IOECP- 07

Chapter 7

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The claim that I would have to stir it for ten hours turned out, thankfully, to be a lie.

But I think I stirred it for at least five hours without even getting a proper break.

Rovencia, who had disappeared halfway through for a meal and even a nap, finally told me I could stop only when my arms were practically about to fall off.

Just what on earth had she put in it for the mixture to still not lose any moisture after boiling for five whole hours?

Whatever kind of medicine it was, I never wanted to make it again.

Of course, whenever my superior disappeared, I occasionally tossed the spatula aside and slacked off. But I’m the sort of person who can’t rest easy until I properly finish whatever I’ve started.

Which meant that, no matter how badly I wanted to stop, I couldn’t simply quit.

Patting and rubbing my aching arms and shoulders, I walked down the corridor toward my room. By then, darkness had completely settled outside the windows.

“I’m filming a whole documentary about the suffering of an office worker here—something I never even experienced in the real world.”

How utterly unfair.

Still, at least I had made some progress on the suppressant. Once I delivered it to the emperor, perhaps I could finally focus on researching a way back to my original world.

For now, though, I just wanted to flop onto my bed and do absolutely nothing.

“How am I supposed to get up early again tomorrow—huh?”

Just then, a familiar silhouette flickered in the distance.

Wondering if I was so exhausted that I was hallucinating, I rubbed my eyes.

“Oh, no!”

My eyes were perfectly fine, and the figure in front of me was definitely not an illusion.

It’s the emperor!

He was the last person in the entire imperial palace I wanted to run into.

I frantically glanced around, searching for somewhere I could hide.

Fortunately, there was a low wall beside a pillar.

Without giving it another thought, I hurried over and crouched behind it.

The emperor’s voice, as he spoke with an aide named Slek whom I had seen before, gradually drew closer. Judging from their footsteps, they were about to pass right by me.

Hurry up and go. Come on. Hurry.

I really don’t want to see you.

Fidgeting with the hem of my skirt, I waited for their footsteps to disappear.

But then—

“I wonder why our pharmacist is curled up here like a kitten.”

No.

This was an auditory hallucination.

He couldn’t possibly be talking to me.

Even if his voice did seem to be coming directly from above my head, there was absolutely no way.

I stayed curled up, unable to bring myself to look up.

“Our pharmacist, Hailey, that is.”

Oh, come on. It’s definitely me.

And look at him deliberately calling me by name just so I couldn’t pretend not to hear.

With a faint sigh, I finally raised my head.

“It’s nice to see you from down here.”

As expected, the emperor was looking down at me with a smile.

And, as an added bonus, his aide Slek was staring at me too.

With an expression that looked thoroughly displeased.

“Oh my! The floor pattern here is absolutely gorgeous!”

I quickly slapped the floor where I had been sitting and flashed them a bright smile.

“It seems you’re rather fond of those floor tiles.”

The emperor’s gaze shifted toward my feet, and I hurriedly stood up. Awkwardly, my hands wandered aimlessly through the air, unsure of where to go.

“Our imperial palace is just so beautifully and delicately designed, even in the smallest details. I suppose that must be because Your Majesty has such exquisite taste?”

“…I’m not sure about that. This palace was built hundreds of years ago.”

“Well, surely that sort of aesthetic sense is hereditary. Imperial blood and all that.”

“…Hereditary.”

Why was he making that expression again?

Cold sweat trickled down my back as Emperor Demion looked strangely wistful.

Could this emperor have some sort of secret about his birth, too?

To be perfectly honest, when I read The Chains of Obsession, the only parts I paid close attention to were the steamy romance scenes. Everything else was practically skimmed over with my eyes half-closed.

Dealing with the actual protagonist was seriously difficult.

“Rather than that, it feels more like you’re avoiding me.”

He’s a mind reader.

Then again, would anyone really fail to notice something that obvious?

What on earth was I supposed to say?

Option 1: “That’s a misunderstanding, Your Majesty!”

Option 2: “Why would I have any reason to avoid Your Majesty?”

Option 3: “Actually, Your Majesty’s countenance is simply so dazzling that I became too humble to meet your eyes for a moment.”

My brain was working overtime for the first time in ages.

Any of those should probably get me through this without too much trouble…

“Well, I’m rather busy, so I’ll be going now… Do take care.”

While I was still debating, my thoughtless mouth went ahead and blurted out the truth.

It was painfully obvious that I was trying to dodge the subject.

Ugh…

At this point, I might as well make a run for it.

I quickly bowed and began politely backing away.

Then—

“How is the suppressant coming along?”

“…”

Seriously.

Was he genuinely oblivious, or was he pretending to be?

Isn’t there at least an unspoken rule against pestering someone about a project before the deadline?

