Chapter 7
“Is it true that bandits attacked the village recently?”
Occasionally, Sophie ventured into the forest in search of rare herb seeds.
Now, it seemed she’d be staying out from day to night, and Arthur refused to leave her side.
“I’m only hearing about this now. Were you hurt at all, Sophie?”
“The bandits did break into the apothecary.”
“Are you all right?”
Arthur asked in alarm.
“Yes. Thankfully, someone helped me.”
“Someone? Who?”
Should I tell him? Sophie hesitated.
“A really strong person. They helped me. That’s why I’m fine.”
“…I’m glad.”
A powerful person in a village like this?
And they showed up at Sophie’s apothecary, no less?
Arthur couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in his chest.
Maybe it was just another wandering traveler like the day he first met Sophie.
“You really don’t have to keep following me like this, you know?”
Sophie, wearing a simple robe, was trailed closely by Arthur.
Unlike her modest clothing, Arthur wore a lavish and extravagant outfit that stood out no matter what.
“You’ll get dirt all over yourself. And you’ll catch a cold.”
“I could say the same to you, Sophie.”
No matter how much she tried to dissuade him, Arthur just smiled in return.
“And going into the forest alone is very dangerous. There could be monsters.”
“But I have the spirits with me…”
“The bandits might come back.”
“Then wouldn’t that mean you’re putting yourself in danger too, Your Grace?”
Arthur beamed.
“No, I don’t think that’ll happen.”
He spoke with complete confidence.
“I’ll just quietly follow behind. Please continue on your way, Sophie.”
In the end, Sophie shook her head and made her way into the forest.
Since he was already here, she figured she might as well use him as a porter.
Arthur often carved time out of his schedule to visit Sophie’s apothecary.
Today, he was lucky enough to join her for a walk.
[Miss Sophie, there’s some Shalenark over there. Should we fetch it?]
“Yes, please.”
At Sophie’s request, the spirits fluttered off, returning with the herbs, roots and all.
Even while carrying plants bigger than themselves, the spirits giggled cheerfully.
[Excuse me, coming through! Dirt in your eyes hurts a lot!]
One spirit carrying a dirt-covered herb shouted as it flew past Arthur.
[That one doesn’t look very healthy!]
[I’ll grow it strong and healthy!]
The spirits looked like they were no older than five, and they chattered merrily as they fluttered through the forest.
[Miss Sophie, try this one!]
The spirits, scattered around Sophie, buzzed about carrying herbs and fruits.
One handed Sophie an apple.
“Thank you.”
With the spirits, Sophie looked at peace.
[Here, try this one.]
A friendly spirit handed Arthur an apple as well.
“Thank you.”
Arthur gave a gentle smile. The spirit blushed and quickly flew back to Sophie.
Judging from the look on its face, Sophie had probably asked it to give the fruit to him.
As the weather grew colder, the forest began preparing for hibernation.
Sophie explained that she needed to harvest everything she could before the forest went dormant.
“A bit later and we’d have been in trouble.”
She stood on her tiptoes to pick some fruit, but it was just out of reach.
“You mean this one?”
Arthur’s scent drifted from behind. Reaching up easily, he plucked the fruit for her.
“…Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
How much would all this be worth?
Sensing the opportunity, the clever spirits gathered not only rare herbs but also valuable ones.
Sophie couldn’t hide her pleased smile.
As her stomach began to rumble, she suggested they take a break by the nearby lake.
“I forgot to bring tea.”
“That’s okay. I’ve been feeling much better lately.”
Even without tea, her mind felt clear and refreshed.
Sometimes, these little outings didn’t seem so bad.
“I need to sort the herbs for a bit. Would you like a sandwich in the meantime?”
“Is there enough for me? I don’t want to intrude.”
“I always pack plenty to share with the spirits.”
Sophie showed him the sandwiches she had prepared.
For dessert, she suggested they eat the fruits they had gathered.
Biting into her sandwich, Sophie inspected the fruits brought by the spirits.
From pomegranate-like red berries to still-unripe green ones, the colorful harvest was spread across the mat.
The spirits perched on the fruit like chairs and munched away.
“I’ve never seen roots this thick before.”
[It was really hard carrying that over!]
[It looks delicious!]
