TLDOWN 42

CHAPTER 42……………

You don’t need to know that.

Leah arrived at the most famous herbalist shop in the capital. Just in case she had a lot to carry, she turned to the merchant guild employee that Akkia had assigned to accompany her.

“Would you mind waiting here for a moment? The herbalist shop doesn’t allow just anyone to enter.”

The man smiled and told Leah to take her time.

As soon as Leah stepped inside, her eyes widened at the spacious interior, so different from the herbal shop in the Heidern territory.

As expected from the capital—there’s no herb they don’t have.

The shop had a high ceiling, and shelves filled with herbs reached all the way up to it. As Leah walked, the fragrance of medicinal plants brushed past her nose at every step.

It’s certain that one of the side effects of spider venom is a high fever.

Leah stopped in front of one shelf while reviewing the progress chart of the new medicine. This shelf contained numerous herbs effective against high fever.

There were so many varieties that she found it hard to choose.

“Hmm… this isn’t easy.”

Because there was little academic research on spider venom, she hesitated to choose an antidote for its side effects.

“Young lady, what’s troubling you so?”

“Oh—I’m looking for an herb that’s good for high fever.”

Thinking it was just a store clerk approaching, Leah turned around with a bright expression—only to see a middle-aged man right in front of her. Her eyes grew round.

“Oh! Professor Rams?!”

His imposing build and scholarly air matched exactly the portrait she’d seen in academic journals—right down to the monocle he was known for wearing.

“Heh. Recognizing me right away—you must be an apothecary.”

I knew it!

This was none other than Professor Rams, a master of herbology.

Leah had studied from his All the World’s Herbology series. Meeting such a renowned scholar in person made her cheeks flush.

“P-Professor! It’s an honor. I studied using your books!”

“Haha, that’s gratifying to hear.”

The professor gave a warm smile and shook her hand.

“It looks like you’ve come to the right place for herbs that help with fever. These here are all very good for lowering temperature.”

He looked over the herbs in front of her.

“That’s because the side effect of a new treatment made with spider venom has been high fever.”

“You used spider venom?”

“Yes. But since each herb has a different property, I’m hesitant to choose.”

At her words, his eyes widened.

“Ho… that’s quite an interesting formulation. Which spider’s venom did you use?”

“I used drops from the Priapos spider.”

“Hmm… Priapos, I see. Then the patient could indeed suffer from high fever.”

“How did you know—?”

“That’s one of its most common side effects. But there must have been others too?”

Other side effects?

Leah was puzzled—so far, there hadn’t been any aside from fever.

“There are, but… this isn’t the place to discuss them. How about visiting my lab sometime?”

“What? Your lab, Professor?!”

Leah could hardly believe what she’d just heard.

Professor Rams’ laboratory was like a holy site among apothecaries—his academic journals and research results reached not only across the Croatea Empire but all over the world. Visiting it would surely lead to new knowledge.

“I’m currently researching poisons. My book The Proper Use of Poisons was also published from my lab.”

No way… That fascinating book she’d read in Tren had come from his laboratory—the very book that inspired her to combine spider venom in the first place.

I really did make the right choice coming to the capital!

“So you wrote that book! I’d love to visit.”

Seeing the passion in her eyes, Rams laughed heartily, then took out a fountain pen, wrote something on a slip of paper, and handed it to her.

“I’ll be at an academic conference tomorrow, so how about three days from now?”

“That would be wonderful!”

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

He walked away as Leah bowed politely.

I should tell the Duke right away.

The Duke would surely know who Professor Rams was—and since he seemed quite concerned about the new drug’s side effects, he would be pleased.

Since it seemed best to buy herbs after visiting Rams’ lab, Leah was just about to leave when—

—tap tap.

Someone suddenly poked her.

“Huh? Who are you, little one?”

“Miss, are you a doctuh?”

“I’m not a doctor, I’m an apothecary.”

Leah crouched down to the level of the little girl, who was so small she didn’t even reach Leah’s waist.

Up close, Leah noticed dirt smudged on her face and shabby clothes.

“M-Miss… my mama’s sick.”

“She is? Where does it hurt?”

The girl hesitated, not even meeting Leah’s eyes, just fidgeting with her fingers. Leah glanced around.

“Is she nearby?”

The girl only nodded.

Normally, Leah would have politely refused—but the sight of this child on the verge of tears reminded her of the children in her orphanage.

Many of them had lost parents because, when they’d gone to find a doctor, adults refused to help without payment.

Reading Leah’s hesitation, the girl’s eyes brimmed with tears. Leah quickly called the Magnolia merchant guild employee waiting at the entrance and whispered instructions so the child couldn’t hear. Then she took the girl’s hand.

“Let’s go see your mother.”

At that, a faint light returned to the girl’s face.

…

The child said nothing more as they walked. Leah couldn’t help noticing how thin her wrist felt in her hand.

If she’d been in an orphanage, at least she’d have had food—but children of sick parents often suffered from malnutrition.

Her parents probably don’t have the energy to care for her…

Leah stopped, took a chocolate from her bag, and offered it.

“Here, want to eat this?”

“…”

“I don’t really like sweets myself.”

The girl took the chocolate but didn’t eat it—an odd, complicated expression flickered across her face.

“You live farther away than I thought.”

After walking for some time, the girl turned into a deserted street. Being the slums, many unsettling eyes followed Leah’s movements.

Before following the child, Leah had instructed the guild employee to report this to Rikel. If she disappeared, he would surely find her. She gripped the girl’s hand tighter.

After a while, the girl stopped before a narrow alley, trembling and crying.

“Why are you crying? I’ll make your mama better.”

Leah crouched again to meet her eyes, but the girl shook her head violently and pointed back the way they’d come.

“M-Miss… s-sorry.”

Sorry?

Leah’s heart dropped.

Just then, she heard footsteps from the far end of the alley. Men began emerging one by one, approaching her.

“Well now, crying after bringing her here? That’s no good, kiddo.”

Ah…

A deep sigh escaped Leah’s lips.

They had used the child to lure her here.

She clenched her skirt tightly.

The men swaggered toward her—broad-shouldered and strong, clearly making the situation unfavorable for her.

It’ll take Rikel a bit to get here.

“What are you doing, involving a child in something like this?”

Her anger flared more than fear. How dare they use a little girl as bait? The child who had cried apologies to her was surely acting under threat.

The men grinned.

“That’s not something you need to know. Let’s see… red hair’s rare—could fetch 10 silver.”

“I think more. She’s prettier than I expected.”

They appraised her like merchandise, sending chills up her spine.

Human trafficking?

She steadied herself. The Duke’s townhouse wasn’t far; Rikel would arrive soon.

Just hold out a little longer…

“Quit scheming, lady. Just come along quietly and—urk!”

When one man tried to grab her wrist, Leah struggled. That seemed to anger him, and he shoved her to the ground—but then, in an instant, he was the one thrown to the ground instead.

Leah blinked in confusion.

At first, she thought Rikel had arrived—but a tall stranger was swiftly taking down the traffickers.

“Who the hell are you?!”

The remaining men shouted, but the stranger only smiled faintly, as if the question amused him.

The shadows of the buildings hid his face, but Leah could see his tall frame. His movements, sharp and controlled, were those of someone long trained.

Who is he?

Even in the dark, his lake-blue eyes shone. He took a step toward the remaining men, every gesture exuding an inexplicable nobility.

“You don’t need to know that.”

His low voice curled into Leah’s ears.