The Pharmacist Lady’s Trading Secret - chapter 17

‘I’m sure she said nobility was the cause of the fall of her family.’

A mine that was originally owned by an aristocratic family collapsed overnight. April’s constant obsession with the newspaper of Carleva.

Fabian’s short reports drew all sorts of theories in Ian’s mind.

“Master, we’ve arrived at the tailor’s shop. Allow me to receive your suit.”
“Go ahead.”

Ian leaned his chin, glancing outside the carriage window while the servant walked into the shop to receive the winter coat Ian had ordered for.

This shopping district, which was frequented by many aristocrats, had a very different atmosphere from April’s market alley.

Not far from the tailor’s shop, was a stationery store that sold high-quality paper and writing equipment. His gaze stopped there.

‘She likes to read and write, doesn’t she?’

Newspapers, books, and notes were always piled up in April’s lab. Recalling that she always kept recording something meticulously, he unwittingly opened the door and entered the store.

“Welcome, Marquis.”

An old man, who seemed to be the shopkeeper, fixed his glasses before bowing to him politely.

“What brings you here in person today, Your Grace? Is there anything you’re looking for?”
“There is nothing particular. I just came to have a look.”

Ian’s eyes fell on a certain fountain pen that stood on display along with many other different pens. The pen had recently become popular. Since it was expensive, it was still being used by many aristocrats.

“It’s the latest version, Marquis. You can even put it in your pocket, and thus, there will be quite a lesser risk of losing it.”
“Then, I’ll take this one.”

The old gentleman meticulously packed the new fountain pen in the box and held it out to Ian. After paying for the item, he hurried back to his carriage. The servant, who had already returned from the tailor’s, was waiting for him beside the carriage door.

“Master, I was worried whe—”
“I just went to take a toll.”

His fingers fiddled with the ribbon that held the box. It was his first time buying a gift for someone, which made him feel very awkward.

‘Will she like it?’

Ian’s mind was slowly drawing the serene face of April’s that was focused on the information she wrote with an old pen in her hand.

Would she be happy or would she feel burdened? Various of her expressions appeared before him as he stared into the passing scenery outside the window.

***

Meanwhile, April was alone in her laboratory.

She had read all the newspapers of Carleva of the week. Nothing important seemed to be happening in Carleva that felt like a distant world.

But as soon as she opened the most recent newspaper, peace collapsed.

《The minefield owned by the estate of Witzer is scheduled to be auctioned within the next six months.》

There had been no mention of the name of the Witzer estate ever since her family’s reputation was burned to ashes.

Now, if April could not prove her mother’s innocence within these six months or pay the equivalent compensation, the land would be sold by the court.

“Sigh.”

The paper got crumpled as her fingers tightened on it. She was feeling helpless. She lay prostrate on her desk, struggling with boundless despair.

“What have I been doing…….?”

She mumbled. She felt weak and helpless for not being able to recover a single trace of her family with her own hands.

The reason why she survived was because of her faint will to at least try to make money, but this one corner article even took away that remaining spirit of hers.

“That’s a deep sigh.”

A low, gentle, familiar voice reached her as her eyes were about to be filled up with tears. She stood up, hurriedly pushing the newspaper aside before looking towards the source of that voice. Before she even knew it, Ian came and stood behind her.

“I heard it’s the day for the completion of the reagent.”
“Oh, P-Pardon me, Marquis. I should have looked it up first.”
“No, it’s fine. Were you reading the newspaper?”

Ian tried to look at April’s face, but she dropped her head to avoid his eyes. But the act of trying to hide her feelings made it even worse.

Ian glanced over her shoulder at the crumpled newspaper before turning his gaze to her again.

“His Highness said that the minefield in Carleva was about to be cleared up.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Ah, it’s just a guess of mine, but do you need any help with that?”
“What do you mean, Marquis?”
“You ran away from Carleva, but you still want to keep hearing about the place. And it seems you’re sad over a piece of particular news in that newspaper.”
“……..You’re smart, Marquis.”

Ian stared at her as she gave him a bitter smile.

