A Genius Pharmacist Whom the Empress Is Obsessed With

Episode 6: Proposals.

He had lived for over five hundred years.

This meant that Idun had done almost everything worth doing.

He had accumulated wealth to be called a tycoon, and he had reached a position where everyone envied him and looked up to him. Not to mention, Idun had the connection of a dragon.

It was because he had his own goals that he had been working as a pharmacist at the insignificant Estelon Clinic.

To build up enough merit to break the curse that had befallen him.

However, as time passed, everything changed as they always did. At first, it was just a pharmacist’s life started for his own gain, but as time went by, Idun’s thoughts began to shift.

It was so satisfying to know that with his own power, he could save someone and give back their precious life.

Having almost lost his life due to severe hunger, he knew how precious life was.

That was also why Yidun couldn’t turn away from Princess Ludmilla.

He had just turned twenty, and the young princess would have plenty of things she wanted to experience and her own hopes and dreams.

If he had no strength, that would be one thing… Yidun wanted to return to the princess the life she had longed for. Would it not be a true act of kindness to help a crying child who had fallen on the road?

Thump thump. The loud pounding sound that filled the room finally stopped.

After much deliberation, Yidun made his decision.

To take the greatest gamble of his life.

Because no matter what he did, his body would not be worse off.

***

9 p.m.

Yidun knocked firmly on the closed wooden door. It was for the meeting with the Countess that he had caught in the morning.

“I am the apothecary.”

A few seconds later, he heard the response telling him to come in. Yidun quietly opened the door and entered the room.

The Countess’s office was simple without any particular decorations, but thanks to the rustic furniture, it had its own elegant charm.

“Please have a seat on the sofa. It might take a little time to brew the tea.”

As Yidun stood still, the Countess led him to the sofa.

After a short wait, the Countess brought out the tea and some light refreshments. The subtle scent of dried herbs wafted from the pristine white teacup she placed on the table.

“It may not be a luxury, but the tea leaves are still good.”

What is the Countess trying to say with this?

Although curiosity rose to the tip of his tongue, Yidun silently savored the tea. Impatience would be poison in a moment like this.

The Countess opened her mouth as if waiting for Yidun to put down his teacup.

“If it’s alright, could you please confirm something for me?”

The Countess gestured toward a rather large box that was placed on the table. Yidun cautiously brought the box over and opened it.

Inside the box adorned with faded decorations was a medicine box.

Inside the grid compartments of the box were glass bottles, some filled with liquid, others with powders or pills.

“Are these the princess’s medications?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Why are you suddenly giving them to me?”

“Although it may sound strange coming from me, I believed I had served the princess better than anyone else.”

When Edun looked at the Countess with a face that showed he did not understand English, the Countess spoke with a short sigh.

“I spent more than twelve hours a day taking care of the Princess Consort, and even in the remaining time, I couldn’t rest comfortably because I had to manage the servants, organize the household accounts, and be mindful of the Marquis’s presence. For the past few years, I have only had about 4 or 5 hours to lie in bed.”

Nursing a patient in a state of unconsciousness for such a long time was not a normal occurrence. Just looking at her being able to endure such a long period of exhaustion for a month, it was clear that the Countess was far from ordinary.

“But embarrassingly, I neglected the most important part until now.”

“….”

“Just because I was ignorant, I didn’t show any interest in what medicine Her Highness was taking. If the doctors said it was necessary, I thought it was necessary, and if it was medicine, it must be medicine.”

As the Countess’s words slowly continued, each word resonated softly and echoed, allowing one to fully feel the weight she was carrying.

“So, that’s why something like this happened today. Just the medicine thrown away today was enough to fill three medicine chests.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I no longer have the face to see the Marquis. But the past is the past.”

The Countess’s voice gained strength as it stretched out.

“So now, I will do my best. In order to do that, I need to know what kind of medicine Her Highness has been taking. So please teach me about those medicines.”

Edun looked at the box of medicine.

Bottles filled the three floors of the box.

The numerous bottles were evidence of how long the Princess Consort had struggled with her illness. Even though she would be tired by now after taking care of the Princess Consort for such a long time, the lady in front of him still seemed to have a heart that would do anything for the Princess Consort.

“Will it be difficult?”

“No. It’s just that I may not be able to teach you everything tonight…”

“That’s fine. Even if it’s one thing a day, I just want you to help me.”

Edun was about to say something else, but he closed his mouth. If this moment was when the Countess revealed her weakness, perhaps she might not refuse his request.

“Countess, may I have a word with you?”

The Countess nodded as if telling him to speak.

“If you allow me to help you, then if you are also okay with it, could you please listen to my request?”

“Your request?”

“Yes. If you agree to help with my request, I will also teach you the knowledge that I know.”

The Countess’s eyebrows twitched for a moment. Despite the posture he was taking, the Countess was a noblewoman, and Edun was a commoner. For a commoner to dare to propose a deal to a noble, just the thought itself could be considered an offense of disrespect towards the aristocracy.

However, Edun did not back down. His fate was already determined, and in times like this, the more confidently he went forward, the more it could create a favorable impression.

“For the sake of the Princess Consort.”

As he watched the Countess’s face go blank for a moment, Edun gave her a smile of enlightenment.

***

After Edun left, the Countess took off the glasses she was wearing and put them down.

I didn’t really want to wear glasses, but with my age, I had to when I looked at the text.

“Still, it was a pleasant time after a long time.”

His wife smiled faintly and picked up the sheet of paper on the desk. The paper was filled with the content that he had taught her during the past hour.

Unexpected proposition by Eden. His wife was slightly taken aback, but she accepted the proposal. She could not refuse it as it was for the princess.

As soon as his wife gave permission, Eden began to explain about the medicine in the box, as if he had been waiting.

At first, it seemed like a simple trick to deceive her, like a typical smooth-talker, but Eden’s response had something subtly deceptive about it.

“My knowledge is shallow, so I can’t recognize what it is.”

That wasn’t all.

During the hour, Eden never once showed any signs of being discouraged. Regardless of what his wife said or did, Eden always responded with a calm attitude. That attitude was definitely not that of an ordinary commoner.

“It felt as if he was treating a noble.”

Recalling Eden, the countess neatly organized the written paper and tied it with a string.

“There must be a reason why the Viscount Penniard asked me to meet him.”

In the countess’s heart, hope that the princess would awaken for sure became firm for the first time.

***

Eden, who had set off for the countess’s visit, looked up and looked out the window.

Between the broken gap in the window that had not been repaired yet, countless stars were floating.

“…They must be cheering me on, right?”

He wasn’t an emotional person who would make a wish while looking at the moon and stars, but right now, he wanted to depend on superstition. That’s how much his actions from now on were full of gambling spirit.

Still, he couldn’t withdraw from here. If it wasn’t for this method, he couldn’t save the princess’s life.

He had considered calling Adrian, but considering the time it would take for that slowpoke to come to Wimestandell Castle and decipher the magic circle, it would surely take a long time. Meanwhile, the princess would continue to deteriorate.

Above all, calling Adrian was the last resort. Until then, he must try his best and do whatever he could.

“I’m glad that I can communicate well with the countess.”

Every night, Eden had requested the countess to empty the princess’s room for an hour. That way, he could fully demonstrate his power without worrying about others’ eyes.

Although he made the request with confidence, to be honest, he had thought that the countess would refuse his request. Even though it was for the princess, having a man and a woman staying together in one room would raise suspicions.

However, contrary to his expectations, the countess willingly granted his request. Just, she told him to behave himself.

“Well then, shall we go?”

Eden moved towards the princess’s bedroom. The starlight coming through the gap in the window gently enveloped his back.