A Genius Pharmacist Whom the Empress Is Obsessed With

Episode 24. Shouldn’t have done that. (5)

Thump thump thump.

Adrian’s heart pounded wildly.

Judging by the sense she felt, Idun seemed to be nearby, but all she could see were trees and rocks.

“…It should be around here.”

Flying slowly through the air, Adrian came to a halt. It was thanks to the faint but familiar scent that brushed past her nose. That scent was a kind of signal that Adrian and Idun would ignite whenever they communicated with each other.

Following that scent, Adrian soon found Idun.

Idun leaned against a large tree trunk, his eyes closed. He seemed fine on the outside, and the red snake wrapped around his left arm was also slumped down.

“He must have exerted too much power protecting Ladeumus.”

“Idun. Idun.”

Adrian approached Idun, calling his name. At her voice, Idun opened his eyes with difficulty.

“…Did you come?”

Whether it was because he didn’t have the strength to open both eyes or because he could barely open one eye, Ildun looked. Seeing his appearance, Adrian’s heart felt as if it was getting stuck in his throat.

“Why are you here alone? Where are the others?”

Ildun pointed silently somewhere. There, a massive cave entrance stood wide open.

“I’m inside that cave. If you want to find the people in the shelter, it’s better to enter through that entrance than from Wumstendel Castle. The path is complex.”

“No, that’s not what I’m asking. Why are you alone here? You should just wait inside.”

“I can’t collapse inside there. I don’t know what might happen-“

Ildun’s voice suddenly faltered.

Ildun hurriedly covered his mouth with one hand and gestured for Adrian to move back with the other.

“No way!”

At Ildun’s sudden action, Adrian also quickly stepped back.

Unfortunately, Ildun’s blood was poisonous even to Adrian, a dragon. During the experiments with Ildun some time ago, Adrian accidentally spilled a cup of Ildun’s blood, and he fell into a deep sleep for over three months.

With a deeply furrowed brow, Ildun coughed several times and slowly lowered his hand. Thankfully, his nosebleed didn’t burst.

“…Anyway, it’s a relief that you came not too late, Adrian.”

“Huh? What suddenly changed?”

“To be honest, I’ve been so tired since earlier. I feel like I need to sleep. So please take care of the people until then-“

Without even finishing his sentence, Ildun’s body leaning against the tree slumped to the side.

“Ildun!”

Adrian hurriedly ran over and held onto his body. In those short few seconds, Ildun had fallen into a deep sleep.

Listening to Ildun’s rough breathing, Adrian quietly embraced him.

“…This is why it’s difficult to return to Lero immediately.”

Ildun’s words asking him to take care of the people could be ignored, but Ildun’s physical condition was the problem.

No matter how powerful of a dragon Adrian was, he wanted to avoid flying long distances with an unconscious and fallen companion.

“Breaking the curse is important, but…”

What Ildun needed right now was a warm place where he could relax and sleep deeply.

***

Just three days later, the chaotic Wumstendel Castle was gradually regaining its original appearance.

Under the command of Viscount Pheaniard, people repaired the ruined castle and took care of the injured.

Princess Ludimine, who had been missing, was found asleep in the apothecary. Seeing Ludimine, who was unharmed without a single scratch amidst the chaos, people praised the grace of the dragon without a doubt.

The fact that Wumstendel Castle was able to be restored in just four days was also thanks to the unknown golden dragon.

The Marquis of Penyard had not specifically asked for it, but the people of the village came to find him, bowing their heads and extending their hands.

They were villagers who had lived timidly due to the Marquis’ strict personality, but they couldn’t help but show respect for the Marquis protected by the dragon.

“All that remains is returning to the palace.”

In the meeting room on the first floor of the main palace, the Marquis of Penyard, conversing with Ludimine, let out a long sigh.

Lady Loyelle, sitting at a desk a little ways away and organizing various documents, also had an unpleasant expression.

Receiving the grace of the dragon was undoubtedly a fortunate event, but there were difficulties that lay ahead.

Among them, the most important was to drive out Duke Trollkal, who ordered the attack on Umstendel Castle, in other words, Ludimine’s stepfather.

However, this was by no means an easy task. After driving out Ludimine, Duke Trollkal slowly but surely devoured the nobility.

In fact, it was safe to say that the Imperial Palace now belonged to Duke Trollkal.

Even if Ludimine were to go to the palace right now, she had no support and with no soldiers, it was almost hopeless for her.