I filled my eyes with dissatisfaction.

You could say I was taking an extremely rebellious stance.

“When speaking with someone, it is polite to make eye contact.”

Of course, I was looking at the floor while saying it.

There was no way a coward like me was going to do something as insane as look him directly in the eyes.

I quietly reined in my ferocious glare.

Then I slowly raised my head, smiled brightly, and answered.

“Of course, it’s going very well.”

If you had asked me yesterday, that would have been a blatant lie.

But not anymore.

My superior was going to make the medicine for me, after all.

“Then, I shall return and devote myself to the research with renewed vigor.”

At my confident tone, the corner of the emperor’s mouth lifted slightly.

Was it just my overactive imagination, or did that expression look suspiciously like he was laughing at me?

“Oh, right, Pharmacist.”

Every time I tried to leave, he stopped me.

“Yes?”

“Tomorrow is the banquet celebrating the founding of the empire. I know you’re busy making the suppressant, but would you consider attending and enjoying the festivities with us?”

“…A banquet?”

You mean one of those imperial palace parties I had only ever seen described in novels?

I have to refuse.

As much as I desperately wanted to see all those people dressed in flowing gowns and gleaming tuxedos, I absolutely had to refuse.

This time, I firmly bit down on my lower lip to keep my mouth from running wild.

But… isn’t it okay to take a look just once?

Ever since I transmigrated into this body, all I’d experienced was being threatened by the emperor and getting chewed out by my superior!

I deserved…

I deserved at least one nice experience, didn’t I?

“There will also be rare food and fine wine.”

“I will definitely attend.”

Well, what could I do when he was practically begging me like that?

I had no choice but to go and grace the occasion with my presence.

Apparently satisfied with my answer, the emperor gave me a pleased nod and leisurely walked away.

I stared intently at the backs of the two men as they disappeared.

Why does even his back have to look so beautiful?

A red cloak swept smoothly across the polished corridor.

“Pfft.”

Slek looked at Demion in confusion when the emperor suddenly burst out laughing.

“What is it? I’m beginning to get goosebumps.”

“Ah, my apologies. I suddenly remembered what just happened.”

“You mean that assistant pharmacist?”

Demion nodded.

“What exactly was so funny about it?”

“Well… how should I put it? The crown of her head?”

“…Was there something unusual about the top of her head?”

“I’ve never seen someone broadcast their desire to avoid me with their entire body quite so clearly.”

“And you find that amusing?”

“It’s fascinating.”

Slek thought to himself that another strange illness must have flared up in His Majesty.

“For some reason, I feel like poking at her a little.”

It was that impulse that had made him stop in a corridor he could easily have passed through without a second thought.

“It’s nice to see you taking an interest in another person.”

Slek replied without much emotion.

After all, he expected this particular interest to fade before long.

“For the same reason you’re so interested in that assistant pharmacist, I would also appreciate it if you took an interest in the fact that you are now late for the meeting.”

“You really aren’t any fun.”

As if I’d care about having fun.

Slek casually let Demion’s words go in one ear and out the other.

Ding—!

Waking up to the sound of a bell.

What a soothing, peaceful life.

But I don’t want to get up.

I was awake, technically, but my eyes refused to open.

Wrapped tightly in my bedsheets, I wriggled around like a caterpillar.

Isn’t the world simply too dangerous for a delicate flower like me?

Clearly, I belonged in the safety of my bed.

“Just ten more minutes… five more minutes… just one more minute…”

Mumbling those words over and over, I still hadn’t managed to escape the bed.

Who actually wakes up exactly when they’re supposed to?

Wasn’t that a little too inhuman?

I wanted to lie there forever.

Anyone capable of getting up at the exact time they wanted wouldn’t have this problem in the first place.

“Uuughhh…”

I don’t want to see my superior.

Sob.

I am an adult.

Shuffle, shuffle.

In the end, I won the battle against myself and went to work.

Which also meant that another version of me had lost.

That must be why I felt so miserable despite technically winning.

At least that explained why I was so utterly drained.

I walked toward the dispensary through corridors where the chill of dawn had yet to disappear. Only a few maids, already preparing for the day, passed through the halls from time to time.

“I wonder what they’re going to torture me with today.”

The closer I got to the dispensary, the more depressed I became.

Why were nights so short, while mornings came so ridiculously fast?!

At last, I reached the door to the dispensary.

Forcing the corners of my mouth upward, I swung the door wide open.

“I’m ba—Ah!”

Thud.

Just as I stepped inside, something collided head-on with my face.

“Ow, ow, ow…”

Startled, I immediately touched my precious nose to make sure it hadn’t been broken.

Thankfully, it was perfectly fine. Not even a nosebleed.

I opened my tightly shut eyes and looked at the person I had collided with.