A Genius Pharmacist Whom the Empress Is Obsessed With

Episode 9. Change (3).

“I’den, s-sister moved!”

Without noticing, Ella who had suddenly rushed forward, said.

“The effects have finally shown!”

Having waited for this news for so long, I’den clenched her fist tightly. Deep in her chest, elation and pride surged uncontrollably.

“I’ve cleansed over half of the twelve meridians, so naturally, there should be a reaction.”

Not only that, but she had also broken eight curses out of the twelve that surrounded the princess every night, dripping with coffee.

“I’den, I’den.”

Ella’s cheeks were completely flushed as she spun around on her toes. I’den couldn’t help but be even more delighted, but she kept her composure and asked.

“Miss, did the Countess say that? That the princess moved?”

“No, it was the headmistress.”

According to Ella, she went to the princess’s room as a walk and overheard a conversation between the Countess and the headmistress.

“The headmistress said it many times. Sister definitely moved.”

They are probably still talking about it now. Saying that, Ella grabbed I’den and dragged her into the corridor.

The place Ella brought I’den to was the room right next to the princess’s room.

“Why did we come to the next room instead of the princess’s room?”

When I’den tilted her head, indicating that she didn’t understand, Ella walked into the next room and gestured toward I’den.

As I’den approached, Ella pointed to a specific wall with her finger. Between two dressers and covered by a large vase, there was a very small hole in the wall.

Because it was an old castle, it hadn’t been properly maintained or used much, so it seemed to have gone unnoticed until now.

Ella, with a worried expression, cleared away the vase and put her ear to the wall with the hole.

“…So you eavesdropped, is that it?”

And how did you even find this hole? I’den couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Even though Ella had a mature side to her, she was still a child.

“Did it…hear?”

Ella asked nervously if there was a concern that they might get caught.

Idun lowered his posture and whispered in Ella’s ear.

“It’s a bit tight for both of us to go in.”

Ella tilted her head for a moment and then jumped into his arms, falling away from the wall. Idun looked at her with a surprised expression, and Ella whispered to him.

“If we go in like this, we can both hear, right?”

Although it was a bit cramped as Ella said, it might be possible. However, Idun was extremely flustered by the current situation, as it had been hundreds of years since he had last held someone like this.

“Can’t the miss just listen and relay it to me?”

“No. Idun has to go in too. Idun is the court physician.”

Ella stated firmly, tilting her head.

‘There’s nothing else I can do.’

If they delayed a little longer, the conversation between the Countess and the director would end.

‘Even if they say they will see the princess’s condition at night, we need to see how Estelon Director appears.’

The director had said that he would return to Estelon Medical Center, leaving the princess behind. If he knew that the princess’s condition had improved, he would definitely change his attitude.

‘…Surely he wouldn’t try to harm me.’

In any case, Idun was the only one who knew about the director’s escape plan. It was better to be cautious.

Idun carefully straightened out Ella’s wrinkled dress and then slipped through the crack in the drawer, pressing his ear against the wall next to Ella.

***

‘It’s not like I’m telling someone to die.’

The director of Estelon could not hide the laughter that kept welling up.

Lately, only unfortunate things had been happening.

He had accepted the position as the court physician for the princess, but the patient turned out to be an unwanted illegitimate child of the royal family. On top of that, the room provided by the viscount was nothing more than a ruin, far worse than the medical center’s examination room.

In the midst of trying to find a way to withdraw, that damn pharmacist kept sticking to the viscount’s daughter like a fool.

“From now on, you will personally administer the medicine to Her Highness in the evening. As the court physician, you can at least do that, right?”

And a few days ago, he had pretended to be sick and collapsed, so even his tasks didn’t come to him.

At that point, the director had no choice but to change his mind.

‘I’ll give up on that damn pharmacist and go back to the village of Luar myself.’

Although his skills were a bit of a waste, he believed that he could easily find a pharmacist better than that fool with Estelon Medical Center’s reputation.

The director bought a young messenger who was running errands in the castle and secretly stole valuable items from within the castle and his own belongings.

He was preparing to leave the castle within three days, at the latest, a week…

‘That woman’s condition has improved.’

After finishing lunch, he couldn’t resist the urge from the Countess to come see the Princess, who seemed to have changed lately.

