I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 22 - Making medicine is limited to ten hours a day

“Hey, Violet Elford, the daughter of Duke Elford, is staring at the head chef with twinkles in her eyes, you know”

“Well, it happens, doesn’t it?”

“We all know Violet sama is a wonderful person, but…the chef, he looks like a frog being stared at by a hungry snake. …you should go help him”

I can hear Claude sama and Neil sama whispering behind my back as I look at the head chef, who I finally get to meet. The head chef’s face certainly looks a little pale, and he seems to be sweating cold sweat.

With the contents, “I had a change of mind so I’d like to see your figure when cooking…”, I had written a letter to the head chef in advance, with my apologies and thanks. I sent a letter so that he could keep it in a corner so that it won’t be a disturbance. However, it doesn’t seem my feelings got across to the head chef.

“T-Thank you for always making these delicious meals! I was wondering what kind of person makes such delicious meals, and I wanted to meet at least once…”

“Eeeek”

The head chef screamed at my words. Claude sama and Neil sama intervened and talked to the frightened head chef about something, unable to just watch from the sidelines.

I felt so guilty; I should’ve just gone back to my room quietly…I reflected.

~~~~~

The reason why I’m walking around like this, when I shouldn’t be allowed to step outside my room in the tower, is because of Claude sama’s concern.

I had decided to remain in this tower until two and a half months had passed, or until His Highness’s health problems were resolved, so at first I had been working hard at making medicines with great enthusiasm.

I thought I was spending my days in happiness as the food was delivered on time, and I was full of energy and strength, but it seems I was a little overzealous.

“…I don’t mean to restrict your activities, and I’d like to support your medicine making but-”

Claude sama raised his eyebrows as if he was at a complete loss.

“Nevertheless, I want you to limit your medicine making to ten hours a day”

After pulling all-nighter three days in a row, Claude sama said this to me. I asked and appealed to him if it isn’t a little too short for a day which has twenty-four hours, but he didn’t nod his head.

He said that this was already a bit of a compromise, and I couldn’t help but pout. There’s a period my head works well after pushing through the limit of sleepiness.

Claude sama who looked troubled at me, opened his mouth.

“If you get enough sleep, I’ll bring you delicious pastries every day. —In fact, today, I’ve prepared some chocolates for you”

“…!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll bring you a freshly baked apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top. Sweetened apples wrapped in a pie, baked, and topped with frozen sweet cream. …I think you’ll probably like it tremendously”

“…!!”

I put medicine making and desserts on a balance inside my mind. As I was wavering and struggling, Claude sama stopped me and said, ” Wouldn’t it be better to eat sweets and immerse yourself in work for ten hours than staying up for three days?”.

Thus, I decided to devote only ten hours a day to medicine making.

Incidentally, after this discussion, I slept for about eight hours. The taste of chocolate after waking up with a clear head was exceptional. I guess this is what they mean when they say that it permeates the five viscera and six bowels. (*It’s so tasty she could feel it with her whole body, probably?)

And in the idle time when I had nothing to do after making medicines, Claude sama offered to show me around the tower.

He said that I shouldn’t go out without permission because there would be people watching, but I could go out inside the tower if I was with him or Neil sama.

As a hikikomori, I’ve never been bothered by the fact that I’m basically stuck in this large room.

However, I requested that if I could leave the room, I’d like to express my gratitude to the head chef who always gives me happiness.

Claude sama was a little surprised, thought for a moment, nodded his head and said, “Okay”. Then he immediately contacted the kitchen.

At that time, I gave him the thick letter with my apologies and thanks so that the head chef wouldn’t get frightened.

When I was about to head to the kitchen, it became that Neil sama, who happened to be available would accompany me.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

I haven’t told Neil sama about the body swap at this point, but he’s been a little friendly towards me ever since we had a meal together the other day.

Indeed, when I saw him, the suspicious look in his eyes was completely gone.

…but.

“…Violet sama!”

“!?!?”

The first time I met Neil sama in a while, he suddenly knelt down and hung his head when he saw my face.

Translator Notes:

Well… I got a cold so I took a break. Be sure to not get sick everyone. Stay warm, drink lots of water and eat and sleep properly~