Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: A Peculiar Herb
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Something Knox said felt a little strange, so I narrowed my eyes.
*Is this guy a pervert?*
I quickly took a couple of steps back from him. Knox burst out laughing.
“It was a joke. Just a joke.”
“What? Was it really a joke? You seem like a weirdo.”
I backed away a little more, wary of him. He was dangerous. Not because of the joke he'd just made, but because Knox truly exuded a dangerous aura.
“So, what's your reason? Just give me an answer.”
He asked me persistently.
“It's a hobby.”
“Pardon?”
“My life is nothing but money, so I'm looking for some unconventional fun.”
Oh. The words came out of my own mouth, but that was brilliant. Wouldn't anyone find that a convincing explanation?
Knox's eyes widened as he stared at me. He blinked blankly for a moment, then suddenly started clapping.
“That was pretty cool.”
“I thought nobles didn't like people who brag about money.”
“I'm different. I prefer character over culture. I can't stand anything bland.”
“Ah, I see.”
“…”
“…”
“…Is that it?”
Just then, Ethan emerged from the hallway to the left.
“What are you talking about?”
It seemed he had taken the opportunity to look around while my attention was on Knox.
“I was giving him a tour of the mansion. Shall we head over there for now?”
In any case, I had Knox and Ethan sit at a table in the banquet hall. Then I served them tea, and they seemed fascinated by the very fact that I was brewing and serving it myself.
I ignored their curious gazes and asked Knox.
“So, what was it you wanted to tell me?”
“I'd like to speak with you alone.”
Ethan's face contorted into a deep scowl as he glared at Knox.
“What? Alone? How suspicious. Are you close with Miss Cherry? Why would you want to be alone with her when you're not? That's weird.”
This time, I was the one to rebut Ethan's words.
“I'm not close with you either, Sir Ethan. By that logic, the weirdest person here is me, for letting two men I barely know into my home when I live alone.”
“But I'm a police officer.”
Ethan replied, then ran a hand through his hair with an embarrassed look, as if he knew how flimsy his own excuse sounded.
Knox, who was sitting with his legs casually crossed, spoke up.
“I personally dislike Lancasters. So I'd appreciate it if you'd send this one away.”
“I hate you too, you bastard. So I'm not leaving.”
Knox and Ethan growled at each other.
Why did I have to bring these two here together? I was regretting it immensely.
Even in the original novel, Ethan and Knox didn't get along.
Their relationship had probably soured in earnest during their time at the Royal Lubridge Benton College.
Unexpectedly, it was Knox who had picked fights with Ethan over every little thing, claiming he didn't like him. And it was Ethan who fell for Knox's provocations every time. Contrary to his appearance, Ethan was a good person.
Unlike Knox, the youngest son of the Ludpersher marquisate, Ethan was the sole heir to the Duke of Lancaster. A noble of nobles who had grown up in the public eye.
However, he himself had no interest in being the Lancaster heir and even had a rough personality unbecoming of a nobleman.
For Knox, who prized elegance and dignity, that would have been more than enough reason to pick a fight.
While I was lost in thought, the two continued their bickering. I finally felt the need to intervene and spoke curtly to Ethan.
“This is never going to end. I'm going to speak with Mr. Ludpersher alone for now. Sir Ethan, I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Miss Cherry.”
“I'm sorry to send you off like this, my dear worker. Thanks for coming. Goodbye.”
Ethan looked displeased. He even narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting between Knox and me.
But he had no further justification to persuade me. In the end, Ethan put on his crisp police hat and stood up.
Knox smiled and waved at Ethan.
“Goodbye.”
“I will see you tomorrow, Miss Cherry. Please be careful.”
Ethan ignored Knox and said his goodbyes to me, making it painfully obvious that he didn't want to leave.
Anyway, after confirming that Ethan had left the banquet hall, crossed the garden, and exited through the main gate, I turned to Knox.
“There. Is this better?”
“Thank you for your consideration, my lady.”
Knox replied with a gentle smile. I sighed and leaned back in my chair. For some reason, today felt incredibly long.
The sun had already set, and it was getting dark outside. I eventually got up and lit the lamps in the banquet hall.
Closing the lid of the oil lighter, I returned to my seat and looked at Knox's face across the table.
Knox, who had been quietly watching me, finally began to speak slowly.
“How much do you know about the Elpinus Herb?”
“Pardon?”
It was a very unexpected question.
But it wasn't a strange question, either. The reason we had met today was, after all, because of the Elpinus Herb.
