Saved Him, Now I'm Obsessed (10 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 74

“It’s not as fragrant as flower scent, but I actually like this smell. Maybe because I’ve been used to it since I was so young… There was a time I really disliked it, you know. Because it clung to my own body, too. I wished my body would give off a nice scent—even if not floral…”

“Why? I like the medicinal scent coming from you, Jane. It feels like you, so I like it.”

Ian buried his nose against the back of my neck and sniffed. It tickled, so I pushed him away.

“Stop it! Don’t get that close.”

“I need to be this close to smell it properly. The scent has gotten much fainter than before.”

“Well, of course—it’s not the same body that lived surrounded by medicine for over twenty years! But lately, maybe because I’m working closely with herbs at the Medical Bureau again, Ileina even suggested I use perfume, saying I smell too much like medicine.”

“Don’t. I like Jane’s scent, so I don’t want it covered by other fragrances.”

True, I had my own nostalgic reasons, but what was so great about a medicinal smell anyway?

When I was younger, I absolutely hated it—it reminded me of death. Especially because elderly patients on the verge of passing always carried this scent particularly strongly. Probably because as their strength waned, they relied heavily on medicine, and the scent soaked deep into their bodies.

Even Grandfather’s scent had grown stronger during his final days. Despite having spent his whole life surrounded by medicine, I’d still thought there was no way it could soak in any deeper.

For a while, the mere smell of medicine made me nauseous. If I hadn’t felt obligated to keep the apothecary running, I would’ve quit right then.

Now I understand—the medicinal scent isn’t the smell of death, but of life. It’s the fragrance that prolongs people’s lives… So now, I like it—the herbal aroma that mixes earthiness with the dry scent of grass.

“I can’t wear perfume even if I want to. I need to detect the scents of herbs, and during patient consultations, my sense of smell is crucial. If my nose gets used to perfume first, it dulls my ability to perceive other scents. That’s why healers and apothecaries can’t use perfume. Oh, I heard chefs can’t wear it either—they say it interferes with tasting and sensing flavors.”

“Right, proper chefs don’t use perfume or tobacco. Are we going to visit every apothecary on this street today?”

I nodded at his question.

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