Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

 

 

Julion was a gentle man.

 

I don’t know everything about him, but at least from my experience, he seemed that way.

 

Of course, there were a few times when he got angry. However, it wasn’t a significant outburst, and it was all rooted in concern.

 

Even after getting angry, he would come and apologize. The Julion I knew, who was usually calm, now seemed angrier than ever.

 

Looking at his eyes boiling like molten gold, I awkwardly spoke up.

 

“I was going to tell you to wait a minute…….”

 

Julion remained silent.

 

Approaching me, he lifted me up in a swift motion as if I weighed nothing.

 

“Julion?”

 

Reflexively, I threw my arms around his neck as I felt myself lift off the floor.

 

His mouth remained firmly closed.

 

“Uh, I can walk.”

 

Given the circumstances, Julion was understandably surprised. But still, it was a little unfair that he didn’t even bother to listen to me.

 

Leaving the pharmacy, Julion spoke to the waiting attendants.

 

“Fetch Dr. Barmid immediately.”

 

“No, it’s not necessary. Don’t call him!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I must insist.”

 

“In that case, I’ll strongly refuse as well. Even if the doctor comes, I’ll send him away.”

 

The attendants stood by helplessly.

 

Eventually, Julion sighed and gave another command.

 

“…Wait here.”

 

Entering the bedroom, Julion made sure nobody followed and gently placed me on the bed.

 

“Since when?”

 

The first thing he said was this question.

 

I blurted back.

 

“Since what?”

 

“Since when has your condition deteriorated like this?”

 

He was, as expected, misunderstanding a lot.

 

I sighed and met Julion’s eyes.

 

“You’re misunderstanding. It’s not deteriorating; in fact, I’m getting better.”

 

“You call bleeding profusely getting better?”

 

Disbelief was written across Julion’s face, reminiscent of the expression I saw when we first spoke.

 

‘He doesn’t believe me.’

 

I felt perplexed about how to make him understand, considering I had just realized it myself. 

 

While I was contemplating, Julion started pouring out words.

 

“You said there was a cure. Yet, instead of improving, you’re bleeding now! Is there really a cure.”

 

“No, why are you getting so worked up? I really do have the medicine, I even made it today and took it.”

 

“Then why do you look so sick!”

 

“Well, it seems like this is part of the healing process.”

 

“Do you think that makes sense now?”

 

With Julion’s outburst, silence descended. It felt like a storm had just swept through.

 

Concerned that the misunderstanding might escalate, I tried to explain further.

 

If only the words hadn’t come out of Julion’s mouth.

 

“Wales, Ryzitan, Koperekona.”

 

“……?”

 

“Were you the secret sponsor of these Guilds?”

 

What is he talking about now?

 

Unable to follow the flow of the conversation, I blinked my eyes, and Julion added an explanation.

 

“You’ve been donating large sums of money to the three organizations, and you’re still doing it, under the guise of a sponsorship.”

 

“Wait, did you investigate me?”

 

“It’s the information that Roxis Cassian had. We discovered it while investigating the data you provided.”

 

In any case, Roxis hasn’t been helpful in my life.

 

The guilds were all under my control. To be more precise, Koperekona was entirely mine, and the others were subordinate guilds.

 

Selling luxury medicine to the wealthy elite, such as nobles. As I accumulated funds I eventually established one of the guilds, initially to manage the overwhelming wealth.

 

As the business expanded, I acquired Wales and Ryzitan guilds as well.

 

However, to avoid public attention, I operated them separately outwardly as independent guilds.

 

‘Is this what he’s upset about?’

 

He seemed to think I was laundering money.

 

Technically, I was moving Cassian’s money to another place, so I didn’t feel guilty about it. But most of the money from the guilds was being used for the people.

 

There are countless individuals dying because they couldn’t afford medicine.

 

If I helped them under the name of Cassian, my father would have suspected the source of the funds, and in the worst case scenario, I could have ended up as a slave locked up in an underground prison, making medicine for the rest of my life.

 

So, my choice was to use the guilds to distribute essential goods, including medicine.

 

‘Since it’s already known, should I be honest within reasonable bounds?’

