~Chapter 48~
The next morning, Leah filled a basket with glass bottles of potion and went up to the fourth floor.
Isabella and Johann, who had already heard the news, were waiting for her in Penelope’s room.
“So this is the magic potion.”
Johann picked up one of the small bottles Leah brought.
Clear liquid, with no impurities, swirled inside.
“You’ve worked hard, you look worn out.”
Isabella commented on Leah’s tired
face—she’d been spending all her time making the potion.
“Is she supposed to drink this every day?”
“Yes, one bottle after every meal.”
Leah answered, looking at Isabella, whose hands were clasped tightly—probably out of nervousness.
She walked past them to Penelope’s bed.
“I’ll be coming every morning and evening to check your condition and symptoms.”
She handed Penelope a notebook, a quill, and ink.
“If anything changes, even slightly, please write it down and let me know.”
“Okay, I will.”
Penelope responded, a bit flushed with excitement.
After breakfast, she was finally about to take something that might actually help her get better.
She’d given up on the hope of getting better long ago, but thanks to Leah, she was starting to hope again.
‘…Please, let this work this time.’
She looked at Leah with genuine eyes, choosing to trust the woman who explained everything about the potion.
“Then I’ll be back this evening.”
After explaining everything about the dosage and how to take the potion, Leah left the room with Johann.
“Heading back to the lab?”
“Yes. The place is a mess from making the potion, so I want to clean it up.”
“…Thanks for all your hard work.”
“Thank you.”
Leah’s footsteps echoed lightly down the hall as she parted ways with Johann and headed to the lab.
‘Grandma used to praise me like this all the time, but for some reason it feels embarrassing coming from people in the duke’s house.’
Leah spent the day cleaning the lab with Dorothea, putting things back in order.
After dinner with Raphaella, she returned to check on Penelope.
“You’re here?”
Penelope greeted her warmly, as if she had been waiting.
“How are you feeling?”
“It’s only been a day, so I can’t say for sure, but… my thirst has definitely gone down.”
She showed Leah the notebook where she’d tracked how much water she drank today.
“I used to drink at least 10 glasses of water a day. I’d even wake up at night because I was so thirsty.”
“We even had to put a portable toilet in her room later on.”
Isabella added.
“But today, I only drank three glasses after breakfast and two after lunch.”
“That’s a big improvement.”
Leah recalled that the village kid had similar results—less thirst was the first sign.
That meant Penelope’s tongue would probably start healing next.
“Anything else bothering you?”
“No, it’s actually more comfortable now since I don’t have to go to the bathroom as often.”
Penelope smiled like a cheerful young girl.
From then on, Leah visited Penelope every day to monitor her condition.
She also continued making more potions with Dorothea in the now-tidy lab.
Since Penelope needed to take the potion for at least a month, they had to prepare a large supply.
A week passed, and Penelope no longer woke up at night because of thirst.
‘Now she only drinks about four glasses of water a day.’
That was close to normal for most people, meaning her thirst issue was almost gone.
“Let me take a look at your tongue.”
It had started to regain a healthy red color,
rather than the dark purplish hue from before.
‘Even the wounds on her fingers have healed quite a bit.’
Penelope had more color in her face and had regained some weight. She even kept a mirror on her nightstand to check her reflection.
She couldn’t stop looking—she was so happy to be recovering.
“…I don’t even know how to thank you enough.”
Isabella wiped away tears as she walked Leah to the door.
“She’s not completely healed yet, so it’s too early for thanks.”
“Leah. No magician or healer could do what you’re doing!”
Isabella gently held Leah’s shoulder.
“You’re curing Penelope when no one else could. Not even the emperor could do that.”
Leah felt shy and overwhelmed at such praise.
“No need to be so modest. Once Penelope fully recovers, think about applying for a patent for the potion.”
Every spring, purification mages were sent to the north to cleanse areas affected by magical beasts.
Yet every year, people still get sick from those fish-like magical creatures.
Maybe it was because the tiny ones could dodge purification spells.
‘So there are more people affected by those magical fish…’
Leah had lived deep in the mountains, cut off from the world, so she thought Penelope and the village child were rare cases.
But now she saw there were more.
There weren’t many patients yet, but if those mutated mini monsters kept spreading, it could turn into a serious issue not just for the north, but the entire empire.
Especially with no known cure.
If Leah’s potion were released to the public, it could solve half the problem.
—
After spending a week making a good stock of potion, Leah finally took a break and went for a walk in the garden with Raphaella.
The spring flowers, carefully planted and nurtured by the head gardener, were in full bloom.
In the fragrant garden, Leah was making a flower crown for Raphaella.
The head gardener had told Leah she could use any flower she wanted from the garden.
He even thanked her, saying it would be an honor if the flowers were used for the lady of the house.
“Thank you for helping our young lady get better.”
The gardener bowed, eyes teary.
When Leah said it wasn’t time to be thanked yet, he replied:
“It takes a lot of work just to grow one flower. I can’t even imagine how much more effort it takes to heal a person.”
“But you’re doing it, Miss Leah. You’re putting in that effort, so please accept my gratitude.”
Hearing that, Leah couldn’t help but accept the thanks and promise to keep doing her best for Penelope’s recovery.
She hadn’t done it for praise, but their heartfelt appreciation warmed her.
“Wow, Mommy! It’s so pretty!”
Raphaella clapped as she watched Leah skillfully weave the flower crown.
“Want to make one yourself?”
“I can do it too?”
“Of course, you can.”
Leah let her pick out the flowers she wanted to use.
She helped her carefully pick them, then taught her how to weave them into a crown.
Raphaella tried her best with her little hands.
“…Mine doesn’t look as pretty as yours, Mommy.”
She held up both crowns—hers and her mom’s—and compared them.
“I think yours looks just fine.”
“No, it’s all crooked here and here.”
“Well, it’s your first time. No one’s perfect on their first try.”
Leah poked her daughter’s chubby cheek with her finger.
“If you practice a few more times, you’ll make one just like mine.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’m gonna make another one!”
“…Make what?”
Johann’s voice suddenly came from behind.
“When did you get here?”
Leah turned around, startled.
‘I thought he had work at the palace today. He’s back already?’
“Mommy and I were making flower crowns!”
Raphaella ran over, wearing the one Leah made and holding her own in both hands.
She tapped her mom and whispered something in her ear.
Leah nodded with a smile.
Then Raphaella walked up to Johann.
“This is for you.”
She held out the crown proudly.
“Daddy, thank you for bringing Mommy home early.”
“…”
Johann froze, stunned.
Raphaella had never directly called him “Daddy” before.
She’d only used the word when talking about him, never to him.
But now, she has.
Other nobles might say it was improper and that she should say “Father,”
but Johann didn’t care what anyone else thought.
What mattered was that she had finally called him “Daddy.”
‘…I can’t believe I’m getting emotional over a word like that.’
It was a bit ridiculous, but that one word had completely shaken him.
“…Daddy?”
Raphaella looked at him, worried because he’d gone silent.
Leah was worried too—maybe he was frozen because he didn’t like it.
“Raphaella, can you say that again?”
“Say what?”
“…‘Daddy’.”
He knelt down and looked her in the eyes, swallowing the lump in his throat.
“Daddy! Do you not like flower crowns?”
“…No.”
“Then I’ll put it on you!”
She giggled and gently placed the crown on his head.
Johann patted her head once and then hugged her.
His face was still expressionless, but Leah could tell he was moved.
“Ehehe, you look so pretty!”
“…Thank you, Raphaella.”
“Daddy, we’re going to go eat pie now. Come with us!”
Raphaella, still holding his hand, led him along with a bright smile.
