Chapter 12
Cedric frowned slightly as he thought about what he had left behind in that place. Was it really just a coincidence?
“…Let’s wait and see for now. Get a sample of that medicine and bring it to me.”
“Lord Cedric, that’s—”
“Tinte.”
Cedric cut him off again.
“You say it might have side effects, that something worse might happen later. So you want people to just endure the pain, and if it gets bad, let them die. That it can’t be helped.”
“…”
“Anyone can say that—if they’re not the ones suffering.”
Looking at Cedric’s tired face, Tinte felt a strange tightness in his chest.
The boy he once held as a newborn had grown into this adult man.
During all that time, Tinte had only watched Cedric suffer, unable to help.
Tinte clenched his mouth shut.
“We’ve already explained the risks of potions many times. Everyone knows them. And even so, those people chose to use that doctor’s potion to survive and to save the ones they love.”
“…Yes. That’s true.”
Cedric said nothing more. He believed Tinte understood now.
Cedric smiled a little and looked away from him.
“The problem is… that person is using my name without permission.”
“Yes. That must be dealt with.”
“Hmm…”
“Yes?”
Cedric let out a small laugh.
“If my guess is right, the appointment letter that person has might be… a real one.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Just in case, make sure no information about that doctor leaks outside the duchy.”
“Rita, over here too. This person has a stomachache.”
“Okay~”
Even though a big event had happened not long ago, the village soon returned to its usual routine.
During the day, workers shouted and worked hard to repair the burned homes. Celine, now healthy again, ran around the village sharing all kinds of news.
People were starting to wonder why I hadn’t gone to the Grand Duke’s castle yet. After all, I said I had been summoned.
I kept making excuses like, “There are still sick people, so I’m staying to care for them a little longer.”
“It’s not like I don’t want to go.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Let’s take a look, Mr. Enok.”
The reason I hadn’t gone was simple.
The note the man gave me had gotten wet and ruined. The signature was smudged—B… Gartan… something blurry…
I thought I’d put it in my inventory, but maybe I was wrong.
Anyway, I cried out in frustration when I saw the ruined note, then forced myself to calm down.
After that, I made a new plan. The one in need should be the one to dig the well, right?
‘The bait should work soon. I made sure to walk around where I’d be seen.’
They could send someone who recognized me, or someone to secretly arrest me. Either way was fine.
As long as I got into the castle without revealing that the letter was ruined, it didn’t matter.
Soon, I’d have a chance—a chance to gain a strong supporter.
I chuckled to myself again.
“Rita, that laugh sounds suspicious.”
“It means the treatment worked perfectly. You can go now.”
Enok glanced at me and blushed as he awkwardly left. Maria walked up to me slowly with a playful grin.
“Young love, huh?”
“My youth is already over.”
“Oh, come on. You’re still young!”
“You don’t understand, Maria… I’ll be back later.”
I waved goodbye and walked slowly through the streets. This was the best way to sense people’s movements.
Every day, I spent an hour or two among the villagers. I did it to get used to the feeling of being around people again.
The villagers always smiled and gave me dried fruits or snacks they had saved.
I could talk with them, eat fresh food, and heal people.
There were many sick and injured people here. Every time I treated them, I felt like I was truly alive.
The setting sun hurt my eyes. I rubbed them and continued walking aimlessly.
“Rita! Rita!”
Someone was running toward me. I flinched. The small warmth that touched my arm made me feel uneasy—until I realized it was Celine, the child I had saved.
Then it was okay.
Yes… I was getting better.
“Celine… I’m still not used to people.”
“Huh?”
“I mean… approach me gently. Like you’re petting a baby kitten…”
“You’re talking weird again. Anyway, did you see that?”
Celine waved her arms excitedly.
I sensed it right away. A chance had come.
She was young, but she knew everything happening in town. Since no one watched children closely, she often heard things no one else did.
Celine smiled brightly.
“They just posted a notice at the Grand Duke’s castle. Shouldn’t you go there now too, Rita?”
She laughed and playfully hit my arm. I was too weak to resist, but my eyes sparkled.
“Really?! Where?! What kind of notice?!”
“Over there, in front of the village hall. They’re hiring someone. But—”
She said more, but I didn’t catch it. I dashed off so fast my eyebrows fluttered in the wind. People moved aside, startled.
At the village hall, I saw it—a job posting.
They were hiring an assistant for the Grand Duke’s castle.
“What? An assistant?”
It was a strange job. I didn’t expect that.
After all the trouble I caused, I thought there’d be a special posting aimed at me. I was wrong.
Not a doctor. Not a pharmacist. An assistant? That was a job I’d never even imagined.
Still, I ripped the paper down and stuffed it into my pocket.
“An assistant, huh? Fine. Once I get inside the castle, I’ll figure out the rest.”
My steps back to Maria felt light and happy.
“…‘Supports the duchy with both heart and effort.’ No, that sounds weird…”
Why was writing a résumé so hard?
I crossed out two lines I just wrote and sighed, thinking hard again.
Anyway, the answer was obvious: go directly. If they weren’t coming to find me, I’d go find them.
Surely, by now, they knew I existed. I was probably the most famous person in the village recently.
I just had to get into the castle. Then the Grand Duke would recognize me, and everything after that would be easy. I was sure I could stay.
I grabbed my pen again.
“Rita, are you really applying to the Grand Duke’s castle?”
Maria sat across from me in her pajamas, her brown eyes full of concern.
That look warmed my heart a little. I shrugged.
“I may apply as an assistant… but I’ll come out as something else.”
And I was sure they wouldn’t turn me away—not if they had any sense.
Maria let out a soft laugh.
She was a kind person. She had taken me in even when I had nowhere to go, and believed my suspicious excuses.
She was the only one who knew the appointment letter I had… wasn’t real.
I still didn’t trust people easily, but I knew Maria was good.
“It’s surprising the castle hasn’t caught you yet. I thought you were lying. Did you really meet the Grand Duke?”
“Black hair, blue eyes, really handsome, right?”
“And scary too.”
“He didn’t seem scary to me. Anyway, I’m telling the truth. Look—there’s even a signature.”
Maria looked at the paper I handed her. It was all smudged, but the signature was still slightly visible.
I was nearly certain now… the person I met back then was the Grand Duke.
