Kays Translations

Chapter 186: The Goddess’s Secret Elixir, Again!

It wasn't good manners to stare. I was only ten, so I might have been forgiven for it, but I couldn't take advantage of that. I forcibly tore my gaze away from the pair of melons on her chest.

Had Brother Cain been blinded by those melons? Come to think of it, Princess Daniela's were large too. So were Mother's.

Apparently, the men of House Heine had a weakness for well-endowed women. I couldn't exactly deny sharing it.

"You can stay where you are. Don't force yourself to get up. It's nice to meet you. I'm Alex, Cain's elder brother, and this is our younger brother, Julius. Now, let's begin the treatment at once. What do you think, Julius? Does everything look all right?"

I used Appraisal on Lady Meeka Raniemi, who had been coughing repeatedly. It appeared to be a case of lung disease that the magic potion I'd brought could cure. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's all right. The potion I brought will cure her without any trouble."

Lady Meeka's face stiffened at my words. Apparently, the belief that magic potions tasted revolting was just as widespread here. In that case, I would smash that common sense to pieces.

I gave her a confident grin, only for her expression to grow even more strained. Why?

"It's all right, Meeka," Brother Cain said, rubbing her back reassuringly. "Despite how he looks, Julius has been officially recognised as a magic pharmacist by His Majesty."

Wait, when had that information spread? Judging by the way he said it, everyone in the family probably knew. Did Rosalia know too? I looked anxiously at Brother Alex, and he gave a small nod.

"I told Cain as well," he said. "Naturally, I ordered him not to tell anyone else."

He turned towards Brother Cain. Either Cain had completely forgotten about it, or he'd been too preoccupied with reassuring Lady Meeka to remember. Either way, he looked awkward.

Lady Meeka's complexion was growing paler by the moment. We shouldn't corner her any further.

"Sister-in-law Meeka, this potion will cure your lung disease. I used it to cure a child at the orphanage who had the same symptoms, so there's no doubt about its effectiveness. I sweetened it so the orphanage children could drink it easily, so you needn't worry."

When I smiled at her, she blinked blankly. The expression made her look much younger than she was. A well-endowed little beauty… Brother Cain's tastes ran deep.

I offered her the potion, and she accepted it timidly.

"I-it's rather an unusual colour, isn't it?"

"That's a very vivid pink," Brother Cain said.

The two of them stared at the bottle in her hands. Perhaps pink really had been a poor choice. I might change the colour next time. Still, when I thought of children's medicine, this was the colour that came to mind.

Lady Meeka cautiously broke the seal and checked the contents and scent. It should have smelled sweet, like maple syrup.

"W-well, if you'll excuse me."

She swallowed hard. Magic potions had clearly left her with some dreadful memories.

Lady Meeka closed her eyes and drained the potion, then immediately opened them wide. Brother Alex and Brother Cain watched her with equally wide eyes.

"I-it's sweet. Incredibly sweet."

"I made it for children. Now, Sister-in-law Meeka, please drink this potion as well."

I handed her a bottle containing green liquid. She must have recognised it, because the light vanished from her eyes.

"What is this?"

She probably knew exactly what it was but had decided to ask, just in case. Since she was close to Brother Cain, there was a good chance she'd also studied swordsmanship. She had probably drunk one several times after being injured.

Swinging a sword with a chest like that? They must bounce all over the place.

"It's an elementary healing potion. The medicine you just drank has the side effect of slightly damaging the lungs. You need to follow it with this potion to heal that damage."

"An elementary healing potion."

"An elementary healing potion."

Brother Cain and Lady Meeka spoke in perfect unison. Their voices were completely flat, as though their lives had just ended. This called for immediate reassurance.

"That elementary healing potion is also a special version I made. It isn't as sweet as the potion you just drank, but it's still easy to drink."

"A less-sweet elementary healing potion."

"A less-sweet elementary healing potion."

Again, they spoke in perfect unison. They were already completely in sync. That was impressive in its own way. They really did seem remarkably compatible.

"Hmm. In that case, I might like to try one myself," Brother Alex said. "The knights say your potions are easy to drink."

"Please drink one when you're injured. It would be a waste to use it while you're healthy."

"You're very sensible, Julius."

Brother Alex smiled wryly. One bottle might save a life. We shouldn't drink potions when we didn't need them. Their ingredients weren't free either.

Well, they were practically free, but still.

"I'll do as Julius says," Lady Meeka murmured, sounding as though she'd finally steeled herself. Brother Cain watched anxiously.

By calling her Sister-in-law Meeka, I seemed to have established a friendly relationship with her in no time. It was necessary if I wanted her to trust my medicine, and I wanted to get along with my future sister-in-law too.

Neither of them appeared to have noticed yet, but her coughing had already stopped. Magic potions truly worked frighteningly fast. Then again, that speed was precisely what made them valuable.

Lady Meeka closed her eyes once more and drained the second bottle in one gulp. A splendid performance. When she'd finished, she kept turning the empty bottle this way and that, examining it from every angle.

Um, there wasn't a trick hidden in the bottle.

"What in the world were all those elementary healing potions I drank before?"

Her murmur was filled with sorrow. Brother Cain looked just as bewildered. Perhaps neither of them could conceive of an elementary healing potion that didn't taste dreadful.

"Julius, could that potion I just drank have been the 'Goddess's Secret Elixir'?"

"Of course not. It was just an elementary healing potion."

"Just an elementary healing potion…"

Lady Meeka stared at the empty bottle for quite some time. Her thoughts seemed to have short-circuited. Had it really been that shocking?

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