When The Silver Bell Of Charlotte's Pharmacy Rings - Chapter 44

Even Matiel, as well as Charlotte, was surprised by King Lyuen’s preposterous request. An awkward silence fell over the table.

“Your Majesty, I understand it’s hard to believe, but……”

As Matiel tried to dissuade him, King Lyuen stopped him with his usual gentle yet firm gesture and only looked at Charlotte.

“What do you think, can you do it?”

Charlotte, who had been lost in thought for a moment, said:

“Is anything acceptable?”

Matiel turned abruptly to look at Charlotte.

It was a look that said not to do anything foolish, but Charlotte pretended not to notice his gaze and stared straight at King Lyuen.

Suddenly, Lyuen let out a light laugh.

“Alright, anything.”

“Understood.”

Charlotte adjusted her posture and stared at Lyuen’s face.

The moment the king’s intelligent, secretly sparkling eyes slightly clouded, Charlotte said:

“Have a madeleine, Your Majesty. With fig jam on the side.”

Without hesitation, King Lyuen picked up a madeleine, and with a small jam knife, spread fig jam from the shell-shaped bowl onto it. Then he took a big bite.

As Charlotte readjusted her posture, King Lyuen’s continuously moving jaw began to slow down gradually.

He looked alternately at Charlotte and Matiel with an expression that said he didn’t know what had happened to him, then a beat later, he looked at the madeleine in his hand.

There was still a bit of fig jam left on the clearly bitten part.

King Lyuen, who had been blinking silently, eventually burst into laughter. It was a sound of joyful laughter.

“It’s true indeed. I don’t particularly like fig jam, so I rarely touch it even when having snacks. Did you know this?”

“How could I? I simply chose it because the fig jam was close to Your Majesty.”

King Lyuen nodded and put down the piece of madeleine. Then, with an expression that somehow seemed relieved, he smiled at Charlotte.

“Your skill is excellent. When I heard Duke Elinak’s words, honestly, I had some doubts, but……”

“It’s just innate, your praise is too generous.”

Charlotte suddenly felt uneasy at Lyuen’s incomprehensible praise and smile.

She had to struggle quite a bit to resist the urge to hypnotize him once more and say, ‘Please don’t say anymore and let me go.’

In the end, she didn’t hypnotize him again, and Lyuen voiced the thought that had been in his head.

“I’m thinking of granting Miss Berrett a title.”

Charlotte blinked as if she hadn’t understood the words.

Meanwhile, Matiel remained composed as if he had known that King Lyuen would do this. He didn’t even make an effort to pretend to be surprised.

“Your Majesty.”

Finally, a voice resembling a hollow laugh flowed from between Charlotte’s opened lips.

“That’s not possible. I’m just……”

“Whether it’s possible or not is for me to decide, Miss Berrett. And I’ve judged that it would be good to give you a title. Of course, for now, it will be just an honorary position in name, but if you resolve matters well, I will reward you sufficiently, so don’t worry about that.”

“What matters?”

Charlotte felt her head buzzing and becoming agitated and noisy, then suddenly calm.

Such an abrupt change was unfamiliar and unpleasant, but it was unavoidable for her.

Lyuen said:

“I’d like Miss Berrett and Duke Elinak to resolve the serial murder case in Eliki, and the issue of a vampire possibly infiltrating the capital. Of course, I could request an official investigation, but it would be almost useless unless the opponent is human. Moreover, if we start vampire hunting, we’d necessarily have to impose a night curfew, which would throw the citizens into anxiety.”

“It would be more helpful if they were anxious and locked their doors, Your Majesty. Vampires themselves can’t freely enter any house. It’s only possible if they’re formally ‘invited in.’ So rather……”

“Do you want me to proclaim that everyone should bolt their doors, and not open them to anyone who comes calling in the dead of night?”

While Charlotte was at a loss for words, King Lyuen added a word with a leisurely smile, like a commander anticipating victory.

“Even if it’s just for show, having a title will be of great help to your work, Miss Berrett. You won’t have to use aliases anymore. Of course, you’ll be able to enter anywhere without an invitation. Because everyone will know that I……”

“Personally bestowed the title. I appreciate your words, Your Majesty. But I……”

King Lyuen raised his hand again. Charlotte was suddenly captivated by the aquamarine ring he was wearing.

That flawless, clear-shining gem had a legend of protecting people from ominous spirits or cultish black magic since ancient times.

