Chapter 8
Brinnen, who had been in Idette’s arms, soon came to his senses and fled the mansion as if running away.
After he left, Idette worried about him—but only for a moment. Her own health was a more urgent problem.
“Hadi.”
She met Hadi in secret behind the maids’ quarters. Anna and Reze, who had now become her accomplices, stood next to her with tired eyes.
Bibi, who had survived food poisoning thanks to Hadi, was there as well.
“Yes,” Hadi replied.
He examined Idette but could only repeat what the priests always said: her qi was extremely weak.
Ah, no—he did add one more thing.
Her body temperature was lower than normal. For now, her constant fevers were hiding it, but inside, her body was unnaturally cold. It was strange to have such a cold constitution while also burning with fevers so often.
Hadi admitted it was a miracle she was even alive. With her body so frail, he couldn’t say how long she would last.
Still—he was an herbalist.
He suggested that what she needed most was a spiritual tonic, a rare medicine infused with sacred energy. But such a thing was almost impossible to find. And Idette’s condition was too severe to wait until one appeared.
“I’ve prepared medicine brewed from herbs that will at least help with the fevers you keep getting,” Hadi explained.
“Thank you,” Idette said.
“…Don’t mention it,” Hadi muttered, eyes glistening with tears. Perhaps no one had ever thanked him before.
She really hoped it would help.
“Please tell me how it works once you’ve taken it. Then I can adjust the recipe. And honestly… I think another herbalist might be better for you.”
Idette tilted her head. “Another herbalist? Who?”
“…His name is Hezbeni. Even among herbalists, he’s considered outstanding. He’s the one who first came up with the idea of spiritual tonics. If it’s him, he might be able to give you a different diagnosis.”
Hezbeni.
Idette froze. That was the very name of the heroine’s ally in the novel. She had thought she’d meet him eventually—but not this soon.
“So, he’s different from the others?”
“Very much so. People say he’s reached the peak of the craft.”
Hadi explained that not all herbalists were the same. He himself was from the slums, pushed into the trade just to survive. But Hezbeni belonged to a family.
“A family? I thought herbalists were treated worse than beggars. They have families?”
“They weren’t created naturally,” Hadi explained.
The novel had never gone into detail about that, so Idette just nodded.
“So what’s different about a family herbalist?”
“They have secret manuals, passed down through generations—filled with records of illnesses and treatments.”
“Oh…”
“But I’ve heard they struggle to interpret them. Not even half has been deciphered.”
“…Oh…”
If such a book existed, it might contain something about her illness.
A secret manual. One that needed to be deciphered.
She didn’t remember Hezbeni mentioning this to Hanez in the novel.
Maybe it was her memory at fault. After all, she couldn’t be certain that her recollection of her past life was perfect.
Either way, meeting Hezbeni was now a priority.
“And where can I find Hezbeni?”
“…I’ll bring you news,” Hadi said.
“Alright. Thank you.”
“…Yes.”
Hadi, looking gloomy, promised to do his best to bring Hezbeni with him next week.
Idette, meanwhile, couldn’t help but wonder about the secret manual.
***
Hadi had already given her medicine and even promised to connect her with Hezbeni.
He should have left—but instead he lingered, shuffling awkwardly.
Idette blinked and asked, “Should I try the medicine now?”
“Would you like to? Do you have a fever right now?”
Fever was practically her constant companion.
“You ate dinner already?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, it can’t be helped today. But in the future, take it within thirty minutes after meals.”
Idette nodded and opened the vial.
Without hesitation, she swallowed it all at once.
The maids panicked, wringing their hands. Even though Bibi owed her life to Hadi, she still didn’t trust him completely.
“A-are you alright, my lady?”
“I’m fine,” Idette said calmly, blinking.
“M-my lady…”
Hadi’s eyes welled up again, touched beyond words. He stammered nervously.
“I… If I manage to bring Hezbeni here, could you… could you give me a share too?”
“Your share?”
“Yes…”
So that’s what he wanted. Maybe he was desperate for money.
It wasn’t difficult to agree—after all, she had already made a contract with him.
“Sure, I’ll make sure you get it.”
“R-really?” Hadi’s face lit up.
Idette nodded casually. It wasn’t hard to give him more.
The maids, however, frowned as if displeased. They looked like they wanted to object but held back for her sake.
“Thank you! Then please… let me keep working for you, my lady. I may not be as skilled as Hezbeni, but I’ll do my best not to be a burden!”
“What do you mean by that?”
So his request wasn’t for money after all.
“…You don’t want to end the contract with me, do you?”
“…I suppose someone like me is useless to you after all…”
His face fell as he slumped down.
“No. We already made a contract. It continues regardless of Hezbeni. Hezbeni is separate—we can make another agreement with him. But I still want to keep working with you.”
Their contract was simple: Hadi would do everything he could to restore her health and refine his herbal skills in the process.
If her condition improved, she would pay him weekly wages. If she got better, they’d renew the contract. For now, it was set as a one-year term.
“…I-I… ngh…”
Hadi burst into tears, relieved it wasn’t ending.
“Hah!”
The maids scoffed bitterly.
“You just want to benefit from our lady, don’t you? With greed overflowing like that, how can we trust you not to poison her? My lady, please report this to the Count. This isn’t right.”
Unable to hold back, Reze blurted it all out, and Anna and Bibi quickly chimed in.
But to Idette, Hadi didn’t look like someone greedy for benefits. He just didn’t want to lose someone who finally understood him.
“T-that’s not it,” Hadi protested, looking desperate.
