I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 52 - Up you go without formalities

The imperial garden in spring was meticulously maintained to the smallest detail.

I was excitedly picking fresh spring medicinal herbs in this field, which was somewhat out of place in such a garden.

The three other members of the royal apothecary department were inspecting the field with me.

“Yup, they are properly taking root. As expected of the royal palace, even the soil is of high quality”

“For real”

Nancy san, a senior member of the royal apothecary department, nodded at Sven’s words.

With her long, black hair tied back in a single bun, Nancy san smiled softly with a hint of sexiness in her smile.

“The soil is soft and fluffy thanks to having lots of worms. ...I wonder if I can catch about 20 of them and dry them in the sun. I have a medicine I want to make”

“Ah, catching creatures and making them into medicine is a little...”

The one who stopped her is Noel san, a new apothecary just like me.

She had shoulder length flaxen hair and black-rimmed glasses. With the atmosphere of a talented woman from the first look, she was a person who had a good head on her shoulders even though she was only a year older than me.

Such Noel san lowered her eyebrows as if troubled and turned her attention to Nancy san, who was holding a jar of earthworms in her hand.

“What Sophia san received from His Majesty is only a permission to use a part of the royal palace as a field. The creatures on the palace grounds are basically regarded as belongings to the royal family, so if you really want to catch worms here, I think you should ask the royal court for permission”

“May I catch worms? Yeah...I’m not going to do it. The palace is full of lords and ladies”

Nancy san exhaled sorrowfully, “A woman who dries worms in the sun is definitely not popular”. Searching for lovers 24/7, Nancy san’s hobby is apparently love, and she apparently has seven lovers right now.

“It’s already a blessing that we have a field like this, which we can plant anything we want, here in the royal garden”

Sven, who had been nodding carefreely, turned to me and gave me a thumbs-up.

“As expected of the woman who saved the king! The reward is really something else!”

“It was just a lucky coincidence...”

I was embarrassed by Sven’s words and let my eyes wander around.

This field where we are now has been awarded to me as a reward for making medicine—which is externally an antidote for His Majesty in the incident of the grand duke three months ago.

Having obtained the position of the royal apothecary and a dormitory to live in, I was unable to readily answer His Majesty’s direct question, “What would be a good reward?”.

After much deliberation, I came up with the idea of having a space at the edge of the garden turned into a field since it was somewhat close to the royal apothecary department’s laboratory.

The reward was unexpected, and His Majesty and the surrounding people were very puzzled when I made the request, but they promptly agreed since that was what I wanted.

Though I was able to make that medicine thanks to my good fortune combined with my grandfather’s knowledge..

To be honest, I’m very happy.

Of course, there is a herb garden in the palace grounds, where medicinal herbs are cultivated for royal apothecaries.

The space there is filled with valuable medicinal herbs that are relatively difficult to manage or rare.

Of course, there is no social class in medicinal herbs, but it is rather difficult to ask for permission to grow wild plants or vegetables that can be easily grown anywhere. Be that as it may, for an apothecary like me who wants to use such freshly picked medicinal herbs whenever something pops into mind... this field has been the greatest reward.

“Well, the gazes hurt a bit though”

I hear Sven’s voice mixed with a wry smile in my ear as I’m feeling deeply happy.

I followed Sven’s gaze, and sure enough, there were people walking through the corridors of the palace, glancing at me, sometimes even staring at me.

I had become quite used to this recently, but here was certainly the center of attention.

But I suppose it can’t be helped.

Most people would be surprised to see a crude field popping out of nowhere in a beautifully refined garden, even if it is at the edge, and everyone would be curious to see what is planted there.

Even so, it had been a month since the field was established and everyone seemed to be getting used to it, but as I was thinking...I tilted my head in doubt.

“Somehow, there are a lot of people here today, aren’t there?”

They were not servants, but dashing gentlemen who could be identified as important people even from a distance.

“The influential nobles gathered to have a meeting today”

Noel san answered my question.

“The flower festival is coming up, and the date of the coronation ceremony has been announced the other day, so I thought that was the reason”

“Ah, now that you mention it, a civil officer told me there were some ruckus because the coronation ceremony was set to be a little earlier than normal”

Nancy san turned her eyes towards the windows and put her hand on her cheek.

