The Pharmacist Lady's Secret Trading

Chapter 43

“April, you can relax now.”

Ian said, slowly stroking her back as she relaxed. She took a deep breath with her hand resting her hand on her chest. She took a memoir of the past ten years she spent in one determination.

“Thank you, Ian. Thank you for taking care of this for me.”
“I just did what I had to. And, I’m sorry for making you flustered earlier.”
“What? Introducing me as your wife?”
“Yes.”
“It will be true soon anyway. I knew that you were trying to help me.”
“Thank you for understanding.”

Ian was also in a hurry as much as April. Impatience was wriggling inside him as if it was his duty to fill. However, he was also trying hard not to ever find that he was running in vain.

“Soon, we will have to pay frequent visits to the North for justification purposes. I’ve completed the process of purchasing the mine.”
“Wow! That’s good to hear!”
“I’ve also bought a small mansion near the mine.”
“The place where my family’s caretaker used to stay?”
“Yes.”

Ian discussed his plans on the mine with April.

“That’s why you’ll be the chief manager.”
“What?”
“You’re smart and you know the place better than anyone else. You could help me in this way.”
“But, now it belongs to the family of Reykis.”
“That’s the reason I’m leaving it in your hands. You will soon be a member of our family in papers, and above all, you are the person I trust the most.”

Ian grinned as he finished. In response to his persuasion, April shook her head in sympathy.

“I’ll give it a thought.”
“Good. So, you’ve found one now.”

Ian counted to himself. He was successful in recovering the mine that previously belonged to April’s family.

Starting with that, Ian vowed to walk beside her and return what she lost step by step.

 

*** 

On one wintry day half a month later, the two shared their vows. The marriage consisted of only a few letters written on a white paper, in the absence of cheers from guests.

“Once you’re done, you can sign here.”

They – after carefully reading the marriage terms – added their respective signatures. Ian submitted Kane’s attested certificate and declaration altogether.

Ian and April – who were lovers until they entered the court – left the same door as a couple.

“I need to practice saying my name now.”

April jokingly unraveled her restless mind.

She was nervous at the thought that the surroundings would begin to change after this.

“So, you wouldn’t be shy if I introduced you as my wife now, would you?”
“Hmm…… I think so? Ah, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t like what happened last time!”

Ian was also concerned about his marriage, but he pretended to be calm so that April could rely on him more. Throughout the journey back to the mansion, he made sure to never let go of her hand.

“Can you spare some time for me, April?”
“Sure. But where are you going?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”

He led her to the detached building. He took her to the place where he used to sneak through the window whenever he missed April.

“Here?”
“There’s something I wanted to give you.”

The lake – where they first talked to each other – was shining calmly under the sunlight of the cold afternoon. He guided her under the two trees standing side by side along the lake.

Despite the cold weather, the two camellia trees with green leaves and red petals stood out in contrast to the scenery.

“April, hand.”

Puzzled, she placed her hand on his outstretched hand. Then, he took something out of his coat and carefully put it around her fourth finger. Shining brightly, it was the ring he saved for this day.

“Ian…….!”
“Honestly, this place was just a ‘place’ until I met you. But because of you, it has become meaningful for me.”

Camellia trees – which bloomed more colorful with the increase of the cold weather – were a perfect symbolism of love. Below them, Ian wanted to promise April the future.

“This is so beautiful, Ian. I’ll always be sorry. There’s not much I can give you.”

Ian shook his head. He pulled her into a kiss. The warmth of his feelings was evident through his lips. April gripped his arm as the kiss deepened.

“You saved me so many times, and stop saying sorry.”

He whispered as they parted. Her eyes landed on her hand which shone exceptionally bright today.

It was a sign. A sign that Ian would not let go of her even in the midst of the blizzard that was to come.

 

*** 

April began organizing the laboratory in case she had to visit Carleva anytime soon. Since her research was almost over, she thought it was better to organize what she accumulated. On the other hand, a perfume complementary to the prototype was completed based on the enchantments she practiced.

“It’ll be finished soon.”

Ian appeared to have stabilized day by day after the imprint, and his dependence on the drugs seemed to have decreased noticeably, but for the time being, it was necessary to press down his symptoms in case of an emergency.

It was because of what Ian always said that the human body could never be as perfect as a ruler.

“Should I put this aside…….”

She glanced at her research materials piled up next to her desk. She put them in empty boxes one by one.

After cleaning up, she placed her hand below the drawer of her desk.

That drawer could only be opened through a spell she placed herself. She used it to hide Elise’s notebook.

“There might be something.”

After she stood by the desk lamp, she flipped the pages one by one. Her mother’s study should be storing a clue or information if it was tightly shut all these years.

“Huh?”

As time went by, she found blank white pages. But, there seemed to be something written at the end.

Perhaps, she couldn’t read it under all the lights.

“How can I read this?”

The letters cut off in the middle seemed to be intentional. April thought. If Elise didn’t want to show it to others, then she somehow placed a lock on it.

‘I have to try everything I know.’

April thought of several spells that could solve passwords and rubbed the paper with her hand.

“Huh? That was easy.”

Surprisingly, the handwriting became distinct the moment she finished. It felt like she found treasure buried deep into the ground. Only April could use it.

《 I told Elaine to withdraw. If she gets caught, the road to ‘Carko’ shall be cut off here, and the magic will likely extend to April. I think I have to respond to their hunt now. 》

“Elaine? Who is she?”

Was she someone Elise used to know? Whoever she was, she seemed to be moving at the command of Elise, but April knew none of the servants with the same name.

《 Luckily, even if I disappear and the property falls to them, this record will never disappear or fall in the wrong hands. I never thought I’d have to use witchcraft in this way. 》

《 If you’re my daughter April who is reading this, I hope you already know. The ‘blue eyes’ that I asked you to keep will show you the way.

It’s up to you whether you want to use it or not, but whatever you choose, make sure you do it without regret. I will always love you. 》

This was the record. The handwriting was Elise’s. It seemed that she wrote this in a hurry. Her scrawled handwriting and the errors she made at the end were the proof.

April closed the notebook without another glance.

“Mother.”

This was one of the pieces of evidence that Elise had tried to find out about the missing women until the end. Unfortunately at some point in time, she had the desire to sacrifice her life to save April.

This showed how great her mother had been.

“Why am I seeing this now…….”

April was devastated. She sobbed silently, covering her face with both hands.

 

*** 

Fabian could not let go of his work even though he was immersed in the sweet dreams of his honeymoon. To his demise, he needed to pay a lot of attention during the completion of the North-eastern defense and stabilization period.

Ian also wanted to organize as soon as possible, so he had to be present in briefing every day for the last eight days.

“There has been no reported accident and the progress seems to be fast. As a result, there was nothing for you or me to see personally. No wonder, do you have any other plans?”
“I was going to tell you.”

Ian heavily sighed. Fabian closed the file, placed it aside, and leaned deeply against the chair.

—

 

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