Chapter 6

While we were doing this, the meal ended, and I was even treated to tea after the meal.

The tea that Lord Neil had prepared was a light brown color, and when I took a sip, it had a refreshing and nostalgic grassy aroma.

"! Is this horsetail tea?"

"…You recognized it well."

I nodded at Lord Neil's surprised face.

Horsetail is a weed that grows everywhere from spring to the end of autumn. Of course, it grows near my private field in the Olcott family estate.

It is a wonderful herb that can be taken freely without any effort or cost and has various medicinal effects.

"My home, the Harvey family estate in Donovan, has poor soil that does not yield crops. Since this grass grows even in such places, the people in the region drink it casually."

"Then, this tea must be a special one for you, Lord Neil, evoking nostalgia."

A grass that can be taken freely even in barren land is truly a plant blessed by the gods.

"Really, it's a wonderful plant. It can stop bleeding, heal fractures, and reduce swelling. When dried, it can soothe coughs, and when boiled, it can treat skin diseases..."

"…I didn’t know you had the knowledge of a pharmacist."

As I began to speak without realizing it, Claude looked surprised.

I was startled. I was worried that this might make them seriously believe the body swap. However, after a moment of thought, Claude nodded in agreement.

"…I see. One of your tutors was from a family of pharmacists, wasn’t he?"

"Ah, that makes sense."

Lord Neil, who had been puzzled, also nodded at Claude's words. After a brief pause, his face darkened slightly.

"Speaking of pharmacists, there has been a troublesome disease spreading in my territory recently..."

Lord Neil began to talk about a disease that had been spreading among some of the commoners in Donovan for about half a year.

It seems to affect only young people who are sensitive to trends, causing loss of appetite, severe fatigue, and numbness in the limbs. In severe cases, people have difficulty walking and cannot stand steadily.

"Since it only affects young people, my father, the lord, doesn’t take it seriously, thinking it’s just some bad habit. However, the doctors say they have never seen such symptoms, so it’s quite unsettling."

One disease came to mind when Lord Neil spoke.

"Although I haven’t seen the patients directly, I can’t be certain, but... do these young people often consume white bread and horsetail tea?"

"Huh?"

"This white bread, which has become widely consumed among the commoners in the past year, is different from the dark, hard bread they used to eat. Eating only this bread can make one more susceptible to illness, especially when combined with horsetail."

"White bread that makes one more susceptible to illness?"

Confused, I quickly added, "There’s no problem if it’s eaten with various ingredients like meat and vegetables, as it is served in this tower."

"It seems to be in the early stages. I believe that eating more of the old dark bread, pork, or whole grains will certainly improve their condition. Since it’s a disease commonly seen in the eastern countries, it might be best to consult a doctor who is knowledgeable about dietary therapy..."

"I see..."

After thinking for a moment, Lord Neil said, "—You’re right. I’ll arrange for a doctor. And I’ll also consider your dietary suggestions."

"However, I’m surprised. If this is true, you might be more suited to being a pharmacist than a duchess."

I am a pharmacist.

Feeling a mix of wanting to say it and not wanting to, I smiled ambiguously.

◇

The two of them prepared to leave and stood in front of the door to exit the room.

Lord Neil said, "Thank you for everything today."

"If you don’t mind, let’s have a meal together again. If Claude allows it."

"! I would love to..."

I quickly glanced at Claude, who had a stern expression. I realized it was impossible.

After all, this was a prison. It was only natural to think so.

Perhaps to cover for my slightly drooping shoulders, Lord Neil spoke again.

"By the way, you seemed to really enjoy that soup. Should I ask for it to be on the menu again?"

"Really!?"

"Of course. Do you have any other favorite foods?"

I never thought I could request specific foods. Touched by Lord Neil’s kind words, I placed my hand on my mouth and thought seriously.

To be honest, I had never had the concept of favorite foods before.

The food I received at the Olcott family estate was barely edible, so I never paid much attention to the taste.

—But.

A distant memory resurfaced.

The sweet taste I was allowed to lick from a pot of boiled herbs.

"Um... I like honey. It’s sweet."

"Honey?"

Surprised by the puzzled expressions of the two, I realized something.

Honey is expensive. According to a conversation I overheard from the servants, a bottle of honey could buy twenty loaves of bread. Twenty meals. Asking for it as a free favor seemed too greedy.

"A, but, I just thought of it on the spot when asked about my favorite... I don’t have any likes or dislikes, so your thoughtfulness is enough! Just the soup is fine!"

Despite my hurried explanation, the two looked at me with indescribable expressions.

Regretting my extra words, I sighed as I saw them off.

◇◇

"Honey, huh..."

As soon as we left Violet’s room, Neil muttered.

"She’s definitely a different person."

"She’s the same person."

Suppressing the urge to agree with Neil, Claude said. Neil frowned and said, "No, but..."

"‘Flowers that only wither and die are not suitable for me—what a lack of taste, I’m disappointed.’ That’s what she said when she threw the honey in front of the Duke of Elford’s daughter, who was sick with a cold, when the prince brought it as a get-well gift."

"…Ah."

He remembered that well. The frozen atmosphere at that time was something he didn’t want to recall.

"She said her body might have been swapped, right? I’m almost starting to believe it."

"I also asked the royal court’s magicians if such a magic spell exists. The answer was that it’s impossible."

"Right, that makes sense."

Neil shrugged.

"She looked so different that even I felt a bit guilty. She didn’t react at all to my rude provocations and probing, and it seemed like she was answering without even realizing it."

Sighing, Neil said, and Claude also sighed.

When he reported her changed state to Johannes, Johannes frowned and said, "Are you going to be fooled by that woman too?" Then he ordered Claude and Neil, who were good at such tasks, to "peel off her mask and find out what she’s thinking."

(The results only added to the confusion.)

When Neil invited her to have a meal together, her large purple eyes widened in surprise and shone.

"—Having a meal with someone... it’s really, really enjoyable."

(Is this really Violet...?)

The question floated in his mind for the umpteenth time, and Claude shook his head. It was impossible. It was absurd to believe in a magic spell that even the royal court’s magicians didn’t know about, and that Claude couldn’t find despite his thorough investigation.

(I even sent a letter to the Grand Duke, who was Violet’s teacher.)

The Grand Duke, the king’s brother, who had expelled her for her capriciousness, had not yet replied. He was a renowned magician and a hero who had once saved the country. If anyone knew about Violet and all kinds of magic, it would be him.

"But, it’s really hard to believe... I thought she would definitely throw the commoner’s tea. If her tutor was a pharmacist, I can understand the knowledge, but to take the commoner’s disease so seriously..."

"..."

Neil sighed.

"If there really was a body swap..."

In a quiet voice, Neil murmured.

"Where did the real Violet Elford go?"

"…I don’t know."

After thinking for a moment, Claude sighed.

"It probably won’t end well."