“What’s changed? She’s just a corpse, a lifeless corpse.”

“Rather than living like this, it would be better to just die. How pitiful. Even the nobles can’t do anything when they see this.”

Grumbling like that, he was checking the lifeless state of the Princess, when he noticed her left finger move!

At first, he thought he saw it wrong. The wind could have blown in through the slightly open window and caused the bedspread or a tassel to move. And besides, he had poked the Princess’s body as if examining her.

But even after that, the Princess’s fingers continued to move intermittently. Her eyes had yet to open, but it was clear that her consciousness was gradually returning.

The director hastily began a proper examination of the Princess.

“Her breathing, which was previously shallow, has greatly improved, and her slow respiratory rate has returned. Overall, it seems like the swelling in her body has gone down…”

Come to think of it, there was a faint pink tint on her face, and her pale complexion seemed to have improved considerably.

The director silently looked down at the Princess.

“…Could all of this be possible just from taking medication for a week?”

Although it was something he had accomplished himself, he couldn’t believe it.

But the director’s surprise didn’t end there.

“…Uh.”

The Princess’s lips, which were always dry, suddenly twitched, and a faint moan escaped. It was an undeniable and certain proof that the Princess’s condition was improving.

“I was planning to run away, but I can’t ignore the stroke of luck that has come my way.”

The director told the maid to call the Countess. Since he had come this far, he had to firmly reap the benefits.

“Dr. Estellon, what on earth is happening?”

After a while, when the Countess revealed herself, the director confidently opened his mouth.

“It seems that Her Highness the Princess will soon wake up.”

As soon as the director finished speaking, the haughty gaze of the Countess became sharp.

“What does that mean?”

“From her finger movements and moans, it seems that her consciousness is returning.”

“Is, is that really true?”

Seeing the nervous and flustered state of the usually composed woman, the director felt a moment of exhilaration.

“Yes, I confirmed it with my own two eyes. Not only that, but the wheezing that was clogged with phlegm has also improved, and her respiratory rate has returned to normal.”

As the director continued his explanation, tears began to well up in the Countess’s eyes.

“If this trend continues, she may regain her senses within a week at the latest.”

He couldn’t know exactly when the Princess would open her eyes. But for now, he had to proceed. That way, he could extract something more from these pitiful nobles and their pitiful achievements.

Unbelievable. The Countess muttered in disbelief as she approached the Princess and tightly held her hand.

“By now, it would be good if she moved one more time…”

Even though it was only a name, Lady Royelle, as befitting her title as the Countess, was extremely sharp and suspicious.

In the current situation, it was likely that the Countess would believe her words without any evidence, as her emotions were clouded. But even after regaining her composure, the likelihood of her believing her words was slim.

To dispel any doubts cleanly, it would be best if the Princess moved in front of the Countess.

“…Ugh.”

Whether she had caught onto such thoughts, a shallow groan escaped from the Princess’s lips.

“Oh! My goodness.”

Hearing that sound, the Countess abruptly stood up.

Discarding all semblance of dignity, she covered her mouth with both hands and staggered backward. It seemed that she couldn’t believe what had just occurred.

“As expected, luck is on my side.”

The Director forced a rising laugh and opened his mouth.

“I will continue to do my best, so the Countess can trust only me without any worries.”

Although he confidently stated those words, his face crumpled up and became a mess when he heard the Countess’s subsequent words.

“…The apothecary, we must summon the apothecary immediately.”

“The Countess, the apothecary? Shouldn’t it be the Viscount?”

Upon the Director’s objection, the Countess blinked her eyes a few times. Seeing how her hand was trembling, it was clear that she was not in her right mind.

“I must inform the Viscount of this situation, there’s no need for the apothecary.”

As the Director continued to speak, the wavering Countess’s eyes regained focus.

Understanding the resolute look in her eyes, the Director felt an unknown chill.

“I understand. I will take care of it from now on, so go back to your room.”

“…What? No, I must explain the Princess’s condition to the Viscount as well…”

“No, it’s not necessary. I will explain. So go back now. And don’t speak carelessly even when you return.”

Why did this sudden turn of events happen? This doesn’t seem right… The Director couldn’t understand it at all.