“Anyway, I wouldn’t ask.”
“Thank you.”
“But please be at ease to ask me if you need any help. I can be your guardian.”

However, April wasn’t very happy with this unexpected offer of his.

Being a guardian meant allowing her to do many things in the name of the Reykis family. Appointing a lawyer for attending a court would not be a difficult task for him.

But it was not easy to dare to comply with the favor.

“Thank you for your concern, Marquis, but it’s already too much.”
“Is it? It wouldn’t be that difficult, trust me.”

She bit her lips as she raised her eyes at that gentle smile of his. She managed to restrain herself.

‘Why are you doing this to me?’

She was afraid of her emotions to grow out of control. She constantly tried her best to keep a distance from him.

“The Marquis is very kind. He has already helped a pharmacist to reach a better place.”

“Just a…..pharmacist?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to treat you like that?”

His voice sank deeply. What she just said struck his chest sharply. His overly hard words poked April.

“Of course! This is just a contractual relationship. And I’m grateful to you for being nice to me. We’re going to return to our separate lives again once the contract is over.”
“Yeah…..”

Ian spoke in a low voice. His face hardened. She said it was just a contractual relationship with her own lips.

‘But, can you state the reason? Why is it supposed to be like that?’

These few days, he was turning away from the feelings that had been rising in the dark. However, they suddenly seemed to be slowly disappearing at her statement. But the more he tried to look into it, the less he could blame her for hiding his identity.

“Are you afraid of what I might say later in the future?”
“Sigh, the more our life gets comfortable, the more we worry about it.”
“Do not worry about that. I’ll let you go the safest when the contract is over. If you want, you can act like you haven’t even met me in the first place. You don’t like to have any relationship with nobles anyway.”
“That’s not what I meant, Marquis! Rather, I still want to be helpful to you after the contract ends……”

She bit on her lips again. Her few overly business-like words somehow stung her heart like thorns.

Suddenly, Ian stood firm as if he had heard her innermost thoughts as April turned around and busily searched for something on her desk to avoid his gaze.

“Reagent, ah, here it is.”

April meticulously wrote down the name and date of the preparation on the medicine bottle before handing it over to Ian.

“I-I hope this will help the Marquis…….”

She said in a quivering voice before bowing her head to hide her face. The moment she was about to pass by him, he grabbed her by the wrist and turned her around.

“Are you crying, April?”

His voice came from above her. April only silently shook her head.

He lowered his face and slightly spoke in a low voice.

“If you keep doing that, I might cross the line.”

As soon as the words reached her, her body fell into Ian’s arms.

“Marquis……”

April was unaware of his expression. She wanted to gaze at those golden eyes of his and ask him what it meant, but she couldn’t. She was afraid of receiving an unexpected answer that might crush her. Just the sound of his heartbeats, which had gotten a little faster, and his broad palms that was patting her back soothed her.

‘Can I stay like this for a little longer?’

For the first time, she wanted to stay a little longer in someone’s wide and warm arms. The familiar scent of him was comforting her.

However, as she judged this move to be more dangerous, April cautiously took a step back.

“Have you calmed down a little?”
“Yes….”
“Glad to hear that.”

He spoke in a calm voice as if nothing had happened. He carefully held April’s hand and gave her the fountain pen he had chosen for himself.

“What is this?”
“That pen of yours looked pretty old.”

April, with a muted face, stared at the pen before shifting her gaze to his gentle face. It might be strange and awkward to say that he bought it for her from a store he was passing by.

“Thank you, Marquis. I’ll use it well.”

She answered politely in the midst of the embarrassing situation. Ian, without uttering a single word, gave a light nodded before walking out of her lab.

April sat idly on her chair, staring at the fountain pen he had given her. It was not accompanied by grandiose words, but this itself contained enough of his consideration.

“What are you trying to do, Marquis?”

Why did he say those words? Why was he so kind to her? Did he want her to look forward to it, or was it just a favor?

Everything was confusing. The more she tried to interpret it, the more difficult the riddle became. Somehow, she could still feel the warmth of his chest lingering on her face.