Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 234: Sweet Temptation
While I wondered what to do, Commander Giovanni exchanged greetings with Duke Hayden. Of course—Commander Giovanni could use Appraisal too. If I prompted him to examine the Duke, he might be able to reveal the illness without exposing my own skill.
As soon as Commander Giovanni finished speaking, I tugged at his sleeve.
“Commander Giovanni, does Duke Hayden not look unusually pale?”
“Duke Hayden? Hmm… Now that you mention it, he does.”
“Could something be wrong with him?”
“It is possible.”
Come on, appraise him! Hurry!
“Could you use Appraisal to check him, Commander Giovanni?”
“Appraise him? Do not tell me you use Appraisal on people!”
What? Was that considered improper? Or had he assumed the skill worked only on objects? Since when? I might just have given him dangerous new knowledge, but I could not ignore the Duke's condition.
Perhaps moved by my urgent stare, Commander Giovanni nodded.
“Very well. I shall try.”
Just as planned. Commander Giovanni studied Duke Hayden closely. A moment later, realisation struck and he covered his mouth.
“Lord Julius! Duke Hayden is suffering from lung disease.”
“Truly? Fortunately, I carry lung-disease medicine for emergencies. I also have an elementary healing potion, although it is the sweetened version intended for children…”
Pretending I had only just learned the diagnosis, I discreetly produced the bottles from my inner pocket. Commander Giovanni stared at me in awe. Why did he look as though he had seen a god? I had a terrible feeling.
“You had already foreseen all of this!”
“Of course not. He probably will not accept medicine directly from me, so please give it to him, Commander Giovanni.”
“Impossible! I could never take credit for your achievement, Lord Julius!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down!”
People nearby began to look our way. How had this happened? Perhaps warning the commander of the Royal Magic Pharmacists' Corps to be quiet had been pointless. He was not the only one who had raised his voice.
“Julius, is something wrong?”
“What? No, it is… um…”
I appealed silently to Commander Giovanni. He nodded as if he understood. That did nothing to improve my dreadful feeling.
“Duke Hayden, might you be suffering from an illness of the lungs?”
Commander Giovanni approached and spoke quietly. Duke Hayden's already pale face lost what little colour it had. Brother Alex and Princess Daniela also looked startled.
Duke Hayden drew out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his face. He looked painfully uncomfortable.
“Well, I have felt slightly unwell. Only slightly, you understand.”
“Your Grace, do you perhaps dislike taking potions?”
“N-no. It is simply that… surely my condition is not serious enough to require one?”
He was sweating profusely. He truly hated potions. Considering the foul mixtures he had probably encountered, I could hardly blame him.
“Your Grace, you dislike their taste and smell, do you not? There is no need to worry. Lord Julius makes medicines sweet enough for small children. Even someone who dislikes potions as much as you do will find them pleasant.”
Commander Giovanni sounded like a suspicious merchant selling dubious medicine. He also advertised my name far too freely. He could make the same medicines himself, so why not say so?
Hope immediately appeared in Duke Hayden's eyes when he heard my name. Had the illness been causing him that much pain? If so, he should have forced himself to drink the foul medicine long ago. Was he a child?
“Is that true?”
Duke Hayden's eyes shone with expectation. His earlier dignity had vanished completely. Apparently, he had set it aside for the moment.
“There is no doubt. Between us, His Majesty has personally authorised Lord Julius to practise as a magic pharmacist. He continues to develop medicines that are easy to take.”
Princess Daniela added her support. Being endorsed by a princess was an honour, but an unpleasant sweat ran down my back all the same.
“I-I see. Then, since it is available, I shall take it… in a private room.”
We all nodded. Duke Hayden must have been preparing for the worst. He did not want the entire gathering to witness him struggle with a foul-tasting medicine.
One of the Duke's attendants led us to the most luxurious withdrawing room in the building.
The pink and green medicines were placed on the table. He had probably seen green potions before, but their clarity and beautiful colour made it obvious these were not ordinary. He groaned softly.
Commander Giovanni appraised them and muttered excitedly, “Amazing… truly amazing.” This was becoming troublesome. At this rate, I would never be able to keep any potion secret.
“First, please drink the pink lung-disease medicine. Then take the green elementary healing potion.”
“Why is the elementary healing potion necessary?”
He asked while dabbing his forehead with the handkerchief. His smile was badly strained.
“The lung-disease medicine places a slight burden on the lungs. They would recover naturally in two or three months, but the elementary healing potion will restore them immediately.”
“I understand.”
Duke Hayden continued staring at the bottles. Come now, drink. He plainly despised medicine, and his attendants watched with equally anxious expressions.
At last, as though marching to his execution, he reached for the pink bottle. The light had left his eyes.
“To Princess Daniela and the future Margrave Heine.”
With that toast, he swallowed the potion in one gulp. He was so tense that he probably did not know what he was saying. Brother Alex's and Princess Daniela's shoulders trembled as they fought back laughter.
“Sweet! What is this?”
He drained the bottle and stared at it with wide eyes. The light returned to his face. Bringing the children's version had been the right decision.
Funny.