Chapter 1 - This is a Drugstore, Not a Tea House

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Translated by: Miss Lassie

The weather brought about heavy rains that soaked the dry earth as Sophie placed the leftover tea inside the empty cabinet. Then she took a few herbs out of the hot steamer. She thought she closed all the doors and windows tightly, but the cold still lingered in the room. Sophie leaned back in her armchair, tightening the cardigan she was wearing.

She set up her drugstore with the money she stole. As a junior spiritist, she cultivated and protected the growth of her medicinal plants. Hence, she managed to set up a pretty good drugstore. She liked the tranquility and quietness of her place.

"Is the owner here? I need your help!" It was past midnight, and Sophie was cleaning up the drugstore when she heard a knock on the door.

'Is it an emergency patient?

She gained some medical knowledge when she started her business. Still, drugstore owners like her aren't allowed to administer immediate medical treatment, but first aid is possible depending on the circumstances. When she opened the door, she saw a blonde man soaked in the rain supporting a half-conscious man.

"He's bleeding a lot."

The blonde man assisting the injured man wore a suit made of the finest quality, indicating his high social status.

"We were in a hurry to go to the clinic, but it's still a far distance away from here, and we don't have much time."

"You made a wise choice stopping by here. Please come inside." They laid the patient on an extra bed in the drugstore.

"Silky." Sophie summoned her contract spirit.

"Please bring Dr. Ebrandt here."

Silky, a low-ranking earth spirit, quietly bowed and disappeared immediately.

"Fortunately, the patient is fine overall, but his injury is too big and wide." Sophie could tell by their clothes and swords that they were men of high social ranking, but she didn't ask any questions except the necessary ones for treatment. She didn't want to get involved in any incidents.

The patient's wound seemed to have been cut by a sharp blade. It looked like a clean cut. Fortunately, the largest blood vessel in his thigh wasn't damaged. Otherwise, he could've died of shock due to excessive bleeding. Before Dr. Ebrandt arrives, Sophie worked to stop the bleeding by applying pressure on the wounded area as much as possible.

"The towels are on top of the bookshelf in front of the greenhouse. Please use it to dry yourself." Sophie examined the man's injury and ran a list of the needed medications in her head.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do much but to stop the bleeding like this. But first, I'll give the patient a prescription list. I'll explain later..."

After apologizing, Sophie immediately went straight to the greenhouse and collected hemostatic agents and medicinal herbs for Dr. Ebrandt's surgery. With the amount of blood the patient has lost, time is of the utmost importance. She moved efficiently so as not to waste any more time.

"Ugh..."

Sophie tried to soothe the bleeding by applying a hemostatic agent on the wound. The patient was still clearly in pain even though he was unconscious. At times like this, it was frustrating that she wasn't a doctor. Even an owner of a drugstore is punishable by law if they perform surgery. Blood poured out of the wound and covered Sophie's face and clothes. A little while after, the bleeding seemed to have stabilized a bit.

"What's the patient's condition?" Dr. Ebrandt, who was staying at a nearby inn, quickly entered the drugstore.

"A cut on the thigh. The bleeding is severe."

"Goodness! We need to control the bleeding right away." Dr. Ebrandt immediately examined the patient's condition.

"I applied a hemostatic agent on the wound before you came."

"There may still be bleeding during the surgery, so stay with me."

"Of course."

Sophie ordered Silky, who was next to Dr. Ebrandt, to prepare some antiseptics and disinfectants for the operation. She continued to help Dr. Ebrandt to see if he needed any assistance. Fortunately, she administered first aid before he arrived, so the patient's condition wasn't all that critical. Dr. Ebrandt remained with the patient saying he will monitor his vital signs.

Luckily, his life wasn't in immediate danger anymore. Sophie left with a sigh of relief. The man sitting on the cot looked at her anxiously.

"We've stopped the bleeding. We'll keep an eye on the patient's progress for now."

"Oh, thank god."

The man thanked her and introduced himself as Arthur Clarfield. He was, as expected, a big shot.

Arthur Clarfield was the sole Duke of the empire, and the patient's name was Paul, his escort and lieutenant.

"I was so worried I might lose Paul, but I'm glad he's okay now.

Given that he brought his injured lieutenant to get treated in person, and he was courteous to the commoners, the Duke didn't seem to be a terrible person than she thought.

Sophie sat in the armchair and spoke to the Duke.

"We still have to monitor his health. There might be complications that we don't know of."

