking about it.
“I just feel like… the identity of this place is starting to crumble.”
“But the income’s pretty good, isn’t it?” Arthur pointed out.
Given the expensive herbs Sophie collected from the forest, it wasn’t like she was entirely uninterested in money.
“Well, yes…”
Sophie gulped at that.
“Then there’s no problem. Just switch to being a teahouse,” Valentis said lazily.
“You can’t decide something like that so easily! I’m a pharmacist…”
Earning more was nice, but the constant noise was exhausting. Sophie looked around her once peaceful pharmacy, now bustling with people, and sighed deeply.
What happened to my peace? My tranquility? The calm life I led surrounded by the sounds of nature?
“Still, you can’t just kick the guests out, can you…”
“…”
“Let’s wait it out until the trend dies down. Maybe things will go back to normal.”
That was the whole reason she let Arthur and Valentis in in the first place—they desperately needed her help.
So Sophie kept serving tea, even though it brought endless chaos.
And now? People from all over were flocking to taste her tea.
“It seems like most people, even if they don’t have serious illnesses, still have some kind of lingering issue.”
“Usually, people don’t go to the pharmacy for just a cold or minor issues. They assume it’ll get better with time…”
People in this small village might behave differently, but those working in the city barely had time to take care of themselves. Going to the pharmacy felt like admitting they were seriously ill.
So they’d rather just sleep it off and hope the pain went away.
Sophie had a wide variety of mild herbs in stock. But aside from doctors or villagers, few people sought them out.
“Try to think of it in a positive light—at least you’re helping people.”
“…I suppose you’re right.”
Still, Sophie couldn’t help but feel a little sad that the essence of her pharmacy was fading away. A teahouse—it just wasn’t.
Lately, she was so swarmed by tea drinkers that she felt relieved whenever someone actually came to buy herbs.
She even gave those customers special service.
“Please come again. And please don’t forget—this is a pharmacy.”
“Is the owner here?”
A customer! Sophie rushed over to greet them.
“Did you come to buy herbs?”
“No, I’m here to drink tea…”
Looks like you’ll have to wait—there weren’t even any seats available anymore. Some people were even waiting outside just for tea.
“Sophie!”
“Mr. Hennes.”
“When did this place become a café? Did you change the business?”
“…No, it’s still a pharmacy. Always has been.”
All the benches, tree stumps, and tiny tables Sophie had placed for people to rest were now permanently occupied.
At least no one was rude enough to lie on the folding bed.
“This is going to be a huge hit!” Arabelle exclaimed excitedly.
She seemed genuinely thrilled by the whole situation.
Like she was playing house, she even took the initiative to serve tea.
“Sophie! You must be so happy.”
“No. Not even a little…”
Sophie stared at the crowded pharmacy with a vacant look in her eyes.
“But drinking this tea really helped with my headaches lately.”
“Really? I felt a lot less tired after I drank it the other day too.”
“Didn’t the owner of this place used to run a pharmacy?”
She still does.
Even so, Sophie felt a tiny spark of joy hearing that people were feeling better because of her tea.
“Could you recommend a tea for me?”
“Are you experiencing any symptoms or health issues lately?”
“Well… recently I’ve been getting hives on my skin.”
“Any allergies or dietary triggers?”
“I think it’s stress-related, mostly.”
“Then I’ll prepare some kenelloce. Just give me a moment.”
With a gentle voice, Sophie listened to each customer’s condition and brewed their tea accordingly.
Arthur smiled quietly, finding Sophie’s way endearing.
“You say you hate it, but you pour your heart into everything.”
Seeing her shine even in the crowd, he didn’t mind it so much anymore.
“Even with this noisy crowd… it’s not so bad, right?”
“No.”
“…Sorry, what?”
“I actually hate it. I wanted to be the only one who knew her.”
Arthur thought he was joking, but Valentis looked anything but pleased.
“I didn’t expect you to think that way.”
“I’ve even considered dragging her off to the royal palace as our pharmacist.”
“She wouldn’t like that.”
“…Even if I had to force her.”
It wasn’t a realistic option, but Valentis shrugged.
“If you do that, you really won’t ever get her tea again.”
Sophie wasn’t an easy person. When she didn’t want something, she meant it.
Even in front of people of higher status, she never backed down.
“By the way… I heard from someone that Sophie isn’t originally from this village.”
“She’s not?”
“The baker next door said she came from the capital, but they didn’t know the details.”
“She was born and raised in the capital?”
“Not sure exactly.”
The two men were curious about Sophie. What kind of past had she lived?
But she never spoke of it, so all they could do was guess.
“…Your Highness. Maybe it’s best not to dig into her past.”
* * *
“How did you do that? I just drank one cup and the hives vanished like magic!”
“That’s just a sign your immune system was weak.”
The customer who had come the previous day returned again—Sophie’s regulars were increasing by the day.
“In your condition, even a cold or fever could get pretty serious. So try to eat foods that strengthen your body.”
“Could you recommend another tea for me today?”
“Yes, of course…”
Sophie felt a small flutter of happiness in the grateful smiles and words of her customers. A sense of pride, even.
“Then today, I’ll add a little more honey and milk to the kenelloce you had last time. It was a bit bitter, right?”
“Yes, please do.”
Chuckling, Sophie headed to the greenhouse.
Thanks to Arabelle, Arthur, Valentis, and the other knights, the greenhouse had been restored to its original condition.
“I wish I could see the spirits too…”
As always, Arabelle was busy playing with the spirits.
“If I could share some of my affinity, maybe you could. But tea first.”
“Really? I’ll bring the leaves! Which kind?”
“Kenelloce.”
Since she spent so much time with Sophie, Arabelle had learned to recognize a few herbs by name.
Even though it was still noisy, Sophie felt content and at peace in her own way.
She picked a few more leaves and stepped outside the greenhouse.
“Welcome.”
Sophie greeted the person entering the pharmacy on reflex.
‘Huh?’
The moment she saw the customer’s face, Sophie’s expression froze. Valentis and Arthur noticed the change immediately.
“Sophie! I brought the kenelloce! This is the one, right?”
The man who entered smiled brightly upon seeing Sophie’s face.
“Sophie?”
“…Kevin.”
“Sophie! Sophie Sherikas. It really is you, isn’t it? It’s been so long.”
Sherikas? Valentis’s face twisted at the familiar surname.
“Yes. It’s been a long time,” Sophie replied calmly.
The man who had entered the pharmacy was an unexpected yet familiar face.
Kevin—with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes—was Sophie’s former lover.
