Bibliophile Princess: Volume 4

1. Auflage 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7183-0860-2
Verlag: J-Novel Heart
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 239 Seiten

Reihe: Bibliophile Princess

The winds of change are whipping through Sauslind. Malduran officials are headed for the capital to discuss diplomacy, and although it was Eli's actions that spurred these talks, she has a different errand to attend to. The king's younger brother, Bernard, has fallen ill. Since it's customary for someone from the royal family to visit in such times, Eli is sent in the prince's stead. Along the way, devastating secrets are unearthed that threaten to rock the very foundation upon which Eli stands. Is everything she thought she knew a lie? Or does the truth even matter when the worst comes to pass and Sauslind finds itself on the brink of disaster?

Autoren/Hrsg.

Yui

Weitere Mitwirkende

Sheena, Satsuki

Niioka, Alyssa

Leseproben

Chapter 2: Battle God of the East

“No one deserves to go through what I just went through...” Jean’s face was pale as he massaged his stomach and grumbled. He was following a short distance behind Orphen, Doctor Harvey, and myself as we left the Pharmacy Lab, accompanied by the imperial guard.

Only a few moments prior, a familiar face had popped in—Lord Glen’s second-in-command. Before I had the opportunity to recall his name, he’d offered it up of his own accord. “My name’s Zack. I’m sorry, but we can save that part for later, Lady Elianna. I realize how discourteous it is for me to ask this of you, but could I trouble you to come with me?”

I stared blankly back at him, surprised at the urgency of his request.

The three wise men immediately inquired as to the nature of his sudden visit, and we soon learned the reason for his haste. Apparently one of the visitors I was supposed to receive and entertain had arrived in the capital earlier than anticipated. Due to that individual’s unique disposition, the imperial guard was being dragged out to welcome them.

Now I understood why they’d come to retrieve me, but I still didn’t know what all the hurry was for.

Vice Captain Zack sensed my confusion. He wore an earnest expression as he entreated me, “If you’re there to spectate, our unit might get out of this relatively unscathed. So please, humor me.”

“All right...” Reluctantly, I lifted myself out of my chair.

The three wise men followed suit. Nigel tried to tag along, claiming he was old friends with the visitor we were going to meet, but the other researchers intervened to keep him in the lab. We left him behind as we headed for an even more remote part of the palace.

The farther we traveled from the central area of the palace, the more the chilly winter air seeped in through our clothes. This morning there had only been a light flurry of snow falling from the sky, but as afternoon rolled around, the weather took a sudden turn. A blizzard was now raging. As a result, the social meeting area the palace had opened for the nobles was deserted today. Instead of the elegantly dressed noblewomen I’d grown accustomed to seeing, there was only the occasional government official moving to and fro. It felt a bit lonely seeing only the drab garb of gentlemen’s work uniforms. I missed the colorful and vibrant sight of ladies’ dresses.

Behind us, my manservant continued rattling off his grievances as we traversed the corridors. Doctor Harvey, who’d become acquainted with Jean through the past four years we’d spent together, chuckled as he said, “You should know better than to drink whatever the Pharmacy Lab puts in front of you.”

“...I figured it was fine as long as m’lady wasn’t involved.”

“You’re more naive than I’d given you credit for then.” After a short pause, Doctor Harvey added, “By the way, if you happen to notice any bodily abnormalities, be sure to let me know. I would love to compare the effects of that medicine versus natural human aging.”

“Why are you treatin’ me like some kind of human experiment? What kind of doctor has no moral compass?” As Jean resumed his fussing, I rummaged through the folds of my dress, trying to locate the candy my brother had slipped me earlier. Jean eyed me suspiciously when I held it out toward him, but he cautiously took it. After testing the flavor on his tongue, he popped the whole thing in his mouth and finally went quiet.

Ever since we were little, my brother often gave me hard candy during reading breaks. I wasn’t a fan of sweets, so I’d rather give it to my whining manservant and spare my ears from his incessant grousing.

Now that it had grown quiet again, I turned to Orphen and decided to revisit the question I’d lost the timing to ask earlier. “You mentioned something about Chief Herbalist Nigel having an apprentice who delved into the taboo?”

This amiable old man always had a curious twinkle in his eyes, but that disappeared the moment he heard my inquiry, as if snuffed out by shadows. “Indeed,” he murmured, stroking his snow white beard as he hesitated to elaborate. “I suppose you must not be aware of the incident that happened when the current king first ascended the throne. Well...I’m sure you’ll understand soon enough.”

