Chapter 11
Just as Hadu had advised, Idette conserved her strength until the night of the full moon.
When everyone had gone to sleep, she slipped quietly into the hallway like a stray cat.
Even though she was sneaking out, she was excited — it had been so long since she last went outside.
“Phew…”
Even if it was nighttime, it felt wonderful. Unable to hide the grin tugging at her lips, Idette let out a small giggle.
Everyone in the house trusted her — she had always been the obedient daughter, and since she was sickly, they thought she couldn’t go anywhere.
That was why security wasn’t so strict, which made sneaking out much easier.
The moment she stepped out of the mansion, Idette stretched her arms wide and breathed in the night air with a bright smile.
“Ahh… so refreshing.”
The cold night air made her chest feel clear, like all the heaviness was gone.
After standing there for a while enjoying it, she finally started walking — heading to meet Hezbeni.
Of course, the more she walked, the less refreshing the air felt. Her weak body was already struggling.
“Huff… hahh…”
Panting heavily, she finally reached the only mountain inside the capital.
The mountain was so steep that climbing it was forbidden, but starving commoners often risked it to dig up roots to eat.
Since it was in the capital, monsters were cleared out regularly, but there was still the danger of one slipping over from another mountain. If you were unlucky, you could die.
Still, those with nothing to eat took the risk. Of course, no sane person climbed the mountain at night. But the apothecary Hezbeni was said to climb only on nights with a full moon.
“Haaah…”
Breathing hard, Idette barely made it to the mountain entrance.
She worried he might already be gone when—
“The moonlight’s perfect tonight!”
A man in a black robe, carrying a basket, came walking cheerfully down the path.
Strands of gray hair spilled from beneath the robe.
It was Hezbeni. Idette’s eyes lit up.
“Excuse me.”
“Hm? Who’s this…?”
Idette stood right in front of him, blocking his way. When he tried to step around, she blocked him again.
Hezbeni looked clearly flustered.
“I was waiting for you. I need to talk.”
“With… me?”
“Yes.”
“Do I know you?”
His mouth dropped open in disbelief.
Half his face was hidden under the robe, but even just from his lips, she could tell he was shocked.
“Yes.”
“…I live in the slums. I don’t have anything worth stealing. I’m a beggar, really…”
“I know.”
“No, but… you look like a noble lady…”
“That’s right.”
“Ah… wait. Are you the crazy young lady Hadi mentioned?”
He muttered it before realizing and quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Calling her crazy — really?
“You really came to me?”
Hezbeni frowned in confusion.
“…Do you honestly want treatment from an apothecary?”
He couldn’t believe it.
From Hadis reaction before, and now Hezbeni’s, it was clear how lowly apothecaries were treated.
“Yes. I want treatment.”
As she said it, Idette broke into a dry cough. She wasn’t pretending — she was truly exhausted. She had pushed herself too much just to get here.
No matter how faithfully she took the medicine Hadi made for her, as he’d said, it only worked temporarily.
She needed a real diagnosis and proper treatment soon.
Already, just from this short night walk, her body was rapidly weakening again.
“Cough, cough.”
Hezbeni stared at the noble girl coughing in front of him like she was some strange creature, asking over and over if she really wanted him to make her medicine.
She kept answering yes.
At last, curiosity showed in his eyes.
“…Where does it hurt?”
“I’ve always been weak since birth. But now even holy power doesn’t work on me, so I had to look for another way. That’s why I came.”
“…You really want me to make medicine for you?”
Again.
He couldn’t help but ask — the words spilled out against his will.
Hezbeni tilted his head in disbelief.
Why in the world was this girl so set on getting medicine from him?
“What, do you not want to?”
“It’s not that… but apothecaries don’t have a good reputation.”
Among the poor, medicine was something they took reluctantly, as if swallowing poison.
And now a noble lady like Idette was seeking it out? It was unheard of.
“I want to try everything I can.”
“….”
Her words carried such a strong will to live that Hezbeni found himself staring at her, almost entranced.
“You’ll make it for me, right? I’ll pay you.”
“…Tying yourself to a slum apothecary won’t do you any good. What if I give you something strange?”
“Would you? Besides, I’ve already taken Hadi’s medicine. I’m fine.”
“…You already took it?”
“Yes.”
His jaw dropped.
When Hadi first suggested helping a noble lady together, Hezbeni thought he’d gone mad — or the noble had.
He even told them, if she was so desperate, she should come herself and ask. He’d never expected she really would.
And now here she was, smiling as she introduced herself.
“I’m Idette Lushe.”
“…I’m Hezbeni…”
Stunned, he gave his name back automatically, still unsure if this was real.
He even pinched his cheek. It hurt. Not a dream.
So he asked more about her illness.
Idette spoke openly about her symptoms.
“What do you think?”
“…About what?”
“My illness. Can you diagnose it?”
“…You want a diagnosis?”
“Yes. I want to know exactly.”
This girl is strange, he thought.
But still — no.
People couldn’t be trusted. They’d always stab you in the back when you least expected it.
“I can’t diagnose you.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because I don’t trust you yet.”
“Then I’ll earn your trust.”
From then on, every full moon, Idette waited for Hezbeni at the mountain entrance.
At first, he looked at her like, Again? But as she kept coming, he began to truly wonder about her.
How many times had she shown up now?
“Hezbeni!”
“…You again.”
“Still can’t diagnose me?”
Each time they met, Idette shared more about herself: that she was the only daughter of Count Lushe, twelve years old, with no response to holy power, and possibly close to death.
At first, Hezbeni just looked baffled, but slowly his suspicion faded.
“…I’ve never met a noble like you.”
“Of course not.”
“Weren’t you worried about Hadi’s medicine? And you’re still taking it?”
“Yes.”
“Why? You must’ve heard the rumors.”
“They were wrong. That’s all that matters.”
She had answered this question many times now. Clearly, apothecaries lived with constant suspicion and scorn.
“You’re careless.”
“Why, are you finally planning to poison me?”
“…Hadi’s medicine wasn’t even made for your body. The effects shouldn’t have been certain.”
“Even lowering my fever was a huge relief for me.”
Idette bounced on her toes, excited at the thought of someday taking medicine made by the genius Hezbeni himself.
“I can’t wait to earn your trust and finally get a real diagnosis.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes. One hundred percent serious.”
Even if he doubted her, it didn’t matter.
Idette wasn’t going to give up. In fact, his words only made her more excited.
