LIGHTNOVELWORLD The Nerd Turned Out To Be The Tyrant
Chapter 122
“Welcome.”
Isaac greeted him warmly, but the man standing at the front of the knights ignored him. The man, who was probably the decision maker, looked around the flower shop with a very angry expression and said, “Are you sure you sell it here? It looks like a flower shop to anyone.” “Yes, of course. According to Manager Elaine, a young woman made it…Oh, it must be her.” A female knight who seemed to be the man’s adjutant quickly approached. “Nice to meet you. I was introduced by Manager Elaine. Is this where the fatigue relief medicine is produced?” “Yes, it is.” “You make it yourself, Young Miss?” “Yes. The medicine in this pot is the one.” “Wow, does it taste different when freshly made? Can I try some?” “The taste is the same, but it needs to go through a stabilization process for its effects. The batch being made now will be available for sale starting tomorrow, so please wait a little longer.” Unlike her superior, she had a friendly demeanor. As Luce readily answered the questions from the knight, a shadow fell over her face. It was because the man who had been looking around with his arms crossed suddenly interrupted her. “Is it a verified recipe? When did you start selling it? I’ve never heard of a liquid fatigue reliever before.” “It’s a medicine that has been sold for 40 years, but we only recently changed it from pill form to a liquid form, adding ingredients for taste and aroma. It’s understandable that you haven’t heard of it since it’s only recently been available.” The man seemed to be dissatisfied with the clear answer. He asked in a sarcastic tone. “Why are you hiding in the flower shop and selling medicine? Is it really a legal medicine?” “Goodness, Vice Commander! If you put it that way, you’ll be questioning even Manager Elaine!” The female knight tried to intervene, saying, “I knew this would happen!” but the Vice Commander’s attitude remained resolute. Isaac’s anxious gaze was felt. It seemed that he was worried that Arthur, who was resting, might hear it. Luce smiled slightly at Isaac and looked straight up at him and answered calmly. “If you’re wondering about my qualifications as an apothecary, you can check the shelf above. The certification is prominently displayed there, for customers who ask questions like yours.” “What?” “Selling medicine at the flower shop is not only for the smooth supply of ingredients, but also for the tradition of this shop. The person who runs this place still remembers the humiliation that pharmacists used to face. Knowing that even a knight of the imperial guard harbors resentment towards the royal court’s policies, it seems like we made the right choice. What a situation this is.” “What do you mean by ‘resentment’? Hey, Young Miss!” Luce nodded exaggeratedly, looking closely at the imperial family emblem on the Vice Commander’s clothes. “You said you’re the Vice Commander, right?” “W, what does that have to do with anything?!” The Vice Commander uncrossed his arms as he rolled his mouth over his rank. His previously aggressive posture subtly shifted, and the deputy commander, who seemed to have lost his momentum as if he’d been doused with cold water, pretended to be nonchalant while watching his surroundings. Luce knew well how to handle black consumers who would nitpick without making a purchase. “How about it?” Instead of making accusations, Luce opened a bottle of the fatigue relief medicine. “How about trying it while looking at the certificates, Vice Commander?” Having swiftly dealt with the Vice Commander, Luce turned her head to the female knight. “Okay, shall we continue our conversation?” The female knight gave a thumbs up. “The condition is that it be delivered to the hunting grounds before the hunting festival starts in two days. The quantity is five hundred bottles. I know you are requesting it urgently, but I will not charge you any additional fees. Instead, you must pay the full amount in advance.” “No problem. I’ll bring the money tomorrow morning.” With the one who was picking a fight gone, the deal went through in no time. The female knight introduced herself as the supply officer. Her expression, which was deeply frowning as she apologized for the rudeness of the vice commander, made it clear what kind of person the vice commander was. It seemed he was someone who believed that only by being fastidious and complaining could he assert his superiority. Lucette, who gave the supply officer a few bottles of fatigue reliever as a service, organized the ledger. ‘Certainly, sales have increased a lot since I started working here.’ As she closed the ledger, feeling proud that she was being helpful, Isaac approached her and asked. “Can you make five hundred bottles in two days, Lucette?” “Yes, I have enough ingredients and some things already prepared. Elaine told me in advance.” Isaac shook his head with a hearty laugh. “No, I wasn’t asking about the possibility. I was worried that Lucette might be pushing too hard. I also mentioned the additional fee.” “Ah, I pretended it was a tough job just to get the advance payment. I did it because I was worried that that vice commander would cause more trouble and find another excuse to pick at things!” “That’s what it was. You’re really good at it.…But didn’t it feel bad to deal with someone like that?” “I also wanted to tell people I didn’t want to sell to people like you.” Lucette, who had already prepared the work for tomorrow, said as she packed her bag. “But there are strange customers everywhere, and above all, it would be good if the flower shop did well. Arthur would like it, and Isaac would be happy if his grandfather liked it. If you two are happy, I’m happy too.” Lucette spoke lightly, but Isaac’s ears turned red as he listened. He grabbed Lucette who was about to leave, who was about to leave. “Hey, Lucette.” “Yes. Are you going to give me ice cream today?” “No, today… I want to see you off.” Today, a boy will be waiting at the hotel, so she must refuse. But Isaac seems to have something to say. Lucette tilted her head and accepted his offer. Isaac was silent throughout the way to the hotel, despite his noisy demeanor. Luce, who was rubbing her eyes wondering if something had happened in the flower shop, stood in front of the alley where the hotel was visible. “I’ll go now. Thank you for taking me here, Isaac.” “Lucette.” Isaac’s face, bathed in the night lights, was flushed. She could tell right away that it wasn’t because of the lights. “Do you remember the day we went to pick out a medicine bottle? The day we first bought ice cream together?” “Yes, I remember. But why…” “You said you missed the village full of plants and flowers back then. Do you still feel that way?” “The territory where I lived was filled with lush green scenery whenever I looked around. Big trees, small pretty flowers, low bushes and shrubs. I didn’t know it when I was there, but after coming up to the capital and seeing the gray-white buildings, I finally realized how pretty and beautiful it was.” For someone who had been silent the entire time, it was quite an interesting question. Thinking that perhaps the meticulous Isaac was concerned about her homesickness, Luce smiled and answered. “No, I don’t have time to think about that these days.” It was half true. The suffocating life in the capital didn’t even allow her time to indulge in sentimentality. However, the reason for clinging to the memories of Xenon wasn’t simply due to busyness. There was a doubt whether the life she longed for was truly her own. Just as she had believed her manipulated memories to be true, wasn’t her current emotions also the wizard’s intention? Is there such a thing as a real thought? However, she couldn’t say such things to Isaac. He had always told her to tell him if she had any worries, but she couldn’t tell anyone else about this. ‘I’ll look like a crazy person.’ Luce swallowed her words and ended her words as if she was joking. “It’s okay though. Maybe the flowers I see in the flower shop are so pretty that it’s comforting.” Isaac, slightly raising the corners of his mouth, said quietly. “Lucette, it might seem a bit strange to say this now, but… I’m glad Lucette came. I always thought it was lucky that you were the person I met at the market.” “I’m glad to have met Isaac and Grandpa Arthur too.” “I’m happy that the atmosphere of the flower shop has become lively since Lucette came, and that I now have a friend to share ice cream with. I’m also glad that you treat the work here as your own and always work hard. I guess it’s all good, and that’s why I feel so good when I see you.” Isaac carefully placed a hand on Lucette’s shoulder as if he was handling a flower. “I can tell when I see Lucette today.” “Isaac?” “I keep getting worried. The way you keep taking medicine, how you always smile brightly but sometimes have an empty expression, and how you consider others but seem to expect nothing for yourself… everything.” Isaac, who had been struggling to continue speaking, took his hand away. Luce felt the slow trajectory of the hand withdrawing. Instead of being troubled by his words, she felt an uncanny sense of déjà vu. The person who constantly takes medicine, who has an empty expression, who seems to desire nothing—she realized she was definitely focused on such a person. Lucette had tried not to define that feeling. When everyone asked in unison why she cared so much about that child, she simply answered that it was because they were close childhood friends. She said that she was just worried and concerned. However, the feelings that Isaac’s words made her think were a little different from what she had thought. “I like you, Lucette.” Another person’s face flashed over the soft confession. 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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