Translator and Editor: Lily and Nabi

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Chapter 21 – The Beginning Of Blue Is Surprisingly Ordinary

Hentel and Sierra entered the venue of the Pharmacology Symposium.

‘I can’t believe I’m going to participate in the Imperial Pharmacology Symposium… And as an assistant at that.”’

“Don’t be too nervous.”

“Ah, yes.”

Contrary to her expectations, she didn’t feel much tension, only anticipation for which topics the world-class scholars would discuss.

Under the veiled hat, Sierra’s eyes sparkled. The ornate hall resembled an ordinary event hall, similar up to when the servants handed her hot food, simple desserts, and a choice between sweet or bitter wine.

However, instead of a ballroom, there was a podium for academic presentations, and there was a distinct scholarly atmosphere where people gathered and talked in groups in the light of elegant chandeliers.

“Oh, Mr. Hentel!”

“Wow, a big name is here! Mr. Hentel, is this your assistant next to you?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

They had a pleasant conversation about newly established concepts in medicine and pharmacology.

“These days, treatment using magical medicine is more popular than directly contact to the affected area.”

Sierra listened to the exciting conversation, and her palms started to sweat.

‘Here’s a talented pharmacist!’

…But for now, since she was hiding her identity, she couldn’t say anything yet.

Placards hung all over the place. Pioneers of medicinal papers discussed their ideas freely.

‘The capital really is a different world…’

Sierra, of course, did not think she was inferior to the wise people here. She listened to people as she looked around.

“When I put in the bean base syrup, it showed a dramatic efficacy for treating colds.”

“Oh, is that the subject of this study?”

Chewing on a sweet piece of candy, Sierra listened to their conversation.

“Hmm…”

Bean base syrup?

She thought the scholars were wrong too.

‘That’s no good,’ she thought, but she didn’t speak. There was no reason to bring attention to herself.

The famous scholars with whom Hentel had a passionate conversation with soon left.

“What did you think of that conversation?” he asked her carefully, the first words he’d said to her in a while.

“What was it about, exactly?”

“A potion that relieves the symptoms of a cold.”

“It’d be better to remove the bean base syrup. It has components that cause runny noses in chronic rhinitis patients.”

“…That’s― correct. Did you learn about it yourself?”

“Yes.” Sierra’s grin was one that said that that was no big deal.

“If you want to make a potion without those side effects, you can use tarantha leaves, a paste similar to bean base syrup.”

Hentel was surprised.

She wasn’t sure yet since she’d have to experiment more. Still, it was surprising to see her speak confidently without being intimidated by the scholar’s opinion.

While she did add that she had to experiment more, it was still surprising to see her speak confidently without being intimidated by the other scholar’s opinion. How did this smart woman end up giving birth to Duke Idios’ child and suffering the humiliation of a paternity test?

Sierra sensed the tense mood.

‘It’s really no big deal, so what’s wrong with him?’

***

After a simple ceremony, the symposium began in earnest. Numerous announcements followed the introduction.

Sierra was interested in the presentations that were a culmination of many years of scholastic research. However, there were still some parts that frustrated her, much like before.

“It’s a magical potion for soldiers suffering from post-war depression.”

Sierra’s eyes sparked.

“Of course, there is no way to positively change temporary depression without side effects, so let’s turn this challenge over to future researchers.”

Sierra, inwardly shaking her head, clenched her fist.

‘Temporary depression is when you grind the cynthia leaves and take it as a depressant. As for post-war depression, a deeper approach must be taken, but isn’t it too serious to describe as a challenge?’

‘But it’s still a lot of fun!’

A short recess was announced, so Sierra stepped into the washroom to quickly wash her hands.

But when she went out, there was a man in the hallway staring intensely at her.

He was looking at Sierra with an intense gaze.

“My lady.”

Looking at him closely, she supposed he was quite handsome, but she had grown immune to such things thanks to Cassius. Sierra was momentarily stunned, but regained her composure easily.

“I’m no lady.”

The man who blocked Sierra’s way, Ijel, raised one eyebrow.

“More than that…”

Dewy eyes, a deep voice.

Ijel smiled lazily, recalling her appealing beauty.

“I’m curious about my lady’s name.”

What will Sierra say?

What would she say? After doing some research, he was confident that he would get to her easily. Would she be embarrassed? Would she tell him her real name, or a fake name?

When he saw her wearing a veiled hat, he had assumed she would make up a name. But she just laughed.

“I’m not a lady. Who are you?”

She was definitely fiercer than she looked. As the situation wasn’t going according to plan, Ijel gave a simple answer.

“I’m a doctor.”

Of course, that was a lie.

Sierra nodded. At this point, it was better to just answer vaguely.

“You must be tired from participating in the symposium,” she began, changing the flow of conversation

While Ijel was speechless for a moment, she searched the inside pocket of her dress and pulled out a vial.

“It’s a good remedy for fatigue. Take it.”

