In the end I couldn't make it nor would I be able to until now. Of course, the recipe for the medicine had since changed from when I was a child. I had continuously added more and better ingredients. Whilst it still couldn't heal, it could immensely reduce symptoms pf the disease.
I put away everything and went to bed. I lay awake as I looked up at the ceiling. I hoped the servant and her brother would be okay.
******
"May I mix?" I asked my mother's doctor as he was about to mix the medicine for my mother.
"Of course, your highness," he agreed, and I excitedly went over to take the bowl from him.
Immediately my nose was hit by a wave of the different ingredients in the bowl.
"How do you know what ingredients to use and how much of them to use?" I asked.
"Well, each ingredient has a specific purpose it deals with such as inflammation or pain. and all of them combined work together," the doctor explained
"You seem very interested in medicine making," my mother said and laughed.
"I just find it interesting," I explained.
Once I was done mixing, she then took it and drank it as usual. "Mmhmm, tastes even more delicious since you mixed it," she commented.
From that moment I became fully interested in medicine making and herbalism. After I was done with my formal education with the royal tutors, I would then go the library to research on plants and medicines. I would ask the doctor for some advice and then began experimenting. Making little medicines.
********
The following morning after breakfast I went for "a walk" in the castle gardens. Really, I was going to get some more ingredients. I left my room and began my walk upon entering the gardens I began to scan the area. I used my nose to sniff out what I was looking for.
Over the years I had learned a lot about different plants, roots and herbs. All things I had documented in my research book. I used my sense of smell to distinguish among them and identify what I was looking for. When I left the kingdom, I would rely on this the most as that's how I would distinguish between edible and non-edible plants, as well ones that were medicine. Even when I encountered plant species I'd never seen before.
The palace gardens mostly had flowers, plants that were for decoration and had no medicinal value at all. However, there were a few plants few plants here and there that could be useful. The castle did actually have a herbal and medicinal garden but I couldn't use it after the incident I got caught helping servants. I was currently trying to make my father think I was done with medicine making and herbalism.
I had in fact stopped making medicines since I couldn't use them anyway. What I had hidden in my closet was what I had made before I was caught. It's now that I was making the ointment that I had started again, so I made do with what was in the gardens.
I then stopped when I found what I was looking for. The plant had almost no scent and didn't look all that interesting. It was just a regular bush. For years I would walk past it not thinking much of it until I got the idea to make the ointment. My eyes scanned the area to make sure no one was around. Once I was sure there were no guards or servants around, I grabbed a handful of leaves and stuffed them in the pockets of my dress.
With enough ingredients I then finished my walk and returned to my room. It was after lunch that a servant came to me with a message.
"Your Highness, His Majesty the king has called for you to come to his lounge," they informed me. What did he want to see me for now? We just saw each other yesterday.
I was prepared to see him and headed to his lounge. I knocked at his door and was told to enter; inside was my father…and Tagryn, my new mate.
"Rian I called you here so you two can get better acquainted.
"I see," I responded. Maybe he could have had us meet before he suddenly announced our engagement the day before.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness," Tagryn greeted me.
I respectively nodded in acknowledgement and greeted him back. "Please come and sit you two can sit next to each other your marriage ceremony is scheduled to be soon.
He then took me by the hand before he had us sit on the couch opposite my father. How awkward was this?
He could get as comfortable as he liked but I didn't plan to be here at the castle that long anyway.
"We should plan a hunting trip and catch some good meat to celebrate your marriage," my father said as he laughed.
"I can show you how well I hunt," Tagryn started.
"Ah but I doubt you'd be better than me though, I am quite skilled when it comes to hunting," my father bragged.
"Do you use weapons when you hunt?" Tagryn asked.
"Oh no they mess with my sense of smell, I like to keep my instincts sharp and the hunt old fashioned. This new generation of wolves are becoming lazy using weapons to hunt."
"I agree with that," Tagryn said, and they laughed. They went on for a while talking about hunting.
I internally sighed. Why am I here if they were just going to talk between themselves? That's how society viewed women. We were meant to be seen and not heard.
"Oh, we shouldn't be discussing work right now but how are the plans for the next raid coming along?" my father then asked Tagryn.
I cocked an eyebrow at this. My father was planning another raid? Enough was just never enough, was it? But who were they going to raid now, there shouldn't be anyone left to raid. He had essentially taken everything.