Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

<The second stage involves the erasure of memories. All memories related to family, friends, oneself, and all human relationships disappear.>

<After a month, the third phase will take place.>

With trembling hands, I turned the pages.

Then, I immediately shifted my gaze to the section describing the symptoms.

<Erasure of emotions.>

No further explanation was provided.

I blinked in confusion for a moment.

‘Does this mean emotions completely vanish?’

I don’t know how, in what way, or in what form, emotions are erased.

What mattered was that the symptoms I knew were only a fraction of the truth.

And the poison continues to affect the body for over a month in the ghostly state.

‘Poison can’t work in a body that’s already dead.’

In other words, it meant that I could remain in a ghostly state for over a month without dying.

‘It was exactly one month when the Duke took my mother’s body.’

If everything written in this mysterious document is true,.

Then, does it mean Mother didn’t truly pass away until that moment?

My mind became tangled with complex thoughts, and I took a deep breath.

“Rohiriel?”

Only then did I hear Julion’s voice calling me with concern.

Julion, who had approached without my notice, was now looking at me with worry.

He spoke again.

“You don’t look well. Is there any problem?”

It was a friendly question, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile and say I was fine.

Julion’s golden eyes moved subtly as he noticed the documents in my hand.

I crumpled the papers roughly and opened my mouth.

“I’m okay. I just need to check something, so I should go now.”

“But you look like…”

“We can talk later. Once I’m sure.”

Leaving the puzzled Julion behind, I quickly exited the bedroom.

Fortunately, Julion didn’t stop me.

Returning straight to the apothecary room, I unfolded the documents again.

While rereading the contents from earlier, I found a familiar stamp at the bottom.

The seal of Duke Cassian.

‘That’s a seal that can only be used by the Duke.’ 

This meant that the document originated from the duke himself.

And intentionally placed in my bedroom.

‘How long has it been here?’

Certainly, it wasn’t there when Mother passed away and I cleaned my room.

It was none other than a document describing Mordheim.

I could only assume he’d left it there on purpose for me to see.

“Ha…….”

Countless thoughts raced through my mind.

Why?

For what purpose?

Could all this information be true?

I wanted to believe that it couldn’t be true, that it was just another scheme by Duke Cassian.

However, one unsettling detail led to others becoming intertwined.

The traces of my mother can be found in the medicine that was made in Cassian.

Cassian’s apothecary recreated the already dispelled antidote for the poison beetle.

All this time, I had assumed that someone who knew my mother well had become the Apothecary of Cassian.

After all, Mother had passed away.

But if all these assumptions were overturned…

“What am I supposed to do now…….”

I can’t let this go.

This document was like an invitation from the Duke of Cassian.

An invitation I can’t help but go to, even though I know it’s a trap.

Now that doubts about Mother had arisen, I had to confirm them no matter what.

‘I can’t go with Julion.’

If we went together, the duke wouldn’t reveal his true intentions.

This invitation was aimed solely at me.

Yet, telling Julion the truth and suggesting we go together…would be risky.

‘He would likely get upset, knowing it’s dangerous.’

Thinking of Julion, I remembered the words he spoke a few days ago.

He asked me to stay with him.

It was almost like a confession, and I still hadn’t given a clear answer.

Partly due to busyness, but also because of the lack of certainty.

No matter how many achievements I made, my origin as a Cassian wouldn’t change.

The label of crown princess of a traitorous family will follow me for the rest of my life.

Moreover, from Julion’s perspective, I was the daughter of his enemy.

Carrying such a burden, I can’t stay by Julion’s side.

‘That’s why I initially limited the contract period to one year.’

Enough time to treat my illness and bring down Cassian.

In reality, my illness was almost cured, and Cassian was on the verge of collapse.

It turned out to be much shorter than expected, which is a good thing.

Now all that remains is to leave the Empire as planned and fulfill my dream.

‘If Julion accompanies me in this matter, I’ll have to return to the palace.’

That would make it considerably complicated and challenging to leave discreetly.

On the other hand, this place is a secluded mansion deep in the mountains.

Guarded only by a few servants and knights, slipping away would be quite easy.

With those thoughts in mind, I sensed that the time had come to conclude the contract with Julion, albeit a bit earlier.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

After making the decision, preparations were quickly underway.

Not knowing what might happen, I gathered various medicinal herbs for emergencies.

I wanted to bring the potion I used on Roxis, but I couldn’t make it due to a lack of ingredients.

‘They are probably making thorough preparations on their end as well.’

If that’s the case, then I need to prepare even more thoroughly.

What methods would the duke use to manipulate me?

