I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 71 - Apothecarys first threat

I knocked on the door.

After a while, Liam san came out from inside, his face not looking so good.

When Liam san saw me, his expression changed slightly.

He looked like he had expected it but did not want it to be true.

“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re resting. Um, I asked Carter san the whereabouts of your room”

Earlier, I found Carter san hard at work cleaning the largest room facing south—apparently his room— to give it over to Violet sama, and I asked him where Liam san’s room was.

“Uhh, I heard from Sophia sama that you were injured. I’ve brought some medicine so can you please allow me to treat you?”

When I said this, Liam san took a full five seconds before saying, “No, thank you” with a taut smile on his face.

“I’m not injured enough to bother the noble lady. Please leave it at that”

I felt somewhat apologetic when he told me that courteously.

I could tell that he just wanted me to go home already.

But as an apothecary, I can’t just back out of the situation. Feeling a prickling pain in my conscience, I decided to use my last resort.

“…..Uhh, Sophia.. sama is very concerned about Liam san’s injury. Um, I’ve learned some medicine before. I thought if you didn’t mind, I could help you with some simple treatment. If you don’t like me treating you, ..uhh... Sophia sama might come personally to you”

I have become such a failure of a human to threaten an injured person.

“…..Please come in”

However, it seemed to have a great effect and Liam san opened the door wide as if he had resigned to his fate.

Sorry for forcing my way in... Sorry for deceiving you....

I entered Liam san’s room while repenting in my mind.

It was a small but tidy room with few things. There was a small desk, a chair, and a bed. Near the bed was a door that seemed to be connected to another room or a storage but it was different from the entrance door.

“So, uh... can you please sit on the chair?”

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I began the examination after Liam san sat on the chair.

As expected, he has a fever. The condition of the wound isn’t too good either.

“…..You have a high fever. A fever after getting injured isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I’m worried if this is caused by infection. Um, did you by any chance not use the medicine that I...Sophia sama gave you yesterday?”

“…..Yes, I lost it”

“I see. I understand”

While smiling so as not to make him feel uncomfortable, Liam san’s awkward expression made me wonder if..... A certain question popped up in my mind.

Is he scared of the medicine given by an evil lady who is well-versed in the art of poison?

To begin with, it might be scary to take an obscure medicine given by a stranger.

I thought back to when my mother told me to not take food from strangers and I reflected on myself for a little.

—–If that’s the case, I guess it is also scary right now.....

I sneaked a glance at Liam san. He had a very guarded look on his face and it was clear to me that he was a thousand steps away from mentally establishing a trusting relationship with me.

If I’m going to treat him, I need to have a trusting relationship with him. At the very least, if I get thought of as a scary person, things probably won’t go well.

I have learned from the chief apothecary that the first requirement for being a good apothecary is to explain the medical condition and the medication thoroughly.

While proceeding with the treatment quickly, I opened my mouth to explain about the medicine in detail.

“This medicine is made from the earliest herbs collected in the spring. Somehow, it has this really nice smell, doesn’t it?”

When I said this, Liam san moved his nose slightly and said, “Yes, it does”.

I was happy that he thought it smelled good and while moving my hands, I opened my mouth.

“I’m glad. I wonder if it’s because the spring’s earliest herbs are proud of having survived the harsh coldness of winter, they have a proud appearance and their fragrance also has this … sense of pride, doesn’t it?”

“Uhh… I suppose so...?”

While Liam san was nodding in confusion, I carefully and quickly applied the medicine to his wound.

I wrapped the bandage I had brought around the side of his torso and let out a sigh.

I was able to treat him while conversing. I think my appeal of not being scary is a success.

It may have been the least interesting topic but I’ll give it a passing grade.

My heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment and I was looking for something else to talk about to show that I was harmless.

Creak. I heard the faint sound of a door opening.

“…Big brother? Who are you chatting with?”

I turned around in surprise as I suddenly heard a voice.

The girl who came out of the door near the bed was a girl with silver hair and purplish-blue eyes just like Liam san’s.

She was probably around 10 years old. She called Liam san big brother, so I guessed they were siblings. Her face was indeed very similar to Liam san.

However, what caught my attention more than her face was her right hand peeking out from her one-piece dress, which was probably her nightgown.

Her face and other parts had glowing skin that was appropriate for her age.

However, only her right arm looked like a dead tree, as if it had aged rapidly.

As I took a small gasp at the condition I saw for the first time, the girl quickly hid her arm behind her back and Liam san said in a stiff voice, “Could you please leave?”.

“My treatment is complete, right? Thank you for taking the trouble to treat me”

His voice was stiff.

In the face of his rejection, I shook my head and approached the girl, not wanting to be misunderstood.

“I was not looking at you out of curiosity”

“Wait-”

“Nice to meet you. I am an apothecary, So...Violet Elford. I would like to have a look at you”

“Lady Elford! You are not an apothecary, are you?”

“……!”

Oh right.

While panicking because of Liam san’s clever interjection, I said with a calm face to pass it over lightly. “Pardon me. I’m aiming to be one”

Then, I turned my attention to the girl again.

Smiling as gently as I could at the anxious-looking girl, I inquired.

“Is it painful?”

“U- un.. it’s painful”

“Is that so? ...How strong is the pain?”

“It’s very painful.. I can’t sleep because of it...”

The girl looked like she was about to cry and gripped her chest with her left hand, as if she was still in pain.

“Is that so? ...It’s hard to be in pain, isn’t it..”

“Un”

“Then, for the time being, I’ll give you some painkillers. You’re a little young (*for the bitter taste) but I also have sweet honey. If you take them together, it’ll become delicious, killing two birds with one stone”

Liam san was confused at my words.

“Wait”

“Ah. I’m sorry.. You’re worried about taking the medicine, right?”

I took out the painkiller from my bag and said, “This is a painkiller”

“Is she below 10 years old? ...As far as I can see, she is a little thin, so I think that one-third of this amount should be fine. I’m aware you’re worried, so I will take one packet”

Saying that, I opened my mouth, swallowing the medicine smoothly.

“As you can see, there is no poison in it. May I give it to your sister?”

When I said that, Liam san nodded hesitantly.

Relieved by his nod, I adjusted the medicine amount according to the girl’s physique, mixed it with honey, and put in on a spoon.

After handing it to the girl, I realized something and apologized again.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t tested the honey for poison, have I?”

Saying this, I ate some honey with a spoon prepared separately.

It’s sweet and delicious....

Even though it wasn’t the time for it, I inadvertently became happy and advised the girl to eat it.

“As you can see, it is safe, so please enjoy it”

She carefully placed the spoon she had in her hand into her mouth.

As soon as she did, her face lit up.

“Sweet....!”

“It’s sweet, isn’t it!?”

After sharing the feeling of happiness among those who ate honey, I turned to Liam san.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to know if you would be willing to let me examine your sister for the week I am here. Since this is the first time I’ve seen this condition, I can’t say that I can cure her... but I think I can at least help relieve some of the pain she is feeling”

Liam san made a confused face at my words.

Translator’s Notes:

The author is uploading Chapters again!!! Maybe I’ll also restart translating regularly ^-^