The territory that I, no, Claire received as a reward was ‘North Wolf Lake’. As the name suggests, it needs no further explanation. A territory in the north with a large lake where wolves live in packs.

“Since there will be someone else managing the territory anyway, I think it wouldn’t be bad to spend the rest of my life going there to collect medicinal herbs and treat people. There are really a lot of rare medicinal herbs there. It’s really great, isn’t it?”

When I first heard about receiving a territory, I simply thought I was getting a place that could provide steady income.

To me, who was greatly expecting income from the territory, Ileana warned that the amount would not be as large as I thought. Although it looked large on the map, more than a third of the land was occupied by a huge lake.

Moreover, due to the wolves living in packs, only a small portion near the lord’s castle is actually used for farming.

Ileana grumbled that it was just a territory given for show, but for me, it was rather welcome news.

North Wolf Lake is like heaven for those who deal with medicinal herbs.

Not only are there various herbs that grow in the abundant wetlands, but there’s also a special plant called ‘Wolf Cape’ that only grows in wolf droppings, which is quite a precious herb.

“I heard that there are many patients who get injured because of the wolf packs in that area. That’s exactly the kind of place that needs my hands.”

As I continued my explanation, Ian’s face turned ashen.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, rather, isn’t that place too far? It’s at the northern end of the empire.”

“That’s why I’m more excited. I’ve always had a romantic notion about traveling. I’ve wanted to visit the places where the medicinal herbs I handle grow naturally. Until now, because of travel restrictions… No, no.”

I hastily waved my hands, denying what I had just said. Travel restrictions between territories only applied to commoners. It wasn’t something that applied to Claire.

“Until now, I couldn’t freely travel long distances due to my family’s concerns, but if I go to the territory I’ve been granted, they probably won’t object much.”

“Hmm…”

He folded his arms and looked displeased.

Seeing his worried expression, I was about to say, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll make enough medicine for His Highness the Crown Prince before I go,’ but I kept my mouth shut.

It would have been strange to suddenly offer to make medicine after insisting I wasn’t Jane all this time.

‘Should I have at least told him not to worry? It’s not like I’m going right away.’

I couldn’t go to such a distant place immediately. Preparations were needed.

Moreover, in North Wolf Lake, there would likely be more patients with external injuries than internal ones.

I lacked surgical skills. So I needed to study under a skilled healer. Probably after gaining experience for a year or two, it would be sufficient.

“This way.”

As soon as the knights guarding the door opened it, the scent of Ficus fruit wafted in.

The sweet and tangy Ficus aroma instantly stimulated my salivary glands. I already had to swallow the saliva pooling in my mouth.

“I’m not sure if you’ll like it, but…”

“Who in the world wouldn’t like Ficus fruit?”

I’m serious. This sweet and sour fragrance, who would refuse this divine fruit that fills your mouth with sweet juice when you gently bite into it?

Although my eyes were first drawn to the Ficus fruits filling the table, Sir Simons, the head butler, was in the room.

He gave me a simple bow, and I also greeted him according to the etiquette I had learned from Ileana, slightly lifting the hem of my skirt.

For some reason, he looked at me with an anxious face.

“Sit over here.”

I carefully sat down in the chair that Ian pulled out for me.

Once seated at the table, the scent of Ficus fruit became even more intense. It was almost dizzying.

I could almost hear a seductive voice saying, ‘Hurry! Put me in your mouth. Bite into me and enjoy my sweet juice.’

Ileana had taught me that no matter what food was served, one should first savor the tea and engage in conversation to soften the atmosphere, then taste the offered refreshments without compromising one’s dignity.

She repeatedly said that no matter how hungry one is, one should not hastily put food in one’s mouth.

‘I must endure…’

As much as I wanted to immediately pick up a fork and put that yellow flesh in my mouth, I forcibly summoned my reason.

I’m not particularly gluttonous, but in front of Ficus fruit, I became as impatient as someone who hadn’t eaten for days.

“Let’s start with the tea first.”

At Ian’s words, Simons poured tea into a mint-colored teacup with a gold rim.

Rosette Ning White. It was one of the moss plants with white star-shaped flowers.

It mainly grows in damp, shaded areas and was quite a rare tea. Many people enjoyed it for its subtle fragrance, but I didn’t particularly like it. It was a tea with quite a strong bitter taste.

It was widely used as a medicinal herb because it had effects such as promoting blood circulation or maximizing the efficacy of other medicinal ingredients.

Ian subtly pushed the honey jar towards me.

Seeing him push the honey jar first, it seemed Ian firmly believed I was Jane and was trying to confirm my identity through my tea-drinking habits.

From tempting me with Ficus to serving a strongly bitter tea and then offering honey in this way.

I wonder how he’s so sure I’m Jane…

‘Should I just be honest with him? No. What if I suddenly die again?’

I steeled my resolve once more. Although it’s miraculous that I entered the body of the deceased Claire, I don’t know how I ended up like this.

And I don’t know how long this situation will last. I might be living normally like this and then suddenly die one day.

Since I couldn’t be certain that I would continue to exist as Claire, I couldn’t honestly confide in Ian. I don’t know why he’s so sure I’m Jane, but I decided to properly dispel his doubts today.

“The tea smells nice.”

As Ileana had taught me, I savored the aroma and carefully sipped the tea, making sure not to make any noise.

The bitter taste of the tea filled my mouth. I tried not to grimace as I quietly put down the teacup.

“It must be bitter. You’re drinking it well. Don’t you need more honey?”

“It’s fine. It’s not that bitter. The young tea leaves must have been used, the taste is smooth and it goes down well.”

I could taste the bitterness, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Before, I was more sensitive to bitter tastes than others and wouldn’t even touch anything that tasted slightly bitter, but since using Claire’s body, I didn’t react as sensitively to bitter tastes as before.

However, the pain from bitter tastes had been learned, so I instinctively avoided it.

Ian sent Simons out, saying he wanted to talk to me alone.

Simons seemed to have something he wanted to say to me, but as Ian kept pushing him out, he left with a worried face.

“Are you really not Jane?”

“I’ve never met Pharmacist Jane in person, but I’ve heard about her. I heard she ran a pharmacy at the south gate.”

He didn’t respond to my words and just stared at me.

“I don’t understand why you mistake me for her.”

Ian chuckled at my words. It was a laugh of derision.

“If it’s my mistake, I’ll apologize. And thank you. Thanks to Lady McCain… no, Countess Hydrangea, my foolish brother was able to keep his life.”

“It’s nothing. I only did what I had to do.”

“Strictly speaking, it wasn’t something you had to do. It was something even the knights couldn’t do. Moreover, you almost lost your life in that accident. Is there anywhere you’re uncomfortable?”

“I’m fine now. The wounds have all healed.”

“It’s really a miracle.”

“Yes. It’s a miracle. I’m truly grateful.”

It really was a miraculous event. Putting aside the fact that I took over Claire’s body. Claire was severely injured from that incident, but now there wasn’t even a small scar left.

“It’s truly an amazing thing. You lost a lot of blood then. It was remarkable that you didn’t die on the spot. During the two months you didn’t wake up, every healer who examined you shook their heads. They said that even though you were breathing, you were no different from a corpse.”

I remained silent, not responding to his words.

“They said that even if you woke up, it would be difficult to live a normal life like before, that even if a miracle happened and you opened your eyes, your brain would be dead and you’d wake up as an idiot. You woke up a month ago, right?”

“…Yes. I regained consciousness a month ago.”

“Do you know?”

“Know what?”

“That the day you opened your eyes was… the day Jane died?”

At his words, I felt my heart drop.

“You’ll say it’s not true, but when I saw you appear at the banquet, I was certain it was Jane. Of course, you had the appearance of Lady McCain, but I was really sure.”

“What nonsense…”

“When I investigated, I found out that at the moment Jane closed her eyes, that night, you, whom everyone thought was dead, opened your eyes. So I thought that maybe Jane’s soul had borrowed Claire’s body.”

His words were close to the truth, but they sounded like nonsense. It seemed he was caught up in strange thoughts, unable to accept my death.

I laughed awkwardly.

“Haha… It’s such an absurd story… I don’t know what to say.”

Ian shrugged as if to say there was no need to put much meaning into his words.

“If my words are wrong, just consider it a silly joke you heard.”

I didn’t want to drink because I disliked the bitter taste, but my mouth was so dry that I kept moistening my throat, and before I knew it, the teacup was empty.