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Chapter : 39
Spring was just around the corner. Sophie checked the calendar and realized that less than a month remained until its arrival.
While it was nice to light a fire in the fireplace and enjoy the warmth, Sophie still found happiness in basking in the sun.
“So, when spring comes, can I pick as many strawberries as I want?”
“Sure. So many grow that our family can’t eat them all anyway.”
Despite the bustling crowd, Sophie had a conversation with a young man.
He was Jonathan, a young man from the village.
Jonathan was the son of Mr. Donald, the wealthiest man in the small village.
He told her that she could harvest strawberries from their family farm when spring came.
“If it’s too hard for you to pick them yourself, I’ll pick some for you.”
“Oh, there’s no need for that. They taste better when I pick them myself.”
Jonathan leaned on the table, trying to talk with Sophie as much as possible.
“Do you like strawberries, Sophie?”
“Yes, I do.”
“You should’ve told me sooner. I would’ve given you some every day.”
Jonathan smiled charmingly, sounding genuinely regretful.
“Is the strawberry field that big?”
Sophie thought to herself. She had once glimpsed Mr. Donald’s estate in passing. Though she hadn’t seen it up close, it looked enormous.
“Pretty big. If you’re curious, want to go take a look before spring arrives?”
“Can I really?”
“Sure. And we’ve got some fruit trees I think you’ll like too.”
With his skillful way of speaking, Jonathan kept the conversation flowing by bringing up interesting topics.
“You’re always welcome to stop by and harvest some. Maybe you can even check if our strawberry field is in good shape.”
“They were so delicious the last time I had them. I don’t think I need to inspect anything!”
“But I’d really like you to. That way I can brag to the whole village that our strawberries were approved by a spirit master.”
Sophie laughed at Jonathan’s words and glanced back inside the pharmacy. Though she enjoyed the chat, she was growing increasingly anxious about the crowded store.
If he kept taking up her time, it might have the opposite effect. Sensing this, Jonathan tactfully said he should be on his way since she was busy.
Still, as he stepped out the front door, he kept asking her questions, hoping to keep the conversation going a little longer.
“Are you really busy?”
“Yes, it’s hectic because there are so many people.”
For some reason, nobles from the royal palace had started showing up like mushrooms after the rain.
Thanks to them, even without visiting the palace, Sophie could get a sense of the kinds of people who worked there.
“I’ll come by to help out from time to time.”
“Just saying that means a lot, Jonathan.”
“No, really.”
Jonathan chuckled softly. He still wanted to spend more time talking to her and kept glancing back even as he walked away.
“Go on. You said you’re busy, remember?”
“If you’re really that busy, maybe you should hire someone.”
Desperate to say just one more thing, he blurted out whatever came to mind.
“Maybe you’re right. That might be a good idea.”
Fortunately, Sophie responded positively.
“Even if it’s not someone to manage the herbs, you could at least hire someone to serve customers.”
Jonathan added the suggestion about hiring staff, encouraged by her interest. Sophie agreed—it wasn’t a bad idea.
With this many people around, just having someone to carry and clear the tea would make things much easier.
But hiring someone who could deal with nobles was another issue altogether. Especially since the prince and the duke, who came by almost daily, were the main customers.
One slip-up could cost someone their life, so no one would likely be willing to take the job.
At least the villagers don’t know…
Luckily, the villagers had no idea who Valentis and Arthur really were. They simply assumed they were high-ranking nobles.
As a result, Sophie’s pharmacy had become known as an upscale tea house frequented by nobles.
Even the staff at the palace, who had probably been briefed, avoided speaking too freely when they saw the prince and the duke.
But who knows how long this secret will last…
A secret known by many is no secret at all. What would happen once the identities of the two men were revealed?
Sophie felt a headache coming on but pretended not to worry.
“What do you think? Sounds like a good idea, right?”
“Yes. I think I’ll have to give it some thought.”
Sophie nodded.
“Thank you, Jonathan. I’ll seriously consider it.”
I’ve kept you too long. Please head back now. Though she would’ve liked to spend more time with him, Sophie offered her final farewell. Jonathan left reluctantly.
Before he left, he didn’t forget to mention the strawberry field one last time.
Sophie was very popular with the villagers. She often made plans with young men like Jonathan or spent time with them.
