"The palace feels calmer this morning," Yorick continued.
Josselyn looked down at her cup.
When her mother was still alive, she often helped prepare remedies in their small laboratory. She knew nearly every scent of herbs and dried roots by heart.
This mixture smells different. Unfamiliar. Josselyn glanced at Yorick. Did Sir Yorick use a rare ingredient I don't know?
She tried to move her head, shifting her body slightly. It had been a few minutes since she drank the potion, and her body did feel different.
Should I just ask what he used?
While she was still weighing the thought, Yorick watched her.
"Do you feel unwell? Did the Crown Prince trouble you last night?" His gaze turned concerned.
"N-no. This potion is remarkable, Sir," Josselyn said quickly, lifting her cup. "May I know what ingredients you used?"
Yorick looked slightly surprised, narrowing his eyes. "Why do you want to know?"
"The scent… it's unfamiliar. I've never encountered it before, even after years of helping my mother prepare remedies."
Yorick, who had seemed slightly suspicious, suddenly laughed.
"You still have much to learn, Josselyn," he said, gently ruffling the top of her head.
That warmth again. It spread through her body, even making her cheeks flush. Josselyn quickly covered her face with the wide sleeve of her dress.
"S-sorry. I shouldn't have been so presumptuous. You must have far more experience in preparing remedies," Josselyn said, changing the subject.
"You've probably been doing this for over a decade…"
"Twenty-three years, to be precise. Since I was eleven."
"Wow, that's very young."
Yorick shrugged. "I had no choice. My father was also a Royal Healer. So it became my duty."
Ah, he's the son of a healer. We have something in common, she thought. A small sense of warmth rose within her, like finding an old friend.
A healer and an alchemist were different. A healer was responsible for the royal family's health and herbal remedies.
She was supposed to work only in the Herbal Room, creating potions for the Queen.
But the Queen had taken a liking to her and asked her to assist directly.
That meant one thing. Closer to the King. And now, the Crown Prince.
Josselyn bit her lip. She still remembered that heated night when her memory blurred, and recently, the drunken kiss from Killian.
It was truly disrupting her plan for revenge.
"Josselyn?"
She startled. "Yes?"
"Are you sure you don't need more rest? You can skip training today."
Yorick raised his hand, about to touch her cheek. But suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor.
"How delightful, such a serious morning conversation."
Howarth appeared with a relaxed smile. Behind him, Sebastian walked more quietly.
"Are we interrupting?" Howarth asked.
"Always," Yorick muttered.
Howarth laughed. "I caught the scent of herbs from the end of the corridor. Are you hiding a secret potion?"
"A stamina enhancer," Yorick replied.
"Ah, just what I need." Howarth stretched his shoulders. "The port yesterday left my body sore."
"The port?" Josselyn turned.
"A small trade matter," Howarth said lightly. "May I have a cup?"
"Of course," Yorick answered quickly, already preparing another serving.
"And the young Master Edevan?" Yorick asked, glancing at Sebastian.
Howarth looked at his brother. "Sebastian is stronger than I am. He doesn't need it."
Sebastian simply gave a small nod.
Yorick resumed his work. As the steam from the potion began to rise, Josselyn noticed Sebastian frown slightly.
"You don't like the scent of herbs?" she asked softly, unable to hold back.
"Not used to it," Sebastian replied shortly.
"Howarth made me endure the smell of the sea all afternoon," he added flatly.
"Hm, I can imagine that," Yorick replied.
They shared a light laugh.
Then Howarth took a sip of the potion.
"Ah. Warm," he said, closing his eyes, clearly enjoying it. "I might just steal you someday, Healer."
"Yorick. That is my name, sir," Yorick said politely, lowering his head. "You may try."
Howarth let out a short laugh and leaned against the table.
"By the way, on my way here, I passed an interesting pair. Are there other royal guests staying in the palace besides us?"
Yorick frowned. It had been nearly two months since the banquet, and as far as he knew, only these two noble brothers were still staying in Valenroth Palace.
He knew because the health of guests was also his responsibility.
"Interesting?" Yorick asked.
"Yes. A middle-aged man. His hair turning gray at the temples. A cunning gaze," Howarth explained.
"I didn't like the woman beside him either. Her nose…"
Sebastian tapped the tip of his nose twice. "The nostrils are too large. She must waste a lot of air."
Howarth burst into laughter, bending over and clutching his stomach.
"Oh, young Master Edevan is making jokes," Yorick murmured, chuckling. Not at the joke itself, but at Howarth's exaggerated reaction.
"The Edevan nobles are quite different, aren't they? Not as rigid as nobles from other kingdoms."
Yorick turned to Josselyn, about to continue laughing, but instead found her face pale.
The cup in her hand trembled.
"His curly red hair made him even more irritating," Howarth added.
"Is it them? That can't be…" Josselyn whispered unconsciously.
Yorick turned. "You know them?"
Josselyn did not answer.
Howarth's voice seemed to drift farther away.
"I think I heard a palace servant call his name…" He paused, thinking. "Edmund, perhaps? Count something."
The world seemed to shrink around her.
Josselyn stood too quickly, her chair scraping loudly.
"Josselyn?" Yorick's voice sharpened.
Her hands were ice cold. Her breathing uneven.
Count Edmund.
Her uncle.
Flashes of memory surged.
The sound of a door locking.
Rough hands gripping her arm.
The crash of breaking porcelain.
"You would be nothing without us."
"Josselyn." Yorick gripped her shoulders. "Breathe."
She heard him. And she tried. But it was difficult.
"Is he…" her voice barely audible, "is he really in the palace?"
Howarth, startled by her reaction, nodded slowly. "It seems so. They were heading toward the Central Palace."
The Central Palace? Is he going to meet His Majesty the King? Panic screamed inside her.
Sebastian studied her face carefully.
"Is he someone who should not be here?" the brown-haired man asked calmly.
Josselyn stared at the floor.
If Edmund was here, then the past she had buried was no longer buried. A warning alarm rang through her entire body.
I have to stop him before he meets His Majesty the King.
She was about to step forward, but her body swayed. Her legs trembled so badly they could barely support her.
Fortunately, Howarth, standing not far from her, quickly caught her.
"Careful. This is the second time you've fallen into my arms, Miss Alchemist."
He winked at her, his hand still supporting her back.
"I won't take responsibility if you fall in love on the third."
That scent. The same fragrance from the lakeside that night. For a moment, Josselyn's chest stirred.
But now, the reason felt unclear. Whether it was fear of her uncle, or the man standing before her.