82 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 82
82
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There were many renowned and skilled pharmacists in the capital. However, Aileen immediately realized that Glenda was referring to her.
There was a reason why. Glenda enjoyed studying on her own, but she also liked to share academic exchanges with new people.
Therefore, she had extensive contact with people related to pharmacy, and all the prominent pharmacists in the capital were connected to Glenda.
There was nothing to lose by associating with Glenda, an authority in pharmacy, so everyone readily formed a relationship. However, there was one person with whom Glenda had failed to connect.
"I sent several letters before, but I didn't receive a reply. It may not have been delivered properly, so I'm planning to visit her directly this time I'm in the capital."
It was Aileen.
When Aileen first received Glenda's letter in the laboratory on the second floor of the inn, she thought she was dreaming. It was because she wasn't a pharmacist famous enough for her to send a letter.
She was happy to have been chosen by Glenda, but she couldn't confidently reply, having suddenly quit her studies. Aileen quietly put her letter in a drawer.
Since then, she hadn't heard anything, so she thought it was over, but Glenda had been watching Aileen ever since.
"Aren't there many pharmacists like that in the capital? As far as I know, even on Venue Street..."
Aileen subtly tried to mention another pharmacist. However, Glenda frowned deeply and seriously refuted.
"Absolutely not."
Glenda enthusiastically explained why that pharmacist was unique.
It all started when a noble from the capital sought her advice regarding an incurable disease. Despite her best efforts to alleviate his wife's suffering, Glenda, a master of pharmacy, couldn't solve the problem.
While she was feeling sorry, she suddenly received a reply that he had found a pharmacist who could prescribe painkillers. It was only natural that Glenda would take a great interest.
'It's Count Domenico.'
Count Domenico, the Speaker of the Senate, had been steadily purchasing medicine from Aileen for his wife, who was suffering from an incurable disease. It seemed that the Count had contacted Glenda before visiting Aileen. The connection was linked in an unexpected way.
"Since then, I've been researching that pharmacist."
Glenda placed a small glass bottle on the table.
"Would you take a look at this?"
There were small pills in the glass bottle. Aileen barely suppressed her surprise.
'It's the medicine I made.'
It was a headache remedy that Luca, a watch merchant on Venue Street, regularly bought. It was a popular medicine, so there were regular customers besides Luca. Glenda probably got the medicine from another customer.
At the appearance of the headache remedy, Elio, who had been adding interjections from the side, suddenly became excited and joined in.
"He made a headache remedy with willow bark. You have no idea how surprised I was when I first saw this!"
Medicinal plants were also a topic that Elio was researching with Glenda. Glenda calmed Elio down so that he wouldn't get too excited and continued calmly.
"I really wanted to show this medicine to Aileen. Aileen, you would know how amazing this medicine is. In fact, I'm shamelessly asking for your support."
"Aileen. This is a medicine that will benefit everyone."
Glenda and Elio were filled with a sense of mission. It was a sense of mission to make this headache remedy known to the world.
They would definitely meet the pharmacist and persuade them to commercialize the headache remedy, and they earnestly asked for support, saying that the Grand Duchess's help would be a great support. Aileen, looking back and forth at the professors burning with enthusiasm, opened her mouth with great difficulty.
"That pharmacist..."
Glenda and Elio looked at Aileen with sparkling eyes. They looked as if they were wondering if she knew something.
"I know that she's not taking new customers right now. I know that only existing customers are buying medicine through the innkeeper..."
"Yes? Why?"
"Did something happen to her?"
In front of the two people who had become even more serious, Aileen hesitated.
"That's, well."
How should she say this?
After a lot of thought, Aileen confessed with a flushed face.
"Because I became the Grand Duchess..."
Glenda and Elio's mouths opened at the same time. Aileen blinked shyly.
Originally, she had no intention of revealing that she had been making and selling medicine. It was because she didn't think she deserved it.
She was ashamed that she, who hadn't even graduated from university properly, was acting as a pharmacist, so she didn't call it a pharmacy but a laboratory. Most of the customers called her a pharmacist, but she had rarely called herself that.
But if she left it alone, Glenda and Elio seemed like they would chase her to the end of the empire, so she had no choice but to confess.
When Aileen revealed the truth, the professors were silent for a moment. They just froze with surprised faces for a while. As soon as they came to their senses, they immediately looked for God.
"Oh my God!"
And they started pouring out words like crazy. They were both so excited that they were about to lean over the table, unable to stop leaning their upper bodies towards Aileen. They poured out admiration, shock, joy, praise, and questions.
It was a teahouse with quite a few people. The people who had been glancing at them from earlier were now staring openly. Aileen, who hadn't expected such a fierce reaction, blushed even more.
"S, shall we go back to the Grand Duke's Residence for now?"
In order to avoid too much attention, she suggested that they return to the Grand Duke's Residence first. Glenda and Elio stuck to Aileen's side until just before getting into the car, chattering non-stop.
Even in the car on the way back, they seemed to want to seat Aileen right in the middle and bombard her with questions, but fortunately, Aileen rode in the car with Lucio again.
"I didn't know it would turn out like this."
Aileen muttered, but Lucio didn't react. Aileen glanced at him. He had a blank face.
'Is he tired?'
He had been quiet in the teahouse earlier, so it was possible. She didn't bother to talk to Lucio and was thinking about whether there was anything lacking in the guest room prepared in the Grand Duke's Residence.
"...I thought that if I worked hard, I could change."
Lucio suddenly opened his mouth. When Aileen turned around, he was frowning. However, when he met Aileen's eyes, he smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Aileen, you've gone far beyond that. To a place where my hands can't reach... You've gone too far."
He was speaking jokingly with a gentle smile, but somehow, she felt a chill at the end of his words.
But the subtle feeling disappeared so quickly that she wondered if it was her imagination. Lucio chatted happily with Aileen as if nothing had happened.
When they arrived at the Grand Duke's Residence, he immediately got out of the car first. Then, he turned back to escort Aileen, opened the car door himself, and held out his hand. Aileen took Lucio's hand and got out of the car.
"Thank you, Senior."
She smiled slightly and thanked him, then looked at the mansion. She naturally expected Sonio or other employees to come out to greet her, but a completely unexpected person was standing in front of the front door.
"Cesare!"
Aileen's heart soared with joy, and she unknowingly smiled brightly and called his name. He seemed to have returned to the mansion not long ago either, as he was still in his uniform.
'I wonder why he came home early today. And he even came out to greet me.'
Cesare rarely came home early, and he often came home at night or in the early morning. Even on the rare days when he came home early, he was busy working in his office, so she was surprised and thrilled that he had come out to greet her. Aileen was about to run to Cesare when.
"...?"
Lucio gripped Aileen's hand tightly.
