The Villainess' Ending Was Death

When they arrived in front of Lord Barrett, Daisy standing next to him had a shy expression on her face. The rims of the lord’s eyes were red, which did not match his cold face.

 

‘Oh my god. I guess he cried.’

 

It seemed like he was shocked by his daughter’s run away from home. Daisy, on the other hand, had reconciled with her father and was smiling brightly, like any girl her age would. The moment Fresa smiled at Daisy, the lord opened his lips.

 

“Thank you for finding my daughter, but…”

 

Usually, sentences that started with the word ‘but’ wee always bad.

 

“I heard that you met my daughter and gave her a strange ointment.”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

She was slightly offended by the expression ‘strange ointment’, but she couldn’t argue with the lord and nodded her head.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Lord Barrett looked Fresa up and down and whispered to Albert.

 

‘Whispering in front of the other person.’

 

Fresa felt uncomfortable, but Albert conveys the lord’s words.

 

“I was curious about what the connection was. It may have been approved, but it may contain dangerous ingredients.”

 

‘Ah, that’s what it was about.’

 

But he couldn’t help but be suspicious that his precious daughter had taken medicine given to her by someone else.

 

“No special herbs were used, my lord. I used herbs available in this village. I’m putting it on right now too.”

 

Fresa explained honestly, reaching into her sleeve and pulling out her bottle of ointment. Nevertheless, Albert and Lord Barrett did not withdraw their suspicions. After all, there was only one way. Fresa opened the ointment container and poured out a generous amount of the ointment. Then she rubbed it on the backs of her hands and arms, which were hot from the sun. The eyes of the lord, Albert, and the knights were all fixed on her slender arms. She finished by patting on hes skin and allowing it to absorb.

 

“The cause of your daughter’s skin disease is the sun. The symptoms get worse when the sun is hot like now. This ointment helps relieve symptoms by lowering the temperature of the skin.”

 

“Sunshine.”

 

The lord frowned and muttered. This was tantamount to saying that one should not bask in the sun in Paro Village, where the weather was sunny all year round.

 

“Then I can’t see sunlight from now on?”

 

Daisy made a sullen expression.

 

“It would be better for her to hold back as much as possible, but she can’t live like that forever. I plan to develop not only medications that can be applied but also medications that can be taken, of course…”

 

Fresa stared at Lord Barrett with her clear eyes. The lord looked at her with the tip of his chin slightly erect, as if telling her to continue speaking. So Fresa smiled and continued.

 

“If the lord gives permission.”

 

The opportunity presents itself, so she seizes it. That was the only thought in Fresa’s mind. She meets the lord’s daughter Daisy by chance. And the ointment was offered as a light favor. It was a rare opportunity for her to stand in front of the lord in person and explain the medicine she had developed. This was all achieved by Fresa coming here.

 

Fresa exchanged glances with the sharp Lord Barrett for a long time. The lord thought for a moment, and then he softly asked a question.

 

“Is this really a homemade ointment?”

 

“Yes, my lord. I am growing medicinal herbs in my garden. There are quite a few types. There are also basic medicines that have already been made.”

 

As soon as Fresa answered, the lord glanced at Daisy. He looked at Daisy with her hands clasped in front of her heart and her bright eyes shining. He could feel the earnest desire filling her eyes. The lord shook his head and then stared at Fresa again.

 

“My daughter’s skin has definitely improved significantly since applying that ointment.”

 

Fortunately, the response was positive. Fresa sighed inwardly in relief. The lord continued speaking.

 

“As you know, there are no drugstores or apothecaries in this town. So even if I buy simple medicine, I have to visit a nearby city.”

 

Fresa only nodded her head without interrupting the lord’s words. The lord exchanged glances with Albert and finally granted Fresa’s wish.

 

“If you are really confident, could you run a pharmacy in this town? I also want you to develop a medicine to treat my daughter’s illness. I will provide sufficient support.”

 

“Thank you, my lord.”

 

Fresa smiled brightly and readily accepted the lord’s request.

 

Daisy mouthed ‘Thank you!’.

 

* * *

 

Lycaon watched the lord and Fresa from a distance. If necessary, he intended to reveal his identity and save Fresa. However, not long after, Fresa returned, even with a satisfied smile on her face. Lycaon slowly became curious about what happened to her. But Fresa looked even more surprised that he was still waiting.

 

“Mr. Lycaon, are you waiting for me?”

 

“I think you may have gotten caught up in something bad.”

 

He didn’t say she was worried. He just couldn’t get it out of his mouth. Fresa looked at Lycaon with her characteristic questioning gaze. Lycaon’s gaze made the back of her neck get hot and she rubbed it with her hand.

 

“What happened?”

 

Fresa answered as she walked forward.

 

“I received a pharmacy license.”

 

“Apothecary?”

 

He knew that Fresa grew medicinal herbs, but she suddenly said that it was a pharmacy. Lycaon remembered Fresa’s ointment. A unique ointment that provides cooling and sun protection when applied. The situation was immediately understood. It was Lycaon who brought the news that the lord’s daughter was suffering from a skin disease.