 

Except for revealing that the owner of the Guilds is me, if I mix in some truth, Julion might understand.

 

I opened my mouth to explain.

 

“Yes. I am the sponsor of the three guilds. But it’s absolutely not money collected through illicit means. I just wanted to help people, so-“

 

“You emptied your entire fortune?”

 

“……that.”

 

“After depleting all your wealth for others, what did you plan to do?”

 

Since I hadn’t depleted all my wealth, I had nothing to say.

 

This money is that money, and that money is this money. It was all mine, so I didn’t think much of it. However, Julion, for some reason, asked again.

 

“You mentioned your goal was to overthrow Cassian. What plans do you have after that? With no money left, what do you intend to do…!”

 

I shook my head, feeling like the conversation was getting off track.

 

“Julion, what do you want to know?”

 

I asked. It felt unfair to be bombarded with questions like this.

 

“I really don’t understand why you’re so angry right now. I didn’t get the money through dishonest means and I pride myself on being clean.”

 

“The problem isn’t about that right now…”

 

“Even though we are partners, we should still respect each other’s boundaries.”

 

After all, once the contract period ends, we will go our separate ways.

 

We’re not supposed to pry into each other’s private lives.

 

Just to be clear, I added: “After all, we’re just a temporary couple, not a real one, right?”

 

But I regretted it immediately. Julion’s golden eyes cracked as if he was hurt by my words.

 

‘Did I say that too harshly?’

 

We’re still working together and doing things together, it seemed like I said something that drew a clear line.

 

Still, to avoid further meddling, it was necessary to assert it at least once.

 

‘We’ve been getting too close these days.’ 

 

Acting like a happily married couple might have made us closer than expected. Julion was kind, maybe even more so than me.

 

“……I see.”

 

Julion slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, there was an earnestness in his golden gaze.

 

“Then, just answer one thing. This cure you’re making and taking. What are the ingredients?”

 

“Why do you want to know that? You wouldn’t know if I told you.”

 

I asked casually, trying to hide my irritation. I swallowed dryly, worried that he might somehow know about Apherium.

 

“I want to believe in your words about having a cure.”

 

From Julion’s reaction, it seemed like he was not aware of it. His gaze was fixed on me, more intense than ever.

 

‘I can’t say it’s Apherium…’

 

In my mind, a multitude of herbal names quickly flashed by.

 

After some consideration, I rapidly mentioned a few.

 

“Lepecraseion, Predibrakhamutektoam, Amiatatiatele. Those are three of them.”

 

I deliberately chose the most complex and lengthy names for herbs, probably with pronunciations that would be unfamiliar.

 

But Julion nodded, his brow furrowing slightly, his expression serious.

 

“Thank you for telling me.”

 

I didn’t want to explain any further even if he asked what they were, so I was relieved that he accepted it without further questions.

 

‘I feel unnecessarily sorry.’

 

After a brief pause, Julion spoke in a calm voice.

 

“Well then… rest.”

 

It seemed like he had more to say, but that was the end of it.

 

After briefly meeting my gaze, Julion turned his back and headed towards the bedroom door.

 

Observing the closing bedroom door, I couldn’t shake off a vaguely uncomfortable feeling.

 

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ 

 

Leaving Rohiriel’s room, Julion sought out Dr. Barmid before leaving Garnet Palace.

 

“Your Highness, what brings you here?”

 

Startled by the unexpected visit from the Crown Prince, Dr. Barmid quickly stood up.

 

Julion sat down on the couch and asked bluntly,  “You’re familiar with the medicines, right?”

 

“Yes? Of course…….”

 

Dr. Barmid, confused by the sudden inquiry from the Crown Prince, sat opposite Julion.

 

“Lepecraseion, Predibrakhamutektoam, Amiatatiatele.

 

Julion listed off the names of medicinal herbs, causing Barmid to gasp in surprise.

 

Julion asked with a serious look on his face, “Do you know what these three herbs are?”

 

“No, Your Highness. Where did you hear about such complex herbs?”

 

“I’ll explain later. First, I want to know what these are and what effects they have.”

 

Julion looked uncharacteristically restless.

 

Dr. Barmid responded with a puzzled expression.

 

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