[You’ll die if you eat that one!]
With the spirits chattering in the background, Arthur took a bite of his sandwich.
A breeze rustled the leaves gently, and a sturdy tree offered a perfect place to lean back.
On Arthur’s thigh sat a spirit nibbling on a piece of bread.
[Aren’t you eating your sandwich?]
The spirit, already munching on one of its own, eyed Arthur’s.
Arthur chuckled and handed over his sandwich.
The little spirit stuffed it into its tiny mouth.
Arthur gently wiped the sauce off its face with his finger.
[I usually eat neatly like Miss Sophie…]
The spirit blushed. It clearly wanted to imitate Sophie’s elegance.
“Eat as much as you want.”
The spirit’s face lit up at Arthur’s reply.
Delicious sandwiches, the refreshing scent of the lake, and the playful spirits all around—
Before long, Arthur’s eyes began to droop. Soon, he had fallen asleep.
“You sleep just fine without tea now.”
Arthur had said the scar on his neck was beginning to fade too.
‘Do I… have the power to lift curses?’
Sophie tilted her head in wonder. Until now, she’d been just an ordinary apothecary owner to others.
“Hmm…”
Arthur had curled up and fallen asleep against the tree.
Sophie removed her robe and draped it over him.
He didn’t even stir. It seemed he was sound asleep.
The spirits had grown fond of Arthur. They fluttered around him, peeking at his sleeping face.
[He’s asleep.]
[It must be cold.]
[What if he catches a cold?]
They whispered among themselves.
Because they followed Sophie of their own free will, they could move independently without her orders.
But Silco, the spirit she was contracted to, never moved without her command.
[Let’s share our body heat.]
[Do we even have body heat?]
[Shut up!]
The spirits clung to Arthur, lighting him up like a swarm of fireflies.
Tiny and adorable, the spirits pressed close to him.
They really seemed to like him.
Wrapped in the soft, downy glow of the spirits, Arthur fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.
“Hnn…”
Arthur woke much later.
“You’re awake?”
At dusk, Sophie sat reading a book.
“…Ah.”
It took Arthur a while to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
Still half-asleep, he stared blankly at the lake.
His usually neat hair was tousled, and his gaze was dazed.
“I want to sleep just a little longer.”
Yawning, he pulled the robe back over himself like a sulking child.
Sophie let out a quiet giggle.
“Nope. We really have to go now. It’s getting late.”
“…Hmm.”
Arthur’s sluggish brain finally kicked into gear.
Why am I here again? How long was I asleep?
“I’m sorry, Sophie.”
It took him a while to fully come to his senses.
To show his remorse, Arthur scooped up a large basket of herbs and carried it back toward the apothecary.
“I’m really sorry. I only meant to nap for a bit…”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Sophie replied.
“Just being able to secretly watch you sleep was enough.”
“Did I talk in my sleep?”
“Yes, quite loudly, in fact.”
The spirits argued among themselves—whether or not a duke talks in his sleep.
“You sleep just fine without my tea now.”
“Ah, I…”
“Maybe the curse is finally being lifted?”
Sophie said.
“Then I suppose you don’t need to visit the apothecary anymore.”
Arthur felt a twinge of disappointment at her words.
Perhaps, to Sophie, he was just another patient.
And when a patient is cured, it’s only natural they stop visiting the doctor.
But to Arthur, it still felt a little sad.
“I’m not fully cured yet.”
“Is that so?”
“If I let my guard down, the curse might come back stronger.”
Arthur grasped for excuses.
“Still, it felt really good to sleep like that.”
With the basket full of herbs in his arms, Arthur trailed after Sophie.
She never once looked back.
If she would just turn around once—even just once.
Arthur stared quietly at her retreating figure.
“Huh?”
As the apothecary came into view, he noticed several people gathered out front.
Among them were his own knights.
And Robin, who had visited not long ago.
Even Valentis was there.
“Hah.”
Valentis scoffed as he took in Arthur’s completely relaxed appearance.
Then he turned his gaze to Sophie.
“Where have you been?”
He had been waiting for her this whole time. In front of this tiny apothecary.
“Hello. You’re back again, I see.”
Completely unaware of Valentis’s growing impatience, Sophie greeted him calmly.