“That guy… I think he likes Sophie.”
Arabelle, who had been drinking tea, commented. At her words, Valentis, Arthur, and Rolf all lifted their heads at once.
“They only talked for a bit, and yet he already made plans with her—to visit the strawberry field and even to meet again before that.”
Having never experienced proper romance herself, Arabelle was fascinated by others’ love lives.
“Sophie! Are you really going to visit his strawberry field?”
Arabelle asked.
“Yes. I love strawberries.”
“You might end up falling for him.”
“Well… if it happens, it happens.”
Spending time with a sweet, reliable young man didn’t sound so bad. Sophie thought Jonathan wouldn’t be a bad choice.
Her answer made the three men visibly sullen.
Ignoring their gloomy expressions, Sophie cleared away the tea cups. The spirits helped from time to time, but there still weren’t enough hands.
Maybe hiring someone, just as Jonathan suggested, really was a good idea.
Sometimes Arabelle or Arthur tried to help, but their clumsy efforts often ended with broken teacups. Valentis had even been officially banned from helping.
“Sophie, can I help?”
Arthur asked. But Sophie firmly refused.
“I’ll help anyway.”
Arabelle, who couldn’t bear seeing Sophie working alone, insisted on helping even if she had to be stubborn.
“You were attacked last night, weren’t you?”
The person he wanted to protect had walked away. With Arabelle and Sophie no longer nearby, Arthur spoke quietly.
Valentis nodded at the question.
“Yes.”
“It seems like the attacks are becoming more frequent.”
“It means my enemies are increasing.”
Even after leaving the battlefield, Valentis had to keep his sword ready. Cannibal tribes out for revenge, assassins sent by rival royals, and even monsters had all targeted him.
Arthur and Rolf also faced threats from spies and assassins.
“This time, it felt more calculated.”
“Do you know who did it?”
“No. But I’ll find out soon enough.”
Whoever had the nerve to attack a knights’ building wouldn’t stay hidden for long.
“There was also an attempted arson at the duke’s residence recently.”
That incident, too, had unknown culprits. Whether or not they were the same group was unclear, but they were clearly acting in an organized manner.
“Then…”
Rolf, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke.
“You think Sophie might be in danger too?”
“I know. We’ll do everything to keep her safe.”
“We just have to eliminate the threat before it reaches her.”
Though Valentis and Arthur spoke with confidence, Rolf couldn’t shake a bad feeling in his gut.
Just then, there was a loud crash—Arabelle had dropped a plate.
“Lady Arabelle! Are you okay?”
“Wahh! Sophie, I’m so sorry. I broke a plate!”
Arabelle cried in guilt.
“…It’s fine.”
“Hey! Sophie, I came to pick up my order from last time!”
Amid the broken dishes and Arabelle’s crying, more customers arrived.
“Do you sell tea leaves here too?”
One came for medicine, another wanted to place a tea order.
“This is the famous tea house!”
“This must be the place Alex was talking about.”
Even more customers showed up to drink tea. Sophie tried to respond but was overwhelmed by the noise.
“This isn’t a tea house, it’s a pharmacy…”
She tried to correct them, but just then Arabelle let out another scream.
“We need to clean this up! Oh no, what do I do?!”
[Arabelle! Watch your hands!]
“Sophie! Sorry, I’ll clean it up for you!”
“You don’t have to—”
“Arabelle! Are you alright? I’ll clean it, Sophie.”
“I’ll clean it myself.”
“……”
[Don’t make our master step in!]
[Shut up, Lightning!]
“Huh? Sophie, is my order ready?”
“Yes, yes… I’ll get it for you now.”
First things first, deal with the ones who were already here. Sophie handed a pre-packaged box to the customer who came for herbs.
But no sooner had she handed it over than another customer placed an order.
“Can I place an order?”
“…Ah.”
Sophie hurried to take the order, even as Arabelle kept crying and plate fragments clinked on the floor.
The earth and lightning spirits were still arguing loudly… It was pure chaos.
“I’ll take your order.”
“Could you recommend something? It’s my first time here.”
“Is this the tea house that cures illnesses?”
“It can ease mild symptoms, not cure full illnesses. And this isn’t a tea house… it’s a pharmacy… no, a tea house—no, a pharmacy.”
This is insane. The flood of customers was
