“We won’t know for sure until we see the identification results, but it seems like some unusual herbs were used.”
“Are you referring to rare plants?”
I asked, hoping that it was something that could be easily obtained.
Even though there were many rare plants in the golden garden, there were countless other rare herbs in the world.
If they were available in Golden Garden, it would be fortunate; otherwise, obtaining them could be challenging. However, Dr. Barmid chuckled and shook his head.
“No, quite the opposite.”
“The opposite……?”
“Yes. It’s a grass called kaleab, commonly consumed by commoners.”
It was a plant I had heard of before.
Kaleab, which mainly grew in the warm southern regions, including the land of the former Yalon Kingdom.
Rather than being rare, it was often classified as a weed that no one cared about.
Of course, it is rarely used as medicine, so I only knew about it through knowledge.
“I’ve heard that kaleab is not used for medicinal purposes. How did you recognize it right away?”
“I’m not entirely sure. But when Kaleab combines with Latenpieum, a unique scent is produced, and it seems to match that smell.”
“So, Latenpieum is also in it.”
Latenpieum was an herb known for its calming effects on the nerves. However, due to its lethal side effects, it was rarely used unless absolutely necessary.
‘Even a small intake can cause vision impairment, so it’s only used in cases where there’s no alternative.’
I wonder what they were thinking, putting this in an antidote?
Or perhaps there was a new formulation that could address the side effects of vision impairment?
“Kaleab and Latenpieum…”
A combination of two herbs that are not commonly used in the first place. Kaleab, in particular, was a common and ambiguous plant that was hardly even considered an herb.
I picked up the vial and put it to my nose to smell it, but I didn’t recognize the scent, just that it was completely new.
“To recognize it instantly by the smell alone, that’s quite remarkable.”
“Oh, that’s…….”
Dr. Barmid seemed a bit hesitant about what he wanted to say. However, after a moment, he cautiously continued.
“That’s because it was a drug that made such a strong impression. It was the same formula that Her Highness Shahadna…… used.”
“My mother?” I asked, stunned.
I practically had my mother’s research journals and books memorized. However, I had never come across a formulation involving Kaleab and Latenpieum.
“Yes. Shortly before the fall of the Kingdom of Yalon, Her Highness Shahadna came to me out of the blue and asked me to join her research, saying that it seemed possible to create a groundbreaking antidote.”
“An antidote?”
“She mentioned that it would be an antidote to all kinds of neurotoxins. I think the reagents she brought with her at that time smelled like this. She said that Kaleab and Latenpieum were the main ingredients, but the research was aborted before it could officially begin.”
“Why was it aborted? Was there some kind of fatal flaw?”
“No, it wasn’t due to any issues with the drug itself, but rather external factors.”
Having said that, Dr. Bamid paused for a moment and let out a small gasp.
Then, with a bitter laugh, he spoke the next words.
“Shortly after, the Yalon Kingdom was annexed by the Empire, and Her Highness Shahadna was sent to Cassian.”
Ah. So that was the time.
The Duke of Cassian, pivotal in overthrowing Yalon, sought my mother as a reward. The tale goes that when asked by the emperor for his desired reward, he specifically requested “the Yalon Princess Shahadna.”
‘It wasn’t out of love.’
My mother endured abuse from the duchess, involving subtle physical torment, neglect, disregard, and mental pressure—all known and tolerated by my father. Furthermore, did he go so far as to use Mordheim poison to end her life?
Thinking about my mother again might ignite my anger, so I redirected my thoughts and said,
“How did Cassian’s apothecary know about this formulation and use it?”
“There were several other physicians who received research proposals besides me. Perhaps one of them…”
Dr. Barmid trailed off, his eyes hardening.
The idea that someone who used to be a physician in Yalon might be working for Cassian seemed uncomfortably plausible.
In an attempt to lighten the mood, I spoke up cheerfully.
“Or it could be someone entirely unrelated who discovered the same formulation. Or maybe someone in Cassian got hold of my mother’s research notes.”
Certainly, if it was Duke Cassian, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Dr. Bamid seemed to have similar thoughts as he nodded and rolled up his sleeves.
“Yes, that’s a possibility. To be certain, we’ll need to conduct identification tests, so let’s proceed with that.”
“Agreed. Thanks to you, it should be much easier. Is there anything else you remember?”
“I don’t have many details, but I recall a few elements. First, about Kaleab…”
And so, with Dr. Barmid, I began the process of creating an antidote based on my mother’s past research.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
“Hey, did you hear the news?”
“Is it about the Cassian incident?”
“Yeah, that one! How could they attack the Crown Prince in the capital of all places…!”
“That’s right. Last time, who was it? The youngest lady committed a grave offense and even tried to escape but got caught. But now, the dukedom is accused of treason.”
“Wait, what will happen to the princess consort?”
“They say the princess consort is the one who put this treason case to rest…….”
“Does that mean she’s innocent?”
“Still, something feels off.”
“Is this man doubting that the Princess Consort cured the Emperor?”
The entire empire buzzed with news related to Duke Cassian.
The incident involving Yeffa was brought up again, and voices curious about Rohiriel’s treatment were sporadically heard.
However, the main focus was on how Duke Cassian would respond.
“Will he give up his dukedom?”
“Even Yeffa Cassian, although she said she would accept the imperial punishment, was secretly plotting to escape.”
“Didn’t some Roxis or something nearly poison His Highness the Crown Prince while trying to help her escape?”
“In any case, the Cassians are a bunch of bastards.”
“Quiet down, lad. You wouldn’t want someone to overhear and report you.”
The common people didn’t hold back in expressing their disdain for Cassian.
Almost every imperial citizen, excluding Cassian’s subjects, talked about this incident.
Bvel, too, reported to the Duke with a visibly tense demeanor.
He expected the Duke to be furious at Roxis’s stupidity, but he was surprisingly calm.
A rhythmic tapping sound echoed as he tapped on the desk, and then the Duke spoke calmly.
“I see Roxis truly fell short.”
With that quiet remark, silence fell once again. Bvel wondered if there was more the Duke wanted to say when suddenly…
“Master! Master!”
The urgent knocking on the door and the voice of a servant echoed in the room.
The Duke shifted his gaze from the documents he was reviewing, and Bvel, with a nervously tense expression, glared at the door and uttered restrained words.
“What audacity. The master is in the midst of important tasks!”
However, the servant, as if he had stepped outside of his bounds, knocked on the door again, raising his voice.
“I apologize, Master. But it seems you must see this!”
Eventually, Bvel lost his temper. If it weren’t for the Duke rising from his chair,
“An unexpected visitor, it seems.”
The Duke’s silver eyes gleamed with interest as he strode forward.
Bvel hastily opened the office door first, all the while filled with questions.
‘Who on earth would come to the Duke’s residence and give orders to the master without any prior arrangement?’
Even the Duke’s reaction seemed to indicate that he knew who it was.
If it had been anyone else, he would have ignored them without a second thought.
“Master!”
As they stepped out of the office, the servant calling the Duke appeared agitated.
He broke out in a cold sweat and bowed his head deeply, unable to make eye contact with the Duke.
“I, I apologize for the interruption. But the, the em…”
“You must have been doing something important.”
A gentle but firm voice cut through the servant’s trembling words.
Bvel’s mouth dropped open in surprise as he saw the silhouette walking slowly behind the servant.
“Empress!”
Intensely blazing red hair.
Her fiery red hair seemed to blaze, and her slightly softer golden eyes, so similar to Prince Julion’s, gazed at the duke with a stern expression.