Still, I couldn't figure out Knox's intentions. Could it be that he knew something about the Elpinus Herb's vaccine-like properties?
“…To be honest, I don't know much. I found it on the street.”
Unsure of his intentions, my answer was less than forthcoming. Knox rested his chin on his clasped hands and stared at me intently.
He exuded a somewhat languid yet ferocious aura, as if watching a rat in a jar. But the moment our eyes met, he would flash a puppy-dog smile as if that had never been the case.
An uncomfortable silence filled the banquet hall.
*Did I make a mistake sending Ethan away?*
I suddenly regretted it. Ethan might have been suspicious and wary of me, but his presence had been reassuring.
Still, I'm stronger than Knox, so if worst comes to worst, I can just punch him into next week.
*Ethan's a cop, so hitting him would be a problem, but Knox isn't, right?*
I was in the middle of that thought.
“There's no need to be so tense. Lancaster may be hostile toward you, but I'm quite favorably disposed.”
“That's what's strange. Why are you so favorable toward me? There's no reason for it.”
“I want to help you. I don't know what you're trying to do, but I think it will be fun to watch.”
Knox seemed sincere as he said it. But I answered firmly.
“I don't need help.”
“I think you will. Aren't you planning to grow the Elpinus Herb here?”
I nodded reluctantly.
“…Yes.”
“Cultivating the Elpinus Herb is difficult. It's a rare herb, so finding information about it will be hard as well.”
Why was such a rare herb at 61 Notium Street? The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
“Hmm… Hold on a moment.”
After a moment of thought, I decided to simply agree with Knox. I needed help.
So, I left Knox in the banquet hall, went to my room, and retrieved the box of Elpinus Herb.
Then I showed it to Knox. I absolutely had to cultivate this herb.
If there was a place where it grew wild, I was even prepared to go dig it up myself.
“I'm planning to grow this herb in the vegetable garden.”
“Where is the vegetable garden?”
I pointed out the banquet hall window toward the garden. It was too dark to see anything, though.
“I pulled out the weeds today. Tomorrow, I plan to till the soil and add compost. I'm going to plant crops in two weeks, so I can plant the Elpinus then too, right?”
“Miss Cherry, this isn't a crop.”
“Isn't it a medicinal crop?”
“You shouldn't think of the Elpinus Herb as a normal plant. Its cultivation method is a bit unique.”
“How is it unique…?”
“It grows by eating insects.”
“…Pardon?”
I've never heard of a plant that eats insects. There was no mention of how to cultivate the Elpinus Herb in the original novel, either.
I stared at Knox, a little flustered. Was that why it looked like an insect? More importantly, I had to eat it to gain immunity, and that thought suddenly made me feel queasy.
“What kind of insects? And how does an herb even eat insects?”
“The roots absorb nutrients from the insects. And it seems to eat various kinds. It appears to like things such as centipedes and spiders.”
Dammit. All the many-legged creatures I hate. The roots of this herb eat those insects, and I have to eat that herb…
“Aaargh! I pictured it!”
I tore at my hair, writhing in agony. Knox just laughed at my expression, saying it was amusing. I take back what I said about him being a gentleman.
*Why is that guy so smug? Dammit.*
Anyway, to sum up what Knox said, I didn't need things like compost.
You just had to plant the seeds in level ground with freshly dead insects, water it, and then periodically bury more dead insects nearby, and it would grow well.
*What a peculiar cultivation method.*
In any case, if Knox was right, I couldn't plant the Elpinus Herb now because I didn't have any insects.
*Looks like I'll be spending tomorrow hunting for insects.*
I shuddered, then looked at Knox. A good idea had just popped into my head.
“You said you'd help me grow the Elpinus Herb. You seem to know a lot about it.”
“If you wish, Miss Cherry, I can help with the cultivation as well. I know the Elpinus well. Not all doctors are experts in herbs, but I am exceptionally skilled.”
Knox even offered a gentle smile, his expression showing he would help with all his heart.
“That's wonderful.”
I don't need him to know anything else. As long as he knows how to handle the Elpinus Herb.
“Alright, Mr. Ludpersher. Help me cultivate the herb. I'm counting on you.”
The truth was, I asked for his help because I didn't want to catch insects with my own hands, but it was also true that I thought he would be a great help since he knew so much about the Elpinus Herb.
“It'll be fun.”
At my added remark, Knox's eyes widened as if he'd heard something completely unexpected.
Soon, he burst out laughing. It was a hearty, booming laugh that echoed throughout the banquet hall.