Episode 42
The gardener was really good. The poppies in the garden had grown beautifully. I gently touched the soft petals and smiled.
“How long until they grow fruit?”
If I had the internet, I could just look it up, but I didn’t have a phone here, which reminded me again how inconvenient this world could be. I looked closely and found that some were already fruit, not flowers. They looked round like buds, but they were a little firm—definitely fruit.
I scratched the surface of one with my nail, and soon, clear juice began to appear.
I frowned at the sticky liquid. Then suddenly, someone held out a handkerchief. It was Theodore.
“Would you like to use this?”
“Thank you.”
The white handkerchief was stained quickly when I wiped my hand. It was clearly expensive—soft and finely made. I felt bad returning it dirty, so I frowned. Theodore knelt and looked up at me.
“Is something wrong with the handkerchief?”
“No, I just think the stain might be hard to remove. I’ll wash it and give it back.”
“No need to worry.”
A breeze blew, making the poppies dance at our feet. As I brushed my hair behind my ear, I caught my reflection in Theodore’s deep blue eyes.
He quickly stood straight again, flustered. He always helped me at the perfect moment, just like a male lead in a romance novel. If he kept being this kind, I might start to misunderstand.
But I wasn’t the heroine of a romance. I needed to draw the line. Love, once shown, was like a needle in the pocket—it would hurt me eventually.
I still hadn’t gotten back at the Count yet. He was also trying to take over the Queen’s business. And in society, I had less influence than the Count. I couldn’t afford any mistakes.
“Theodore, you’re very kind.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. You always help me when I’m in trouble.”
I tilted my chin to look him in the eyes, but he was taller than most men, so I had to lower my gaze slightly.
“Are all Holy Knights as nice as you?”
Theodore wet his lips with his tongue, then looked away toward Bell. I followed his gaze but saw Bell was just picking flowers, not paying attention.
“Was that a trick to avoid answering?”
When I looked back, Theodore had already regained his calm.
“I’m only doing my duty as your guard.”
It was the answer I wanted, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I sighed and started picking fruit instead of flowers. My hands got messy again, but I didn’t care. I shoved the poppy fruit into my pocket.
“Let’s head back. If you want some flowers, Bell, you can take a few.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
Bell happily gathered a large bunch of poppies in her arms.
Back in my room, I told Bell to go wash the handkerchief. Once she left, I carefully laid the poppy fruits on my vanity table.
I lined up five round fruits and studied them. They looked cute, like little balls with lace on them. I rolled them with my fingers.
“Are they ripe enough? Well, even if they’re not perfect, it should be fine.”
I couldn’t make pure drugs in this world anyway, so even if they were a little unripe or I used a lot, it wouldn’t be a big problem. In fact, making a large batch at once was smarter.
“Let’s see how much juice I can get from these.”
I needed a sharp tool. I searched my drawers and found a fake pearl hairpin—the sharpest thing I had. After sharpening it a bit, I was ready to work.
Then I needed a container. I had nothing special, but I found a small ceramic lipstick container. After removing the makeup inside, I decided to use it. It was just the right size for one fruit.
“Okay. Let’s start.”
I felt excited. It had been a while since I did something with my own hands.
I scraped the surface of the fruit with the pin until juice began to gather in the dish. It worked surprisingly well. Using two pins, I pressed and squeezed the fruits, letting the milky white liquid flow into the dish.
The process was oddly satisfying.
Watching the liquid drip reminded me of my mom. She’d probably faint if she saw me doing this. Dad would go back to smoking.
I felt my nose sting with emotion, but I shook it off.
“Just focus on stealing the Count’s money. One thing at a time. Don’t get emotional now.”
Maybe visiting Carla’s parents had made me too soft.
I slapped my cheeks to stay focused.
This world hadn’t changed, even after the novel’s ending. No one was going to save me. I had to save myself.
I kept working quickly and finished squeezing juice from all five fruits.
The small dish was already half full.
“All that’s left is to dry it…”
But I didn’t have a good place to hide it. If Bell or Liza found it, they might think it was trash and throw it away. I couldn’t tell them it was important, either.
I looked at the tiny dish in my hand.
“I need somewhere visible to me, but out of others’ reach…”
Only one place came to mind. I looked at the door and swallowed nervously.
“I just told him we needed distance, and now I’m going to ask for help. How shameless.”
But I had no choice.
“Just ask. If Theodore says no, I’ll think of something else.”
I convinced myself and opened the door. Theodore was standing right outside.
“Theodore, I need a favor.”
He nodded immediately.
“Anything you ask.”
He didn’t even ask what it was. I couldn’t tell if he was kind or just naive.
“What if I asked him to do something terrible?”
But it would be weird to warn someone who was trying to help.
I glanced around—no one was nearby. I pulled him inside my room. Bell wouldn’t be back soon.
As soon as Theodore saw the poppy fruits, he looked surprised.
“Are you sick? Should I call a doctor?”
He stepped closer, worried. I quickly waved my hands and stepped back.
“No! That’s not it. Remember when I said I’d tell you what the opion was for?”
“Yes, I remember.”
I swallowed hard and smiled.
“I’m going to use it on the Count.”
I waited for his reaction. But he just nodded.
“You’re not asking why?”
“I don’t need to. Whatever you decide to do, I won’t stop you.”
He knelt again, just like when we first met. It was such a graceful move.
“I am your knight, Carla. I will do anything you ask.”
He spoke like a character from a novel, and I felt strangely proud.
But I quickly reminded him—and myself—that this wasn’t a big deal.
“I’m not trying to hurt him. And I’m not making you do anything bad.”
I pulled out the little white dish from my palm. Theodore blinked, then held out his hand.
“Just keep this safe for me, please.”
I dropped it into his palm. He held it like it was a treasure.
“I won’t let anyone take it.”
“You don’t need to protect it that seriously. I just can’t hide it in my room. And I trust you.”
Theodore’s almond-shaped eyes softened, and he smiled.
“It’s an honor.”
