I Released Medicine in a Romance Fantasy Novel

41 – Farewell

Right after Mrs. Chandler’s breath ceased.

An urgent official from the palace announced the imperial decree to the citizens gathered in the square.

The contents were, “Hold Anais Calla responsible for succumbing to the base impulses of a treacherous confidant and undermining the dignity of the royal family. We will abolish the monastery.” Detailed explanations of the emperor’s decision made with a heavy heart and an order to cease the pitiful medication were added as an aside.

“Citizens of the realm, respectfully accept the imperial decree!”

Even in the midst of this, Mrs. Chandler’s body lay sprawled in a pitiful state.

It took another day for the body to be removed.

**

Is this the fair treatment for a child departing on a long journey?

“Please stay in character!”

“Stay secluded.”

The Emperor’s final farewell before departing to the monastery.

Princess Anais blinked in disbelief. What does etiquette matter now when it’s all over?

She will have to live in the secluded monastery, where only nuns roam.

But her father, relentless as ever, continued with his oppressive words.

“Anais, you must reside within the monastery grounds. Communication with the outside world will be prohibited, but other conveniences will be provided. You understand the implications, don’t you?”

“….”

“You’re not listening. Sigh…”

Anais raised her head, hoping it would end soon, and looked straight at the Emperor. However,

“Huh?”

The Emperor gazed back at her with an expression that was difficult to put into words.

Bloodshot eyes and a pale complexion from days of unrest. Despite being a ruthless ruler who had eliminated (some even personally) siblings and relatives to ascend the throne, he appeared vulnerable. It felt unfamiliar even to his daughter, Anais.

“Have I done something wrong?”

She was not given a chance to make amends for her mistakes.

The Emperor’s hurried departure right after his heartfelt plea, “You must stay healthy,” was to blame.

“Mama?”

Anais approached, but there was no point in trying to hold onto him. She simply tore at her clothes in frustration.

The Empress, who had been present for the farewell, approached her with a look of pity.

“You should have clung to him, even if it meant staining your clothes with tears. If you had done so, it might have softened his heart towards you. At least he would have personally ensured your well-being from time to time.”

“……”

“I want to help you, but you keep rejecting every opportunity. Now, there’s really nothing I can do. …Since you’re leaving, I won’t say anything more.”

“Mom.”

Help? And opportunities?

Anais felt a sense of despair again as she looked at the Empress.

After ‘fake health syrup,’ this was the first time they faced each other. It couldn’t help but feel unpleasant when her mother, who hadn’t offered a word of comfort all this time, suddenly talked about opportunities.

Still, she held back from starting an argument just before parting.

However, there was one thing she really wanted to ask.

“Mom, why did you do that to me?”

“Anais.”

“Did you have to push me into a corner with such a theatrical performance? If you had just given me a little advice, even if I did something wrong, why did it have to go as far as affecting you, Mom?”

Words that had been suppressed for a long time poured out chaotically.

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She wanted to know why her own mother, disregarding her daughter, collaborated with Siena to bring herself down into the abyss.

Because of those trivial mushrooms? Or because she didn’t heed the warning? …Honestly, it was true, but children not listening to their parents is nothing unusual.

“Even if you leave, you must hear this.”

Anais stared at the Empress with wide-open eyes, determined not to take a step until she got an answer.

However, the cruel Empress did not give her the answer she sought.

“Daughter. The question you should be asking isn’t that.”

“What should I be asking then?”

“Dorothy Chandelier. It would be more important to ask what happened to the family of that old woman who died in the square yesterday. Right now, that woman has shouldered your sins and died for you, but if the family says something different, the situation could change.”

“The situation has changed? I know Mrs. Chandler is dead, but her family is just ordinary people.”

“It depends on how we utilize it.”

“…?”

“In reality, Sienna tried to discreetly secure their new recruits. She’s remarkably diligent, you know. …Still, I had someone arrange for that woman’s husband and children to be quietly taken to a safe place, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“…”

“No need for thanks.”

With these words, the Empress signaled for them to leave.

Those who received the order helped Anais board the carriage.

“Enough of this.”

With the Empress’s brief notice, the carriage set off.

Anais hurriedly leaned out of the carriage window, but the Empress had already turned away.

“Could such a thing really have happened…?”

While Mrs. Chandler performed a one-woman show in the square, slowly dying, Sienna attempted to secure the family’s new recruits. The cruelty of trying to trample on her already fallen self left Anais dumbfounded.

And…

She began to vaguely understand what the Empress meant by an opportunity.

What if she had just died after Sirocivin?

Certainly, it would have been painful. But that suffering would have been at most losing friends and a slightly shaky support system.

