‘I should definitely start by researching medicine.’
That was the conclusion I reached after thinking things through.
I needed to start preparing some basic medicines in advance, that way, if I ever got sick or injured, I’d at least be able to treat myself.
Plus, it might help when 406’s father eventually goes to treat the duke’s daughter.
If everything goes well, I could even sell the medicine and make a fortune.
Safety and health are things that are directly tied to money, after all. If I want peace of mind, I need to secure both.
‘Alright! With this plan, everyone can survive!’
Okay, sure—I was mainly prioritizing my survival.
Once I finished thinking it through, I asked Annie to bring me something to write with.
Then I immediately began to write down a list of modern medicines that only I would know on a sheet of paper.
“But… can I actually make these?”
Thanks to my interest in medicine, I remembered the chemical formulas of a few drugs…
But since the world had changed (dramatically), I wasn’t so sure anymore.
As I sat thinking, I remembered something Annie had said earlier.
“Annie.”
“Yes?”
“You said my father was researching a cure for my mother’s illness, right…? Uh, then where exactly is he doing that research?”
“The Viscount’s lab? Why do you ask…?”
Annie tilted her head, blinking in confusion—then suddenly clapped her hands as if she’d figured something out and smiled brightly.
“Oh! Do you want to see the Viscount? Are you finally ready to make up with him?”
“Uh, yeah. I’ve got a few questions too.”
It would be faster to ask an expert and see the lab for myself, after all.
Sure, things might be tense between father and daughter, but right now, my safety came first.
“I’ve been locked in my room for so long that I forgot where the lab is… ha ha…”
“Don’t worry, my lady! I’ll happily show you the way! I’m sure the Viscount will be delighted to see you!”
Annie seemed to be completely misunderstanding the situation, but I didn’t bother correcting her.
With a big smile, she grabbed my hand and helped me to my feet.
“Wait a sec!”
I quickly rolled up the paper and stuffed it into the desk drawer, then let Annie drag me out into the hallway.
***
‘So this is the place…’
Standing in front of the lab, I swallowed nervously. Annie looked at me with a cheerful smile and said,
“The Viscount should be inside. Marsha told me earlier. Good luck with your talk!”
She gave me a little fist-pump of encouragement and then happily headed off toward the kitchen.
I was a little uneasy being left alone, but I decided to be brave and open the door.
‘If I run into him right away, I might not be able to look around freely… Better sneak in quietly.’
I carefully pushed the heavy metal door open.
Creaaak.
It let out a grating noise, so I quickly opened it just enough to squeeze through, slipped inside, and gently closed it behind me.
‘Wow… this is nicer than I expected.’
The lab was spacious and quiet.
I’d heard on the way that a few rooms had been combined to create it—and it definitely looked that way.
I tiptoed deeper inside, trying not to make a sound.
The walls were lined with herbs and mysterious substances.
On a long table were various experimental tools.
They looked a bit crude compared to modern equipment, but it had all the basics:
distillation gear, flasks, filters, and more.
‘The ceilings are high, and the ventilation’s good. This place is actually impressive.’
I hadn’t expected much, so I found myself pleasantly surprised.
Just then, I accidentally bumped into a metal instrument, making a loud noise.
‘Crap.’
I froze, certain I’d been caught. Sure enough, someone in the corner of the lab began walking toward me.
Soon, a man stepped out from behind a bookshelf.
“…Ria?”
He was very handsome.
A man with deep brown hair and green eyes stared at me in surprise.
“Ah, um…”
What should I call him? Since this is his lab, he must be 406’s father, right?
As I nervously took a step back, a memory from 406 suddenly popped into my head.
‘Doctor, my dad is so handsome. He has this mole under his right eye that my mom said made her fall for him… Even the mole is handsome!’
Without thinking, I stared hard at the man’s face—and sure enough, there was a small beauty mark under his right eye, just like she’d said.
Suddenly, an odd feeling welled up in my chest.
Like I was seeing someone I’d missed deeply for a long time…
‘Why is my heart racing like this?’
I didn’t know the reason yet, so I tried to focus on what I’d come to say.
“Um… I came to see you, Dad.”
“…Me?”
He looked genuinely shocked, his eyes widening even more.
But the surprise quickly faded, and his expression turned somber.
‘Is he still upset with me?’
Just then, a sharp pain hit my head.
“Agh—”
At the same time, a memory—clearly belonging to 406—flashed through my mind:
‘Why not? Why can’t I be your assistant?’
‘I’ve told you so many times, Adelia. Being a doctor is not easy. I don’t want you—’
‘I want Mom to get better just as much as you do. Why do you keep ignoring my feelings?!’
The pain faded as the memory ended.
Aha, so that’s what happened.
406 had wanted to be her father’s assistant and help find a cure for her mom.
But in this world, doctors aren’t well regarded, and Petron (the father) didn’t want his daughter to do such difficult work.
So he kept saying no, and things got tense between them.
Eventually, Adelia shut herself away in her room for nearly a month.
But from what I’d just seen through her memories, it was clear Petron still deeply loved and worried about her.
Even with his busy schedule, he came often to knock on her door, begging her to come out.
In truth, Adelia had been ignoring him the whole time.
‘Tsk tsk. She made it sound like she was just a little hurt, but she really gave her dad a hard time…’
Still, if I wanted to continue my research in this world, I needed Petron’s help.
Which meant I needed his approval.
‘In the end, I’m bothering him for pretty much the same reason Adelia did. But how do I bring it up…’
As I stood there in silence, holding my head, Petron cautiously stepped closer.
“Ria, is it another headache? …Ah, so that’s why you came? To get more Salmatra?”
There was a trace of sadness in his voice.
But he stayed calm and went to a shelf, bringing me a small pouch.
“Still, try not to take too much. It’s not exactly a gentle remedy.”
Wait—was this the medicine 406 had been taking?
Curious, I opened the pouch immediately. The moment I saw what was inside, my eyes widened.
“Huh, this is…”
“Oh, I added some leaves this time. Is there a problem?”
“Ah… no, it’s just… Is this from the willow tree? The one near the water, with the huge, drooping leaves…?”
He blinked, then smiled softly.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m glad you remembered.”
His eyes, looking at me, were full of warmth.
Honestly, it made me sad that their relationship had grown so distant.
But right now, that wasn’t the point.
‘This is it!’
Like lightning striking in my brain, a spark went off.
The “Salmatra” bark in my hand—was willow bark.
And willow bark is the main ingredient of aspirin, a Nobel Prize-winning medicine in the modern world.
Aspirin.
The first anti-inflammatory painkiller in history—
Now also widely used to prevent blood clots.
With both pain-relief and anti-inflammatory effects, it’s an incredibly versatile drug.
‘This could really help when it’s time to treat the duke’s daughter.’
Realizing what I’d found, the corners of my lips twitched with excitement—like I’d just hit the jackpot.