And if my mother is truly alive, what should I do?

If he threatens me using my mother?

In my mind, I constantly imagined and reasoned through the events that would unfold at the duke’s residence, simultaneously checking and refining my plans.

After much deliberation, I decided to leave a letter for Julion.

On the day when all preparations were complete,

“Julion, are you busy?”

I went to find Julion.

He seemed bored, swinging his sword in the courtyard.

“Rohiriel.”

As our eyes met, Julion’s lips gently formed a curve, creating a subtle smile.

As I admired his handsome face for a moment, Julion slowly approached me.

“I’m not busy at all. Are you all right?”

Receiving such considerate words warmed a corner of my heart.

Today would be the last day I receive such caring concerns.

I nodded and smiled back.

“I’m fine. Would you like to take a walk? I have some things to talk about.”

“Sure.”

With Julion’s enthusiastic response, we moved towards the garden.

Since it was a mountain villa in the woods, the garden wasn’t large, but there were paths to enjoy a stroll amid the charm of nature.

“May I ask what you have in your hand?”

As we entered the garden, Julion glanced at the glass bottle I held in my hand and asked curiously.

It contained brown medicine, the starting point of this plan.

“I tried making some nutritional supplements.”

“Nutritional supplements all of a sudden?”

“I wanted to give it to you.”

Casually continuing the conversation, I extended the bottle of medicine towards Julion.

Julion blinked rapidly, then suddenly took a deep breath.

Instantly, his earlobes turned crimson.

“T-Thank… you.”

Without properly examining the medicine bottle, he quickly swallowed its contents.

Watching him consume it without any suspicion only intensified my guilt.

Julion closed the empty bottle and resumed walking forward.

“What is it you want to talk about, by the way?”

Rustle.

Leaves fell a bit too quickly, crumbling beneath our feet as he casually inquired, inhaling the rich scent of the forest..

“I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?”

“Is the bad news really that bad?”

“Well, it depends on how you take it.”

Julion furrowed his brow, seemingly contemplating seriously.

Before taking ten steps, he made a choice.

“I’ll start with the bad news.”

“Alright. Then I’ll begin with the good news.”

I replied playfully, smiling a little too brightly. Julion looked at me as if amused by the oddity.

“If that’s the case, why did you ask me to choose?”

“Because it’s fun.”

“Well, whatever it is, just tell me.”

Finally, Julion chuckled and handed me the reins.

Without further delay, I got straight to the point.

“I’ve completed the antidote for the poisonous beetle.”

Julion’s eyebrows smoothly arched, and his eyes widened.

His face lit up with delight.

“You truly seem to be capable of anything.”

“I told you, I can make it.”

In reality, if it hadn’t been for my mother’s diary, it would have taken much more time.

However, there was no time to delve into details.

As Julion began to sense the effects of the medicine, I swiftly moved on to the next topic..

“And I’ve uncovered most of the Duke’s plans.”

“Oh… that’s even better news than I expected.”

Perhaps the good news was too good.

Julion stopped in his tracks and stared at me intently. A faint unease lingered in his golden eyes.

Without avoiding his gaze, I slowly continued.

“And the bad news is…”

The sky behind Julion spread out in a deep blue.

As his eyes slightly narrowed, I noticed his complexion worsening rapidly.

“……Rohi….riel.”

Julion barely uttered my name, rubbing his forehead.

The usual sparkle in his golden eyes was now clouded and dim.

“I’m sorry, Julion.”

He blinked, seemingly unable to comprehend my words.

He tried to pull himself together, but it was impossible.

Knowing Julion’s resilience, I had made the potion strong enough. 

“About that supplement earlier, what did you… do?”

In truth, it was a nutritional supplement with an added sleeping aid.

I had left a sleeping scent in the villa, so by now, everyone else would likely be asleep.

I intentionally separated Julion from the villa to ensure he wouldn’t notice the change.

Julion, standing with difficulty, staggered and let out a groan.

Soon, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

He bit the inside of his mouth to keep him from falling asleep.

Despite the heartbreaking feeling, I restrained myself from hugging him.

“The bad news is… I won’t be returning to the palace.”

Julion didn’t answer.

He reached down, grabbing my clothes, but there was no strength in his grip.

“Our contract ends here. So, I…”

I paused and corrected myself.

“From now on, I will return as Rohiriel Cassian, Your Highness.”

Julion’s body slumped.

In the moments before his eyelids closed, only one emotion was visible.

An overwhelming sense of despair.

In the face of that heavy emotion, even after Julion had completely succumbed to sleep, I couldn’t move my feet for a long while.