Chapter 91

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Revelation
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The capital was home to many renowned pharmacists. But Aileen knew immediately that the person Glenda was referring to was her.

There was a good reason for this. Glenda not only enjoyed honing her own studies but also loved engaging in academic exchange with new people.

Thus, she maintained extensive correspondence with figures in the field of pharmacology, and every notable pharmacist in the capital had a connection to her.

There was nothing to lose from associating with Glenda, an authority in pharmacology, so everyone readily formed ties with her. However, there was one person with whom Glenda had failed to connect.

“I sent several letters before, but I received no reply. I thought they might not have been delivered properly, so I plan to visit them in person now that I'm in the capital.”

It was Aileen.

When Aileen first received Glenda's letter in her second-floor laboratory at the inn, she thought she was dreaming. She didn't consider herself a pharmacist renowned enough to receive a letter from her.

She was delighted to have been chosen by Glenda, but as someone who had abruptly quit her studies, she couldn't bring herself to reply with confidence. Aileen quietly tucked the letter into a drawer.

After that, there was no further contact, so she assumed that was the end of it. But Glenda had been keeping an eye on her ever since.

“Aren't there many pharmacists of that caliber in the capital? As I recall, on Venue Street…”

Aileen tried to subtly mention another pharmacist. But Glenda furrowed her brow and seriously refuted it.

“Absolutely not.”

Glenda passionately explained why this pharmacist was one of a kind.

It all began when a nobleman from the capital sought her advice regarding an incurable disease. Despite her best efforts to fulfill his desperate plea to alleviate his wife's suffering, it was a problem that even Glenda, the master of pharmacology, could not solve.

While she was feeling disheartened, she suddenly received a reply that he had found a pharmacist who could prepare a painkiller. It was only natural that Glenda would take a profound interest.

*'It must be Count Domenico.'*

Count Domenico, the president of the upper house, had been steadily purchasing medicine from Aileen for his wife, who suffered from an incurable illness. It seemed the count had been in contact with Glenda before he came to Aileen. Their connection had been formed in a completely unexpected way.

“From that point on, I started looking into that pharmacist.”

Glenda placed a small glass vial on the table.

“Would you take a look at this?”

Inside the vial were small pills. Aileen barely suppressed a startle.

*'That's the medicine I made.'*

It was the headache medicine that Luca, the watch merchant on Venue Street, regularly bought. It was a popular remedy, so other customers besides Luca sought it out consistently. Glenda must have obtained it from another customer.

At the sight of the headache medicine, Elio, who had only been adding brief comments from the side, suddenly interjected with excitement.

“It's a headache remedy made from willow bark. You can't imagine how surprised I was when I first saw it!”

Medicinal plants were a subject Elio researched with Glenda. Glenda calmed Elio down to keep him from getting too excited and continued speaking calmly.

“I wanted to be sure to show this medicine to you as well, Lady Aileen. I knew you would recognize how remarkable it is. To be honest, I've brought this up because I wanted to shamelessly ask for your patronage.”

“Lady Aileen. This is a medicine that will benefit all of humankind.”

Glenda and Elio were seized by a sense of mission—a mission to introduce this headache medicine to the world.

They were determined to meet the pharmacist and persuade them to commercialize the medicine, and they earnestly requested the Grand Duchess's patronage, saying her help would be a great support. Aileen looked back and forth at the two professors burning with enthusiasm, then opened her mouth in a state of utter bewilderment.

“About that pharmacist…”

Glenda and Elio stared at Aileen, their eyes gleaming. Their gazes seemed to ask if she knew something.

“I believe they aren't accepting new customers at the moment. From what I understand, only existing customers can buy medicine through the innkeeper…”

“What? Why is that?”

“Could something have happened to them?”

Facing the two, whose expressions had grown even more serious, Aileen hesitated.

“Well, you see.”

How was she supposed to say this?

After much deliberation, Aileen confessed, her face flushing bright red.

“Because she became the Grand Duchess…”

Glenda's and Elio's mouths fell open at the same time. Aileen blinked shyly.

She originally had no intention of revealing that she had been making and selling medicine. She felt she didn't have the right.

Ashamed of playing the part of a pharmacist when she hadn't even properly graduated from university, she had called her place a laboratory, not a pharmacy. Even the title "pharmacist" was mostly used by her customers; she rarely referred to herself that way.

But if she let it be, it seemed Glenda and Elio would chase her to the ends of the empire, so she had no choice but to confess.

When Aileen revealed the truth, the professors were speechless for a moment. They just remained frozen, their faces stunned. The instant they came to their senses, they immediately cried out to God.

“Good heavens! Oh, my God!”

And then they began to pour out a torrent of words. Both were so excited they were leaning toward Aileen, practically on the verge of climbing over the table. They showered her with admiration, shock, joy, praise, and questions.

The teahouse was quite crowded. People who had been glancing their way before were now staring openly. Aileen, who hadn't expected such a vehement reaction, felt her face grow even redder.

“Sh-shall we return to the grand ducal estate for now?”

To escape the many prying eyes, she suggested they return to the grand ducal estate first. Glenda and Elio stuck to Aileen's sides, chattering nonstop right up until they got into the carriage.

In the carriage on the way back, they looked as if they wanted to sit Aileen right in the middle and bombard her with questions, but fortunately, Aileen rode with Lucio again.

“I didn't expect it to turn out like this.”

Aileen murmured, but Lucio didn't respond. Aileen glanced at him. His face was expressionless.

*'Is he tired?'*

He had been quiet the whole time at the teahouse, so it was plausible. She decided not to bother him and was instead reviewing whether the guest rooms prepared at the grand ducal estate were adequate.

“…I thought if I worked hard and changed, it would be enough.”

Lucio spoke up abruptly. When Aileen turned to look, his face was stiff. But as soon as their eyes met, he smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“You were already far ahead of that, Lady Aileen. To a place beyond my reach… You've gone too far.”

He said it like a joke with a gentle smile, but there was a chilling undertone to his words.

However, the subtle nuance vanished so quickly she wondered if she had imagined it. Lucio chatted cheerfully with Aileen as if nothing had happened.

When they arrived at the grand ducal estate, he immediately got out of the carriage first. Then, he went around to Aileen's side to escort her, opening the door himself and offering his hand. Aileen took Lucio's hand and stepped out of the carriage.

“Thank you, senior.”

She offered her thanks with a slight smile and looked toward the mansion. She had expected Sonio or another servant to be there to greet her, but a completely unexpected person was standing in front of the entrance.

“Cesare!”

A surge of delight filled her, and Aileen called his name with a bright, unconscious smile. He, too, seemed to have just returned to the mansion, as he was still in his uniform.

*'I wonder why he's home so early today. And he even came out to greet me.'*

Cesare often returned late at night or even in the early hours of the morning. On the rare days he came home early, he was usually busy with work in his office. Seeing him waiting to greet her was both surprising and exhilarating. Aileen was about to hurry over to him.

“…?”

Lucio's grip on her hand tightened.