This Villain Is Mine Now

Chapter 64

“Elaina!”

“Diane!”

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Diane practically leapt out and ran toward Elaina. The two hugged each other tightly, and Nathan shook his head with an amused smile as he watched.

It was the first time they were meeting since Diane had left for Hennet. Though they had exchanged many letters, seeing each other face to face after so long made the emotions swell up even more.

“Now I understand why you and Nathan grew so close while exchanging letters.”

Elaina still remembered the surprise she felt when Gugu, the pigeon, had shown up at her bedroom window with a letter from Diane. When Gugu, now sitting in a birdcage, saw Elaina, it cooed happily, as if it recognized her.

“You came just in time. Finally, we get to put the guest rooms to use.”

Elaina led the two of them proudly into the archducal residence.

Over the past six months, the mansion had undergone a complete transformation. Though they had initially focused on the necessary repairs, now even the guest rooms were ready to accommodate visitors. Elaina provided Diane and Nathan with the best guest room, and their eyes widened in surprise.

“Wow. This is the guest room in the archducal residence?”

“This… It’s even nicer than our own room.”

Diane admired the beautifully decorated room, and each time she pointed out Elaina’s thoughtful touches, Elaina nodded with a satisfied smile.

After unpacking, the three of them went out to the garden for tea. Nathan was scheduled to conduct experiments at the academy tower starting tomorrow, and though he had a busy schedule, he had set aside an entire day to express his gratitude to Elaina, whom he considered a benefactor.

“About the potion you mentioned…”

After exchanging small talk about their recent lives, Nathan brought up the subject of work. At the mention of the potion, Elaina visibly tensed, swallowing nervously.

“It still needs more preparation, but there has been significant progress.”

“Really? That’s wonderful. It’s faster than I expected.”

“It’s easier working together rather than alone,” Nathan spoke while affectionately holding Diane’s hand, and Diane smiled shyly at him.

“Hennet is a quiet, rural place, and there wasn’t much for me to do. Helping Nathan with his research meant we could spend the entire day together, and it also sped up the work.”

“Well, now that you’re in the capital, stay with me for a while.”

Elaina teased, rolling her eyes at the couple’s display of affection, and Nathan waved his hands apologetically.

“Oh, of course! You don’t need to worry. We didn’t bring any research materials related to the potion on this trip.”

“Huh? Then what experiments are you planning?”

Nathan scratched his head. “It’s about the herbs I mentioned last time.”

“Ah, the ones from the Mabel Mountains?”

“Yes, the ones used to make the sachet you gifted me. The effects were fascinating, and thanks to His Grace sending ample supplies, I had an exciting research opportunity.”

Nathan pulled out two sachets from his coat.

“This is the one you sent before, and this is my improved version.”

Elaina took both sachets and inhaled their scents. The original one had the same relaxing, soothing effect as before.

When she moved to smell the modified sachet, Nathan quickly warned her.

“Don’t inhale too deeply. It’s still in development and needs adjustments.”

Cautiously, Elaina took a sniff. The scent was nearly the same, though it seemed a bit more bitter, like it had an added medicinal quality.

But the moment she smelled it, she realized her fingertips had gone numb.

“This is…?”

“Exactly as you’re experiencing. It causes paralysis while keeping the mind fully conscious. The base herb only seems to relax the body, but with the right combination—”

“Nathan believes that once perfected, this sachet could help many people, especially for medical purposes.”

Diane chimed in, her eyes sparkling as she continued, “Many patients die not from their illness but from surgical complications. They can’t endure the pain, and the drugs nobles use are not only highly addictive but also easily lead to overdoses.”

Elaina looked at Diane with wide eyes, surprised by her passion on the subject.

Nathan nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with determination. “With further refinement, it could also serve as a pain reliever. The dosage of the herb would need to be adjusted, of course.”

Elaina was amazed. A medication that could reduce pain was something she had never heard of before.

“It’s true that I should be focusing on the potion you requested, but I couldn’t just ignore the potential of these herbs…”

Nathan quickly reassured her that he would still complete the potion research on schedule, and Diane nodded in agreement.

“Drane also said it would be more productive to alternate between different topics. Nathan tends to get too absorbed in one thing, so sometimes it’s good to give his mind a break.”

“Drane? Who is that?” Elaina asked curiously, tilting her head.

“He’s Nathan’s cousin. He runs a small trading company in Hennet and is quite skilled at it.”

Drane was almost like the youngest member of their family, given how close he was to Nathan’s relatives.

“It’s not just about helping patients that drives my interest in these herbs.”

Nathan clenched his fist as he continued, “These herbs don’t exist in any other regions I’ve studied. I believe they only grow deep within the Mabel Mountains. Since the locals lack formal knowledge, they’ve only used them as sleep aids. In other words—”

“You mean if you develop a paralytic scent from this herb, it could greatly benefit the northern territories.”

“Exactly. The monopoly would allow us to set our own prices. Both commoners and nobles would be interested in such a product.”

“Hmm.”

Elaina studied Nathan closely. He had always embodied the spirit of a scholar, but now she saw a more strategic side to him.

“Is this idea also Drane’s?”

Nathan looked at Elaina with surprise.

“Why are you so shocked? It didn’t seem like something you or Diane would come up with, so I asked.”

“Uh, yes. You’re right. When he heard that the archduke was leading the monster subjugation, Drane became very interested. He said that the northern region, especially the Mabel Mountain area, could become a key trade route.”

Nathan explained further. Though Mabel Mountain was treacherous, if a safe path could be established, many traders would prefer it over the sea route.

The sea was not always safe. Even if the chances were low, sudden storms or pirate raids could threaten not just the cargo but the lives of everyone aboard. Moreover, using the sea route was far more expensive than traveling overland.

“If a proper path is established through the Mabel Mountain region, trading companies will use it. Mercenaries will gather to guard the caravans. Eventually, tasks like monster subjugations could be entrusted to them as well.”

Where people gathered, money followed, and vice versa. It was a straightforward and reliable way to revive the Mabel region, which had been largely abandoned by its inhabitants.

“I see. Developing an overland route… I hadn’t thought of that.”

They were scouring the treacherous mountains for the monster subjugation, so even the steepest paths could be made passable.

“You said he’s running a trading company?”

“He’s preparing to take over his father’s business. Right now, he’s the deputy head.”

For a mere deputy of a trading company, Drane had remarkable insight. His thoughts on monopolies and overland routes were impressive.

“It seems like a waste for him to remain in his current position. He could rise much higher if he wanted.”

Nathan scratched his cheek. “I agree, but his status as a commoner limits his opportunities…”

“A commoner.”

Elaina let out a small laugh, her thoughts drifting to a certain knight order in the north, bravely subjugating monsters.