A Genius Pharmacist Whom the Empress Is Obsessed With

20th Episode. It shouldn’t have been like this.

The final morning meal eaten at Umstendel Castle was extremely luxurious, ranging from freshly roasted poultry to freshly baked bread and hearty soup.

This meal, fit for nobles, was the head chef’s farewell gift.

Ever since he made healing ointments for burns and nutritive creams for moist skin, the head chef had been in a frenzy to give something more to Idun.

It was not only the head chef who expressed gratitude to Idun, who was leaving.

Last night, in the lounge where the servants gathered, Idun’s farewell party was grand and lasted a long time.

“This is a bag made of flexible branches. The branches have been dried well and made to ventilate easily, so it’s good to hold herbs or medicinal ingredients.”

“These are gloves I personally made for summer. Even in summer, if you wear these thick gloves, you won’t feel stuffy. It seems like you always wear white gloves, so I prepared them in white too.”

“Eat them on the way. It’s preserved fruit made by picking and pickling fruits. It will be good to eat when you get hungry.”

Simple yet heartfelt gifts. In return, Idun gave away everything he had.

As a result, Idun’s luggage, which was small and light when he first packed it, had now grown like a well-fed piglet.

“The weight distribution doesn’t seem right.”

Idun frowned and adjusted the bag strap, which had been standing in front of the door since earlier, prompting Adrian, who had been sitting by the window, to urge him.

“You didn’t forget anything, right? Let’s go then.”

Adrian said as he headed towards the door.

“Everyone is waiting for you.”

With those words, Idun immediately headed for the door without delay.

In the courtyard leading to the entrance of the castle, the Viscount Perniard and the people of the castle gathered to see off Edun.

“It seems the princess is resting in her room.”

Just in case, he wanted to see her one last time, but it was inevitable.

“You, do you really not need a carriage or a horse? I prepared them just in case.”

Viscount Perniard was dressed quite neatly, unlike usual. He held the reins of a sleek and well-muscled steed. It was one of the horses cherished by the viscount.

Considering the value of a single horse, the viscount had undoubtedly prepared the best gift he could offer.

“I don’t know how to put it into words, but it’s a fairly good offer.”

“I understand. However, how could I receive such a precious gift? I am grateful just in my heart.”

“It will be a long journey, even with a carriage it will take a while to reach the village of Luary.”

“It’s okay. I haven’t rested properly for a while, so I plan to take it slow and rest while traveling.”

In reality, it wouldn’t be a hardship. Once they went out to the sparsely populated plains, they would be able to quickly fly to Luary on Adrian, who had transformed back into his original form.

“…Alright. Then, at least accept this.”

Viscount Perniard nodded with a bitter smile and took out a substantial pouch from his pocket, handing it to Edun.

“It is a reward for your troubles. I made sure to put enough in it so that you wouldn’t be disappointed. You should be able to set up a fairly decent shop in a small village like Luary.”

At the sound of the money jingling in the pocket, Adrian’s triangular ears perked up. Seeing Edun hesitating, Adrian quietly tugged at the edge of his clothes.

“…I may not know about other things, but since it’s money, just accept it for now.”

Even if he tried to suppress his temper, Adrian was undoubtedly still a dragon.

“Thank you.”

After showing his gratitude to the viscount, Edun accepted the pouch. Even if Adrian hadn’t urged him, he intended to accept this reward. Refusing it could greatly hurt the viscount’s pride.

“Now, go and say goodbye to the others.”

Viscount Perniard stepped back at an appropriate time, and Edun slowly turned his gaze.

Ella was standing a little further away, clenching her fists and bowing her head. Seeing the handkerchief in the nanny’s hand, it seemed that she had been crying again.

Watching her in that state, Edun couldn’t help but feel uneasy as well.

But it was an unavoidable situation.

From Noble mtl dot com

Edun had to return to Luary to break the curse of the Red Serpent, and Ella had to live her life as a noble lady.

“Ella, my lady.”

Edun called Ella cautiously. Even at Edun’s call, Ella didn’t even flinch.

“Lady, I’m leaving now. Won’t you bid me farewell?”

Edun knelt down and lowered his body, stretching out his arms. Upon seeing this, Ella burst into tears and jumped into Edun’s arms in an instant.

