CHAPTER 6

Unprecedented Acquisition (1)

"Your Highness, are you really... sure about this?"

The royal kitchen was empty.

In the vacant kitchen, Gardin swallowed nervously. His anxious question was met with a gentle smile from Lakiel.

"Hmm, are you still uneasy?"

"Well..."

"Yeah. Of course, you'd be uneasy. This thing is, after all, used to make poison. Isn't that right?"

"..."

Lakiel held up the aconite root.

Unlike before, its surface was now covered in hardened salt crystals. This was thanks to days of diligent soaking in salt water and repeated sun-drying.

But Gardin still couldn't shake his unease.

No—if he were being honest, he was so anxious that he had spent the past few nights unable to sleep, fidgeting in distress.

'This isn't going to turn into a disaster, right?'

A constant sense of foreboding gripped him.

Even if His Highness seemed knowledgeable about that root...

Even if His Highness explained mysterious terms with confidence...

Even if His Highness gulped down that poisonous herb without hesitation...

'...No way!'

Just imagining it made his head spin. He could vividly picture the aftermath of such a tragedy.

His Highness chugging down a whole bowl of poison.

His Highness smiling as if everything was fine.

His Highness suddenly vomiting blood—

"Yooour Highness—!"

"Oh, for—! You scared me! What now? What is it this time?"

"I'm sorry to bring this up at this point, but... could you reconsider just one more time?"

"Reconsider? Reconsider what?"

"That root, Your Highness."

"Oh, this? Why?"

"No matter how I think about it..."

"It's fine. I won't die."

"Yooour Highness!"

"Ow. You're going to make me deaf at this rate."

Lakiel let out a wry chuckle.

He was just about to brew the decoction with the processed aconite. And yet, now—after all this time—Gardin was causing a fuss. Though, of course, he could understand why.

'He's still anxious.'

And who could blame him? Aconite was, undeniably, a poisonous ingredient. From Gardin's perspective, this was beyond alarming.

Lakiel cleared his throat.

"Sir Gardin."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Actually, I anticipated that you'd react like this, so I came up with a solution last night."

"A solution? What is it?"

"If I make this into a medicinal decoction, would you be willing to drink it before me?"

"Of course."

"..."

"Your Highness?"

"Oh."

"Why are you looking at me like that...?"

"Ah, I'm just a little surprised."

He was genuinely taken aback.

He hadn't expected Gardin to nod without a second of hesitation.

Honestly, he had just asked on a whim. Would Gardin be willing to drink it first? To test for any remaining toxicity?

He figured it might help Gardin feel reassured. That it might make him more cooperative in preparing the decoction. That was all.

'Well, and I was also testing his reaction.'

To see how loyal he really was.

To see just how devoted he could be.

Because Lakiel knew he would need to rely on Gardin a lot in the future.

'But I really didn't expect him to agree so quickly.'

It was a little astonishing.

Lakiel turned to Gardin and asked,

"Are you really serious? You'd drink this decoction first, instead of me, to test if it's poisonous?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"You're absolutely sure?"

"Of course."

"..."

That serious gaze.

He really meant it.

'Phew.'

Lakiel was slightly taken aback.

And also... grateful.

He hid that feeling behind a composed expression.

"Alright. That makes me feel a little more at ease. Don't you think?"

"Yes. I feel slightly reassured now."

Gardin finally smiled, ever so slightly.

He truly felt relieved.

Because even if the worst happened, the one who would suffer from poisoning wouldn't be the Crown Prince—it would be him.

"Good. Now, just watch what I do from here on."

"Understood, Your Highness."

Gardin took a step back.

Lakiel cast a faint smile in his direction.

He was surprised, and he was grateful.

Of course, that gratitude didn't mean he actually intended to let Gardin drink the decoction first.

'Why would I let him have something this good? I'll be drinking every last drop myself.'

Such a "generous" offer? No thanks.

Once the decoction was ready, he would down it before Gardin even had the chance to protest. That had been the plan all along.

'Well, at least I managed to fool him.'

Gardin would no longer try to stop him.

Now, all that was left—

Was to carry out his plan.

'Alright, let's see...'

Lakiel scanned the kitchen. Most of the necessary materials for brewing the decoction were already prepared.

A properly sized glass vessel.

The processed aconite.

Prepared ephedra.

Dried asarum root.

And fresh spring water, drawn straight from a flowing stream.

'And lastly, myself.'

Lakiel steadied his breathing.

Ancient texts stated that preparing herbal medicine required three essential elements of sincerity:

The physician's sincerity in prescribing and preparing the medicine.

The caretaker's sincerity in carefully decocting it.

The patient's sincerity in taking it with faith, without missing a dose.

Only when all three were present could the medicine fully realize its intended effects.

'Right now, I have to play all three roles myself.'

Prescribe it.

Brew it.

And take it.

'Let's do this.'

Resolving himself, Lakiel began preparing the decoction.

He placed the herbs and spring water into the glass vessel. First, he brought it to a vigorous boil over high heat. Then, he lowered the heat to prevent the liquid from boiling over.

He let it simmer.

Until the liquid was reduced to less than half.

Slowly.

Steadily.

He brewed it. Kept watch over it.

Took brief moments to steady his breath when needed.

And yet, he never once took his eyes off the flame.

For over three hours.

Fortunately, he did not faint.

"...I did it."

Suppressing his dizziness, Lakiel smiled.

The decoction was properly brewed.

The Ephedra-Aconite-Asarum Decoction was complete.

But he didn't relax just yet.

He waited for the residue to settle at the bottom of the vessel. Then, using a ladle, he carefully scooped out only the clear liquid on top and poured it into a cup.

Of course, he didn't drink it immediately.

He sat cross-legged on the floor.

And waited.

Perhaps that was why—

When he noticed Gardin shifting uneasily beside him, he couldn't help but smile.

"Sir Gardin. If you have something to say, just say it. Don't just blink at me like that."

"Um... Your Highness?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm not sure if I should ask this, but..."

"Go on."

"Since the decoction is ready... should I drink it now?"

"No. Not yet."

Lakiel shook his head.

Gardin's face grew uneasy.

"Your Highness, have you changed your mind? Earlier, you said you'd have me drink it first to test for poison..."

His expression turned solemn.

Seeing that look, Lakiel couldn't help but chuckle.