CH 67

An Unexpected Encounter

Sheila was given another week off from her job at Amy’s Pharmacy to recover from the training.

The period of time she was absent for a month or so was set up as “Sheila had to go back to her parents’ house in the countryside.”

After a long absence, the pharmacy welcomed Sheila with the same busy schedule.

“F-for the time off….. Thank you so… very much.”

Amy was taken aback by Sheila’s mutterings.

“Sheila-chan?”

“I’m sorry. It’s nothing.”

Sheila smiled and tried to cover it up.

The hard work she had put in during the training was paying off, and the results of her studies were gradually starting to show. She was now able to speak the ancient language, albeit in a very broken way.

‘It’s fun once you get to know it. I can’t help talking about it.’

Of course, it wasn’t only her constant study but also the fact that Cody and Hyderion, who shared the room with her, accompanied the mumbling Sheila and conversed with her in the ancient language, which probably played a role in her rapid growth.

Even in the midst of her busy schedule, Sheila would find herself using the ancient language, and several times Amy would give her a quizzical look.

“This one over here, that one there…. no, that one, over here.”

She still had a lot to learn about conjunctions as well as phrases.

When the number of customers finally stopped, Sheila prepared tea at the table by the window. Amy became interested when she told him about the herbal tea that she used to drink in the village.

“Something about the color makes me hesitate to drink it…”

The color was almost black and looked bitter at first glance, but it was actually sweet and easy to drink.

“It might be a little scary, but it’s made from medicinal herbs that are good for the body. Thanks to that, there are a lot of healthy people in the village.”

“Is that so? I’ll have some then.”

Amy hesitantly lifted the cup and took a bold sip. He immediately blinked his eyes, as if the bitter taste he was prepared for was not there.

“It’s not bitter at all. Rather, it’s sweet and very delicious…. I wonder if this contains daylily.”

“That’s correct. It also has some roasted grains in it, and it’s a little fragrant, right?”

“Yes, it is. If I can be healthy by drinking this, it’s very simple. Anyone can drink tea, so it’s easy to incorporate it into your daily life.”

Amy smiled and put down his cup.

Sheila had seen this smile before. It was exactly the same as when he tried to twist Sheila, who had come to wholesale medicinal herbs, into a sales representative by force.

Sheila took the initiative before she had to do more work again.

“It’s going to take some time to gather the ingredients. There are some medicinal herbs that are not available in the store.”

When Sheila remained resolute, Amy let out a sigh with the air of a flower caught in the rain.

“I see…. Then, it looks like it’s going to be a year-long project to get it on the market…..”

“You never give up, do you…?”

Sheila muttered while gently averting her eyes.

Knowing his persistence firsthand, she could clearly see a future where she would have more work to do.

“Speaking of which, have you heard yet that Count Gilgner’s evil deeds are being exposed more and more?”

Drinking a cup of herbal tea to fool the tiredness, they moved on to another subject. At the mention of Count Gilgner’s name, Sheila’s expression hardened.

“I heard that there are various testimonies of human trafficking, extortion, and assault of women by taking advantage of his position.”

Count Gilgner’s crime was successfully prosecuted, and he was arrested.

Evidence of his guilt was found in an unexpected place.

One of his long-time mistresses presented the Patrol Corps with evidence of not only human trafficking, but all of his misdeeds.

When she heard rumors that he had been captured and interrogated by the corps, she acted quickly.  She immediately gave up on the failed man and gave a full confession of the Count’s crimes, provided that they didn’t bring any unnecessary heat down on herself.

Perhaps the relationship was loveless to begin with, but it was impactful to see that Isaac, who came by to report the incident, trembled with fear of women.

However, she had no idea that Count Gilgner’s being judged had become such a detailed rumor. Amy shrugged her shoulders as Sheila fell silent in surprise.

“He was a man with a bad reputation in town. I was approached by him once. When I refused in a low voice, he ran away.”

“As expected of Amy….”

Amy’s husky voice would have been his best weapon. To send that formidable Count Gilgner away with a single sound, perhaps Amy should’ve aspired to be a knight.

Before the herbal tea was even half finished, the door made a creaking sound.

“Welcome toー….”

It was the first time Sheila had seen this visitor. A dazzlingly beautiful girl, unforgettable at first sight.

Her luxurious golden hair shone, and her modestly downcast eyes were a clear blue color. The modest smile on her petal-like lips was like a goddess who was overflowing with compassion.

The dress that wrapped around her slender body was designed in a downtown style, but there was no way to hide her elegance, and there was no doubt in Sheila’s mind that she was actually a princess of some deep-rooted family. A glance around revealed a man standing outside the store who appeared to be her escort.

While Sheila was admiring her, Amy started to move.

“It’s been a long time, Sheena-sama. Did you bring medicinal herbs today as well?”

“Yes, I did. I look forward to working with you again.”

From Amy’s response, Sheila knew she wasn’t a customer but a wholesaler of medicinal herbs. The woman named Sheena, who answered in a calm voice, was holding a small box in her arm.

Sheena walked to the counter. Driven by a mysterious sense of duty not to leave her holding the package, Sheila quickly held out her hands.

“I can bring it if you like.”

“Oh, no. This much is fine, so please don’t worry about it.”

Sheila felt her cheeks heat up as she received a dainty smile in return.

Sheena must be the same age as her, but she was a beautiful, doll-like girl beyond comparison. Sheila also had a girlish sense of liking beautiful things, so she couldn’t help but let out an enraptured sigh.

But as Sheila gazed at her up close, something about her appearance caught her attention. It was like a wild intuition, if you will.

A smile that cleansed the air and a fragile appearance. Eyebrows that were a little gallant for a woman.

‘She looks familiar. No, but if I met such a lovely person, I would never forget her….’

Maybe the other person was thinking the same thing. She stares at Sheila’s face with a slightly puzzled expression.

It was at that time that they both remembered.

Her eyes widened, and Sheena was elegantly surprised with her hand on her mouth. But then Sheila realized it was her pseudonym.

“You’re――”

The small box slipped out of Sheena’s hand as she was about to say something. Sheila quickly supported it with her hand.

The hands that touched one another transmitted a slightly cooler temperature.

Long fingers, large palms. The hands were beautiful down to the tips of their fingernails, but they didn’t have the softness of a woman’s hands.

Two men, currently dressed as women, and one woman, usually dressed as a man. Sheila wondered what kind of situation this was.

“Why are you here――no, why are you in a place like this?”

Sheila handed her a small box and asked her to settle the exact calculation of the herbs. While she was doing so, she whispered to Sheena.

“…. Um, is it possible for us to talk alone? I-I have something for you.”

Sheena blinked at the use of clumsy ancient language, and then she glanced at the stern guard standing at the entrance of the store.

“It’s hard to be alone….. Um, I’ll be back here again. Next time in two weeks, on lunar day.“

The other party seemed to have guessed Sheila’s intentions and replied in the same ancient language. The ancient language came in handy in an unexpected way. Sheila couldn’t help but be thankful that she had learned it well.

“I understand. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Sheila was relieved that she was able to say it without making a mistake.

After that, the business negotiations ended with familiar exchanges, and Sheena left.

“….. I had no idea he had a taste for cross-dressing.”

Since Sheila usually dressed as a man herself, she didn’t mean to comment badly on other people’s hobbies. She had an example of Amy, who was close to her, so she thought that it suited him, and it was quite a good idea.

‘But I’m sure there would be a lot of uproar if it became public knowledge.’

Being royalty was tough. As she gazed at the back of the departing Sheena――no, His Highness, Prince Wilfrecht, Sheila felt a bit sorry for him.