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nHalf was for the Emperor’s safety, and the other half was to relieve his curiosity and unpleasant feelings.

n“I didn’t know I would be caught…”

nVellian sighed as he walked slowly along Astelle’s side.

nAstelle smiled calmly as she faced such a Vellian.

n“I wanted to help Sir Vellian not be in trouble, and later I also wanted to get help from Sir Vellian.”

nIn short, it meant that I would use it later if necessary things happen.

n“I think it would be better to just talk to His Majesty.”

n“Then can I tell him now?”

n“… No! I can help you, Lady.”

nVellian looked really frustrated. He sighed and turned his body.

n“Come this way.”

nThe two went together to the back door of the castle.

nWhen I went to the back of the castle along the winding little road, a forest surrounded by a barny stone wall came out.

nThis forest was said to be a hunting ground owned by the inn Manager.

n“There is a field in which herbs are grown if we go deeper.”

nThe two passed the entrance to the forest and stepped inside.

nFrom the entrance of the forest, medicinal herbs were seen every step of the way.

nAll kinds of medicinal herbs were filled among the big trees.

nAlong the small forest path, colorful flowers and versatile leaves of grass grow densely.

nSeeing that herbs are grown in Manager’s forest, the old pharmacist seems to have been hired by the Manager.

nThere are also herbs that cannot be grown in ordinary fields.

nIt would be better to cultivate it after setting a separate area in the forest.

n“The pharmacist said that the ones that are not here are kept separately. Write down the name of the herb you need and I’ll bring it to you.”

n“I think this is enough.”

nEven if I looked at it, it seemed that there were all the herbs I needed.

nAstelle took a basket and went across the herbs.

n“There are nine medicinal herbs that I am looking for, and the easiest one to find is a small white flower that blooms on a short stem the size of two fingers. There are small stripes on the end of the petals and the ends are split. The next easiest thing to find is…”

nAs I walked down the street, I slowly explained the characteristics of the herb to Vellian who follows me.

nI didn’t think he could find it if I told him the difficult herbs, so I told him only what was easy as possible, but Vellian asked back in a shocked voice.

n“Do I have to find it too?”

nAstelle stopped and turned to him.

n“Then are you going to be just watching?”

n“……”

nAt Astelle’s question, Vellian stopped with a stupid expression.

nHis gaze turned to the grass that sprouted on the dirt floor.

nHis clean face was wrinkled.

nIt looks like he really hates touching the grass in the soil.

nWho would like to touch the dirt?

nStill, it would be a gentleman’s virtue to come out to help a lady in this situation.

nVellian muttered pathetically looking at Astelle.

n“I… I have never touched such a grass… no, medicinal herbs.”

nWhen they were young, the masters of large noble families used to play grass in the garden.

nAlthough this Count is not from a prestigious family, he seems to have grown up very precious.

n‘It seemed like that.’

nAmong the relatives, there was a relative younger brother who was the only child of a prestigious family and grew up with the love of adults in the family.

nHe couldn’t even wear clothes alone unless someone helped him.

nIt was cute that he was still alive.

nAnyway, I thought such a reaction would come out.

nSo I deliberately pointed out Vellian as a guide.

nIf it were Lyndon or any other knight, Astelle had not needed to find medicinal herbs herself.

nWhile Astelle is looking for herbs to make a cure for fever, she has to find herbs that can be used in eye drops.

nAstelle replied vaguely.

n“Then it’s good to have this opportunity to experience it because it will be an unusual experience.”

n“……”

n“Here is the Gurren grass. It is easy to collect because you just need to take it out of the roots. Try it out.”

nVellian stood up with an ‘unfair’ expression, then sighed and approached it.

n“Yes, I see. If this makes Lady Astelle feel relieved, then…”

nIt seems that Astelle has a grudge and harassing him.

n‘I’m not trying to bother you on purpose.’

nTo avoid vain suspicion, it was necessary to divert Vellian’s gaze.

nAstelle looked at Vellian, pretending to go the other way.

nVellian barely pulled out the herbs with one hand, but when the moist soil got on her fingertips, he was shocked and wiped it off with a handkerchief.

nHe didn’t even care which way Astelle was going because he was concentrating on brushing the dirt off.

