𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞
My mother returned from our territory.
I was surprised to see how much she had aged in less than a month when I went to greet her.
“Okaa-sama, you seem very tired. Was the epidemic in the territory that severe?”
“That’s part of it, but Ellen, there might be a war. Several foreign reconnaissance ships have been spotted off our territory. The royal family has been notified. Since it involves our Bowen family’s territory, Otou-sama and the royal family will start discussions today.”
“A war… with which country?”
“Judging from the characteristics of the ships, it’s probably the Kingdom of Galavares in the southern sea.”
The Kingdom of Galavares is a large island nation about a week’s journey by ship from the coast of our territory.
“Is the Kingdom of Galavares strong?”
“Our country is more powerful, but in recent years, Galavares seems to have been desperate to increase its military power, so we can’t let our guard down.”
As I was brooding, night fell. When Otou-sama came home with a haggard face, he told me about the content of the discussion.
“The Kingdom of Galavares has recently undergone a change of leadership, and a young queen is now in power. It seems that the war is her father’s idea. A large number of military ships are reportedly gathering in the port of Galavares.”
Then my mother continued the conversation.
“If they land, I think it will be from the coast of our territory, so our private soldiers will fully participate in the war. Of course, Stephan too.”
“I understand.”
It’s terrifying, but if we don’t strike first in our territory, the battle will spread and other territories will be affected.
After that, I don’t remember well what I said when I retired to my room. Stephan, who has been protecting me since I was a child, will fight in the war, probably in the front line… Just imagining that made me feel weak.
“That’s right.”
Expensive medicines are put in glass bottles with metal tags. I pulled out a silver plate for that purpose, and used a small hammer and letter stick to punch in the letters.
[𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧]
I’ll give it to him as a charm. So that even if he is injured and unconscious, he can be identified as Stephan.
I went to deliver the finished name tag to Stephan’s room, but Stephan was out, and Hanna received it instead.
“My brother went to say goodbye to his acquaintances in town. He said it might be the last time.”
I hugged Hanna, who had a tear-streaked face.
“Don’t say such unlucky things. Stephan is strong. He will definitely come back safely.”
And early the next morning, our private soldiers headed to the coast of our territory. My mother, the servants, and I continued to make medicine every day.
Wound medicine, fever reducers, hemostatic drugs, poultices for bruises. In addition to these, we also collected bandages and triangular bandages and continued to send supplies. We also collected food, dried it for preservation, divided it into small portions, and sent it.
Eventually, we received news that the war had started and enemy troops had landed on our territory. My father is also out in the territory. My mother and I have to stay strong.
・・・
『”𝐀𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦” – 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 “𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬”.』
・・・
The war situation seemed to be at a stalemate, and the news that reached our home in the royal capital was sometimes good and sometimes bad. I wanted to go to the battlefield to nurse and treat the wounded, but my mother absolutely forbade it.
“Imagine if you were taken prisoner. Think about how much trouble that would cause. Direct your feelings towards making medicine.”
I can’t be a burden, but I can’t stand still. I poured all my feelings into making medicine. It seems that soldiers from neighboring territories are also fighting. The royal army is also fighting.
I wondered why the Kingdom of Galavares… I thought about it hundreds of times, but my mother told me something unexpected.
“The Kingdom of Galavares has an endemic disease called trembling fever. Until your grandmother Ellen made a special medicine, it was a poor country where many children and elderly people died every year. But thanks to the medicine, the population increased, agriculture and fishing flourished, and life became easier. As a result of having more leisure in life, they may have wanted more land.”
“I see.”
“They must be punished accordingly for their ingratitude.”
Every day, I silently made a large amount of medicine and sent it as cargo. It was a repetition of that. News of deaths in battle also arrived sporadically. Fortunately, our family has not yet received such news, but we started to hear about the deaths of soldiers from other territories and the royal army.
Even though I didn’t believe in prayer, I’ve been praying every day recently. I pray that everyone will return safely, that our country will win. I couldn’t help but pray.
One day, during such a mentally exhausting life, I received a summons from the second prince Ehrlich.
“I wonder what it is at such a busy time.”
When I arrived at the palace, slightly annoyed, Prince Ehrlich was preparing for battle.
“Your Highness, are you going too?”
“What do you mean by ‘are you going too’? My brother is also fighting. I must be useful too. So, I have a favor to ask Ellen.”
“Yes.”
“Could you visit Freiche from time to time? I want you to listen to Freiche’s stories occasionally. It seems that she relies on you.”
Oh, Your Highness. You were a kind person.
“I understand. I will visit to chat from time to time.”
“I’m counting on you.”
With that, Prince Ehrlich set off for the seaside from the royal capital with the soldiers of the third battalion. I’m sorry for thinking of you as a selfish prince. You were a noble royal.
I can’t afford to be down either. Even now, the soldiers are fighting. I will make medicine.
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