Chapter 68

One week left before the founding ceremony, I was able to enter the susceptibility test with the barely purified medicine.

“Madam, the Marquis has arrived.”

I had been to the capital with Leah in advance for this, but Rupert had just arrived.

“Wait, tell him I’ll be there soon,” I answered, but in fact, I completely forgot about Rupert.

‘Suddenly, this blue mold is starting to look cute.’

I became attached to it after a few weeks of caring for it.

Since blue mold is sensitive to temperature and PH, it is necessary to pay careful attention to it.

“I think you are overdoing it.”

I was startled by the voice I heard from the side.

“Oh, my gosh! When did you come?”

Rupert was standing by the door.

‘I thought I was going to lose my heart.’

“It’s been about half an hour.”

“Really? Why are you just watching?”

“Looks like you’re working on something important. You’d better eat dinner, though.”

When I looked outside, it was already dark. I didn’t know that time had passed like this. Did I focus too much?

I smiled awkwardly. “Time flies.”

“Can I go there?”

There are many things in the warehouse. It’s dangerous if you aren’t careful.

“As long as you don’t touch anything.”

I was worried that he might break something because he has a large physique, but he unexpectedly avoided it with agility.

‘It’s like a cat avoiding obstacles….’

I can’t get this out of my mouth.

“It’s complicated.”

“Since you’re here, I’ll show you something fun.”

I opened the nearby storage box with my gloved hands. It is a medium used for medicine susceptibility testing. Only where penicillin is, the fungus is dead.

After looking at it for a moment, Rupert said, “I’m telling you in advance, I don’t know the knowledge that a doctor or a pharmacist would know.”

“This is proof that this medicine has similar effects to Elpida.”

“Are you going to show this to the Opion’s pharmacists?”

“Yes, they will like it very much.”

This world is not so bad when it comes to medical standards. The pharmacist’s studio I went to when I was young had a lot of complicated equipment, and the doctors were also aware of infection to some extent.

‘The problem is that medical inequality is serious and investment has not been made properly.’

Aristocrats and wealthy merchants had their own doctors, and they could also get expensive Miracle Herbs. On the other hand, it is difficult for the commoners to see a doctor in the vicinity, and they do not have the money to buy even basic medicine.

Everything needs investment to develop.

“How do you know this?”

I shrugged. “It’s not my knowledge. I just followed what I was taught.”

“From who?”

I can’t tell you.

I grinned, and he understood immediately.

“You don’t want to tell me.”

“You also quickly change the subject when you’re in trouble. It’s a tie.”

The only thing Rupert and I have in common is that the lines of our hearts are clear. I’m walking a tightrope on his line, looking to see if I can move on.

“How are you going to deliver this medicine to the pharmacists in Opion? If you do something wrong, they will be suspicious.”

I have something in mind.

“My father once fainted from asthma. Since then, he has been accompanied by his doctor whenever he goes out.”

“Are you going to show it to that doctor first?”

“The doctor’s younger brother is the representative of pharmacists.”

“Is he trustworthy?”

That question reminded me of my childhood.

After being beaten by Goth, I was sobbing in my room in anger, the doctor came and applied medicine.

Even when I got irritated and scratched at him because the medicine stung me, he always stood firm.

I’ve heard that on holidays, he takes care of people in the slums.

“I’ve never had a conversation deep enough with him to build trust, but I’m sure he cares about his patients.”

“…is that so?”

“I will contact him before the founding ceremony begins.”

“You must go with an escort.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Anyway, the urgent work is over right now, right?”

“For now.”

For some reason, he was staring at me.

“Why?”

I think he has something to say.

Rupert, who hesitated about something, opened his mouth. “Then, before you get busier, on the streets of the capital―”

“Mom, father! Where are you?”

Just then, my daughter’s voice rang from outside.

“Oh, I guess Leah is looking for us, let’s get out of here!”

“…….”

“What’s wrong?”

“… never mind.”

I looked at him curiously, and went outside at the sound of my daughter calling once more.

***

The opportunity to secretly summon my father’s doctor came quickly.

Before the territorial battle started, the emperor called in the heads of families to coordinate. Of course, my father was called.

And I don’t know why, but after coming to the capital, Rupert also went to the imperial palace often.

I asked him a question before leaving for the palace, “Isn’t His Majesty able to mediate this situation well?”

“You’re overestimating him.”

“I don’t know much about His Majesty because I have never met him in person.”

“That’s a good thing.”

He made it clear that he didn’t even want to talk about that human being. I vaguely guessed that he wasn’t quite the match for the emperor.

Anyway, while my father is in the imperial palace, the attending doctor is waiting outside, because he is not qualified to enter the imperial premises.

So it’s not difficult for me to meet him.

“…long time no see, lady,” greet the man in his late 50s. He looks a bit older than I remember.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been called lady, thanks for coming, Harvil.”

“I had no choice but to come when the sturdy soldiers exerted such pressure.”

“Sorry, I thought you would never come if I didn’t do that.”

Instead of servants, I sent several soldiers to deliver the message.

“I don’t know what your intentions are. I cannot mediate between you and the Count.”

Judging from what he said, it seems that he doesn’t know the details of the family’s current situation.

“That’s not why I called you. Follow me for a moment.”

Harvil looked uneasy. He seemed worried that something might happen to him.

I reassured him. “I will let you go safely without causing any harm. Just listen for a moment.”

“…….”

I immediately took the lead and went to the converted warehouse in the garden.

He asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I made a medicine to replace Elpida.”

“Did you succeed?”

“Yes.”

“…yes?”

“It’s real, I’ll show you.”

Harvil muttered in amazement, “My god, no way.”

I showed the badge from my most recent susceptibility test. As a doctor, he knows better than anyone what this means.

He stared for a while, blinked his eyes, then opened his mouth. “Where the hell… no, it’s confidential, so of course you won’t tell me.”

“I have no intention of keeping it a secret. That’s why I called you.”

Harvil replied in disbelief, “I don’t understand. It’s your chance to make a fortune. You know very well how much money the Opion family makes using the Miracle Herbs, don’t you?”

“Yes, my father sells them at exorbitant prices.”

Even if production costs and labor costs are included, it is outrageous profiteering.

“…yes, commoners can’t even afford it.”

In the first place, it would be better for him to know the Opion family’s situation.

“I’ll tell you in advance because you’ll find out anyway after the founding ceremony is over. Soon Opion’s vassals will revolt.”

“Yes?”

“The Miracle Herbs becomes a lot of money, and the family is weakened. It is only natural that there will be forces aimed at.”

“…….”

A dark shadow fell on the doctor’s face. Even if you don’t know it directly, there’s an impression that the inside is cluttered.

“What do you want?”

“I will try to prevent territorial battle as much as possible. To succeed in mass production of this medicine and eliminate the cause of the battle.”

“…….”

“We are also looking at ways to lower the unit price. To do so, we need Opion’s pharmacists with the best skills. Go back and convince them.”

“Excuse me, but I have a hard time believing your intentions. You get no benefit whatsoever.”

“Why? Do you think I will sell it expensively as my father always does?”

“Right, if you’re going to do the same thing, I won’t cooperate.”

“I guess you think I’m doing this because money is my purpose.”

I continued, “Of course. In fact, everyone changes their mind when it comes to money. I heard that the Opion family also studied Miracle Herbs for good purposes at first. Now is… they only sell medicine to the rich.”

Harvil seems to want the commoners can also use this medicine.

Of course, I was thinking to lower the unit price as much as possible so that I could do that.

‘If you want to give trust first, it would be better to show it transparently.’