LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 6 - Thank You for Providing Good Medicine
Luance was a man as cunning as a snake. Every time Laurencia heard his words, one thought always came to mind:
“What should I do? I don’t know what to do.”
His words were always clever, seemingly kind, but hiding malicious intent.
Even knowing this, Laurencia couldn’t escape or flee from Luance.
Had there ever been a place for her to run to in the first place?
“You will be abandoned.”
The words of Teyshar Spencer, the Marquis of the Polloid Empire, echoed in her mind again and again.
“The child of the Goddess Ella cannot possibly be ordinary.”
The phrase “child of the Goddess Ella” was something her late mother had often said to her.
Because of that, Laurencia had wanted to speak further with Teyshar, but she couldn’t hear the rest of his words due to Luance’s sudden appearance.
“If I could meet the Marquis of Spencer…”
Laurencia thought, “Perhaps my situation might improve.”
If that were the right path, she might even be able to save the lives of those who would otherwise perish in the war Luance planned to start.
Laurencia gripped the amethyst necklace hanging around her neck tightly.
“Meow.”
“Leo, could you please get off my lap?”
She had named the cat Leo, a name meaning courage.
“Meow!”
As if understanding Laurencia’s words, Leo wagged his tail and leapt gracefully to the floor.
Today was supposed to be the day Laurencia learned about her ability to foresee the future. But that day had disappeared. The future had been altered. To understand what might change because of this, she needed to gaze into the amethyst.
“It will hurt, won’t it?”
Seeing the future always brought excruciating pain to her eyes. Still, hadn’t she resolved to endure it?
Laurencia’s hands trembled. Her heart pounded like that of a cornered animal. A fleeting thought crossed her mind: if she bit her tongue hard enough, she might find relief. But she had to persevere.
As the terror in her heart reached its peak, Laurencia swallowed hard.
She removed the necklace, closed one eye, and with the other, gazed into the amethyst. Tilting her head back, the chandelier’s sparkling light reflected in the gemstone, which began to glow brilliantly.
Luance walked down the corridor of Count Pol Heredian’s mansion. Beside him was Brant.
“Where is Laurencia?”
“She’s in her room.”
“That monster hasn’t caused any trouble today, has it, Count?”
“No, none at all.”
“You’re administering the medicine properly?”
“Yes.”
Luance glanced at the paintings lining the long, straight corridor. A picture that had hung there recently had been replaced with another.
“Count Pol Heredian, if you want to enjoy more than your current lifestyle, you need to take good care of that monster.”
Stopping in front of Laurencia’s door, Luance turned to Brant.
“Understood,” Brant replied, bowing to Luance before returning to his office.
Watching Brant retreat, Luance’s lips curled into a crooked smile.
Standing at Laurencia’s door, he knocked lightly, his cold expression transforming into a sudden smile.
“Laurencia.”
“Prince Luance.”
When Laurencia saw Luance enter, her face lit up with the brightest smile.
“Meow.”
“What’s this? A cat, Laurencia?”
As Laurencia picked up a kitten that had appeared out of nowhere, a flicker of displeasure crossed Luance’s eyes.
“Isn’t it cute? Ilina gave it to me as a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Yes.”
Luance looked doubtful.
“She said it’s the cutest kitten from the litter and brought it to me. I was so happy.”
“Is that so? That’s great, Laurencia.”
“Yes, it felt as though Ilina was accepting me as a sister, more than just giving me a gift. That made me happier than the gift itself.”
Laurencia gently stroked the kitten’s head with the back of her hand.
“I named the kitten Leo.”
“Surely you don’t plan to keep that kitten, Laurencia?”
“Yes. It’s a gift from Ilina, my younger sister. And, Prince Luance, thank you so much.”
“For what?”
Laurencia looked at him with gratitude.
“The medicine you prepared for my health. I’ve been taking it every day without fail, and I can really feel myself getting stronger.”
Laurencia smiled softly at Luance, recalling the past when she had taken the medicine he provided.
“I’m taking the medicine Prince Luance prepared for me every morning as instructed. But after taking it, I feel nauseated and it’s so painful.”
“It’s for your sake, Laurencia. Please endure it and take it.”
“Can’t I stop taking it? It’s too agonizing.”
“Others take it without issue. Why is it so hard for you, Laurencia?”
“After taking it yesterday, I vomited blood.”
The potion that the maids left in her room every morning was officially called Digenne, though it was colloquially known as Digen. While Digenne meant “peace,” the potion was ironically banned as it was not meant for human consumption.