nAstelle went through the grass and looked for medicinal herbs.

nShe picked only the herbs she needed and carefully placed them in a basket.

nIt was about sunset somehow.

nOn the forest road at sunset, there was a cool evening air.

nThe cool breeze passing through my neck cools my skin from the heat.

nWhenever I breathed, there was a smell of moist grass and sour soil.

nI passed near the large birch tree and was amazed.

nI heard a stepping sound from the entrance side.

nIt seemed that someone was approaching this way.

nA few steps away, Vellian, who had squatted and searched the grass, stood up in a hurry.

n“Your Majesty!”

nAs I turned in surprise, I saw a familiar person in the distance.

n“Astelle.”

nIt was Kaizen.

nHe looked at Astelle’s surprised face and asked a little displeased.

n“Why are you so surprised? Did I get in the way?”

n“… No, Your Majesty.”

nOf course, it was very disturbing, but I couldn’t be honest with it.

nAt the moment, all my nerves were focused on the herb basket holding in one hand.

nIn addition to the medicinal herbs to put in the cure for fever, there were also medicinal herbs to change the color of the eyes.

nAstelle suppressed the rising anxiety.

n‘It will be fine. Anyway, Kaizen is also a stranger to medicinal herbs.’

nAstelle grabbed the herb basket and asked with a natural expression as much as possible.

n“Your Majesty, what are you doing here?”

nI thought he would have gone back to the main building.

nShe reported the illness to him and decided how to deal with it.

nThere was no more talk with Kaizen.

nThe business is over, but why did you follow this far?

n“I came to help you. The forest is dangerous.”

n“This is a nice place, just a few minutes walk from the castle.”

nThis place doesn’t seem close to the castle, but the emperor’s soldiers will take turns looking around and monitoring from the border of the village to the forest.

nThere could be no dangerous thing to happen. But Kaizen disagreed.

n“Still, it’s dangerous to be alone.”

n“Vellian is with me.”

n“Do you think he will help if there is an emergency?”

nVellian looked at this side with a sad expression at his lord’s relentless evaluation, but Kaizen did not pay attention to him.

nWell… assuming that if I met a robber or a wild beast, Velian is unlikely to be of great help.

nBut for Astelle, that wasn’t a big risk.

nThe most dangerous thing was to discover Theor’s identity to Kaizen.

n‘It is most dangerous to be with the Emperor now.’

nShe wanted to say so.

nWithout knowing such a feeling, Kaizen continued to say.

n“I told you to arrange your room and prepare Theor’s room as well. I waited because I thought you would be back soon, but no matter how much I waited, you didn’t come.”

n“Thank you for caring for me.”

nKaizen said while looking at Astelle’s basket of herbs.

n“I can help too.”

nWhat else does this mean?

n“Thank you, but Your Majesty, it is enough because Sir Vellian is also helping…”

n“If there was even one more person helping, wouldn’t you find the herbs faster?”

nKaizen looked around and asked.

n“What are you looking for? I’ll find it.”

nAstelle tried to refuse that she was okay and swallowed the dry saliva.

nIt was a good way to think about it.

nIf there are three people who are looking for the herbs, then it will be faster.

nWhen I found all the herbs, I could go back to the castle and fall apart from Kaizen.

nAfter Astelle checked the basket, she explained to Kaizen some herbs to look for.

n“There are four herbs left. The easiest to find is the white flower…”

nI repeated the same explanation as I gave to Vellian.

nVellian was still looking for the Gurren grass that Astelle had picked up already.

nShe was thinking of letting Kaizen find a white flower.

nKaizen listened carefully to Astelle’s explanation, and he looked around quite seriously and found the herb.

n‘It will be fine.’

nAstelle went around the forest at a certain distance from Kaizen and looked for medicinal herbs.

nShe planned to find everything she needed and return as soon as possible.

nThe sunset soaked through the branches of the tree soaring high in the sky.

nWhen I raised my head for a moment, I saw dark blue leaves that were half-covering the scarlet sky.

n“Astelle.”

nKaizen, looking down at the weeds from a few steps away, called Astelle.

n“Is this the flower you mentioned?”

n“Did you find it?”

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