Chapter 74: The Silent Song Seeking a Cure

The Rose Inn in Alburton, a small city on the kingdom’s periphery.

Ever since it was selected as an excellent inn, the number of visitors had noticeably increased.

Clatter clatter.

Today, another carriage arrived at the Rose Inn.

A woman stepped out of the carriage.

A shadow lingered on her expressionless face as she looked at the Rose Inn.

“Welcome. This is the Rose Inn. We’ve been expecting you.”

Robert personally came out to greet her.

She responded with a smile instead of words.

“I’ve prepared warm tea in your room. Please come inside.”

Still maintaining her silence, she slowly walked in.

***

On the way to the Herb Shop.

Today, the surroundings were unusually noisy.

“Did you hear? ‘Michelle’ came to the Rose Inn?”

“Michelle? Who’s that?”

“You don’t know Michelle? Stop hanging out at bars every day and get some culture!”

“Acting all high and mighty. So who is Michelle anyway?”

“The hottest singer in the royal capital right now. She’s even been invited to perform at the palace.”

“Really? Is she pretty?”

Murmur murmur.

It seemed a guest from the royal capital had arrived at the Rose Inn.

After the Rose Inn won in the kingdom’s inn evaluation contest, tourists from the royal capital had increased quite a bit.

Thanks to that, our Herb Shop was benefiting handsomely too.

Jingle.

As I entered the Herb Shop, Bernard and Ellis both smiled at me simultaneously.

“You’re here?”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Fabir!”

“Miss Ellis looks energetic today. Must be something good happening?”

Ellis grinned.

…What is it, this meaningful smile?

A chilling feeling that I’d asked the wrong question.

“I found it!”

“…Found what?”

“The secret of the crops you grow!”

Ah, she must mean the research she was doing.

“I figured it out after pouring my heart and soul into the study!”

Ellis said with her chin raised, looking extremely proud.

“The crops Mr. Fabir grows are imbued with the ‘fairy’s blessing’!”

“…Fairy’s blessing?”

“Yes! It means fruits touched by a fairy’s hand!”

“Ah… a fairy…?”

Indeed, most of the crops I grew were pollinated directly by Elenia while she collected honey. 

They were collaborative products of the Floating Island, born from the dragon dung and Elenia’s touch.

Even though she can be quirky and tomboyish at times, Elenia is an indispensable presence on the Floating Island.

Anyway, so what about it?

“That’s what makes them even more special!”

“I-is that so?”

“There must be a fairy living in Mr. Fabir’s field! Fairies are only born in healthy, lush forests, but for one to appear in a field! Isn’t that amazing?”

“W-well, I guess. Haha.”

“Of course you’re amazed! Most fairies avoid humans, so they’re hard to meet. A fairy living in a field has never been discovered before!”

Well, a farming fairy probably doesn’t exist anywhere else.

“If I present a paper at the academy, it might cause a huge stir!”

“I suppose so….”

I didn’t bother explaining. If I mentioned Elenia, I wasn’t confident I could handle Ellis’s reaction.

She might drag me around to academies as some historic discovery and bother me endlessly.

If she started prying persistently, it’d be a headache, so I tried to slip away.

Jingle.

Just then, someone entered the Herb Shop.

I stepped forward first to greet the customer.

“Welcome.”

Nod.

The woman gave a slight nod with a smile.

Ellis quietly exclaimed upon seeing her.

“Beautiful….”

Her well-groomed hair and ornate hair accessories. Pale skin and quite luxurious clothing. 

Definitely a guest from the royal capital.

I approached her and asked.

“Are you by any chance from the Rose Inn?”

…Nod.

“I see. The products supplied to the Rose Inn are organized separately on this display shelf, so take your time looking around, and let me know if you have any questions.”

…Bow.

She bowed her head in thanks. 

Judging by how she spared her words, she seemed extremely quiet and demure.

As she leisurely browsed the display, she picked up a glass jar containing chamomile tea.

It seemed she liked the tea she had at the Rose Inn.

“I’ll help you with the checkout over here.”

After she left, Bernard said with a thrilled expression.

“To see Miss Michelle in person….”

“Wow! Her face is so small, and her skin is incredibly fair. She looked like a doll!”

Ellis, her eyes sparkling, said regretfully.

“I should’ve talked to her. They say she has a heavenly voice; it must be really pretty.”

Was that the female singer who came to the Rose Inn?

A heavenly voice….

I did want to hear her sing once.

I’d been so busy surviving that I was completely cut off from cultural activities.

They say hearing beautiful songs makes you emotional—what would that feel like?

Bernard tilted his head.

“But it’s a bit strange. A singer who performs in front of crowds shouldn’t be that shy.”

I replied nonchalantly.

“Singers’ voices are their assets, so maybe she’s saving it?”

***

Michelle drank the chamomile tea prepared in her room.

Slurp.

What a wondrous tea. 

Warm with a subtle apple aroma that’s captivating, and just drinking it stabilized her mind and body.

After spacing out for a while, Michelle moved her lips and finally opened her mouth.