Just as each person’s talents differ, so does the capacity of their body to contain magical power. Forcing an increase in magic using Digenne could cause a person’s body—the vessel for magic—to collapse, unable to withstand the strain.
In a previous future, Laurencia had learned that the potion Luance had given her was Digenne, but she hadn’t known what it was at the time. She was utterly ignorant—no one had informed her, and she hadn’t tried to find out.
She had simply believed Luance’s words, thinking it was a beneficial potion. However, through overhearing conversations, she learned what Digenne truly was. Once she understood its nature, she became reluctant to drink it. Yet, when she refused, she was forced to consume it under strict supervision.
But things were different now. No one was watching to ensure she drank Digenne. She could pretend to drink it and then dispose of it.
What did Luance hope to achieve by giving her Digenne? She didn’t know. Perhaps her small stature and frail body were side effects of the potion’s use.
“Do you feel better?”
“I feel like my body is improving day by day. Thank you for providing such a good potion, Prince Luance.”
Luance visibly hesitated at her unbelievable words. Just then, the kitten meowed softly and wriggled out of Laurencia’s arms.
“Thanks to you, Prince Luance, I became the Count’s young lady and was able to leave the attic. And the potion you’ve given me has been helping me regain my health.”
Laurencia’s eyes curved gently as she smiled.
“Thank you, Prince Luance.”
Luance quickly masked his surprise and lifted the corners of his mouth.
“See? It was worth listening to me, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Prince Luance. I’ll continue to follow your advice.”
Laurencia’s innocent smile lit up her face.
“Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you, Prince Luance.”
“Something to tell me?”
“Last night… I had a dream.”
At the mention of a dream, anticipation lit up Luance’s face. Why hadn’t she noticed before how transparent he was?
“What kind of dream?”
“In the dream…”
Laurencia cautiously stepped closer and whispered in Luance’s ear. She told him about a dream where Crown Prince Adrian was struck and killed by someone’s arrow. Luance’s expression gradually transformed into one of satisfaction.
“It’s shocking, even for a dream, isn’t it?”
Luance gently patted Laurencia’s head as if to comfort her.
“It’s fine, Laurencia.”
“Why would I have such a dream?”
Laurencia lowered her head slightly, feigning sadness.
“Did you see who shot the arrow at him?”
“To be honest, I saw many people in the dream.”
“Really?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it was someone from the Polloid Empire.”
“The Polloid Empire?”
“I don’t know much about it. Does such an empire exist?”
Laurencia asked as if confirming, and Luance nodded, affirming the Polloid Empire’s existence.
“From their conversation, it seemed the person who shot the arrow at the Crown Prince was a noble from the Polloid Empire.”
“A noble? What did they say?”
“They mentioned that they had missed their target and hit Crown Prince Adrian instead. They believed he was dead and discussed returning to the Polloid Empire quickly.”
Among the various futures Laurencia had glimpsed through her amethyst, she found one where she could meet Teyshar Spencer. Even though looking into the amethyst brought her immense pain, she was willing to endure it if it meant preventing Luance from becoming emperor and sparing the world from a gruesome war.
“Did they say who shot the arrow?”
“They mentioned Marquis Spencer. It was such a vivid dream. But it’s fascinating that the empire and the Marquis from my dream actually exist. Do you think the Marquis Spencer in my dream is real?”
The emperor’s birthday was approaching, and delegations from various empires would soon arrive in Isuterre. Among them would be the Polloid Empire. There would be banquets at night and hunting near the royal palace the next day.
But Laurencia couldn’t wait for the emperor’s birthday. Princess Charlotte of the Polloid Empire, engaged to Crown Prince Adrian, would soon arrive in Isuterre, escorted by Marquis Teyshar Spencer.
Laurencia had seen a future where she could meet him in private. She would endure the ordeals required to make that future a reality.
“Laurencia, the Marquis Spencer you mentioned does exist.”
“Really?”
“Whatever dreams you have from now on, you must tell me. Before sleeping, try to think of things that might help me. Who knows? You might dream of something useful.”
“I always think of you before I sleep, Prince Luance.”
“Did you think of me last night too?”
“Of course. I prayed for your wishes to come true and for your happiness.”
“Laurencia.”
If Luance believed her dreams, he wouldn’t pose a threat to Crown Prince Adrian’s life, at least for now. That was enough for the moment.
“If that’s what you want, Prince Luance, I’ll tell you every dream I have.”
Laurencia had already planned what to tell Luance in the coming days. She looked forward to seeing him restless and fixated on her dreams, and she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of amusement at the thought.