The king might have worn it without much thought, but seeing the aquamarine while discussing vampires suddenly gave her a sinking feeling in her chest.

It was a premonition that all of this had been planned already—and for a very long time—and that no matter what Charlotte did, she wouldn’t be able to escape this flow.

Lyuen said:

“I’ll provide as much support as I can within my power. I think it would be better for you and Duke Elinak to move together, but if you need additional people, I’ll assign them.”

Matiel answered this:

“No, Your Majesty. I believe the two of us will be sufficient.”

Lyuen smiled faintly.

“Very well. Then, Duke Elinak will take charge of preparing the proposal for Miss Berrett’s title conferment. I’ll personally persuade the Privy Council and the Administrative Minister.”

“Understood.”

Charlotte couldn’t find a chance to interject, even though she could clearly see what was happening before her eyes and hear the conversation.

It was as if Lyuen and Matiel had built a solid wall towards her.

The king turned to Charlotte.

“Go to Eliki in three days. I’ll arrange an express train for you. It’ll be much better than a carriage. Any objections?”

* * *

Charlotte walked briskly without uttering a single word from leaving the reception room to the entrance where the carriage was waiting.

However, no matter how fast she walked, she became infuriated by the fact that Matiel could easily catch up just by slightly widening his stride or increasing his pace.

It was when they finally reached a place with few passersby.

Charlotte suddenly turned her body around and glared at Matiel as if she had been waiting for this moment.

He had a calm expression, as if he had expected all of this, or as if he would accept it.

“Are you joking right now?”

When Charlotte asked accusingly with both hands firmly on her hips, Matiel moved his eyeballs indifferently.

Charlotte continued to press:

“You revealed everything about me, every little detail?”

“Revealed? You should be more careful with your words. Don’t forget to whom I spoke about you.”

I’m sure you would. Charlotte thought.

He’d like to believe that he was merely being loyal to the Kingdom of Roynock and the royal family… Even if that purity was true, it couldn’t help but make her angry.

Charlotte, pushing out her lower lip to blow upwards, took a step closer and said:

“It’s not just about His Majesty the King, I’d be displeased no matter who it was. I can tolerate you forcibly inserting yourself into my life to some extent, but if you try to manipulate and control me at will, I absolutely won’t stand for it.”

Matiel rebutted:

“I manipulate you? Control you? They say there’s no crime in misunderstanding, but this is too much.”

“Too much? Shall I tell you what’s even worse? Who was it that first pushed me, who was just running a modest pharmacy and earning extra income by hunting monsters? It was you. Surely you don’t claim to not remember the incident at Baron Lirald’s house? Want to know what’s even worse than that? You suddenly took me to an opera performance and made me encounter a vampire of all things. Isn’t what you did worse than my misunderstanding?”

“As I recall, you agreed to it too. You’re talking as if I forcibly dragged you along while you were crying and resisting.”

Charlotte’s expression grew even more fierce at the mocking tone in his voice.

She was even more angered because Matiel’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

“Listen carefully, Duke Elinak.”

Charlotte’s finger pointed at the tip of Matiel’s nose.

“I don’t need a title. I absolutely refuse to have my feet tied by royal orders, unable to act freely. If you thought I’d be gaping and bowing in gratitude at the words of elevating me from commoner to nobility, you’re dead wrong. I neither want nor need it, so you, who brought it up, sort it out yourself.”

After driving the point home with a strong tone, she briskly walked past the royal carriage, striding forcefully along the long walkway of the garden.

With each step, her tightly clenched fists swung back and forth.

“What a bold young lady.”

King Lyuen’s voice was heard from behind. Matiel was startled for a moment, not knowing how long she had been following, but soon regained his composure and exhaled slowly.

“I will persuade her well.”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Matiel looked at the king with a puzzled expression.

“She’ll end up accepting it eventually. Isn’t she a smart girl? She knows exactly how to see what’s more beneficial to her. If the daughter of Berrett had been a submissive and timid, common plebeian girl, I wouldn’t have even thought of meeting her. But that young lady is never docile. She doesn’t yield her assertions.”

King Lyuen, wearing an inscrutable smile, lightly patted Matiel’s shoulder.

“She’s entirely to my liking, so hold onto her well, Matiel.”

“Hold onto her……”

However, King Lyuen, barely listening to Matiel’s words, just smiled faintly while looking up at the sky where traces of airships remained like clouds.