My heart dropped. Perhaps this wasn’t the kind of conversation we should be having in a hallway.

Orphen gave a quiet smile as he relayed what he could.

Almost twenty years ago, there was an extremely talented and ambitious youth who joined the palace’s Pharmacy Lab. They were so resourceful and quick-witted that the chief herbalist became unusually partial to this particular apprentice. Unfortunately...

“They were clever but precocious, full of ambition and curiosity. Eventually, the current research in herbology wasn’t enough to satisfy their thirst for knowledge. They became obsessed with the wonders promised—a cure-all medicine, a panacea. What do you think is necessary to prove that kind of thing really exists?”

I swallowed hard. Imagining it was terrifying enough that I felt my body tremble. “A...poison? Such as a deadly toxin with no cure.”

Orphen’s normally cheerful expression grew strained as his lips went taut. “The Pharmacy Lab is well versed in a variety of poisons. They have to be, in order to protect the royal family. However, that young apprentice crossed a line which must never be crossed. They tried to test their theory using a real human being.”

The words hung at the back of my throat, unspoken. I’d heard of a poisoning incident in the past. My heart panged thinking it was the chief herbalist’s apprentice who’d orchestrated that event.

“What happened to them?” I asked hesitantly.

“They were executed. Given their crime, it was the only recourse.”

Although I had anticipated that response, hearing the worst had come to pass left me breathless and dizzy. I could only imagine what Nigel and the others had felt at the time.

Doctor Harvey, who’d been listening quietly to our exchange, chimed in with a voice of nostalgia. “I only heard about what happened after the fact, but if that apprentice hadn’t lost their way, perhaps we might have found a treatment for the Ashen Nightmare that sprang up after that incident. At least, that’s what some say. Goes to show how much promise that apprentice had. There were even rumors that their abilities were so impressive they’d surpassed Nigel.”

Orphen cleared his throat. “People can speak as many ‘what ifs’ they like, but it won’t change a thing. Besides, it’s just as Lady Elianna said. Becoming obsessed with the taboo only distracts from the path that those before us have paved in herbology.”

“Yes,” Doctor Harvey agreed with a bitter smile, “but still...” It was obvious he mourned the loss of such incredible talent.

“Lady Elianna?” Orphen peered back at me. Before I realized, I was standing frozen in the middle of the drafty hallway. The older man’s earnest gaze felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. “There’s nothing harder for old men like us than seeing one of our apprentices lose their way and head to the afterlife before us. As you’ve displayed, you have an eye for noticing the most important details. I’ll be praying you don’t lose sight of yourself or bring any more pain to Nigel than he’s already faced.” There was something profoundly mature about his words, but I could also tell they were spoken out of concern for his friend.

I hesitated over whether I had the determination to rise to their expectations of me or not, especially when I was still so inexperienced. But either way, I couldn’t run from his sincerity. “Yes,” I said at last, carving the warning he’d given me into my heart.

Orphen’s gaze softened, and beside him, Doctor Harvey offered a warm smile. “You might have had a more promising future if you’d become my apprentice instead of Nigel’s. Ah, what a shame. What a crying shame.”

“If she’d been your apprentice, you would have turned the entire palace into a raunchy pleasure house by now,” Orphen said with his characteristic chuckle.

“That wouldn’t have been so bad either.” Doctor Harvey shrugged, perfectly content to envision such a dream.

A grim voice interjected, “I’m sorry to interrupt your fantasies of a ‘raunchy pleasure palace,’ but if we don’t make haste, we’ll be living in a corpse-filled palace of darkness shortly.” Zack looked panicked, his face pale.

~.~.~.~

As we approached the indoor training area, located on the outermost edge of the palace grounds, the voices and hubbub inside grew louder and louder. This was where the imperial guard trained when it rained or snowed.

When I stepped inside, the passion and cheering of the crowd crashed over me. It was so overwhelming that my mind went blank for a few seconds. This was actually my first time stepping foot in here. I had visited the outside training area before when socializing with other people, but usually when we entertained visitors the weather was more agreeable than it was today.

This area was significantly more cramped than the dance hall, yet the people crammed in here were no less enthusiastic. Their body heat made the place feel stuffy and suffocating.