Episode 6. An Unprecedented Acquisition (1)
"Your Highness, are you truly… certain this is all right?"
The kitchen of the detached palace had been cleared out.
Standing in the now-empty kitchen, Gardin swallowed hard. Unable to hide his anxiety, he voiced his concern, and Rakiel responded with a faint smile.
"Hm, still not reassured?"
"Well, that's because…"
"Right. Of course you wouldn't be reassured. This thing is, strictly speaking, used as a poison. Isn't it?"
"…."
The root Rakiel held up.
Unlike before, its surface was now covered in hardened crystals of salt. For the past several days, it had been repeatedly soaked in brine and dried under the sun.
Even so, Gardin couldn't put his mind at ease.
No—if he were being honest?
He'd been so anxious that for days he'd barely slept, fidgeting his toes through restless nights.
'This isn't going to turn into a real disaster, is it?'
A sense of foreboding kept creeping up on him.
Even if His Highness seemed knowledgeable about that root.
Even if His Highness had explained all sorts of unfamiliar terms.
Even if His Highness were to swallow that poisonous root without hesitation…
'…No!'
Just imagining it made his blood run cold. He could practically see the ensuing tragedy unfold before his eyes.
His Highness downing a bowl of poison in one go.
His Highness smiling as if nothing were wrong.
And then His Highness suddenly coughing up blood…
"Y-Your Hiiighness—!"
"Ah, damn it. You scared me. What now? What is it this time?"
"At this point, I know it is presumptuous to say this, but could you not reconsider just once more?"
"Reconsider? Reconsider what?"
"That root, Your Highness."
"Oh, this? Why?"
"No matter how I think about it…"
"It's fine. I won't die."
"Y-Your Hiiighness!"
"Oh, my ears are going to fall off at this rate."
Rakiel let out a wry smile.
The root had already been detoxified and processed, and he was about to brew it into a medicinal decoction. Yet Gardin, who had cooperated so well until now, was suddenly making a fuss. Of course, Rakiel understood why.
'He's still uneasy.'
That was only natural. The root was undeniably a poison. From Gardin's perspective, the anxiety was overwhelming.
Rakiel cleared his throat.
"Sir Gardin."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Actually, I anticipated you might react like this, so I came up with a method last night."
"A method? What might that be?"
"If I make medicine from this poisonous herb… would you be willing to drink it before me?"
"Of course."
"..."
"Your Highness?"
"Ah."
"Why are you looking at me like that…?"
"Oh. I'm just a bit surprised."
He truly was surprised.
He hadn't expected Gardin to nod without even a second's hesitation.
In truth, it had been more of a test question. Would he drink the decoction first? If there was any toxicity, they could confirm it that way.
Wouldn't that put Gardin at ease? Wouldn't he then cooperate without resistance in preparing the medicine?
That was what Rakiel had thought when he asked.
'Well, it was also a chance to gauge Sir Gardin's reaction.'
To see how loyal he was.
How devoted.
Rakiel would be relying on him a great deal in the future.
'But I honestly didn't expect him to agree without even thinking.'
It caught him off guard.
Rakiel asked again.
"Really? You'd drink the decoction first, in my place, to check for poison?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"You mean it?"
"Without a doubt."
"..."
That serious gaze. He meant it.
'Phew.'
Rakiel felt slightly flustered.
And grateful.
He concealed those feelings as best he could.
"Very well. Then you can rest a little easier now, can't you?"
"Yes. I do feel somewhat reassured."
At last, Sir Gardin smiled faintly.
He truly felt relieved.
Even if the worst were to happen, the one who would suffer from the poison would be himself—not the Crown Prince.
"Good. Then from here on, just stand back and watch what I do."
"Understood, Your Highness."
Sir Gardin stepped back.
Rakiel smiled faintly at him. He was surprised, and he was grateful.
That said, gratitude aside, he had absolutely no intention of making Sir Gardin drink the decoction first.
'Why would I give him something that good? I'm the one who's going to lick up every last drop, all of it.'
He declined that kind of "concession."
Once the decoction was finished?
Before Sir Gardin could even step forward, he would quickly gulp it down in one shot. That had been the plan from the very beginning.
'Well, Sir Gardin fell for it, so I'd say it's a success.'
At least now, the knight wouldn't panic and try to stop him.
So now—
It was time to carry out the plan.
'Let's see.'
Rakiel looked around the kitchen. Most of the tools needed to prepare a decoction were reasonably well supplied.
A glass bowl of suitable size.
Processed aconite root.
Prepared ephedra.
Asarum , the dried root of manchurian wild ginger.
And even freshly drawn clear spring water from the flowing spring.
'And the final ingredient is me.'
Rakiel regulated his breathing, calm and steady.
According to ancient texts, handling herbal medicine required three kinds of devotion.
The devotion of the physician who prescribes and compounds the medicine.
The devotion of the guardian who carefully brews it.
And the devotion of the patient, who takes the medicine faithfully without missing the proper time.
Only when all those forms of sincerity came together and fulfilled their roles could a decoction truly do its work.
'Looks like now's the time for me to play all three roles myself.'
Prescribe it himself, brew it himself, and finish it off with a self-administered one-shot.
'Let's do this.'
Having steeled his resolve, Rakiel began brewing the decoction.
He placed the spring water and medicinal ingredients into the glass bowl. First, he brought it to a vigorous boil over a strong fire . Then he reduced it to a gentle flame to prevent it from boiling over.
And slowly, he let it simmer.
Until the liquid was reduced to less than half of its original volume.
As slowly as possible.
