Chapter 27

“Let’s see.”

 

What Elena was making was the medicine Evan always took, a recipe I had taught her. You could say it was an upgraded version. It was just like Elena, who had created new recipes in the game. All I had done was drop a hint that there was a rare ingredient among the herbs brought over from Zeiran, and she had developed it this much.

 

That herb was the main ingredient in an antidote for a poisonous plant that caused symptoms similar to the Alosi Poison Herb, and Elena had taken my words seriously. Getting a hint, Elena had focused on her research, saying a good idea had struck her, and discovered that the medicine she was now considering was more effective than her previous one.

 

She then came up with the absolute best recipe, and the result was right before my eyes. Honestly, I never dreamed she would create it this quickly…

 

“Yes, it looks good.”

 

“We should switch the medicine we give the young master starting today. Elena, you did well.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Elena spoke as calmly as possible, but I could see the corner of her mouth twitching upwards.

 

Seeing the two of them made me feel warm inside; they looked exactly like a granddaughter and her grandfather.

 

In the meantime, I had also consistently put effort into bringing Evan and Elena together. I had deliberately asked Perio to arrange Elena’s residence to be the Duke’s mansion and had her examine Evan, which made them quite close.

 

‘They must be close, right? It’s been several years…’

 

She had been with Evan since the academy. Even though I was always in the middle, Elena lived in the Weiss household, so she actually spent more time with Evan than I did.

 

‘Since they live in the same mansion, they must have talked a lot, right?’

 

I pondered deeply. I recalled their recent interactions to see if they had truly become closer.

 

However, the most recent images that came to mind were of Elena pushing me away, telling me to rest since she, Evan’s personal physician, was there, and conversely, Evan telling me to sit on his bed and rest if I was tired, fighting over me in the middle…

 

‘Huh? Are they… close? It looks like they’re competing over me…’

 

I furrowed my brows. I couldn’t imagine a harmonious scene because it had never happened.

 

‘No, that can’t be…’

 

No matter how much I reconsidered, I couldn’t recall a single moment when they were getting along. Instead, only scenes of them fighting with me in the middle flashed before my eyes. The closest they got to getting along was when they stared intently at each other. Even if sparks were flying.

 

Well, the first scene where Evan and Elena meet is the one where Evan rescues her. But considering how little Evan can move, expecting him to make a good impression might’ve been asking too much.

 

‘I told her so many good things about Evan… I guess it wasn’t enough.’

 

When I spoke of Evan’s good qualities, Elena would mumble, ‘Is she starting again…’ and give me a cold look, causing my words to stop at my throat and disappear.

 

If I asked if she wanted to hear about Evan, she would grimace and shake her head, absolutely refusing, so I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to. Still, out of a sense of duty, I ignored her icy gaze and regularly spoke of Evan’s good points, but lately, I’ve been too busy to say anything.

 

“W-wait a minute!”

 

I intercepted Perio as he was about to take the medicine to Evan. And I handed it to Elena. After all, affection grows when you see each other often. Romantic feelings deepen with every glance and every bit of physical contact.

 

“Elena, you go. You’re officially the Duke’s physician. You should gain a little more experience.”

 

Perio didn’t notice my ulterior motive and nodded, agreeing that what I said made sense.

 

“Very well.”

 

I looked straight at Elena.

 

‘Does she like him?’

 

Elena wore a reluctant, slightly weary expression. Then she briefly glared at me and let out a sigh.

 

‘No. She’s just awkward still.’

 

I shook my head, dismissing the useless thought. I watched Elena trudge away behind her.

 

Once Elena closed the door and left, Perio asked me, his expression full of worry.

 

“Are you having any luck finding the whereabouts of the Lily of the Valley?”

 

My complexion was no better than his.

 

“No, not yet. Thanks to that, Pat is struggling.”

 

I tried hard to suppress a sigh and answered with a hint of playfulness.

 

I don’t know how many years it’s been. The fact that we haven’t found it suggests it’s growing in some secluded, shady spot. Thanks to this, Pat is guaranteed to work overtime whenever there’s a full moon. He often goes on business trips, scouring the mountains far away, crossing nearby ones.

 

I can’t thank Pat enough.

 

The fact that he comes back with an armful of rare poisonous herbs every time he leaves suggests that his ability to smell them is not a lie, but there’s still no news about the Lily of the Valley. I can only hope for a good outcome.

 

Although the person concerned wasn’t here, I expressed my gratitude.

 

“Still, I’m glad we have Pat.”

 

“That fellow, his personality may be what it is, but he is certainly a formidable man.”