"Of course, I'll watch from the side."

Sophie pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped off the blood in her hands.

"Since you still have to wait until his condition stabilizes, please feel free to sleep here."

"...I have severe insomnia."

Arthur spoke casually, shrugging his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal. But his appearance says otherwise. His skin looked pale and rough, and there were dark circles underneath his eyes. He looked like a walking corpse, indicating his insomnia was quite severe. His beautiful face looked haggard because of his bloodshot eyes.

"Medication doesn't seem to work," Arthur said bitterly.

How severe is his insomnia for him to look like this? Sophie felt apologetic for his condition.

"So... how about having a cup of tea?"

"Tea?"

Sophie asked carefully.

"Sometimes, I offer tea to customers who stop by the drugstore using our medicinal herbs here."

"....."

"The weather is cold, and you got soaked in the rain. A cup of tea will warm you up.

"In that case, thank you then."

After the Duke accepted her offer, Sophie headed to the greenhouse in the drugstore.

[Sophie, are you looking for some herbs

The spirits in the greenhouse clung to Sophie and chatted noisily. They were children who chose to stay by Sophie's side even when she didn't make an official contract with them.

"Give me Hedelia."

[On it! We took care of Hedelia just now. It's in excellent condition!]

With the voices of the chatty spirits in the background, Sophie lightly glanced at the interior of the greenhouse. It was loud outside due to the heavy rain, but it's peaceful here inside. Sophie liked this kind of tranquility and quietness. After it enjoying it briefly, she brought Hedelia and some herbs with her.

'He said the medicine didn't work, but...'

She prepared herbs for Arthur's insomnia, who was desperate for sleep. She crushed them into small pieces and made them into a sweet tea that he could enjoy.

"It smells good. Thank you for the drink."

Fortunately, Arthur liked the tea. Sophie usually served customers and patients with a medicinal tea. They were herbs grown and cultivated by the power of the spirits.

'Its efficacy is better than I thought.'

Patients with colds and severe pain said that drinking Sophie's medicinal tea made them feel a lot better. Of course, she didn't believe them. She thought they were just polite.

"The rain is slowing down."

The blazing fire in the fireplace enveloped Arthur and Sophie's cold bodies. She sipped tea next to him as the heat cooled down their body temperatures.

It always feels good to drink tea in front of the fireplace on a cold rainy day.

"I've called for a carriage. It will arrive soon," Arthur said.

"Can I take Paul with me?"

"Maybe it's a good idea. It might be better for him to recuperate in your place.

There are many far more outstanding doctors and pharmacists in the Duke's estate. Sophie thought that Paul might recover quickly in their care.

Shortly afterward, the carriage arrived to pick up Arthur and Paul. Sophie had never seen such a splendid and beautiful carriage in her life. It was more like a work of art than someone's transportation.

"Thank you for treating Paul."

Arthur politely thanked Dr. Ebrandt and Sophie. She couldn't believe that he was such a kindhearted person for someone of his rank.

'This country is still worth living in,' Sophie thought.

"And thank you for the tea."

"You're welcome."

Sophie answered the young man with a bit of curtsy. She liked him because of how humble he was even when he was a duke.

"I hope that Paul regains his health."

Dr. Ebrandt was surprised that the patient he cared for was the Duke's lieutenant. He was too focused on treating him that he didn't even notice the clothes he was wearing.

"Goodbye, then."

Even to the end, Arthur was still courteous to Sophie and Dr. Ebrandt as he made his way inside the carriage.

'I can't believe I saw the Duke today.'

It was surreal.

She was sure that they won't ever see each other again.

The Duke was indeed a handsome man. Sophie shrugged her shoulders, knowing that she won't see him again in the future.

It wasn't long before Sophie saw Arthur again. He went back to her drugstore.

"How on earth did you do it?"

"...What do you mean?"

Arthur showed up unexpectedly and was in disbelief.

"My health is messed up because of a curse."

"....."

"It was because of it that I was suffering from insomnia.

Sophie didn't press any further.

"No medicine has ever cured me."

Surprisingly, Duke Arthur Clarfield, who has chronic insomnia, said that he slept soundly in the carriage ride back to his residence. He still didn't wake up even when he arrived at his estate, so the servants had to move him to his room.

"What the hell did you do?"

She felt pressured to answer.

"Did you use magic to put me to sleep?"

"...I just served you tea."

She said in a calm voice.