She looked like a gazelle, but she acted as if she was the one on the hunt.

The interruption in the flow of conversation had everything going wrong.

Sierra held out her hand. “The price is five gold.”

“Five…”

It was expensive, especially for such a small amount. Far too much to pay this woman, whom he wasn’t sure was even a certified pharmacist. She had guts.

It was too much to pay a woman who he didn’t even know was a certified pharmacist or not. However, Sierra’s attitude had some nerve.

Ijel smiled boldly. “If you tell me your name, I’ll pay you.”

Sierra shrugged and tried to take the bottle from his hand.

“That’s not possible. I’m afraid you can’t be my first customer from the capital.”

Ijel’s expression changed, unused to rejection.

That’s strange.

In the Tomseun area, it was possible to survive without a meal for more than ten years.

However, he quickly realized that Sierra would not budge from her opinion. Ijel reached into the inner pocket of his suit and took out five gold.

“I hope it’s good for its price.”

She received the money with a smile as she put them in her pocket. He could see her seemingly loosening up behind her veiled hat.

“Of course. Well, goodbye.”

He stared at her back as she left, leaning against the wall with a small smile.

“Huh.”

She was a wonderful woman. Her gentle appearance belied her strong personality.

“So my face doesn’t work on her, does it?”

He couldn’t quite figure out what kind of woman Sierra was.

The information he gathered said she was a woman with a weak and delicate expression, a gentle tone, but she was unexpectedly sharp in person.

‘How confusing.’

He grabbed Sierra’s fatigue remedy with his thumb and index finger and shook it several times. Medicine, resembling red wine, that did not bubble no matter how much he shook it.

‘How attractive…’ Ijel thought, feeling a slight sense of thirst.

He took a sip. Unlike other potions, Sierra’s fatigue remedy was sweet. His tense muscles relaxed immediately, and a refreshing sensation flowed through his body.

It was a pleasant feeling, like floating on fluffy clouds.

He stared at the spot where Sierra had already disappeared.

The princess wanted to be the Duchess of Idios. However, despite the emperor’s insistence, Duke Cassius Idios remained impassive. According to his information, the reason was that woman, Sierra.

‘The princess must be anxious.’

Ijel stood up properly. There was nothing left for him to do there.

***

Meanwhile, Cassius was secretly meeting with a lobbyist. The lobbyist he was meeting now was a person who was closely involved in the legislation in the Imperial Palace.

Until recently, he thought Sierra had left. He built a mansion for her but did not directly interfere with the law. His only focus was to find her. But now, after witnessing her being dismissed by others, he wanted better for her. Cassius was going to strengthen Sierra’s position in society, give her everything so that she wouldn’t want to leave him again.

‘The first thing I need to do is alter the marriage law.’

In his head, the pieces fell into place one by one. Under the current imperial law, Sierra and him weren’t allowed to wed. So first, he planned to change that law so that they could legally marry.

‘I doubt Sierra will accept me again, but…’

A painful expression crossed his face. No matter, he had been able to endure it for five years. Furthermore, Sierra was currently living in his estate.

There was nothing to be disturbed or frightened about.

“It’s good to see you, Your Grace.”

Paoben was a Supreme Court justice-turned-lobbyist, credited with influencing and changing more than ten laws. Cassius and the old gentleman sat face to face at a table in a secret room.

Sitting face to face at a table in the secret room of Paoben’s, who was an old gentleman, Cassius nodded.

“Did you call for me? This isn’t a prank or anything, is it?”

Cassius clasped his hands, staring into the enemy’s eyes and his white beard. He didn’t care much about elegant speech nor about social gatherings, so he spoke bluntly.

“Yes, that’s right. I want to change the current marriage law for the nobility.”

“…Are you trying to break that law, Your Grace? In what way…”

“At the moment, an adopted daughter of a noble can’t marry another noble if they were originally a commoner.”

If Sierra accepted his proposal, he wanted to take her as his wife. However, under imperial law, even if she was adopted as a noble family’s foster daughter, her origin as a commoner wouldn’t disappear. This system was established during the reign of the emperor with the aim of protecting the lineage of the nobility.

“Yes, but by any chance…”

Facing Cassius’ gaze, Paoben, the most capable lobbyist in the empire, widened his eyes.

“This is too much, even for me.”

It didn’t matter if it was a different law.

This particular one was a directive from the emperor himself. Furthermore, it was obvious that many would oppose this change as power was consolidated because of the noble lineage.

Cassius tapped the table with his index finger a few times. “How much would you need to do it?”

“How much exactly do you need?”

Paoben could see in Cassius’ eyes a sharp conviction. This man would never back down.

“…No matter how much money you have, it’s impossible to shake the roots of a noble.”

“I’ll ask again. How much would you need to do it?”

In the secret room, their intense gazes met.

The battle of wills in that secret room became the beginning of a revision of the marriage law that would change the history of the empire.

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