Next, I headed to Hestia’s lab.
I went straight to her after parting ways with Jeron with an important matter.
‘The cure for the youngest princess of the Hessen Kingdom.’
Even if I knew the cause of the disease and the ingredients for the cure from the books, I still needed someone to process them and turn them into medicine.
And not just anyone.
There was no doubt that there were many merchants eager to get their hands on the business of Veloa, the oldest town in the Kingdom of Hessen, and it would be too costly if the information leaked out.
I needed someone who could be trusted, but also someone who could concoct any kind of medicine.
And it just so happened that I had such a person at my side.
“Hestia?”
I knocked calmly on the door.
After taking over Count Giovanni’s laboratory, Hestia was still in her lab in the ducal mansion.
It was a makeshift place I’d found for her shortly after I’d met her, but she’d filled it with her stuff and seemed quite comfortable there now.
When I asked her if she’d like to move to a better place, she said no.
Free food and lodging are the best, she said.
“Oh… Miss?”
Hestia, still a beat late, ran out and greeted me with a sour grin.
I clicked my tongue as I looked at her face.
‘You’ve been up all night again.’
Count Giovanni’s work was over, and I hadn’t entrusted her with anything in particular, but lately, she’d been pulling all-nighters whenever she could.
And the reason for her all-nighters was obvious. To develop a new medicine, or more precisely, a product that sells.
‘I love money.’ (Hestia)
For a woman whose motto was that her life was all about money, Count Giovanni’s affair came as a shock.
Not because Count Giovanni was disgraced, but because her medicines were selling like wildfire across the empire.
Of course, Count Giovanni knew that the health potions he had created had sold well, but Duchess Averine’s work was on a different scale.
She had only developed one potion and was surprised to see it mass-produced and distributed to the highest echelons of the empire. Needless to say, she was flabbergasted at the profits that came her way.
‘That’s not much.’
To be honest, her share of the profits was less than half of the total sales.
But I couldn’t say anything to her as she burst into tears, saying she’d never touched money in her life.
Instead, I told her, ‘It’s not that big of a deal.’ From that point on, Hestia was working on the development of the medicine without sleep, and now I was the one holding her hand to dry her off.
Of course, I should be the one to develop new medicines, but it’s not like I’m in charge of the pharmaceutical industry now, and if this continues, Hestia might overwork herself to death before I even became a Duke.
“Ugh, I told you to take it easy. Even if we develop it now, we can’t sell it right away.” (Dahlia)
“Well, but when you become a duchess, we should start researching now so that we can introduce a new product at least once a year.”
“If we release them that often, the quality will be questioned before they’re even sold, and you promised me.” (Dahlia)
I squeezed her hand and said softly.
“You’re going to live with me for a long, long time, living off the money.” (Dahlia)
“Miss…!”
Hestia’s eyes welled up with genuine excitement. Then she suddenly scratched her head and asked me.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“Oh, by the way. Well, I guess it’s…” (Dahlia)
Suddenly, I realized my original purpose for being here and shrugged.
I had told her to take care of herself and take it easy, but the reason I had come to her was for the medicine.
Still, it was impossible not to ask, so with an embarrassed smile, I explained the situation to Hestia.
I explained to Hestia that I needed to win the business so I could become a Duke, and I needed to cure the youngest princess of Hessen for that purpose.
A rare disease that no one else could cure, but I had a hunch.
Hestia, who had been fumbling with her words, unable to elaborate, changed her demeanor when she heard the cause of the disease I mentioned.
“I’ve heard of it, too. Someone who wasn’t born with magic.”
“Uh, really?” (Dahlia)
“I’ve seen a lot of rare cases of this disease in my research, and it’s so extremely uncommon, maybe once in a hundred years.”
All died before they reached the age of ten, so it’s hardly been studied, Hestia said, glancing over at me and squinting.
“I didn’t realize that the answer was the sap of a flying monster.”
“It’s not the answer… it’s information that might be.” (Dahlia)
“What… Well, if you say so, I guess it is.”
Hestia looked me over, still avoiding eye contact, and finally shrugged lightly.
“Still, if it’s a disease caused by a lack of mana, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make a potion since the cause is so simple. The only problem is the ingredients…”
Hestia looked at me, her voice trailing off.
“Is there really such a thing as a monster worm? I’ve only read about them in books, and I’ve never seen one.”
“Well, yes, they do exist. I have something to tell you about it.” (Dahlia)
I felt like I had to tell her everything, so I told her the whole story.
