NOVEL NEXT WORLD The Nerd Turned Out To Be The Tyrant
Chapter 123
Isaac, who was looking at Luce who was standing there blankly, took a step back.
“I’m not expecting an answer right now. I know I don’t have the right to ask, and I understand it’s a burdensome thing to say. I’m just, well, I’m just…” Isaac’s tone, which had been shy the whole time, became serious. “I wanted to tell you that there are many people who care about you and will stand by you anytime. Grandpa Arthur, Dominic and Dietrich, and… me too. I hope that gives you even a little bit of comfort.” “…Thank you, Isaac.” “Even if I can’t give you the entire beautiful village, I’ll always be here in the garden with the flowers you like.” As Isaac spoke, he noticed the necklace glinting from around Luce’s neck. It shimmered with a blue light. “So, think about it slowly, very slowly. I’m good at waiting, Luce.” It seemed he didn’t want to add any pressure. Emphasizing the word ‘slowly,’ Isaac gave a gentle smile and walked away. Left alone, Lucette recalled that he had called her by a nickname. Isaac, who had once laughed off the awkwardness of using or being called by a nickname, had mustered the courage to use it. Only when he had vanished from view did Lucette lower her gaze. That would be the proper thing to do. The least courtesy she could show after having thought of someone else at the moment of confession. ‘I’m the worst.’ Her mouth felt bitter. Her heart swelled and pounded. The fact that the emotions that were washing over her like a tidal wave were not because of Isaac actually pierced her heart. Luce, who swallowed her guilt and turned her back, stopped when she saw the silhouette of someone wearing a hood over her head. “You’re popular, Cherry.” The boy muttered with his arms crossed. It seemed like he was laughing, and it seemed like he was being angry. She couldn’t tell why. The hotel lounge was empty again today, and there were two glasses of water on the table. However, it was the boy who first reached for the glass of water. After gulping it down, he showed no intention of getting up. Luce gestured towards the medicine bottle left on the table. “You were grumbling about when I should do it. I thought you were busy, so why don’t you take it back?” “Don’t you ask about my condition? How effective was your medicine? Were there any side effects?” Luce, who was rubbing her temples, answered absentmindedly. “I can tell it’s effective just by looking at your face. It’s smooth and shiny, so you must have fallen into a deep sleep, so why would I ask? And if it wasn’t so good, you wouldn’t have come back. Right?” The boy’s mouth twisted into a frown. “Don’t be so sarcastic.” “You must be upset. I just said what I felt.” The boy’s expression frowned as if Luce’s assessment was accurate. He grumbled and asked. “…So, is the only thing you’re curious about Revinas? Is that why you want to send me away quickly?” Luce looked at the boy and said. “I don’t even know who you are or what you do, so how can I be curious about you? I need to know something before I can ask questions or not. I don’t even know your name, especially compared to how much you know about me.” “What do I know about you?” “Even though you keep calling me Cherry, you know my name, where I come from, where I stay, and that I originally had red hair.” “I even know that you were being confessed to on a moonlit night.” The boy even affirmed the fact that she had red hair. This boy’s memory had not changed. Luce, who paused for a moment, pretended not to know and pushed his share of water, adding. “Yes, You know everything, including that, but I know nothing about you—except that you have insomnia.” Luce, who had been gently scratching the boy while praising him, briefly drove a nail into him. “You’re the one who’s being unfair.” The boy, who was about to argue, closed his mouth at those words. As his bright blue eyes shifted, he looked at Luce, who was pressing her temples firmly. “…My name is Abel.” “Abel?” ‘Since Brother also revealed that Revinas is his middle name, I guess it’s fine if I tell her my middle name too.’ The boy’s standard of behavior was his older brother. He shrugged his shoulders after saying only his middle name, Delmar Abel Hadasa. “Yeah, Abel. Call me that from now on.” Usually, royals were not called by their middle names. Even his own mother never called him by the middle name Abel. It felt strange to hear someone else’s voice reciting his middle name. It felt like he was an ordinary citizen, and strangely enough, it wasn’t a bad feeling. In the first place, wasn’t the reason he went out to understand the people? Considering it part of that effort, there was nothing wrong with it. Delmar decided that the sense of liberation he felt was due to things going well. He was skilled at rationalizing things for himself. “That’s a pretty name, Abel. I’ll put a label on the medicine from now on. Say, 『Don’t touch it, it’s Abel’s.』