“High ranking aristocratic uncles have such nice appearances, even from a distance. Too bad most of them have wives and children”

“Even though you have seven lovers, I see your ethics regarding that are quite sound”

“Sven still has a long way to go. It is exactly because I’m a woman who is in love with many people, I have to keep a line that shouldn’t be crossed, you know”

Nancy san wasn’t surprised to see Sven’s look of exasperation.

The two of them are always arguing whether they’re on the same page or not.

As I have not had much contact with human society, I enjoy listening to such conversations.

I was listening to their conversation as Noel san passed them by and started picking medicinal herbs with me.

Suddenly, I felt a creepy look on my neck, and I turned around in surprise.

There was a man standing in the corridor of the royal palace who seemed to be staring at me.

After the man paused for a few seconds like that, he immediately left as if nothing had happened.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no, I just felt a gaze...”

When I said that, “That was the Duke of Dinskale” Nancy san said.

I recited the name I had just heard, amazed at her for recognizing who it was, even from a distance.

“Duke of Dinskale?”

“Yes. You know there are two dukes in this country, don’t you? The Duke of Elford, whom you know very well, and the Duke of Dinskale. He’s the head of that family”

“…There are only two dukes in this country?”

“Ara, you didn’t know?”

I had no idea.

Nancy san raised her eyebrows in surprise and said gently, “You’d better remember”.

“There are other well-known families that have been around since the founding of the country, but these two are considered to be the twin peaks of this kingdom of Glosshimmel. But...I see, Sophia chan was being watched.....”

“Eh...umm, what is it...?”

As I asked Nancy san, who had a bad enunciation and stammered, I had a bad feeling about it. She said with a serious face, “You see, the Duke of Elford and the Duke of Dinskale”.

“They don’t get along well”

“They don’t get along well”

When I recited it back to her, Nancy san nodded with a serious face and said, “That’s right”.

“The Duke of Elford is in the royal faction while the Duke of Dinskale is in the church faction. Because of these factional problems, they’ve always been on bad terms apparently....”

“Factions, you say...”

I nodded meekly, not being familiar with the world of politics and power.

The problem of factions and the education of ladies, people who live as nobles sure have a hard time.... And as I was truly thankful for my position as an apothecary, Nancy calmly continued, “But the number one reason is”.

“I believe it was twelve...thirteen years ago? Around that time, the young lady of Elford lifted up the young master of Dinskale with her magic”

“Lifted up....?”

“Ah, I know that one”

I tilted my head at the harmonious words, and Sven nodded his head.

“The young lady of Elford used magic to throw the young master of Dinskale and his cronies, who made fun of her, high into the sky many times over”

“…..!”

“I heard that the young lady’s lift.... was even higher than that tree!”

Sven pointed to a tree that was tall enough for three grown men to stack.

“The young lady of Elford was doted on by the king at the time, and the young master of Dinskale was five or six years older than her if I remember correctly. This and that and the two families are a little....no, not the best on terms, it seems”

“I-I see....”

Of course it will turn out like that.

With deepest sympathy for the young master of Dinskale, once again, I made up my mind not to disobey Violet sama.

Nancy san put her hand on her cheek and tilted her head as if she was troubled.

“I was curious about the fact he was staring at Sophia chan. You see, Sophia chan, you’re good friends with the young lady of Elford, right? It’ve become the talk the town that you’re the only friend she invites to her house”

“F-Friend!? T-That’s not true. Such a discourteous...”

I’m not being modest. It’s really discourteous so I shake my head hurriedly.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

If Violet sama knew I called her a friend, she would’ve scolded me unreasonably. The moment I opened my mouth to explain as I thought that.

Suddenly, a voice called out to me from behind.

“Excuse me”

I turned around at the unfamiliar voice.

There he was, a very beautiful man in black robe.

Translator’s Notes:

高い高い Does this have a english equivalent? It’s used to describe a parent lifting up the child in the air for fun so the Chapter name is supposed to be like upsy daisy without formalities. The dialogue part was something along the lines of upsy daisy too.

Translator’s status: Sorry for uploading slowly. Translator is not okay at the moment. Might go RIP soon.