109: You Know The Black Nightshade?

You Know The Black Nightshade?

Oriana was too overwhelmed to take in the sight, but fortunately, she was able to snap out of her thoughts when she saw Roman hurrying towards the armchair behind the master desk. The butler pulled it out for Arlan to sit in it.  0

'So this is what I have to do?" Oriana took note. 'I think I have the gist of my workload. I need to be considerate and attentive, observing this prince, preventing inconveniences while anticipating his needs.'

Her gaze scanned the interior of the study. 

'I wonder if I will ever get used to this extravagance though. This is bad for my heart.'

A knock was heard and a handsome blonde scholar in his mid-thirties entered the study. 

"Good afternoon, Your Highness," the prim and proper man greeted. "I hope you have eaten your fill. The affairs under your brother had been temporarily transferred to you, and this, this, this, these three documents needed to be reviewed within the day."

Arlan gave an unhappy look at his personal aide, Lucas Warren, who had arrived with a few more scrolls in his hands, as if the piles of documents kept on his desk were not high enough for his liking.

While Arlan listened to the reports of his aide, Oriana peeked at his serious expression. 'He looks so serious while working. No one would have guessed his real self is evil and perverted.'

"...Your Highness, from the message we received last night, the physician we invited from Abetha will arrive in the capital in two days."

"Hmm." 

'Physician?' Oriana's eyes brightened. 'Master Cenric will be here in two days?' 

This piece of news was simply heaven sent. 

"We have made arrangements for his stay in the rear mansion closest to His Majesty's residence. However, I believe once treatment begins, the Queen should request that the physician stay in a guest room within the Palace of Oak."

"Hmm."

'Coming here is not useless. Not bad, not bad. He is a prince so I will get useful information from him. Ah, this prince is my lucky charm of sorts, if only his personality isn't so twisted.'

His aide continued to speak, "After reviewing those three documents, Your Highness can take a short break. May I remind you that you also need to attend tonight's ball at the Count Milton's residence."

"Hmm."

"There is news that Count Milton wishes to have his eldest daughter marry you. Even Her Majesty the Queen fancy Young Lady Milton."

"Hmm."

His reaction was the same to each and every information. Oriana somewhat found it funny, how he sounded so much like Luke.

'Is this a man's thing? To 'hmm' in response? Is he even listening or just pretending to listen? But wow, I never imagined a prince's schedule is this packed. In the stories passed around, commoners like me only heard them committing adultery or throwing parties here and there. I guess if I were this swamped with work on a daily basis, I would also want to entertain myself and let loose.'

"About the smuggling of banned herbs…"

Hearing these words, Oriana felt her breath stuck in her lungs. Every strand of hair on her body stood on high alert. 

"...Duke Selve has successfully taken care of it. After we caught that last ship at Selve Port, we captured those who worked with Merchant Finn. Our men also found the hideout of their supplier on Azures Island. The smuggled herbs, like the black nightshade and wolfsbane, have been confiscated by our men and sent to the magistrate as evidence of their crime. 

"...After the trial, the palace will seize the properties of Golden Hawk Merchants, and as reward, a parcel of land will be granted to—"

The more Oriana heard, the more she felt her blood go cold.

'Last ship? Azures? Golden Hawk Merchants? The secret hideout? That ought to be Ron and his fellow smugglers. Their departure was delayed since I accidentally messed up that place. Was the royal palace cracking down on smuggled goods? Heh, then I did a good thing and contributed to them catching those crooks! No, wait—

'From what his aide is saying, they raided the place after I bought those five stalks. Even if I didn't participate, they would have captured them. If I acted a day later, I might have been captured too. What a close save.' 

A shiver ran through her spine, remembering the handsome devil with red eyes who tried to catch her. 

'I was fortunate to not be caught by that man. Is that red-eyed man also an official of the palace? Since he didn't see my face, I should be safe.' Oriana felt a headache forming. 'Too close. I even used the silver coins given by this brat to fund my travel. If he finds out that I am in possession of banned herbs, I am dead for sure. The single stalk I am carrying with me, I cannot let it be found.'

Arlan put down the scroll in his hand. "The issue of smuggling won't be easily solved. The coast is wide and there are many ports, not just Selve. It will be impossible to guard the entire coastline."

"Indeed, Your Highness," his aide responded. "Even if not Griven, then they can enter through another kingdom, then bribe the soldiers doing border inspection." 

"We need to find the source."

"Your Highness?"

"The place where they grow these banned herbs. Finding the smugglers won't do."

"Azures Island belongs to the territory of the Kingdom of Megaris, Your Highness. The islands beyond are also not part of Griven anymore. Our men won't be able to freely move—" 

"The place where they grow it, we need to destroy it whether it's in our kingdom or another. Banning those dangerous herbs is a law unanimously passed during the 19th Kingdom Summit. Megaris will coordinate with us."

'Place where they grow it? If I find it, then I can get as many herbs as I can for Grandpa's medication,' Oriana wondered. 

"Lucas, determine where these herbs could be found. I want a map by the time I return from the ball."

The aide, whose name now Oriana learned, bowed. "Yes, Your Highness—"

"Wait." Blue eyes swept in her direction. "Orian."

Hearing her name called, Oriana was startled, and she was like a cat whose tail was stepped on. 

"Y-Your Highness?"

Arlan's gaze was on Oriana as he spoke slowly, "You are an herbalist. You must know about black nightshade."

She felt her heart skip a beat at this question as if a thief was caught.

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