“…Ah….”

A faint metallic rasp came from the short utterance.

Michelle frowned and immediately closed her mouth. 

Then she touched her throat with her right hand.

She had been praised for her heavenly voice. She rose to fame in the royal capital with her singing alone.

But she could no longer sing.

“Ungh.”

Her right hand clutching her throat trembled.

The thought that her life as a singer might end filled her with dismay. 

It was like a sudden death sentence.

She needed time to process this situation.

A place where the exhausted Michelle could rest away from people’s eyes.

That was why she sought out the Rose Inn.

“Haa….”

Michelle let out a long sigh. Only quiet silence filled the room.

Slurp.

Drinking the chamomile tea again calmed her mind.

It seemed she did well coming here. The Rose Inn became a comfort to her.

She especially liked the chamomile.

Maybe I’ll take some chamomile with me when I leave.

She suddenly recalled the flyer about the Herb Shop. 

It said all amenities provided at the inn could be purchased at the Herb Shop.

She had no expectations coming here. It was just a place she fled to.

Yet, in this peripheral small city, there was a craftsman making such products. 

The amenities here were high-end items rare even in royal capital inns.

Having finished her tea, Michelle rose and headed to the Herb Shop.

…Is this the Herb Shop?

The Herb Shop she arrived at was smaller than expected. 

Completely in contrast to the three-story alchemy shop right next door.

Jingle.

As she entered the Herb Shop, a man spoke to her.

“Are you by any chance from the Rose Inn?”

The man who instantly recognized her as a Rose Inn guest.

He’s observant.

The man guided Michelle to the display case with chamomile tea.

There were many intriguing products on the shelves.

From insect-repelling scents to antibacterial soap.

Health foods also caught her eye.

What a strange herb shop.

Products mindful of health. 

Items designed to solve big and small concerns one by one.

The chamomile tea was the same.

It was a shop where warm consideration for customers could be felt.

If only it could solve my concern too….

The fleeting thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

But restoring damaged vocal cords to normal wasn’t easy.

Even famous doctors in the royal capital couldn’t find a way.

Just advice to prepare herself mentally.

Grab.

Swallowing her regret, she picked up the jar with chamomile.

Drinking chamomile tea would gradually lighten and dispel her heavy heart.

As she left the shop, she absentmindedly looked up at the sky.

The vast autumn sky was clear and bright. Perfect weather for a walk on such a day.

Since I’m out, maybe I’ll stroll around the village?

Michelle started walking along the street.

Clip clop.

Her steps felt a bit lighter. 

Unlike the royal capital, even the air was refreshing.

The enjoyment was short-lived.

“Look over there! It’s Michelle!”

“Where where? They said she was staying at the Rose Inn—it’s true?”

People looking at Michelle curiously.

Clip clop.

Her steps quickened in case people approached her.

In the end, she turned back to the inn as if fleeing.

“Were you out somewhere?”

Robert, the inn owner, approached the breathless Michelle with concern.

“Ah, you went to the Herb Shop?”

He must have seen the chamomile tea in her hand.

Then the inn owner added something strange.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure Mr. Fabir will solve your concern.”

“……?”

“Ah… you haven’t heard the rumors yet? I must have been hasty. Please, have a comfortable stay at the Rose Inn.”

With a smile as if he knew something, Robert moved away.

Michelle stared at him blankly.

What is he talking about… could it be….

Perhaps Robert had already noticed her throat discomfort.

But solving her concern?

What rumors?

All puzzling words.

The Herb Shop was strange, and so was the Rose Inn.

On her way to her room, a promotional booklet in the lobby with a photo of the Herb Shop caught her eye.

As if drawn to it, Michelle picked up the booklet.

Flip.

She turned the pages and read the text about the Herb Shop.

-Visit the wondrous Herb Shop. The miraculous ‘Witch’s Health Juice’ that clears up atopy completely. ‘Antibacterial Soap’ that blasts away athlete’s foot in one go. Natural products and health foods all in one place….

A familiar face in the Herb Shop photo. The man she saw there earlier.

This must be Fabir….

Michelle, staring blankly at the booklet, soon closed it.

How could this person solve her concern? It was just exaggerated advertising to sell products.

As she tried to go back to her room.

For some reason, her feet wouldn’t move.

Mr. Fabir will solve your concern.

Those words from earlier kept echoing in her mind.

What would change if she just went back to her room like this?

Clip clop.

How long would she keep fleeing from people?

Clip clop clip clop.

Did she really want it to end?

…No, she didn’t.

She was desperate enough to clutch at straws.

Clip clop clip clop clip clop.

Her steps quickened, and her heart pounded.

And then.

Bang.

When she came to her senses, she had already flung open the Herb Shop door.

“Huff huff.”

Michelle, breathing heavily.

All eyes turned to the suddenly intruding Michelle.

“…He…”

Her lips, which wouldn’t part easily, finally opened.

“…Help me please….”

Her cracked voice was trembling.

Soon, a warm voice returned.

“Yes. I’ll help you.”

Fabir smiled at her.