“Miss.”

“Oh, miss?”

The viscount and the servants looked puzzled and tried to stop her, but when Idun slightly shook her head, they all fell silent and pretended not to notice.

“Miss, are you crying again? If you cry too much, your head will hurt. Why are you crying?”

“…Sniff, but now Idun isn’t here anymore.”

“It’s not like we’re completely parting ways. We will meet again someday.”

In response to Idun’s words, Ella pouted like a duckling. With her swollen eyes and protruding lips, she was just an ordinary eight-year-old child at this moment, not a noble lady.

“Heh, Idun. I will study herbology, no, medicine diligently. I will improve my skills and become famous. When that happens, I will open a clinic in my name. So, you must come and find me when I become a physician. I will hire Idun as a pharmacist, okay? Got it?”

“…I understand. I will wait for you to become a famous physician, Miss.”

If it’s Miss, I’m sure she can do it. As soon as Idun finished speaking, Ella hugged him tightly.

Idun quietly patted her back, and after a while, calmed Ella separated from his embrace and returned to her nursemaid.

As soon as Ella left, the others who were waiting also approached and bid their final farewells.

“We will truly go now. Please take care.”

Amidst the many well-wishes, Idun took a step forward.

***

“…”

Rudimine sat by the window, watching Idun leave.

She tried to send him off casually, but the more his figure became small, the more uneasy she felt.

“…Director Estelon has been found. Based on the remaining traces, there is a possibility that it is him.”

That morning, one report arrived. That report kept disturbing Rudimine’s mind.

Even though she was accompanied by guards, she couldn’t guarantee her life if the person who harmed Director Estelon was him.

His skills were exceptional, and the temperament of the one he followed was too cruel, even for Rudimine’s standards.

“…That bastard was the one who made me drink the poison.”

Furthermore, his political skills were so good. While Rudimine was struggling, he framed her and had all her subordinates eliminated.

In her desperate situation, Rudimine had to meet him and bow her head before she fully recovered.

Please, at least let the remaining people live.

Recalling the shame and pain of that time, Rudimine couldn’t bear it anymore and stood up.

“…Let’s catch him. We have to catch him.”

She had no room to preserve her dignity. With her staff discarded and her walking stick thrown aside, Rudimine rushed towards the central palace as if she would collapse.

“Your Majesty!”

When Rudimine arrived at the courtyard, everyone looked at her with astonished eyes.

Regardless of how she appeared to others, Rudimine didn’t care at all. The only thing that mattered to her now was saving the alchemist named Jeodeuni.

“Your Highness, you shouldn’t push yourself like this.”

Her maid, Huga, approached and supported Rudimine, who was swaying as if she could collapse at any moment.

“No, Huga. Not me. Quickly, quickly, save Jeodeun.”

Before Rudimine could finish her sentence, a ominous, sizzling sound echoed through the air.

Seconds later, Huga, who had been supporting her arm, collapsed forward without any strength left in him.

“…Huga?”

An arrow was stuck in Rudimine’s back, stained blood-red.

“Step back! Your Highness! It’s an ambush!”

The sound of the wind followed soon after. Marquis Penniad shouted loudly and pushed Rudimine recklessly.

“Cough!”

With unbearable pain, Rudimine rolled on the ground.

“What… is this…”

When Rudimine regained her senses barely, she looked up and saw unfamiliar figures armed with swords among her disheveled hair.

***

“I see. Since you were dying anyway, isn’t it better to die peacefully?”

A brown-haired man suddenly perched on top of the castle roof. He smirked at the commotion in the courtyard.

“My lord has shown mercy by granting you the opportunity to die slowly. To think that you even considered returning to the palace after breaking the curse.”

The man flung his dagger towards the empty space. With a squawk, a bird that was flying through the air fell flapping.

“By the way, didn’t that headmaster say there was a alchemist named Jeodeuni?”

The headmaster was just an ordinary doctor. He wasn’t capable of breaking the curse set by the lord.

If that alchemist named Jeodeuni had indeed broken the curse, then he had to kill that alchemist for the sake of his lord.

“Where could he be?”

The man’s eyes flickered as he searched for his target.