The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 14

by Natsu Hyuuga

“Didn’t you get a letter from Master Lahan?” “Yes, and it made excellent kindling.”

“I have clothes here for you too, Maomao. There’s no need for you to say something like ‘As you can see, I’m not in a fit outfit to present myself before everyone else, so you all go enjoy the banquet without me’ and hide in your room—so don’t worry!”

“Is it possible Lady Suiren is Lady Ah-Duo’s mother?” Maomao asked with a perplexed tilt of her head. “So she is. You didn’t know?” Maamei tilted her head right back. “Okay, wait, hang on. They’re nothing like each other, are they?”

Maomao felt her head beginning to spin. Yes, relationships surrounding the Imperial family were complicated indeed—complicated and obnoxious.

Once in a while, even Maomao could simply, earnestly do as she was asked. Once in a while.

As it is, when he catches wind of something that interests him, he disregards his own safety, drags in the people around him, makes a huge scene, and generally causes all kinds of trouble. He’s not someone you can speak to carelessly.” Jinshi’s and Suiren’s gazes both settled on Maomao. They made her at once uncomfortable and uneasy. “Yes? What is it?” she asked. “It’s...nothing,” said Jinshi.

In Maomao’s experience, though, there had been disappointingly few cases in which so many coincidences turned out to be, well, coincidence.