The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 6 (Light Novel)

you hate me so much?” he asked, his face now less like a wild dog and more like a puppy. Love, hate—some people wanted the world to be so black and white. Why wouldn’t he give her the choice of a gray area?

“I suppose I don’t hate you as such,” she said. She might even think of him favorably. Certainly, she regarded this noble more positively than she had back when they’d first met.

Jinshi pursed his lips, not very pleased with this evasive answer. Maybe he was hoping she would come right out and say she loved him, but quite frankly, Maomao wasn’t at a point where she could bring those words to her lips. The best she could manage was that she wasn’t without a certain affection for him.

He didn’t want to relinquish the sensation that still lingered on his lips.

Jinshi first heard this story when he was more than ten years old, after Gaoshun had seen him teasing Basen for trying to keep his distance from the ladies-in-waiting.

“Women are such fragile creatures,” Basen said. “I think it’s too soon for me.”

What could Jinshi say to that? There was nothing. Instead, he held out his cup, silently asking for more juice.

She wished it could stay this way.

Just when she was expecting to feel a rush of wind against her body, she felt a pressure against her belly instead.

I’m not certain I can control my strength—but may I hit you?”

“Master Jinshi?”

“This person never initiates, but only responds to what is done.”

“So, Master Jinshi, I should—?”

Basen looked at Jinshi, deeply concerned; his back was already against the wall. Jinshi had succeeded at that before; it could almost be called his specialty. With Basen all but cornered, Jinshi planted his hand firmly against the wall. Bam!

“M-Master Jinshi...”

“No. Be quiet.”

Jinshi focused his imagination: he was picturing not his milk brother, but the person he wished to best. He had to strike before the mouth spoke, the mouth that was usually so inarticulate, but grew voluble and clever at the oddest times. He took Basen’s chin with his free hand and pressed his thumb to his lips.

His partner was well within her comfort zone. She never blushed, nor looked away in embarrassment. Only stared calmly, coldly down at the man beneath her, then licked her lips, sucking in the thread of saliva. She wasn’t savoring the afterglow, but simply eliminating all traces, as if it had never happened. Her small body bestrode Jinshi’s, easily twice her size, her hand placed over his heart. She could feel his heartbeat, but he couldn’t feel hers.

What did she think, feeling the way it raced and pounded?

It was obvious at a glance. The wind caught her hair, sending ripples through it. Her eyes narrowed, and she looked at him. Her alluring lips arched. “My, my. Done already?” she seemed to ask, although she said nothing. Her smile made clear how much she still had left in her.

It meant he had lost.

“Typically, among the named clans, there’s an object that’s passed down along with the name. Whoever possesses it is head of the clan, and they bring it with them when they present themselves at the palace. Obviously, of course, they aren’t at the palace every day—just on special occasions. Usually the heirloom would be kept somewhere safe. When the head of the family changes, the former head accompanies the new one when they formally greet the Emperor. I know they say Father ‘stole’ the family headship, but in reality that procedure was still observed.”

Maomao started to worry that maybe the strategist had some sort of leverage over the ruler. Or maybe it was simply because the freak was so good at picking talented subordinates.