 

“Good for you.”

 

Lycaon was not surprised at the fact that Fresa Thorpe had this ability. Because he had never seen such firm eyes before, he assumed that they were hiding something. Besides, if she had the courage to fake her death and come all the way to this remote village, Fresa would have done anything.

 

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

 

He’s going to die soon anyway, so wouldn’t this level of enjoyment be okay? Lycaon looked down at Fresa’s hair, shaking like lilac in the wind. Fresa, who was walking only in front of her, stopped walking right before her. And she looked straight at Lycaon and asked back.

 

“Mr. Lycaon, do you have any talent for gathering?”

 

“Gathering?”

 

Lycaon was momentarily taken aback by the sudden question, but soon calmed down. His memories of being isolated during the war and surviving on edible plants came to mind.

 

“Sure. I’m very confident.”

 

“Great. In that case, I will hire Mr. Lycaon as an employee.”

 

“This suddenly?”

 

“You said you wanted to help?”

 

Fresa waited for Lycaon’s answer with her silent eyes.

 

‘Employee, employee.’

 

To Lycaon, who was running away and looking for a place to hide, every word Fresa said was refreshing. How would Fresa react if she found out who he was? In fact, what kind of expression would she make if he told her that he had already discovered Fresa’s identity? Curiosity arose, but Lycaon suppressed it. It wasn’t time to explode yet.

 

A sudden wind blew fiercely past the wheat field. Lycaon responded by holding Fresa’s straw hat tightly to prevent it from flying off.

 

“However much.”

 

* * *

 

The rumor that a neighbor who had just moved in was opening a pharmacy quickly spread. It was a small town, so it was natural. Moreover, it happened at a festival where many people gathered, and there was news that they were making a cure for the skin disease that the lord’s daughter suffered from. Instead of attending the festival, Fresa was busy preparing for the opening of the pharmacy. She did not bother to look for a new building, but instead turned the first floor of his house into a pharmacy. All she needed was a medicine cabinet and a counter, so there was no need to spend extravagantly. At the entrance was a wooden sign that read “Resa’s Pharmacy.” From then on, material supply took priority. In addition to the herbs grown in the garden, she also needed some herbs that only grow in the forest. So today, Fresa went directly into the forest carrying a basket with Lycaon, a pharmacy employee. There was no light in the dense tree forest except for the sunlight coming through the gaps in the branches. Because the risk of encountering wild animals was high, we had to return before late at night. Although Lycaon had been explained in advance what herbs to dig up, he still felt very uneasy. Fresa, who had been scanning the forest path for a while, stopped at a certain point.

 

“Mr. Lycaon, these are the herbs we will call today. It’s name is Kachi.”

 

Lycaon, who had been standing a couple of steps away, finally came closer and bowed. In the place Fresa pointed out, cute herbs were growing sparsely.

 

“It’s a herb that’s great for diarrhea, but since it only grows in the summer, we have to dig up a lot of it now.”

 

After adding an explanation, Fresa lowered her body and started digging up herbs. Lycaon still stood silently, as if he had no idea what to do. Fresa, who had been concentrating on collecting for a while, looked back at him.

 

“Why are you like that?”

 

“First… This is my first time using a hoe. How should I dig it up?”

 

He tried using a sword.

 

A small murmur followed. Fresa once again remembered that Lycaon was a master who seemed to have never done anything like this. She hired him as an employee because she was in a hurry, but she should have taught him the basics first. Fortunately, the hoe was not a difficult tool to use. Of course, some level of force control was necessary to avoid damaging the herbs.

 

“Now, here. To avoid damaging the roots, just dig up the nearby area and take it out. The roots aren’t that deep, so don’t dig too hard.”

 

“All right.”

 

Lycaon, who responded with a somewhat determined expression, squatted down and started hoeing. Fresa watched with deep concern as to whether he would destroy all the herbs.

 

‘I’m not sure if he understood correctly.’

 

Fortunately, Lycaon was quite good at hoeing. Several herbs with very strong roots were safely dug up. As soon as Fresa finished gathering herbs, she patted Lycaon on the shoulder and praised him.

 

“Well done.”

 

“This is easy.”

 

Lycaon grinned and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

 

“It’s surprisingly fun, gathering herbs.”

 

A person who didn’t even know how to use a hoe until a little while ago was really shameless. However, since now it was time to lend a hand at least to a child, Fresa could only say one more thing that he did well. The two gathered a few more herbs and then prepared to leave the forest. Fresa’s basket was full of fresh herbs.

 

After washing her mud-covered hands in a nearby stream, the sun had already set below the ridge. It was just before going down.

 

“Now home…”

 

The moment Fresa started to hurry, Lycaon grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him.

 

“Mr. Lycaon!”

 

Lycaon murmured, not even surprised Fresa by the sudden hug.

 

“It’s cold…”

 

Only then did Presa realize that Lycaon’s body was as hot as a fireball. Moreover, his face was pale. He moaned as if Lycaon was in pain.

 

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