As steadily as possible.
Brewing it. Standing watch beside it.
When it became difficult, sitting down to catch his breath.
Even then, keeping his eyes wide open.
Guarding the fire.
For more than three hours, in the end.
Thankfully, without losing consciousness.
"…I did it."
Fighting off dizziness, Rakiel smiled.
The decoction had been properly prepared. It was the completed Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang . Still, he didn't relax. He waited for the sediment in the glass bowl to settle, then used a ladle to scoop only the clear liquid from the top into a cup.
Of course, he didn't drink it right away.
He sat down on the floor, legs folded neatly beneath him.
And waited.
Perhaps that was why—
Seeing Sir Gardin fidgeting nearby, stealing glances his way, Rakiel suddenly felt like laughing.
"Sir Gardin. If you have something to say, say it. Don't just blink at me from the side."
"Um, Your Highness?"
"Yes?"
"I'm not sure if it's my place to ask this, but…"
"Go on."
"Well, it looks like you've finished brewing the medicine."
"Yes. And?"
"Then… may I drink it now?"
"No. Not yet."
Rakiel shook his head.
A look of unease crossed Sir Gardin's face.
"Your Highness, have you perhaps changed your mind? Earlier, you clearly said you would have me drink it first to test for poison…"
Sir Gardin's expression took on a certain grim resolve. Seeing that look, it seemed his earlier words had indeed been sincere.
"Hah. Honestly."
Rakiel finally burst out laughing.
Sir Gardin still looked at him with eyes full of hardened resolve. There was no trace of falsehood in that gaze.
Rakiel felt both reassured and saddened at the same time.
'Tsk, tsk. This is exactly why you died so helplessly in the original story.'
In The Demon Sword Emperor, Gardin was the physician who remained by Crown Prince Rakiel's side until the very end.
Originally, he hadn't even been the chief physician.
He'd merely been the real physician's assistant.
And yet he stayed until the end.
And then he was executed.
The death of the Crown Prince he served.
He was held responsible for that death.
Stubborn, loyal, reliable, and faithful. Lacking in cunning, simply innocent and devoted, carrying out his duties with unwavering loyalty. Perhaps that was the essence of the man named Gardin.
'Someone like this ought to do well.'
Recalling the futile end Sir Gardin met in the original story, Rakiel felt a bitter taste rise in his mouth. In truth, the world was often like this. Korea was no different.
'People who quietly and faithfully shoulder their responsibilities rising to success—it's practically a fairy tale. Something that happens only on rare occasions, so rare it feels like fiction. In reality, it's usually the clever, opportunistic ones who live better lives.'
That was reality.
If you lived quietly and diligently, doing nothing but fulfilling your responsibilities—
You'd simply become a tail that gets cut off without a word. Just like Gardin in the original story, disappearing as dew on the execution ground.
Rakiel let out a bitter smile.
"Hoo. Enough already. Why does everything have to be so extreme with you?"
"…Pardon?"
"You said it was dangerous, so don't go volunteering to test it yourself. If it's really that dangerous, there are plenty of other ways."
"Other ways, you say…?"
"At the very least, you could give it to a frog or a rat."
"Ah…!"
"Right?"
"Shall I go catch a rat at once?"
"…In a little while. This decoction is supposed to be drunk after it cools."
"Pardon?"
"It's meant to be taken after it cools. Decoctions with aconite in them."
"Meant to… originally?"
"Yeah. That's why I'm waiting for it to cool properly."
"..."
"What now? What are you curious about this time?"
"You just said 'originally'…"
"..."
Damn it.
Rakiel quickly spoke up.
"I saw it in a dream. Lately, every night, a mage who gives off the aura of a great sage visits my dreams and teaches me how to handle medicinal herbs and how to regulate health with acupuncture. Is that enough?"
"In a dream… you say?"
"I know it's hard to believe. But I think you'd believe me. That's why I'm telling you—and only you. Just so you know, this has to stay between us. Understood?"
"Y-yes, Your Highness."
He deliberately adopted a stern tone.
Sir Gardin bowed his head with a flustered expression.
…Looks like the excuse worked.
'I need to be more careful.'
Gardin's loyalty was likely not toward this self, but toward "Crown Prince Rakiel." So no matter what, he had to remain Crown Prince Rakiel.
He'd been careless just now.
Speaking as if this were simply how traditional medicine worked. He resolved to be more cautious in the future as he checked the decoction. In the meantime, the cup had cooled sufficiently.
'Good.'
Please let it work.
Please let this extend my life.
Praying with all his heart, Rakiel reached out.
Without giving Sir Gardin any chance to interfere.
He swiftly lifted the suitably cooled cup.
Brought it to his lips.
Tilted it.
Gulp!
"…Y-Your Highness!"
Sir Gardin cried out in alarm.
Ignoring him, Rakiel downed it in one breath.
A sharp, stinging sensation stabbed down his esophagus.
And at that very moment—
Ding-dong!
A clear notification chime rang out.
And then—
[You have consumed Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang, prepared using the correct method.]
[Mahuang and Xixin stabilize the bronchial tubes. Throat pain subsides. They assist with antipyretic effects, cough suppression, and the expulsion of phlegm.]
[Fuzi eliminates coldness and pain and actively supports metabolism.]
[The appropriate cardiotonic effect of Fuzi smooths the circulation of blood through the heart.]
[With stimulation now flowing smoothly, the king of the five viscera—the heart—awakens.]
[The Astral Heart Method, a secret art of the imperial bloodline engraved upon your heart but left unused due to your weak constitution, is awakening.]