Chapter 48
Chaian announcing he was going to work caused everyone to give him peculiar looks.
“If my secretary is going, then of course I have to go too.”
“……”
… Don’t smile like that. It’s endearing.
Ceres shook her head lightly at his constant bright laughter.
‘Well, does it matter?’
At the very least, thanks to him, they managed to enter the Ellsia Count’s Estate without trouble.
Ceres fixed her gaze on the current head of the family, Creel, walking ahead.
The fake ring was still snugly on his finger.
‘What a mess this household is.’
She felt the same as the last time she came here—nothing seemed to function properly.
The guards at the gate were a joke, the healers tending to the injured were incompetent, and now even the head of the family was wearing a fake ring.
Ceres barely held back a sigh.
“Ceres? What’s on your mind?”
“Just thinking about what to do first.”
“What’s there to think about? You don’t need to do anything. Just stick by my side, and everyone else will handle the work.”
“Ugh… I knew it. I knew this would happen…”
“See? You didn’t come to work, you came to play!”
“Ugh… Luka, please come back soon.”
The other mages following behind grabbed their necks in exasperation at Chaian’s words.
Meanwhile, Ceres ignored him and gazed out the window.
‘First…’
A large fountain was spouting water energetically in one corner of the garden.
‘Let’s find the ring.’
***
“Herion, what are you doing?”
“Me? I’m studying.”
“Do you even know what that book is?”
“This?”
Herion, who had been reading a medical text, stood up as a group of individuals approached her.
Swoosh!
“…Ah.”
Her face darkened as the medical text was snatched from her hands.
But the others didn’t care.
“This medical text can only be read by those with special permission.”
“But Ezzly said I could read it…”
Herion, who had received direct permission from the late head of the family, Ezzly, gave an awkward smile to her juniors glaring at her fiercely.
“The current head, Creel, didn’t give such permission.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Herion scratched her cheek and nodded in understanding.
“I won’t read it anymore.”
Her cheerful smile only further contorted the faces of those glaring at her.
It was always like this.
Despite being reprimanded by juniors, she always managed to smile. None of them understood how she could bear the humiliation.
‘Does she have no pride?’
If it were them, they’d have left long ago out of sheer embarrassment.
Herion, who had been studying at the estate for over ten years, was in a position far above what they could criticize.
Yet, for reasons unknown, she had fallen out of favor with the current head, Creel.
Knowing this, most members of the Ellsia household tacitly ignored her.
Even the tasks she was recently assigned were chores typically given to newcomers, such as sorting herbs.
“Did you finish organizing the herbs?”
“Yes, it’s all done. By the way, Rona.”
“Yes?”
“That patient with Roves… didn’t they mention having indigestion since yesterday?”
“I already prescribed a digestive medicine.”
“That patient is being treated for Crew’s Disease, right? The ingredients for the treatment include Alto fruit.”
“Of course, I know that. What are you trying to say?”
Rona’s irritated voice made Herion flinch slightly.
But her gaze remained clear, startling her juniors into hesitation.
“I was wondering if the indigestion might be due to the Alto fruit. Some people can’t process it well due to their constitution, and it can cause indigestion.”
“……”
“If it continues, it might lead to severe pain later. It’s just a suggestion, but maybe you should check and adjust the medication.”
“I… I already know that!”
“Oh, sorry. I must’ve worried unnecessarily. I’ll leave now. Great work, everyone.”
With a radiant smile, Herion waved and walked away. Her juniors watched her retreating figure with expressions full of displeasure.
“She’s so annoying.”
“Unnecessarily skilled too.”
“Why did she fall out of favor with the head?”
“Haven’t you heard? Apparently, the late head, Ezzly, favored Herion more than Creel.”
“Is that true?”
“Who knows? But the rumor is Creel sees her as a thorn in his side.”
“Then why not just kick her out? Why let her stay?”
“Throwing her out without cause would damage his reputation. It’d be easier if she left on her own, but she’s stubbornly staying, so it’s a headache for everyone.”
“Do you think Herion even realizes she’s being mistreated?”
“She’s utterly oblivious.”
They shook their heads as they watched Herion disappear into the distance.
***
In a secluded corner of the garden, far from where people frequented, Herion had been crouched for thirty minutes.
She was studying a tiny blue-flowered plant.
“Where have I seen this before… What herb is this?”
She was sure she had seen a picture of it in a book but couldn’t remember its name.
What was its use again?
“It’s Dike Flower, used to treat boils.”
“Ah! Dike!”
Clapping her hands, Herion smiled brightly at the realization.
“Huh?”
She suddenly realized the voice was unfamiliar and turned around quickly.
“Are you Herion?”
“Who are you?”
It was a young woman, possibly in her mid-to-late teens.
The girl approached and crouched beside her, staring at the plant.
‘She must be a healer.’
Her knowledge of the herb’s name made it evident.
But why had Herion never seen her before?
‘Is she a new recruit?’
Though the girl seemed to know her, Herion didn’t recognize her at all.
“Didn’t the late head teach you personally?”
“Ezzly?”
At the mention of a beloved name, Herion’s expression became sullen.
Every time Herion thought of the late head, who had passed away from an unknown illness, her heart ached.
After collapsing, she had never even seen his face again.
Creel had strictly forbidden anyone from visiting, saying that the master needed rest.
‘I wanted to heal him somehow.’
She hadn’t even had the chance to properly diagnose the illness. The progression was so fast that she could only watch helplessly as her teacher passed away.
No, she hadn’t even had the opportunity to examine him properly—not even to see his face.
To this day, the question remained.
What illness had Ezzly been afflicted with that took his life?
“He was a warm person. He taught me so much, even though I knew nothing,” Herion said.
She recalled her teacher, Ezzly, who always answered her questions patiently, no matter how troublesome they might have been. Herion’s eyes grew red as memories of his kind demeanor came flooding back.
“I think that might have been what led to his death.”
“Pardon? What do you mean…”
The girl’s muttered words were soft, almost to herself, but they made Herion’s eyes widen in shock.
What did she mean by that? Could this girl possibly know what illness Ezzly had?
“How long do you think this herb should be dried?”
“One week. It needs to be dried in a shaded area, not under direct sunlight, for the best potency.”
Herion answered without hesitation. Now that she recognized the herb’s name, all its details came rushing back to her.
“What about Gukus leaves? What are they used for?”
“They’re excellent for pain relief, especially for severe stomach discomfort. However, prolonged use can lead to habitual indigestion, so caution is needed.”
“A child has been running a fever for the past two weeks. They were diagnosed with a simple cold and prescribed medicine, but it hasn’t worked. The symptoms have worsened, and now the child is vomiting and has lost consciousness. Should they continue taking cold medicine?”
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment