It had been quite some time since the Countess of Noberry took grandmother’s medicine. Instead of being happy, she spoke with a pale face.

“Um, Countess Esteban. The medicine, I need a little more… Is it possible to purchase more?”

“What do you mean…”

She clearly had a face that looked like she would die in a few weeks. How could she still be alive?

While Helen was recalling the Countess of Noberry’s grandmother, a hand suddenly grabbed Helen. The startled Helen tried to shake off that hand.

If it weren’t for the desperate pleading voice of the Countess of Noberry.

“I-I can pay as much as you want! It had such a good effect on grandmother…”

“Countess of Noberry, what are you doing!”

While the other ladies were shocked, Helen instinctively knew.

Ah, this woman. She used the medicine on someone else. Someone very close who was healthy and not given a death sentence.

If Nerea is showing the exact same symptoms, she’s probably rotting from the bones. Tsk tsk.

.

.

.

“It seems the Countess of Noberry has something to tell me. How about we set another tea party soon?”

The three ladies who had come out to the garden looked back at the count’s mansion.

Though they were curious about the Countess of Noberry’s circumstances, begging for medicine, the ladies had a different regret.

“I was hoping to ask for a spot at the festival today.”

“Me too.”

It seemed like disappointed sighs were contagious.

For nearly nine years while the pro-nobility Empress hosted the festival, the pro-Emperor ladies couldn’t participate in any way.

Especially not knowing the masquerade ball’s concept in advance was a big loss. Just knowing the concept in advance would allow them to secure beautiful dresses and masks that matched.

Ladies with daughters or nieces of marriageable age were even more anxious. One of the ladies who kept looking back spoke casually.

“By the way, I wonder why they closed the balcony windows tightly. The lady who usually acted like she couldn’t wait to show off the garden flowers.”

Showing off the garden at tea parties was a basic etiquette for ladies, but in Helen Esteban’s case, it was a bit extreme.

“Today’s tea is specially blended by me for the ladies. As you know, it’s made with red hibiscus that I grew myself.”

Where did the appearance of bragging about flowers or herbs in every cup of tea and snack go, to have blocked off the doors?

That’s when.

“Oh my. Madam. Haven’t you heard that news? The Tylesbury merchant guild closed down quite a while ago. It seems the herbs became completely unusable.”

Oh my. Hearing the sound of surprised gasps, the Marchioness of Debenant looked back at the count’s mansion.

“What’s the use of showing off flowers? If you talk about their effects, it’ll inevitably lead to talk about the merchant guild’s closure.”

“How did the herbs end up in such a state?”

Maliciously glittering eyes looked towards the garden and muttered.

“Well, I don’t know the exact details, but. You all know. That many people dislike the Esteban Count’s proxy wife.”

* * *

“Then, Madam. Please wait until I contact you.”

After seeing off the tearful Countess of Noberry, Helen slowly exhaled as soon as the door closed.

“I’m sure I gave you precautions. I told you never to use it on anyone other than the patient it was prescribed for.”

“I’m sorry. When my son suddenly got hurt, I used that medicine and it was so effective. The pain stopped quickly and it healed fast, so I really only used it a few more times.”

“…”

“Sob, but my son is acting strange. He keeps wanting to apply more of that medicine, and he seems to have lost his strength. I’m so scared, Madam. The doctor just says it’s an unusual condition and can’t make any diagnosis.”

It was bad luck.

I was prepared for someone who wouldn’t listen properly to precautions and misuse it to appear someday, but why now of all times.

Above all, it was more troublesome because it was at a time when all the merchant guild’s herbs had become unusable.

Her head throbbed. Good things were overlapping with misfortunes.

To think that after the herbs stored in the count’s mansion, even the merchant guild’s herbs had all become unusable!

“How did you manage it! I told you to check the temperature and humidity until processing no matter what!”

“I apologize, Countess. We’ve been doing it the same way all this time, but something must have been different this time. For the leaves to turn yellow and all rot, I’m truly sorry.”

Helen approached the display case with growing anxiety. A display case beautifully decorated with pretty plates. Just touching one latch behind it revealed five bottles of ‘transparent medicine’ on display.

Five bottles.

Helen picked up one of them and muttered.

“No. We’ve just been lucky until now.”

We met those who stupidly tried to throw away such a good secret, and thanks to that, we even managed to tuck Nerea away in that rural countryside.

“This seems effective because it heals wounds quickly and eliminates pain, but it’s dangerous. If used regularly, it will eat away at the innermost part of the bones, making holes, and eventually kill or drive a person mad! Such dangerous things should never be handled!”

The voice of the now-dead man came to mind. To think of getting rid of something so good, how wasteful.

“Never, never again will I return to the system. Please.”

The voice of the pleading stepdaughter also echoed in her ears. How delightful it was to see that always composed face that looked just like Lillian’s crumble so miserably.

A new energy welled up again. It would have been better if it hadn’t happened, but now that it had, the weak-willed Countess of Noberry was as good as in her hands.

“If we just don’t send herbs to that Nerea thing, there might be a way to handle this.”

Helen’s eyes widened at the unconsciously muttered words.

That’s right! Although the herbs stored in the warehouse suddenly yellowed and spoiled, fortunately the herbs to be sent to Alpern were stored separately.

With about two sacks of intact herbs, at least ten or more bottles of this ‘transparent medicine’ could be made.

For almost ten years, Nerea had consistently taken these herbs. Then she should be fine without eating them for about six months.

The smile of overwhelming happiness was grotesque. Helen smiled as she put the bottle back into the display case.

Now if she asked Gabe what exactly the contents of the precious daughter’s letter meant, all questions would be answered.

***

It was late at night when Gabe returned.

“Nothing unusual happened?”

Judging by his tired face, it seemed the Emperor’s orders hadn’t gone well. Normally Helen would have quickly let Gabe rest, but just for today she held out the folded letter.

“Darling. I have something to ask, why is Her Highness the Crown Princess asking to replicate that dirty black armor?”

At the word armor, Gabe’s eyes flashed. Seeing Gabe not giving a proper explanation, Helen’s eyes gradually sharpened.

How could you have sold that!

That dirty black armor that reeked of blood no matter how much it was washed. It was so difficult to put it up for underground auction since it couldn’t be thrown away or offered to the Emperor as a symbol.

That’s when.

“It worked. It worked.”

Gabe muttered with a sigh of relief. Helen couldn’t understand. But soon

“His Highness the Crown Prince. He wanted Nerea’s black armor for this tournament.”

“No, we already sold that at an underground auction. Ah! So that’s why…”

Helen, who had been flustered, soon understood everything. Instead of the sold black armor, they could offer a replica.

“That’s a relief. That we can smooth things over like this. I’ll barely be able to save face with His Majesty. I still haven’t figured out Lessor’s identity either.”

Gabe sighed once more, as if he had been very tense. Helen stroked the back of Gabe’s neck with a coquettish face. It was her own way of easing tension.

“Darling. Don’t worry too much, okay? I’m not sure what orders His Majesty gave, but with you working so hard. I’m sure it will go well.”

But Gabe wasn’t happy. Rather, with a slightly tense face, his lips quivered.

“Maybe.”

Beneath the tension, Gabe’s excited feelings could be sensed.

“If I do well with this opportunity, could I aim not just for marquis, but even duke?”

For a moment, the silence was heavy.

“Oh my, Gabe!”

With an excited scream, Helen hugged Gabe tightly.

“You’re truly a genius!”

Helen’s eyes sparkled. Gabe stroked Helen’s back while looking at that girlish appearance.

A position he had never even dreamed of flickered before his eyes. His blood boiled. His daughter had set up such a proper stage. As a father, he had to seize this opportunity somehow.

With a face burning with fighting spirit, Gabe pulled the bell rope. He needed to call someone right away to send support for the rebellion.

Soon Johan entered the room.

“You called, my lord.”

“Carriage! Ca- cough.”

Helen made a fuss when his tired body coughed while in such a hurry.

“Gabe. Go out tomorrow. It’s already late today.”

“Time is of the essence!”

He had to go out and see for himself. He had to go out and urge the contact to send more people.

“The more urgent it is, the slower you should go. Someone with big tasks like you needs to take care of their body.”

Helen held onto Gabe with a coquettish smile. Gabe, with an excited face for once, hesitated for a moment before finally leaning back on the sofa.

“…Alright! Then prepare the fastest carriage for tomorrow!”

Johan’s face fell as he bowed his head. But it was out of sight of the joyful gazes of Gabe and Helen.