14 — 3

Noel was making a potion in the laboratory.

(Unicorn horn, aqua regia, snowmelt water from Mount Dogui, opal. And then…)

What he was creating today was an order from the royal family.

Because the royal family was constantly exposed to various attacks, there were also potions they regularly used.

What he was making today was a potion taken once a week by royal family members under the age of twelve.

It was a potion specialized in three areas: counteracting poison, counteracting curses, and counteracting charm.

It was potion refinement in a field Noel excelled at, requiring delicate adjustment of magic power.

(This was a potion for Princess Anne, was it?)

What he was creating this time was a potion for Princess Anne, who was still only six years old.

If its effects were made too strong, it would become poisonous to the body. Truly delicate adjustment of magic power was required.

(The flavor should be sweet, and the fragrance gentle…)

Noel searched the shelf for a medicine extracted from violet essence.

(We are out…)

For that purpose, there was a dedicated greenhouse. And in the greenhouse, there was Beth.

Noel decided to go to the greenhouse to get violets.

Beth was absent from the greenhouse.

(It is wonderful no matter when I come here.)

Noel sighed.

In the greenhouse, the plants Noel had asked her to care for were growing in truly, truly splendid condition.

Every plant looked carefree and happy.

Recently, following Beth’s words that “the plants will be in better condition that way,” even birds and insects had been invited into the greenhouse, and just as she had said, it had produced splendid results.

(How mysterious.)

He found the violets he was looking for right away.

There was no need to appraise them.

Their roots and leaves were large, and the violets freely spread their petals as they pleased, looking truly happy.

When he cast a simple appraisal spell, they had indeed turned out to be S-class. Noel smiled.

Then, when he looked around, there was something unfamiliar in the center of the greenhouse.

It was a cloth-covered sofa.

And on top of that cloth-covered sofa, Rodney was dozing.

Lately, Rodney had complained of mental distress and always looked pale, but now he was drifting through the world of sleep on the sofa, looking truly happy.

Several pots had been lined up around the sofa.

Crystals had been hung from the greenhouse’s skylight, receiving the light and creating tiny rainbows. When the wind came in, the rainbows swayed, making the inside of this greenhouse seem just like heaven.

As Noel unconsciously took a deep breath, perhaps because he sensed the gaze on him, Rodney slowly woke from the world of sleep.

“Oh, is that you, Noel-sama?”

Rodney, who had woken up while scratching his head roughly, gave a huge yawn.

“Rodney, you are in the middle of work.”

Contrary to his words, Noel sat down beside Rodney with some relief.

From the cloth part where he had sat, the scent of medicine rose.

He remembered this scent. It was the same as the one in Naranda’s laboratory.

After giving a great yawn, Rodney turned to Noel.

“I’m glad. Truly, when I rest a little in this greenhouse, it feels as if my mind and body have both recovered completely.”

He had originally intended to leave as soon as he picked the violets, but to Noel, who suffered from severe insomnia and was exhausted by the heavy responsibilities of each day, Rodney’s words drew his interest.

“When my nerves are irritated or when I can’t sleep, this place really puts me back in order. The plants and animals here all stay healthy however they like, and it is truly soothing.”

A plump stray cat walked proudly in front of Rodney as if it owned the place.

Beside precious medicinal herbs that were being carefully cultivated, it was living quite luxuriously.

“Beth is a mysterious girl. When that girl takes something in hand, everyone can return to the original self they were born as. Only while I’m here, I feel as if I can safely return to my former self.”