The end of this week may be a bit busy for me, but I will try my best to upload updates.
Title: Chief Royal Pharmacist
Inspired by: Chapter 38 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Character: Izana Wistalia, Garack Gazelt
Wordcount: 617
Rating: General
Lord Makiri caught me in the hallway after I left Ryuu. We went to meet up with the wall guards, to give instructions and continue to monitor visitors entering Lyrias. While we may have the cure to the disease, it is still prudent to keep the city isolated for the time being. By the time our meeting finished, Maruko brought word that Garack has arrived and I hastened to meet her at the second gate.
It is heartening to see her, looking lively and unperturbed, greeting me with her usual enthusiastic comment about how I look.
"Your Highness, you look worse for the wear." She fell into step beside me, a few of the guards who traveled with her staying close behind, while some of my attendants assisted to bring their horses and carriage to the nearby stable reserved for special visitors to the city. The Allullion siblings themselves handle the maintenance to the property, as some of my own guards' horses were stationed there.
"I should tell you that you need not have bothered to come." I told her a little too severely, but I knew Garack can't be bothered by my reprimand. She does what she wants to do. And this situation is no exception. "But then, I am glad you are here and that your journey is smooth."
She pulled her heavy coat tighter around the shoulders, looking much like a stern professor. "Well, between you and me, Your Highness, I think your guards are actually more relieved than you that we have finally arrived. I probably nagged them to death by insisting we should be here in the shortest time as possible. They must be so eager to hand me over to your care. Assistant Luen." She raised her eyebrows at the last sentence.
"Indeed." I resisted the urge to peek behind us. Garack can be very demanding sometimes when she sets her mind on to something. "I'm almost afraid to ask how fast did you travel. I am sure you worked my bodyguards to the bone."
Garack chuckled. "Of course!" She glanced about, as if waiting for Ryuu to suddenly appear. "Where is my protégé?" she demanded.
I gestured towards the building ahead. "Come and follow me."
I underestimated the Chief Royal Pharmacist's popularity. She's even more recognizable than I. But then again, I am here undercover, and I only introduce myself as one of her humble assistants. But as soon as the guards recognized her name, their eyes widened, as if they could not believe they are actually seeing a legendary figure that used to grace the Scholar's district years ago.
I can immediately sense the atmosphere changing as we walked hallway after hallway, passed the gaping mouths of researchers, the fluttering of papers being dropped and the whispers that followed in our wake. Garack Gazelt certainly knows how to make an entrance.
We entered the main receiving room of the Pharmacology Institute, yet another room that I am pretty much familiar with. Ryuu already stood there waiting for us, holding his sheaf of notes, as well as a clutch of physicians and healers. Garack greeted them all by names, happy to see them in good health. And as soon as she got the greetings out of the way, they get down to business immediately, not even bothering to remove her coat, gesturing for Ryuu to give her a copy of the reports on the progress of the patients.
I glanced at one of my aides, who immediately sidled discreetly to her side and coaxed her to let go of her cumbersome outerwear, while I turned when I heard Maruko call my name.
"Mistress Shirayuki and Obi have arrived, Your Highness."