Chapter 54

......However.

When it comes to that medicine, there is a problem when you start to think about it. That medicine was probably commissioned from the most famous pharmacist in the capital.

A pharmacist who has treated every knight of the royal army at least once, and whose medicines, crafted with deep knowledge and precise compounding techniques, are undoubtedly effective.

All of the pharmacist's medicines are expensive.

Given that they are made from specially cultivated herbs, collected with appropriate methods, and produced with meticulous care, it is understandable why they are expensive. Even so, they are a considerable expense for the knights of the royal army.

If they were not expensive, there would be a proliferation of foolish people who would casually fall ill or get injured. Considering this, setting a high price is a wise decision.

However, a friend brought a medicine for chapped hands, something that such a renowned pharmacist would never normally make.

Moreover.

Instead of being placed in a heavy, ornate container that emphasizes its high value, it was placed in an extremely common, small ceramic container.

It is surprising that the pharmacist, who deals with knights and nobles, would accept such a special order.

Even if one were to wave the authority of the royal family, the pharmacist would not listen and would only laugh at them.

Yet, the friend with a mysterious background managed to accomplish this feat.

...It must have taken days and days of pleading.

A royal prince, no less, must have earnestly pleaded for the chapped hands of a single fallen noble's daughter. Even if the pharmacist, who was probably tired of it, demanded an exorbitant amount of money, he must have joyfully paid the required amount and even prepared additional funds.

The thought of the stubborn pharmacist's reaction... is frightening to imagine.

The fact that a brightly colored ribbon, usually used for the luxurious containers, was wrapped around the cheap and ordinary container, is probably a sign of the pharmacist's subtle resistance.

Really, I wish he would spare me.

My sister already has a fiancé and will be married soon.

I want to praise her for not changing her attitude in front of Lucie, but if she had, I would have banned her from the house at the point of that medicine.

However, there are many points to sympathize with that man, and I do have a desire to let him rest in Laguren, where there are no ties.

...It's giving me a headache.

"Albes, are you okay? You look troubled."

When he realized it, Lucie was looking at him worriedly.

Albes remembered that he was in the middle of breakfast and hurriedly put on a smile.

"Nothing. ...No, actually, there is something. My hands are a bit sore from yesterday's sheep shearing. So, can I ask you to repair the bedding?"

"Oh, you were thinking about that? Sure, I have confidence that I can do a better job than you!"

Lucie laughed brightly and poured more tea.

As Albes brought the hot tea to his lips, he suddenly caught a strand of hair falling over his eyes.

"By the way, my hair has grown a bit. Maybe I should get it cut."

The moment he said this casually,

Lucie stood up with a loud thud.

"Albes, you're not going to cut it yourself, are you?"

"No, I was planning to. If I have a mirror, it shouldn't be that difficult..."

"No way!"

Albes swallowed the words he was about to say at his sister's strong tone.

"Didn't you cut your own hair before?"

"That's normal, isn't it?"

"It's not normal! You are a viscount! You must stop cutting your hair so carelessly!"

"Is it really that bad?"

In the knight corps, almost everyone cut their own hair.

He thought it was normal and, since he could do it well enough, he had always done it that way. Of course, if he were in the position and status of that friend who was troubling him, he would have servants or professional barbers to do it for him...

However, before Albes could say anything, Lucie's eyes turned cold.

"Albes, as a lord, you can't be so careless. Do you know how much the people of the domain have lamented over your hair? You are forbidden to cut it yourself. I will cut it for you, so absolutely do not do it alone!"

Her eyes were cold, but her tone was fierce.

Albes, who usually doesn't flinch at most things, leaned back in his chair.

Realizing her behavior, Lucie cleared her throat and sat back down.

Her posture was beautiful, and she drank her tea gracefully.

But the moment their eyes met, she glared at him again, and Albes quickly looked away.

"You're not thinking about cutting it yourself secretly, are you?"

"I understand. I won't cut it myself. I'll ask you, Lucie. But can you really cut hair?"

"I've been cutting the hair of the shepherds' children recently. I've been practicing, and I should be able to do a better job than you, so don't worry."

"Then I'll leave it to you. ...But my hair, it doesn't really matter, does it?"

He couldn't help but mutter this.

Then, Lucie, with her sharp ears, looked at him with a disappointed expression.

"Albes, you are too careless about yourself. You are a young, single viscount. You always dress properly, so why are you so careless about your hairstyle? Speaking of which, you are completely different from Fil. Fil takes care of many things, but his grooming is sometimes very sloppy."

"...I don't really like being compared to him."

Albes looked annoyed.

It wasn't strange for the name of the guest who had stayed until a month ago to come up.

But, given that he had been troubled by that friend, it made him very angry.

However, Lucie, who mentioned the friend's name, seemed completely carefree. For now, the problem was with that friend.

Given the situation, it would be immature to argue about it. Albes sighed softly and drank his tea silently.

"Good morning, Albes, Lucie!"

A lively voice came from the back door. It was Yurana, who helps with the housework.

Lucie quickly finished her tea and went out to greet Yurana.

The day of the Laguren family had already begun.

The debt from the grandfather's generation still remained, and the funds for Lucie's marriage were not sufficient. The recovery of the domain was going smoothly, but it was not yet complete.

Albes had a mountain of tasks to do.

"Alright, let's go."

Albes stood up.

Just then, Lucie returned with Yurana. It seemed that Yurana's daughter was also helping today.

Given this, the additional task of repairing the bedding would not be a burden.

As he carried the plates left on the table to the washing area, Albes suddenly thought of his beloved horse.

He hadn't ridden it much lately.

This thought made him feel uneasy, so he cleared his throat and spoke to his sister.

"Lucie, if I can find the time, I want to go on a patrol of the farmland today or tomorrow and extend my ride a bit further..."

"Are you going to ride your horse? That's good. If you leave after noon, I'll prepare a lunch box for you."

"...Thanks. I always cause trouble."

"Patrolling the farmland and showing your face to the people of the domain are important duties of a lord. Only you can do it. ...And, I think you work too hard."

Lucie smiled, but her eyes were serious for a moment.

The light in her eyes was that of a thoughtful adult.

—That's right. Lucie is no longer a child.

Not only is her wedding day approaching, but as the sister of a lord, she is taking on various responsibilities and is a reliable person.

This realization hit him in the chest.

He wanted to be happy about his sister's growth, but a sudden feeling of loneliness mixed in, so he placed his hand on Lucie's head.

When he stroked her black hair as he used to, Lucie smiled happily.

Her face was the same as when she was a child.

...Just a little more. There is still a year and a half until Lucie gets married.

Although she has matured rapidly, she still needs to be protected.

Smiling in return, Albes reaffirmed his resolve.

(End of Extra Chapter: Albes' Daily Life)