“No. Even if I wasn’t seriously ill, Sienna wouldn’t have left me alone anyway.”

She tried to deny it, but a new question immediately arose.

What if she hadn’t resigned? What if she had taken a few weeks of leisure before launching the health syrup, testing its efficacy? What if, at the very least, she had cleanly swallowed the act Sienna put on with the fake syrup without being deceived?

Even if she knew it was a pointless exercise, Anaïs couldn’t stop herself from considering the possibilities.

There was nothing else she could do anyway.

…

About ten minutes later, when Anaïs’ thoughts came to a halt, the carriage was slowly passing through the street.

“Wait a moment, please!!”

There was a person who dared to shout at the carriage adorned with the royal emblem.

Anaïs couldn’t ignore it, even if she considered it a madman’s stunt. There was something familiar about that voice that caught her ear.

She turned around to the knight leading the procession, afraid that she would regret it if she just let it pass.

“I know that voice. Even if you’re leaving, it’s okay to exchange greetings, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please, allow us to exchange greetings.”

The carriage temporarily came to a halt.

“I’m glad we passed by here! I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to meet you.”

As he said this, a young man approached.

With his thick blond hair, green eyes, and average build, he seemed ordinary at first glance.

But if you scrutinized his features one by one, you would find no unattractive corners in this charming young man.

Just looking at his kind eyes made Anaïs feel at ease. And not to mention the growing desire to take care of him, even if it was just one thing.

It wasn’t just a good impression.

To Anaïs, he was someone with significant meaning.

“Senior Leon.”

Academy, Department of Swordsmanship, 2nd year student, Leon Loderdale.

When he was a freshman, he had a faint presence, but now he is a genius in swordsmanship that everyone knows.

He was also an acquaintance to Anais. Although they were in different departments and grades, they became close seniors by chance at the beginning of the semester.

There was a time when she had feelings beyond friendship, but since the incident that turned her life upside down, she deliberately avoided him, afraid of his cold gaze.

“I never dreamed we would meet again like this.”

Honestly, she still felt embarrassed. She was in a position where she lost everything, was deprived of her rights, and was expelled from the institution, so why wasn’t she ashamed?

But more than that, she felt glad.

To have someone who warmly welcomes her even when she has lost everything. It was a fact that she couldn’t be happier to have someone to see her off, even though he was a bit too cheerful.

“Did you really wait for me?”

“To be honest, I wanted to meet you for a long time. I thought I wouldn’t have another chance if not this time, but I finally succeeded!”

Just hearing his voice made her heart feel warm. She was grateful that he used informal speech.

Sylcivine, Dokmalphul, Morphine, op*ium, Mahwang. At that moment, before being swayed by such things, the ordinary days she enjoyed naturally came to mind.

She didn’t know they were precious at the time, but after losing everything, she realized the value of those precious everyday moments.

Perhaps because her heart had weakened, tears welled up in her eyes, but Anais tried her best to hold them back. She couldn’t show tears to the person who had come to see her off with difficulty.

“Let’s leave with a smile. That’s the right thing to do.”

Anais smiled at Leon with great effort.

“Thank you, senior.”

“I should be the one thanking you!!!”

“You don’t have to go that far with your words… No, it’s all good. I have so much to say to you, senior, but we don’t have much time. Still, I’m glad I could see your face before leaving, really.”

In her heart, she wanted to promise to meet again.

However, that’s a selfish act. Still, Anais started to feel anxious because she wanted to express her gratitude somehow. If she had known, she would have prepared a gift.

The words Leon suddenly blurted out broke her anxiety.

“Thank you for making the good medicine!”

“…What?”

“Oh, didn’t you say it was made by that grandmother who passed away yesterday? Anyway, if it weren’t for you, the medicine wouldn’t have existed in this world. …But, if it’s okay, can I ask you something? Do you happen to know a way to get similar medicine at a cheaper price? I’m not interested in the brand.”

What is he talking about? Anais looked at her senior with a dumbfounded expression. She couldn’t believe that such words came out of the mouth of someone who used to be kind-hearted.

“Senior, what on earth…”

“Don’t know? Don’t worry about it. I’ll find it myself.”

Saying that, Leon smiled brightly, even showing his gums. It was a smile that caused discomfort.

Anais didn’t know how to react, so she just blinked her eyes. He was so different from the Leon senior she knew.

“What’s this?”

Thinking that the greeting was over, the formation started moving again.

Anais stared at Leon with a blank face, but he still waved his hand with a cheerful expression. As if he had gained some kind of advantage.

“Take care!”

He was the only human who bid her farewell with a smile.