Dad lowered his eyes to the floor like someone who had just committed a sin.
And at that exact moment, a cold sweat rolled down my back.
‘Wow… he’s really sharp!’
Yes, a lot had happened. Like your real daughter suddenly smacking me across the head with betrayal.
…is what I almost said—but instead, I just forced a wide smile.
Dad apologized for not paying enough attention to me lately, and gave my medicine high praise.
At that point, my conscience started whispering, asking if I was really okay with all this.
But I couldn’t tell him the truth.
Not until I saved that sickly, pretty girl completely.
Sigh…
Petron leaned back onto the sofa in his bedroom and let out a dry sigh.
Even in that slouched posture, he looked like a perfect painting—graceful and beautiful.
‘Mixing medicines like that would normally put a lot of strain on the patient…’
He recalled the way his daughter had looked up at him with passionate eyes.
“Everything mixes in the body anyway. Making people take medicine at different times only adds to their burden.”
“And since I accidentally hurt my foot, I figured testing the medicine on myself would be fastest.”
It was way too bold to be dismissed as just a reckless act from a 17-year-old.
The way she explained the medicine so confidently—it was hard to believe.
‘As if she knew everything already…’
“Petron, doctors must be cautious. It’s a profession that deals with life—so we must also respect death.”
That was what his teacher had once said. So seeing his daughter talk about treatment so fearlessly left him both awed and amazed.
‘Could it be… she didn’t start this out of responsibility for Bella, but because she truly wants to become a doctor?’
He still wasn’t sure.
His precious daughter looked like she was choosing a path filled with thorns. He wanted to stop her, even now…
‘But… her talent… it’s far too good to let go to waste.’
Petron turned to look at the medicine Adelia had made and brought from her lab.
Looking at the small, pill-like tablets, he realized it was a totally new approach—something he hadn’t considered before.
“Maybe… I’ve just been too afraid all this time.”
Click.
He leaned forward and picked up a small picture frame from the table in front of the sofa.
In the frame was a portrait of his wife Bella, his daughter Adelia, and himself smiling happily.
‘Bella… if you’d seen the look in Ria’s eyes just now… you would’ve taken her side too, wouldn’t you?’
His gaze softened as he looked at the picture. Remembering how frail Bella had become, Petron closed his eyes tightly.
Then, he gently put the frame down and turned his attention to the piles of documents around him.
They were all research notes from trying to find a cure for Bella.
‘As her father… I can’t have less courage than my daughter.’
A proud smile formed on Petron’s lips.
Despite the late hour, he picked up his quill and resumed his theoretical research for Bella’s treatment.
The night glowed under the pale blue moonlight.
***
The next morning, I was hiding out near the main building, waiting to spot Dad’s assistant, Verdick.
When I finally saw him walking by, I called out.
“Hey, wait a sec.”
He was tall and skinny, with huge round glasses that took up most of his face. Aside from his light beige hair (which didn’t match at all), he was the very definition of a nerd.
“You’re the same age as me, right?”
“…?”
He turned to look at me and stopped in his tracks, hesitating like I was about to bite him.
“I just need a small favor. We need to get our stories straight.”
At my words, he dropped the herbs he was holding with a loud thud.
Wait, why are you throwing the herbs on the ground—?!
Oh, no. Wait a second.
“Ah! No, no! When I said ‘get our stories straight,’ I meant like… our words! Not anything else! Don’t misunderstand!”
I waved my arms in panic, but it was too late.
The nerd boy slowly raised his pale hand to his lips.
His cheeks were flushed red, and he looked at me in absolute horror behind his glasses.
…He didn’t say anything, but this was clearly an unspoken “No thanks.”
I wanted to scream “Are you crazy?!” but I held it in.
To be fair, I had blurted things out without thinking. So I had to be patient—after all, I needed his help.
I crossed my arms and started explaining calmly.
“…Don’t get the wrong idea. I overheard something recently—that Count Veron discovered anticoagulant effects. But when Dad asked how I knew, I panicked.”
I watched his face closely.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem too shocked by the fact that I’d found out. He probably figured I had just overheard it somewhere.
I continued, carefully avoiding his sad-looking eyes.
“So I told him you were the one who told me. If Dad ever asks you about it, can you just nod and go along with it?”
After I finished, Verdick slowly lowered his hand from his mouth.
He looked at me with slightly wide eyes and asked:
“…Why?”
“What?”
I blinked at him, puzzled.
“Why do I have to go along with it?”
He nodded slightly as if to confirm the question. I let out a long sigh.
“Because I made something incredible, okay? But Dad’s having a hard time believing it. Just help me out a little, please?”
Honestly, explaining the whole process like I did with Dad was a huge hassle.
Besides, if even Dad didn’t fully understand it, this nerd wasn’t likely to either.
“All you need to do is just nod if he asks…”
“But why me?”
Wow, this guy is stubborn…
And then, like he’d just been slapped, Verdick suddenly looked incredibly pitiful.
Sensing that this conversation was heading off the rails, I quickly added,
“It’s not a huge ask, right? It’s not like Dad would get mad that you told me something like that…”
But this guy wasn’t your average pushover.
“I mean… why me of all people?”
Oh, come on. I can’t even flip a table right now…
Taking a deep breath, I tried one more time.
“Haha… I know it’s a weird favor to ask from someone we’re not even close with. But you’re the one who works closest with my dad. So…”
I forced a smile and continued my reasoning.
“…No.”
“…What?”
“I said no.”
He refused in a trembling voice and quickly walked past me, head down.
Just for a moment, I saw it.
Behind those thick glasses… a single tear fell.
Wait. Was that a tear?
What?! Why is he crying?!
I stood frozen, mouth open, staring in the direction Verdick had gone.
…Something was definitely going very, very wrong.
***
“What is wrong with that guy?!”
I stormed back up to my room on the second floor, muttering angrily.
On my table sat the prototype medicine I had made with Dad.
After feeling guilty for doubting me, Dad had been helping me actively with my new drug—Dospirin.
But if Verdick suddenly decided to tell Dad that he never mentioned anything about anticoagulants…
‘Ugh, then things will get awkward between me and Dad again!’
Honestly, I didn’t want that to happen again. Ever.
Especially now that Dad—Petron—was so actively supporting my research.
‘No. I absolutely can’t let that happen.’
I clenched my fists, my eyes burning with determination.
No matter what it took… I would make that stupid nerd help me with my plan.
