Chapter 6
But I couldn’t read a single word—it wasn’t written in Imperial language.
“…I don’t understand any of this.”
“In summary, the name of the illness you’ve contracted is ‘Death’s Breath.’”
“Death’s Breath…?”
Just hearing the name was enough to twist my face with unease.
Heraith, sitting at the edge of the bed, raised his index finger. Smoke began to rise from the tip.
The writhing smoke eventually took the form of a skull.
“It’s named that because you die a little more with every breath.”
“Never heard of it.”
“That’s to be expected. It’s an ancient disease. Even during my time, it was considered a rare illness—probably even rarer now.”
With a soft whoo, the ominous skull disappeared.
“It’s a troublesome illness that slowly kills the heart. In your case, about two-thirds of your heart has already died.”
“…So what’s the bottom line? That I’m going to die, so I should prepare myself?”
This wasn’t what I’d waited to hear. A wave of helplessness and despair washed over me.
“Of course not. It’s hard to treat, but it’s not incurable. There have been people who recovered from it.”
I flinched as if burned.
“…There’s a cure? Then I can survive?”
“Of course. I told you—you’re not going to die.”
“Heraith!”
I sprang up and lunged at him.
He leaned back, startled at how close I got—barely a fist’s width apart.
I grabbed his hands and spilled out my words in a rush.
“W-What do I need to do? What do I need? Just say it—I’ll get everything!”
I anxiously waited for Heraith to speak, but he only blinked and stared at our joined hands.
“Ah. S-Sorry. I acted on impulse…”
As I started to pull my hand away, Heraith held it tighter, his eyes curving in satisfaction.
“Making the medicine is tricky, but first we need Thousand-Year Grass and an apothecary.”
“Huh? Thousand-Year Grass?”
“Yeah. It’s not easy to find, so that’s the worry…”
Huh? Hard to find? What is he talking about? That stuff grows everywhere.
“Well, let’s set that aside for now and focus on the apothecary…”
Before he could even finish, I jumped up.
It was so ridiculous that I felt newly energized.
“Shishi?”
“Listen. About that ingredient… I think I can handle it.”
I dragged Heraith to the garden and pointed at the weeds growing all over the ground.
“Ta-da!”
I made my own sound effects as I proudly showed off the Thousand-Year Grass. Heraith ruffled his hair in confusion.
“This stuff isn’t usually this abundant.”
“Maybe in the past. But now? It’s everywhere. We pull it out like weeds. I’ve even heard it’s used as pig feed.”
“As pig feed…?”
Heraith burst into laughter, utterly dumbfounded.
“I worried for nothing.”
“But… can this really cure my disease? At best, it’s used as a fever reducer…”
“When it’s used as a fever reducer, that means the medicine failed.”
Thousand-Year Grass has different effects depending on how it’s prepared. The common fever-reducing effect is actually a result of a failed preparation.
“If it’s properly processed, it can be used to treat your illness. It’s especially effective on a damaged heart.”
“Even dung has its use, and now this weed turns out to be my miracle herb.”
I knelt down and gently stroked the grass.
“It’s pretty. So pretty.”
For the first time, the plant that once seemed creepy looked endearing.
“So, ingredients are taken care of. Now we just need an apothecary.”
“But this disease existed 500 years ago. Is there really an apothecary who knows how to treat it? Or maybe there’s a secret manual passed down through generations?”
Having shed my doubts about Heraith, I now looked at him with blind trust, eyes sparkling.
“Hmm, there was a secret manual.”
“There was?”
“But I burned it when I set the palace on fire.”
His casual shrug and carefree voice made my face go cold.
Like a spring-loaded toy, I leapt forward and grabbed him by the collar.
“Hey. Do you think this is funny? Bring it back—bring it back right now!”
“Wow, this is the first time someone’s grabbed me by the collar. So this is what it feels like?”
This guy—he’s really insane, isn’t he? What is he even curious about?
“Oh yeah? Then let’s give you the full experience today.”
I shook him like I was dusting off an old rug.
“Of all the things to burn, why that?! You absolute bastard! You devil!”
“First time I’ve been called a devil over something like this.”
Unbelievable. I felt like I might pass out from rising blood pressure.
“Even if the manual’s gone, there’s still an apothecary who knows the recipe. So stop worrying and maybe let me go, Lady?”
He added that the collar-grabbing experience had been more than enough and gently peeled my hands off.
I asked with a grumble.
“Who is it?”
“Margo Flynn. Red hair, green eyes, female in her 30s. She’s a bit shorter than me—maybe 180 cm. Has a solid build. Also, a long scar near her mouth.”
“You know a lot. Is she the descendant of an apothecary you knew?”
I asked, surprised by the precise details, and Heraith shrugged.
“Something like that. She’s a wanderer, so we don’t know exactly where she is, but I should be able to find her within two months at the latest.”
“Two months? I can’t wait that long.”
“Oh? What will you do?”
I made a circle with my thumb and index finger and wiggled it.
Jingle jingle.
“With this, anything is possible.”
It wasn’t my health I had—just money.
With money, what can’t be done? Everything’s possible.
It was finally time to show the true power and wealth of a ducal family.
That same day, I found the steward and ordered him to locate the apothecary.
Though puzzled, the steward faithfully followed my instructions.
‘With the family’s intelligence network, finding her will be a piece of cake.’
My steps back to the bedroom were practically floating.
“Heraith, I’m back.”
He was lounging on the sofa, clearly waiting for me.
I sat naturally across from him and chirped excitedly.
“I told the steward. We should be able to find her soon.”
Once the medicine is made, I can escape my foretold death.
‘Good. I’ll focus on finding the apothecary for now.’
Forming a new plan, I bowed my head toward Heraith.
“Thank you. This is all thanks to you.”
At my gratitude, Heraith smiled as if painted.
It was undoubtedly a beautiful smile—but for some reason, it gave me the chills.
“Shishi, you haven’t forgotten, have you? That if I cured you, you’d grant me a wish.”
“Yeah, just say the word. I’ll do anything!”
Honestly, I’d even give him my liver if he asked.
“Shishi. Learn magic.”
“Magic? But there’s nothing in that for you, right?”
Wouldn’t that just be a hassle? I tilted my head in confusion.
“Learn magic so you can remove the spell seal cast on me.”
“The seal?”
“Remember how I asked you the first time we met? Whether you could remove the seal.”
That’s right. Back then, I didn’t want to keep him around. I’d even hoped I could break it and send him away.
“You’re the only one who can undo it.”
“Only me? Why?”
“Because you have talent.”
“Me?”
If someone once known as a genius magician said so, then I must really have a gift.
“So this was your goal all along? That’s why you were so eager to treat me?”
“Goal? That’s a bit unfair. I’m just keeping a promise.”
What promise? The only promise I made was to grant him one wish.
“By the way, Heraith. That sealing magic—it really was cast by Agav, right?”
Back then, I was too shocked to question it, but thinking about it now, it was dangerous how he had to obey my every order.
‘What if I wished for the world to end? That would just recreate the nightmare from 500 years ago.’
Agav, who played the biggest role in sealing Heraith, wouldn’t have left such a dangerous power in someone else’s hands.
I asked, confident in my suspicion.
“It wasn’t him, was it?”
“If that bastard had left this on me…”
Heraith paused, then gave a cruel smile.
“I would’ve ripped his throat out with everything I had. Made sure he never opened his mouth again.”
Each word dripped with menace. It was clear—it wasn’t Agav.
“Then who was it?”
“That’s a secret.”
Heraith put a finger to his lips and winked.
“So go figure it out yourself.”