“Moreover, Duke Trollkal is a sorcerer…”

The only ones who could confront a sorcerer were other sorcerers. Unfortunately, the Marquis of Penyard was just an ordinary inspector who didn’t even know the “ma” character of magic.

There was nothing good about the situation, but still, there was one piece of information to bet on. It was Dragon’s word that Duke Trollkal counterattacked in place of Lademus.

“If Duke Trollkal received that tremendous attack instead, there is a high possibility that he also suffered significant damage.”

With Lademus gone and Duke Trollkal wounded, it was an unsurpassable opportunity to retaliate on this side.

No, even if Duke Trollkal was unharmed, rumors were spreading that Ludimine, who was known to have received the dragon’s protection, was here.

“Duke Trollkal, no matter how exceptional a sorcerer he may be, he could never recklessly draw his sword against Ludimine, known to be under the dragon’s care.”

Accordingly, the Marquis of Penyard was persuading Ludimine to return to the palace before it was too late.

Lady Loyelle, too, supported the Marquis of Penyard, and all that remained was Ludimine’s decision.

“Your Highness. It seems that you should depart for the palace in three days.”

Ludimine, sitting on a rocking chair, blinked her eyes at Penyard’s call.

From her actions, it seemed as if she hadn’t listened to a single word Penyard had said so far. Since the attack that day, Ludimine often showed a vacant look.

According to the words of the newly arrived court physician, there was nothing wrong with her body, so it seemed like she had significant psychological issues.

“As I have told you countless times, now is the time when we can topple Duke Trollkal.”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Ludimine, speaking like that, still had cloudy eyes and a dream-like expression.

After staring at the empty air for a long time, Ludimine opened her mouth.

“Then, are we taking Eden with us?”

“As you know, the alchemist is not in a good state.”

Penyard replied, lowering his gaze.

“Leaving him behind might not be the best choice; his abilities seem too outstanding.”

“That’s true, but he always wanted to return to his hometown.”

In truth, the Viscount felt the same about wanting to take Idun along.

When news arrived that Idun had saved all the wounded in the caves, the Viscount had to acknowledge that Idun was no ordinary person.

According to the maids, his methods of healing were remarkably normal. Not only did he employ pressing techniques but also surgical procedures using knives and saws.

However, it was too much to assume that he saved everyone just with these two methods.

“There must be other abilities of his that I’m unaware of.”

Yet, the fact that the Viscount didn’t ask Idun anything was a form of wisdom.

“It’d be troublesome if things got awkward just by making unnecessary demands.”

The goose that lays golden eggs doesn’t get taught.

“And, as you know, the apothecary currently needs sufficient rest.”

With this statement, the Viscount gazed firmly at Ruedimene, implying a stern warning not to do anything unnecessary.

“…I understand well. Then, prepare for departure in two days, ensuring no shortages even while the apothecary rests.”

Fortunately, Ruedimene seemed to have accepted the Viscount’s advice, nodding in response.

***

Ruedimene exited the conference room and walked alone through the corridor.

People praised her as the one blessed by the dragon, but she was in a state of utter confusion.

She had just followed a russet-colored cat from the shelter, but why was she back in the apothecary, and what were these recurring scenes flooding her mind? She couldn’t make sense of anything.

What frustrated her more was her inability to do anything when these unfamiliar scenes popped into her head.

She could only watch like an audience member observing a play unfolding on a high stage.

“…What did Idun take from me?”

Ruedimene folded and unfolded her five fingers. She was pondering the scene that had come to her in the conference room earlier.

She was lying on a bed, and Idun came every night to hold her hand.

Initially, she thought he was just using pressure for treatment, but it wasn’t that simple.

As time passed, she sensed a crimson energy emanating not from herself but passing through her fingertips to Idun. Afterward, he would sigh deeply and release her hand.

Similar scenes had repeatedly crossed her mind afterward.

Reflecting on this scene, she abruptly halted, covering her mouth with both hands.

“If my late uncle, who was a sorcerer, cast a strange spell on me, and Idun took that spell away from me? That’s why I could regain my health?”

If her recent realization was correct, it could also explain why the stench Idun exuded was also emanating from the attackers. Lastly, his reluctance to come close and keeping distance from her was undoubtedly due to his fear of the curse he had taken from her.

“…I have to find Idun right away and ask him about this.”

If Indeed Edain had taken the curse upon himself, Rhediminé had no intention of letting him go.