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I confined myself in my room during my leisure time to study about a new method of paternity test.
If the results are easily obtained, this experiment wouldn’t be too difficult knowing that I have a little knowledge about the test.
Once I am confident about the herbs’ ratio in the paternity experiment test, I will go to Ferelmen to get additional herbs for more thorough research.
“Can you give me some etof petals?”
I had got all the herbs needed for the experiment thanks to Jenny. But I thought that I will try to get the etof petals by myself.
Because the petals could be used as a poison if it was consumed for a long time.
That is why I asked Ferelmen separately.
Besides, I was a newcomer and an outsider in the Cerseus Duchy. Of course one would be wary about my request.
“No.”
As in my expectation, Ferelmen refused firmly.
He was cold even when I was about to defend my own request.
“Now you have two options.”
“What is it?”
“Get lost right now and…”
But suddenly his eyes wavered. The Duchess was indeed wasn’t in a very good condition.
After the Duke died, the Duchess fell ill almost everyday. Erhan, who was the only child in the family, had a disease which was unknown. He was the only blood related to inherit the Cerseus Duchy.
“… Tell me your reason. But whatever it is, I will not believe it and will probably be wasting my time.”
Ferelmen liked me because I was smart and exceeded his expectations. But I couldn’t access the laboratory easily since he is wary of me.
Well it was natural for a doctor to provide good care for their patients. That’s why I don’t intend to waver in front of him and speak calmly.
I just have to give my all in this negotiation with Ferelmen.
“Then can you read my report first?”
I handed in a brief report that I had thoroughly arranged. His frowning face went hardened after reading the report’s title.
<Research on Simplifying the Paternity Test>
“As you can see from the content, you will have to combine the efron paste and sirica roots at 3:1 ration. Next, boil them in a flask for 80 hours before you add some etof petals …”
Ferelmen was examining the report while listening to my explanation. His eyes were focused on each text in all the pages.
“… We can also speed up the paternity test since the procedures are fairly simple.”
“Oh lord, how the hell did you..”
“I was trying to match the quantity of etof petals until the end of this experiment. But if you don’t trust me, you can try experimenting it yourself.”
Ferelmen seem to understand everything from just a simple report. It was quite a complicated and rough report, but he’s smart.
Yet, this smart man also failed to save Erhan. My shoulders were heavy with all the burdens.
“This research .. oh god.”
“Well yeah, I’m a genius.”
The combination of the herbs stated inside the reports was rare, but there is no need to explain further.
Instead, Ferelmen just shrugged his shoulders and said nothing.
“I just did some research because I thought it might be useful for you.”
He was blunt, cold and wasn’t really likeable. But if you take a closer look, he was just a pitiful person.
He lost his wife and his daughter. Plus, he lost his close friend and stayed in the Duchy because he felt guilty of the Duke’s death. His mental health wasn’t that good to the point I felt sorry for him.
Ferelmen couldn’t smile freely because he felt that he had nothing.
But his arrogant and stubborn personality were still natural though.
“I’m not doing this because of curiosity nor did I want any compensation.”
I said it calmly just to avoid any misunderstanding.
“You gave me your daughter’s room, so I just thought I wanted to help.”
Ferelman sighed as he put his palm on his forehead. He maybe thought that I wouldn’t know about his daughter’s incident.
“Oh…”
I wanted to get out naturally after seeing him like that. Well, I wasn’t expecting him to say sorry nor thank you for the research.
However, he couldn’t bear to look into my eyes and must be regretting his choice right now.
“If I was you, of course I wouldn’t give my assistant the etof petals carelessly.” (Lise)
I was trying to comfort him but I don’t think he will understand.
“Then get some rest. I will continue to work on this research.” (Lise)
“Well… I think we can get better results if we study it more seriously.” (Lise)
Please fall for it! Let me use your lab!
“Your daughter’s room is too cute to use as a research’s field. Oh, of course I really like the room.” (Lise)
I added just in case he tried to take away my cozy and comfortable room. Without wasting any time, I sprinted out from his office.
***
Ferelmen clicked his tongue once again as he read the report’s content that was written by Lise.
His previous assistants struggled to be closed to him. Indeed he was famous because of his medical skills throughout the continent. But unfortunately, he couldn’t keep researching due to the disappearance of his wife and child.