 

“Exactly. Pat is the one who opened the network for us to exchange with the Zeiran Empire, after all.”

 

I felt proud. It made me feel even better to hear someone under me being praised.

 

Despite many twists and turns, we are currently exchanging herbs that we lack with the Zeiran Empire. I hope we can use this as an opportunity to trade other goods as well.

 

Since I’m not particularly interested in anything other than herbs, perhaps Eldan and the Duke will plan something themselves later? It’s clear those two will passionately pursue it.

 

I fell into contemplation over what to gift Pat to show my gratitude. Though, his favorite gift would still be a poisonous herb.

 

Just as I was nodding to myself, Elena returned with the empty bowl.

 

I quickly turned my head and asked about Evan’s condition.

 

“How is Evan’s condition?”

 

“The same.”

 

I let out a small sigh. It meant he was making no progress. He should be improving every day. Although he has gotten better over the years, he is not fully recovered.

 

I was the one who told Elena to go check on Evan, but not seeing him myself made me anxious.

 

‘This won’t do. I need to see Evan’s condition myself. Evan is kind and doesn’t say he’s hurting even when he is.’

 

I jumped to my feet. When they asked where I was going, I waved it off, saying I was going to Evan. By now, everyone was used to it.

 

When I opened the door, I saw Evan sleeping with his hands clasped together.

 

‘Did he fall asleep right after taking the medicine?’

 

Just as I was about to close the door and leave, thinking I had come at a bad time, I heard a voice call out to me.

 

“Lep… Where are you going?”

 

“Oh? You’re awake?”

 

“I was just resting my eyes.”

 

“Really?”

 

I gently closed the door and entered. Then I sat down in a chair and stared intently at his face. For the record, we spoke informally to each other. He said using honorifics felt distant.

 

Well, since I internally spoke informally all the time, it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable. However, the polite speech I was used to sometimes slipped out.

 

“How is it? Do you feel any effect?”

 

“Hmm… I wonder?”

 

‘As expected, the effect isn’t immediately obvious, is it…’

 

I chastised myself for being foolish to expect results when it hadn’t even been an hour since he took the medicine, and I suppressed my disappointed feelings.

 

I slumped onto Evan’s bed, saying I was completely exhausted. Evan chuckled and naturally made space for me. I thanked him and slowly crawled in.

 

His bed was soft and had a clean, refreshing scent that somehow made my mind feel relaxed and weary. At first, it was awkward and embarrassing, but you get used to things when you do them often, and now I didn’t feel anything about rolling around in Evan’s bed.

 

Sometimes, when I would stay by his side to nurse him, I would wake up to find myself lying in his bed. Of course, sometimes, very rarely, it was awkward, but mostly it was fine.

 

Then, I heard Evan cough from above. My eyes, which had been comfortably closed, snapped open at the sound of the cough.

 

Evan was coughing, rubbing his neck. I quickly got up and patted his back.

 

“What, a cough? Are you hurting? Do you want a handkerchief?”

 

“I’m fine. I just… choked.”

 

I looked at him with half-closed eyes, telling him not to lie, but Evan waved it off with a slight smile.

 

I carefully examined him but eventually sighed.

 

Smiling, Evan said in a coaxing tone: “Give me a lap pillow.”

 

“Yes. Come here.”

 

Since he always concealed much about his physical condition, I let it slide this time as well.

 

‘I can’t even ask when he gives me that smile…’

 

The reason he didn’t tell me was so as not to worry me.

 

As I knelt down gently, Evan’s head rested on my lap.

 

“This is nice…”

 

Evan whined and rubbed his face against my lap. I leaned comfortably against the bed and ran my hands through his silk-like hair for a long time.

 

‘It’s so soft.’

 

The first time I touched his hair, it was brittle… Now, nutrients had reached the ends of his hair, and it flowed smoothly through my hands without any split ends. It was the result of long-term care.

 

“Your hair is much healthier.”

 

“I apply fragrant oil every day. I have to be worthy of your affection, Lep, when you touch me.”

 

“…You’re very handsome even without doing things like that.”

 

I covered my mouth slightly and awkwardly turned my head. It was absolutely not an empty compliment.

 

Then, Evan, who had been burying his face in my lap, suddenly looked up at me, his eyes gleaming. He smiled sweetly, clearly pleased by my words.

 

I glanced at him. As the years passed, his features became more defined. My eyes kept returning to his long, dark eyelashes. I thought I had gotten used to him, but every time I looked at Evan, I was struck by his beauty.

 

Even now, I fought to keep my face from flushing. Yet, I couldn’t ignore Evan, who would droop like a soaked puppy if I didn’t do what he asked.