CH 73.2

“A new pharmacist is here?” Duke Kyar murmured as he glanced at Marc’s report, which followed him into his bedroom.

“Yes, Your Highness. Prince Victor recommended her to us. It turned out that she was also the one who created the natural painkillers you’re taking.”

Duke Kyar gazed at the natural painkillers laid on the table.

“She was the pharmacist who made that medicine?”

“Yes. I had no idea that the pharmacist was acquainted with Prince Victor.”

“How did those two know each other?”

Duke Kyar asked with one eyebrow slightly raised.

“Oh, Prince Victor told me she was his fiance’s friend.”

“Friends with Lilith Kingdom’s Princess Seria? Didn’t you say that the pharmacist was a commoner from the North?”

How could a pharmacist from the North befriend someone like Princess Seria?

“The woman had lived in the Lilith Kingdom for a while when she was young. I heard that their friendship started after she saved Princess Seria from drowning.”

“What a strange fate. Are you sure she was the pharmacist who made the drug I needed?”

“Yes, she also brought other medicines she had created along with this one. I find them very interesting, especially the red medicine since it keeps the body warm. I tried it myself, and it worked very well.”

Although he found her suspicious for a moment, the woman didn’t seem to be a fraud based on Marc’s account.

The Emperor of Acnis might have conspired with Victor to use this woman’s pharmacist job as an excuse to get closer to him.

“So, what’s the name of this pharmacist?”

“Isabella. You’ve probably heard it before. She was the woman who won second place in the archery competition.” Marc responded.

Frown lines marred Duke Kyar’s forehead.

“She’s a pharmacist?”

“Yes, I was surprised when I found out, too.”

“I can’t believe it.” Duke Kyar whispered.

He already assumed that she wouldn’t show up in the mountains today, but he never imagined that she would work as a medicine maker in Rubella Castle.

Duke Kyar’s suspicion grew.

It was strange how that woman always sneaked a peek at him during his training every month.

She must have a purpose for working at Rubella Castle or something.

What was she hiding behind that pretty face?

Perhaps, he should keep her around for the meantime and uncover her secrets first.

“Bring her to me. I’ll see for myself how good your judgment is.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As he watched Marc exit his bedroom, Duke Kyar murmured the woman’s name he had just heard about.

Isabella.

The name sounds pretty, but he found it irritating for some reason.

“You’re crazy.”

Dumbfounded, he shook his head to get it out of his mind.

‘That woman’s intentions weren’t pure.’ Duke Kyar thought, and his fists clenched hard.

Her beauty shall not mislead him.

**

Isabella was nervous when Anna said that Duke Kyar was looking for her.

She had wished for this moment for a long, long time, but when the golden opportunity finally arrived, her heart felt like it was about to explode before she could even face him.

Isabella took the prescribed tranquilizer she made from her herbs.

It was a medicine made from herbs suitable for the nervous system.

The tranquilizer aimed to stabilize the Archduke’s mind and body, but she had no idea how effective it would be.

She wanted to find out the rest of his symptoms and study them further.

Isabella followed the maid out of the annex and went to the main castle.

She knew where his bedroom was, but she didn’t want to be obvious.

The maid stopped in front of Duke Kyar’s bedroom on the second floor and said, “Here you go. You can come in, Isabella.”

“Yes, thank you for your guidance.”

“For what? With this? If you’re thankful, just make me the medicine for my muscle pains next time. It worked very well.” Anna whispered.

Isabella was confident that Anna liked it.

“Yes, I will. Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Okay. Don’t be nervous and just do your best.” Anna uttered the encouragement.

Isabella gathered her breath as she watched Anna leave her alone.

‘Finally, I could meet him.’

Isabella extended her slightly trembling hand towards the door and plucked up her courage to knock.

Her heart was beating so fast that she wondered if she should have taken a tranquilizer.

“Come on in.”

His cool voice on the other side of the door caused the butterflies to flutter in her stomach.

Taking another deep breath, she slowly opened the door and entered his bedroom.

She caught sight of Archduke Kyar sitting on the sofa.

Looking at his face up close, she felt like crying again.

Isabella struggled to hold back tears and clutched her skirt tightly with both hands.

“Nice to meet you, Your Highness. I’m Isabella, and I’ll be working as a pharmacist at Rubella Castle from today onwards.”

His eyes narrowed at Isabella’s shaky greeting.

“It’s not the first time, is it?”

Isabella looked perplexed at his unexpected question.

Did he remember her participating in the archery competition?

Do you remember me? I did participate in the archery competition—-”

Isabella asked him cautiously.

“Joining the archery competition wasn’t the first time either. Don’t you think so?”

His dark, smoldering gaze turned toward her.

Isabella blinked slowly at his fierce glower.

Had he seen her spying on him during his training session in the mountains?