He stared at her.
“What?”
Yep, just as I expected.
Cynthia swallowed nervously before speaking again. Time to drive the point home.
“You know you never would have made this medicine without me, right? You might’ve spent your whole life selling ordinary potions in this tiny pharmacy!”
“Ouch… that’s a bit harsh.”
“But now you’re about to make a fortune, you lucky bastard, Enoch!”
Instead of stubbornly demanding the remaining 550,000 Mint on the spot as she’d expected, he surprisingly fell into serious thought.
“I-Is that true?”
“Of course it is! A miracle medicine that restores sight to people whose optic nerves are dead! You’re the one who made it. I only gave you the hint. You’re the only one who knows the complete recipe!”
“…I suppose that’s true.”
“By the way, this really works, right?”
At that point, Cynthia smoothly changed the subject.
That’s enough about the money. Time to ask about the medicine.
“Of course. I made it myself.”
Enoch answered confidently.
But Cynthia needed absolute certainty.
“What if it actually harms someone’s eyes or causes side effects?”
“No chance. I’ve already tested it. If you use it on someone with healthy eyes, all it’ll do is make them feel refreshed.”
After thinking for a moment, Cynthia removed the cap from the vial.
“Then can I try it on you?”
“What? You don’t trust me?”
“No, I trust you completely! I just want to be absolutely sure.”
Apparently annoyed that she doubted him, Enoch blew a puff of air through his bangs before closing his eyes and leaning his face toward her.
“Fine, put it in my eyes. Do you really think I wouldn’t have tested it first? I’m the top graduate of Berlerium Central School of Magical Pharmacy— Ah! That’s cold!”
Cynthia placed a hand over his eyelid, gently pulled it open, and squeezed a drop of the blue liquid into his eye.
Enoch frowned briefly, slowly blinked a few times, then grinned as he opened his eyes.
“Ah… that feels refreshing!”
Oh, so there really aren’t any negative effects.
Cynthia’s eyes widened in admiration.
Still, just to be safe, I’ll try a drop in my own eyes once I get back to the Bailey estate…
“Thanks. You worked hard!”
Satisfied, she reached to put the vial into her bag.
Just then, Enoch snatched it away again.
Cynthia frowned.
“…Are you messing with me?”
Seeing her irritation, Enoch spoke lightly.
“Tell me your name.”
Cynthia looked up and met his eyes.
His golden eyes sparkled mischievously as he looked down at her.
“Why do you want my name?”
“Because I’m curious. You already know mine.”
“I never asked for it.”
“So? What’s your name?”
Enoch asked again.
Cynthia rolled her eyes thoughtfully.
Well… giving him my name shouldn’t cause any problems, right?
“Cynthia.”
“Good. Cynthia. So who are you planning to give this potion to?”
“You don’t need to know that!”
Cynthia quickly reached out and snatched the vial from his hand.
Nice catch!
Having lost the vial, Enoch simply shrugged as though it couldn’t be helped and carefully tucked the envelope containing the fifty thousand Mint into his inner pocket.
“You worked hard making the potion. Make good use of the recipe and become successful!”
Without another thought, Cynthia turned and headed toward the pharmacy’s entrance.
Enoch watched her retreating figure intently before shaking his head with a smile.
“…What an interesting woman.”
****
A few days later, Cynthia arrived at the Romanov Grand Duke’s estate carrying the blue eye drops Enoch had made.
Up until today, she’d tested the eye drops on herself every morning to make absolutely sure they were safe.
Wow… these feel amazing! My eyes feel so refreshed that it feels like all the fatigue in my body disappears. Maybe I should ask Enoch to make me another bottle?
Smiling to herself, Cynthia waved at Ruth, who happened to be coming out through the estate gates.
“Ruth!”
After carefully looking around to make sure no one else was nearby, Ruth approached her.
“Greetings, Your Grace! Have you had enough time to consider the proposal I made?”
“Yes. Thank you for making me such a generous offer. I’ve decided to accept it.”
At Cynthia’s answer, Ruth’s face immediately brightened.
“Your Grace…! Thank you so much! Then… you’ll definitely keep His Grace’s secret, won’t you? In that case, I’ll make sure the return of the Ritemper Trading Company is expedited.”
“Yes! Oh, right. I brought a small gift for the Grand Duke. Would you deliver it for me?”
“Of course! Please leave it to me.”
As Ruth nodded happily, Cynthia took the small glass vial out of her bag.
The blue liquid inside sloshed gently as she spoke.
“I went to great lengths to get this. It’s a premium tonic that relieves fatigue.”
“A tonic! His Grace has seemed especially tired lately, so this is a very thoughtful gift. Why not give it to him yourself? He’s inside at the moment…”
“No, it’s fine. Please give it to him instead. But the way you use it is a little unusual. You apply it like eye drops.”
Ruth blinked in confusion.
“Eye drops? Hmm… but as you know, His Grace doesn’t really need eye-drop supplements…”
“You don’t understand, Ruth! When your eyes feel refreshed, your whole body feels refreshed!”
“I-Is that so?”
“Yes! Just trust me and have him try it. If you really don’t trust it… you can keep it yourself.”
“N-No, it’s fine! I’ll make sure His Grace receives it.”
As Ruth hurriedly accepted the blue vial, Cynthia quickly added,
“But whatever you do, don’t tell His Grace that it was from me.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“Because I don’t want him thinking I gave him this just because I found out his secret and felt sorry for him.”
“Ah… I suppose you’re right! Thank you very much, Your Grace!”
Smiling at his admiration, Cynthia slowly turned around.
“Well then, I’m counting on you, Ruth!”
For both the Ritemper Trading Company… and the magic potion.
“Yes, Your Grace! Have a safe journey.”
Holding the glass vial carefully with both hands, Ruth bowed.
On the carriage ride back to the Bailey estate, Cynthia stretched out her legs.
My part is finally over! I don’t have to keep worrying about him out of pity anymore. Once everything is settled, I won’t have to live in fear of my Elizabeth impersonation being exposed.
Tession will regain his sight, Bailey will recover the Ritemper Trading Company, and I’ll take my five million Mint and live the rest of my life!
“Ah… what a relief!”
Later, I’d better tell Dale everything and brag about how I solved it all!
Just imagining the stunned look on Dale’s face after everything was resolved made Cynthia smile happily.
Several days later, a short letter arrived from Ruth.
Your Grace, the return of the Ritemper Trading Company is expected to be completed within this month. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a wonderful day. —Ruth
“…Wait. Why isn’t there a single word about the Grand Duke’s eyesight?”
Cynthia, who had been lying on her bed humming happily, suddenly sat upright.
She flipped the small letter over several times to check if there was anything written on the back.
“That’s really all it says…”
If Tession had regained his sight, word would have spread quickly, or Ruth would have told me…
If there’s still no news…
“Don’t tell me he never actually gave him the eye drops?”
But she soon shook her head.
She simply couldn’t imagine Ruth pocketing the tonic for himself.
“Then… did that magical pharmacist fail to make the medicine properly?”
Sigh… Should I go see him again? Restoring the Grand Duke’s eyesight is more important than getting the Ritemper Trading Company back!
Growing anxious, Cynthia climbed off the bed and began pacing around her room.
“This can’t mess up the order of events…”
If Bailey reclaimed the Ritemper Trading Company and the engagement was broken off before Tession regained his sight, he’d be heartbroken.
Regardless of her contract with the Bailey family, Cynthia didn’t want to be the cause of Tession’s pain.
He’s already suffered enough…
After only a brief moment of hesitation, Cynthia immediately rushed out of the room.
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