.” “Okay, that’s enough. You don’t need to do that.” Luce asked with a short laugh. “Where are you from?” “You can tell when you see it, I’m from the capital. I’ve never lived outside the capital.” “You were in Xenon last time, right? It must be quite a distance from the capital. Even with the improved carriage, it would take a long time.” “Do you think I would have traveled in a carriage that makes you dizzy like ordinary people?” “How do special people travel?” Delmar, who was about to respond, paused for a moment. Luce added in a passing tone. “Do you have some special magical engineering device that only you use? Something that allows you to teleport?” ‘I don’t know how much Cherry knows. Did she see a magic circle or Radanum at Brother’s house? No, if she did, there’s no way the memories would remain. Radanum must have done its work.’ However, judging by the way she only mentioned magical engineering devices, it was hard to believe she knew about actual magic. Delmar gave a vague reply. “There are methods that only a very small number of people use.” “Then if I ask you, can I use it too?” “Of course you can’t!” Delmar asked, taken aback. “Why are you asking?” “Why are you so surprised?” Luce answered naturally. “It’s nothing special. All the ingredients for your medicine are sourced from Xenon Village. The herbs there are of excellent quality. However, I didn’t expect to meet you, so after making the medicine, there aren’t many herbs left. If it’s possible for you, I was thinking of going to Xenon briefly using your method.” “Can’t you just ride a carriage and come back?” “Then for those few days, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. Besides, as you said, if there’s another way, there’s no need to endure a nauseating carriage ride. Just because I’m from the countryside doesn’t mean I find it comfortable to travel on dirt roads full of dust and rocks, right?” Hearing it like this, it seemed to make sense. Moreover, Delmar was conflicted because it wasn’t for any other reason but for his own medicine. “If you tell me what’s in it, I can get it for you.” “You don’t know much about herbs, considering how you freaked out when you heard about valerian root. What if you bring back something strange? Then the medicine will be delayed even more.” “When did that happen!…Ha, the people I order around will know plenty about herbs, so there’s no need for that.” “Then why don’t you just ask someone who knows a lot about herbs to make the medicine?” “…There’s a reason. I can’t get the medicine from that person. That’s why I come to you.” “Well, there’s nothing I can do. I have no choice but to make medicine with low-quality herbs. It should work on you, Abel.” ‘Do you know anything about Radanum or not?’ Delmar narrowed his brows as he looked at Luce, who was pretending to be worried. He didn’t have many options left. “Okay. I’ll think about it, so wait.” It was the best answer. Luce nodded with a smile. Since he had received help with the medicine, it was now his turn to help. And strictly speaking, it was something that would benefit both of them. Delmar, who thought he had succeeded in having a proper conversation today, was about to leave after taking the medicine. “You mentioned someone you give orders to knows a lot about herbs, right?” “Yeah. But?” “So it’s your exclusive pharmacist?” “Not exclusive. But why is that?” “Abel, I thought that since he’s been watching you for a long time, I might be able to get a better idea of your symptoms if I talked to him. Although he can’t make you some insomnia medicine.” ‘Cherry doesn’t seem to know anything about Radanum.’ Anyway, it felt good to hear that she was concerned about him. Delmar answered a little lightly. “Do you want to be my exclusive pharmacist?” “You’re so self-conscious, huh…?” “C, can’t you even understand a joke? No matter how skilled you are, that’s going to be difficult.” “Why? According to Abel, the pharmacist seems to be neglecting his duties.” The word neglecting his duties sounded funny. In a way, it was accurate. Radanum has been quiet these days. He couldn’t tell if he was taking care of his father or slaughtering the nobles who wouldn’t listen. Given that he doesn’t report to him, the regent king, could it be that he has attached himself to his mother instead? ‘Ha, maybe that’s why my mother stopped me and Radanum from talking. Not because Radanum was a creepy wizard, but because she was afraid that Radanum and I would unite and threaten my mother’s position.’ Delmar, who was upset, spat out the words. “He’s someone who can never lose his position as long as Vladin is here.” “…He must be very capable.” “Cherry, what do you know?” It was almost like complaining. Delmar glanced at Luce, who waved at her without saying anything. “See you next time.” “Yes, Abel.” Delmar was happy with that answer. Luce stood by the window. This time, she stared at the robe moving away towards the imperial palace and then washed her face with cold water. ‘Radanum is that apothecary.’ Luce ran up to her room. It was filled with the ‘Academy’s trash can’ she had received from Dietrich.Hello! You can also buy the advanced chapter in Ko-fi now, just click the ko-fi button and look for the title of the novel in shop. Thank you for your support!
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