Next, I headed to Hestia’s lab.
I went straight to her after parting ways with Jeron with an important matter.
‘The cure for the youngest princess of the Hessen Kingdom.’
Even if I knew the cause of the disease and the ingredients for the cure from the books, I still needed someone to process them and turn them into medicine.
And not just anyone.
There was no doubt that there were many merchants eager to get their hands on the business of Veloa, the oldest town in the Kingdom of Hessen, and it would be too costly if the information leaked out.
I needed someone who could be trusted, but also someone who could concoct any kind of medicine.
And it just so happened that I had such a person at my side.
“Hestia?”
I knocked calmly on the door.
After taking over Count Giovanni’s laboratory, Hestia was still in her lab in the ducal mansion.
It was a makeshift place I’d found for her shortly after I’d met her, but she’d filled it with her stuff and seemed quite comfortable there now.
When I asked her if she’d like to move to a better place, she said no.
Free food and lodging are the best, she said.
“Oh… Miss?”
Hestia, still a beat late, ran out and greeted me with a sour grin.
I clicked my tongue as I looked at her face.
‘You’ve been up all night again.’
Count Giovanni’s work was over, and I hadn’t entrusted her with anything in particular, but lately, she’d been pulling all-nighters whenever she could.
And the reason for her all-nighters was obvious. To develop a new medicine, or more precisely, a product that sells.
‘I love money.’ (Hestia)
For a woman whose motto was that her life was all about money, Count Giovanni’s affair came as a shock.
Not because Count Giovanni was disgraced, but because her medicines were selling like wildfire across the empire.
Of course, Count Giovanni knew that the health potions he had created had sold well, but Duchess Averine’s work was on a different scale.
She had only developed one potion and was surprised to see it mass-produced and distributed to the highest echelons of the empire. Needless to say, she was flabbergasted at the profits that came her way.
‘That’s not much.’
To be honest, her share of the profits was less than half of the total sales.
But I couldn’t say anything to her as she burst into tears, saying she’d never touched money in her life.
Instead, I told her, ‘It’s not that big of a deal.’ From that point on, Hestia was working on the development of the medicine without sleep, and now I was the one holding her hand to dry her off.
Of course, I should be the one to develop new medicines, but it’s not like I’m in charge of the pharmaceutical industry now, and if this continues, Hestia might overwork herself to death before I even became a Duke.
“Ugh, I told you to take it easy. Even if we develop it now, we can’t sell it right away.” (Dahlia)
“Well, but when you become a duchess, we should start researching now so that we can introduce a new product at least once a year.”
“If we release them that often, the quality will be questioned before they’re even sold, and you promised me.” (Dahlia)
I squeezed her hand and said softly.
“You’re going to live with me for a long, long time, living off the money.” (Dahlia)
“Miss…!”
Hestia’s eyes welled up with genuine excitement. Then she suddenly scratched her head and asked me.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“Oh, by the way. Well, I guess it’s…” (Dahlia)
Suddenly, I realized my original purpose for being here and shrugged.
I had told her to take care of herself and take it easy, but the reason I had come to her was for the medicine.
Still, it was impossible not to ask, so with an embarrassed smile, I explained the situation to Hestia.
I explained to Hestia that I needed to win the business so I could become a Duke, and I needed to cure the youngest princess of Hessen for that purpose.
A rare disease that no one else could cure, but I had a hunch.
Hestia, who had been fumbling with her words, unable to elaborate, changed her demeanor when she heard the cause of the disease I mentioned.
“I’ve heard of it, too. Someone who wasn’t born with magic.”
“Uh, really?” (Dahlia)
“I’ve seen a lot of rare cases of this disease in my research, and it’s so extremely uncommon, maybe once in a hundred years.”
All died before they reached the age of ten, so it’s hardly been studied, Hestia said, glancing over at me and squinting.
“I didn’t realize that the answer was the sap of a flying monster.”
“It’s not the answer… it’s information that might be.” (Dahlia)
“What… Well, if you say so, I guess it is.”
Hestia looked me over, still avoiding eye contact, and finally shrugged lightly.
“Still, if it’s a disease caused by a lack of mana, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make a potion since the cause is so simple. The only problem is the ingredients…”
Hestia looked at me, her voice trailing off.
“Is there really such a thing as a monster worm? I’ve only read about them in books, and I’ve never seen one.”
“Well, yes, they do exist. I have something to tell you about it.” (Dahlia)
I felt like I had to tell her everything, so I told her the whole story.
