Chapter 78
They quickly turned their heads upon discovering a man and a woman tangled together in the preparation room.
“Um… hmm…!”
“Why? What on earth is in there… oh my!!”
Even the maid who had followed them hurriedly covered her eyes after seeing their passionate display of affection.
The part-time worker, who had been pushed to the floor by the men, spoke in a curt tone:
“I told you, didn’t I? No one is allowed in here except our pharmacist.”
“We didn’t expect to see… something like this! In broad daylight, really…”
The maid replaced the screen she had lifted back to its original position and spun around, muttering in a displeased voice:
“I heard this pharmacy is quite famous around here for its skill, but now I understand why the Bailey family doesn’t do business with them.”
“Yes, yes. Understood.”
“Anyway, if you find someone like that, be sure to let me know. She’s a young lady with blonde hair and green eyes.”
“Got it.”
Because the lighting in the preparation room was dim, it seemed that neither Cynthia’s hair nor her clothing had been clearly visible.
The maid and the men grumbled as they left the pharmacy. Only then did Enoch release his weight from on top of Cynthia.
“You’re crazy!”
Cynthia, who had been pinned beneath him, pushed Enoch forcefully as she spoke. Enoch, calm as ever, wiped his lips.
“What?”
“No matter how urgent, what was that… and why are you wiping your lips? You didn’t do anything!”
Cynthia shouted at him, staring at him as if he had just kissed her passionately. Enoch chuckled at her reaction, amused, and spoke:
“You do realize that if it weren’t for me, you’d have been dragged straight back to the Bailey family and probably would have died, right?”
“That’s…!”
“I’ll take that as your thanks.”
Enoch stood up from the floor, dusting off his pants, while Cynthia looked up at him, still flustered.
He pulled back the curtain that covered the preparation room and asked the part-time worker:
“They gone?”
“Seems like it.”
“Good job. Sorry you had to fall on the floor because of me.”
“Just make sure I get properly paid.”
Enoch picked up the items that had fallen on the floor and glanced at Cynthia. A small smirk appeared on his face.
“Ah, we still have a debt to settle between us, don’t we, partner?”
“So, even after treating the Kirchi sap, the toxicity of the Titronia flowers didn’t go away?”
“Yeah, forcing it didn’t work either.”
“Are you sure you used the same concentration as last time?”
“What do you take me for?”
Enoch grabbed the experiment notebook next to him. Flipping through the pages quickly, he showed Cynthia the page documenting that day’s experiment.
“One bunch of Titronia flowers with 500 grams of Kirchi sap. Same concentration as the magic potion I sold you last time. The results were thoroughly tested.”
“And the darkroom treatment?”
“Done the same way.”
“Hmmm…”
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. All the conditions were the same as before, so why wasn’t the experiment reproducible?
As she absentmindedly reached out to touch the round, fluffy white petals of the Titronia flowers, she thought there shouldn’t have been anything wrong with the flowers themselves…
“Enoch, where did you get these flowers?”
“From the city flower market. I bought flowers multiple times from different markets just to be sure. The results were the same every time.”
“Titronia flowers… you said they were originally meant for more discreet uses, right?”
“Right. Usually, nobles would inhale the scent of the flowers along with alcohol, fall into hallucinations, and throw wild parties…”
Cynthia glanced at Enoch as he said this. He didn’t look like a skilled pharmacist at all; in fact, he gave off a slightly rough and vulgar impression despite his profession.
She broke the silence. According to the original novel, Elizabeth had fun using Titronia flowers in certain ways…
“Enoch, did you buy the flowers yourself last time too?”
“When I succeeded in making the eyesight-improving potion? No, the part-time worker bought them. I was busy.”
So it’s the same case…?
“Maybe the flower merchants only gave you these unusual flowers because of you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like… they probably guessed that someone like you would only use Titronia flowers for… well, those purposes, and so they gave you specially treated flowers for easier use.”
Enoch blinked in confusion, but soon realized what she meant and laughed wryly.
“Hah! What are you talking about? You’re saying the flower merchants assumed I’d buy the flowers for… naughty purposes and gave me abnormal flowers?”
“Well… maybe… yes…”
“Get up right now.”
Enoch stood up suddenly and looked down at Cynthia. She blinked, raising her head as innocently as possible.
“Why… why?”
“We’re going to the flower market together. Let’s see if anything changes when you buy flowers yourself.”
“But as you know, I can’t move freely. What if someone from the Bailey family catches me?”
“Wear a disguise or whatever, but we’re going out now!”
“How can I disguise here! I don’t even have anything proper!”
Enoch called toward the part-time worker.
“Do you have a wig?”
Of course, she wouldn’t…
“Yes, we do.”
Wait… she does have one…?
“Bring it here.”
Cynthia watched as the part-time worker brought a dark brown wig. Why on earth would a magic pharmacy have something like that…?
Enoch handed the wig to her.
“Put this on, and cover those shiny green eyes with thick glasses or a hat that hides your face.”
Wait, green eyes…?
Then it struck her—she had been wearing the lenses she jokingly put in for Violet when leaving the Bailey mansion.
Swallowing nervously, Cynthia stared silently out the glass door. She couldn’t hide forever in Enoch’s magic pharmacy. Eventually, she’d have to sneak out without getting caught by the Baileys.
Cynthia looked at the brown wig handed to her and then stood up. If she was going outside anyway, it wouldn’t be so bad to have Enoch accompany her.
“Alright! Let’s go to the flower market. I’ll take the lenses out too.”
“Lenses?”
Cynthia replied to Enoch, who looked puzzled.
“As you said, we’re disguising properly.”
“Is that your real eye color?”
Enoch asked as Cynthia removed the green lenses, revealing her natural red eyes.
“You can decide what’s real for yourself.”
“I heard you’re the adopted daughter of the current Bailey head. So if you’re not direct lineage, your eyes aren’t green?”
“Again, you can think what you want.”
Watching Cynthia straighten her crooked wig in the mirror, Enoch stepped closer. He locked eyes with her through the reflection.
“Why do you have so many secrets?”
“Huh?”
“From the start. You came here hiding that you’re a Bailey family lady, where you got the recipe for the eyesight-restoring potion, why you’re suddenly being pursued by the Bailey family, and even your real eye color. You haven’t properly told me any of it.”
Cynthia thought it was better to go around in her natural appearance rather than as Elizabeth to avoid attention. All that mattered now was escaping; no need to hide her true self.
But should I… really tell him that?
She looked silently into Enoch’s yellow eyes.
“That look says you’re wondering why I need to tell you all that.”
“Oh…”
Enoch caught on quickly. Cynthia awkwardly looked away and spoke:
“It’s not that. There are things I can’t tell just anyone. Can’t you just accept that I have a lot of secrets, at least for my partner?”
“But you…”
Enoch gently held Cynthia’s hand, turning her toward him. She suddenly found herself facing him. He silently stared at her for a long moment.
Why… what’s going on…?
Just as it started feeling awkward, he spoke:
“Brown hair suits you well.”