He was distracted because the Duchess asked him to stay. If it wasn’t because of his guilt, he wouldn’t choose to stay.
But Lise was different.
She was the youngest yet the most knowledgeable in the medical area. She didn’t act feeble and cute.
Lise showed her ability in her own way that made her different from his previous assistants.
Their thoughts were strangely similar and made them communicate more easily even though they weren’t close.
“Jenny.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Jenny was a maid who had been with him since he was born. Somehow it was a bit satisfying after seeing Jenny become attached towards Lise.
The Dukedom’s situation was bad since there were not enough people to be put in a certain area. Plus, the medical office had a very few workers.
But, a talented young child appeared at the right time.
It is true that Lise was an expert in medicine, but he couldn’t help but be wary of her existence.
“Have you seen anything fishy in the meantime?” (Ferelmen)
“Just…” (Jenny)
“There was a rather unusual day.” (Jenny)
“What is it?” (Ferelmen)
“She just wrote in her only notebook that she brought here since the first day. She fills it up while nursing the young master.” (Jenny)
Arga picked up the paper she gave Jenny and began to read it.
“Just in case, I’ve copied everything, but I don’t know what it means… surely, there was nothing out of the ordinary.” (Jenny)
“Ah.”
Arga frowned as he quickly looked at Jenny’s copy of the record.
Lise didn’t use any herb that could be dangerous. Also, she was trying all kinds of suitable treatments.
The records that she wrote were detailed and meticulous. She uses mana injection, which requires careful control with the right amount.
Arga unknowingly sighed and murmured at the record. He never felt relieved as he is right now.
“I think you can stop watching her.” (Ferelmen)
Her skills were not only good, but her records seem to be very detailed and organised.
The results were a success and couldn’t be made if Lise was not sincere in giving the prescription.
She tried all of these methods and pulled all nighters but didn’t report to me?
He felt that she wasn’t trying to show off but sincerely prescribed the medication for her patients.
He cleared his throat and spoke haughtily.
“Send Lise some cake. Please pass the message, Thank you. I’m sorry for being suspicious.” (Ferelmen)
As expected Jenny looked surprised as she hesitated while confused.
Ferelman turned his head away from her confused gaze and frowned.
“I have something to do. I don’t really care about her. Please don’t think about anything weird.” (Ferelmen)
“Uh… sure…” (Jenny)
“I still think that my daughter is my top priority. Even if Lise is using my daughter’s room, I don’t want to be particularly nice to her.” (Ferelmen)
“Of course, Sir.” (Jenny)
Jenny shook her head quickly.
“But, I don’t think you should give her a cake.” (Jenny)
“Then, what else?”
“Actually, yesterday the Duchess had sent her a huge strawberry cake.”
Ferelmen gasped as his mouth opened widely. He thought he heard wrongly but Jenny was definitely not joking.
“… What?”
Then he remembered that the Duchess asked about Lise’s favourite a few days ago.
He remembered that he said ‘something sweet’. Also, the pudding that they ate in the first formal lunch was sweet, so he thought she might really love sugary dishes.
So that’s the reason!
He unwittingly clasped his hand and frowned.
“I heard that madam had a headache at night. I guess she really liked how Lise had treated her.”
He caught a glimpse of the Duchess’ condition in Lise’s medical journal.
After considering proper prescription and mana injection, he just thought that the treatment was excellent and perfect.
Of course, putting in mana is a delicate task, but he was a little impressed that it made the Duchess satisfied.
“So a three-tier cake full of strawberry… no matter how sweet the cake I bought, she won’t be craving for it today.”
Ferelman’s expression became more serious.
Jenny was slightly surprised by the subsequent murmur.
“… I shouldn’t have thought about this.”
“What?”
“Jenny.”
Ferelman raised his glasses with a more serious look than ever.
“What else does Lise like? Find out.”
“But if you ask for it yourself…”
“She will misunderstand if I ask. Well, she would think I liked and favored her.”
“…” (tn: …)
“Find out. There must be something else that she likes more than cake.”
“I will follow your command, Sir.”
“Ah.”
Jenny was about to go out but Ferelman quickly called her.
“There is one more thing to be careful about.”
“Please speak.”
“Never let the Duchess know about this and keep it secure.” (tn: aww, he’s competing with isabel. welp i love family relationships)1
“…”
Jenny was going to say something, but she shook her head and just went out quietly after shaking her head.