Agnes smiled and ruffled my hair affectionately, completely destroying whatever dignity I might have had left.
"Good. We just have a few more stops, then we'll head back."
I nodded, but my mind was already working.
Debug Vision.
I activated the skill, letting my gaze sweep across the market square. The familiar interface materialized, overlaying my vision with streams of data.
[Object Analysis: Produce Cart]
[Object Analysis: Leather Goods]
[Object Analysis: Fabric Bolts]
Normal stuff. Nothing useful.
I kept scanning as Agnes led me through the crowds, my eyes jumping from stall to stall. The system catalogued everything—food, tools, clothing, trinkets—but nothing medicinal.
Come on. There has to be something here.
We passed a row of food vendors, then a section dedicated to household goods. My vision was starting to blur from the constant use of the skill when—
[Object Analysis: Alchemical Herbs]
[Rare Components Detected]
My head snapped toward the source.
There.
Tucked between a fabric merchant and a cart selling iron cookware was a small stall with weathered wooden shelves. Glass vials and clay pots lined the display, filled with dried plants, powders, and liquids in various colors.
An elderly man sat behind the counter, his grey beard reaching his chest. He wore simple robes in faded brown, and his gnarled fingers were currently grinding something in a mortar.
I focused harder on the stall's inventory, and the system responded.
[Inventory Scan: Active]
[Item 01: Lavender Bundle - Common]
[Item 02: Sage Extract - Common]
[Item 03: Willow Bark - Common]
[Item 04: Moonflower Petals - Rare]
[Item 05: Breath Root - Uncommon]
My heart nearly stopped.
Moonflower petals.
Right there.
Holy shit. I found it.
I tugged on Agnes's hand without thinking.
"Agnes, wait!"
She paused mid-step, glancing down at me with concern. "What's wrong, young master? Are you feeling tired?"
"No, I just," I pointed toward the herb stall. "Can we go there? Please?"
Her brow furrowed slightly, but she changed direction without question, guiding me toward the elderly merchant's stall.
As we got closer, I could see the vial more clearly. The moonflower petals were dried but well-preserved, their silver veins still visible even through the glass. The cork stopper was sealed with wax.
They're in perfect condition.
The old merchant looked up as we approached.
"Morning, young lady," he said. "Looking for something specific, or just browsing?"
Agnes opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off.
"That one." I pointed directly at the moonflower vial. "The pretty flowers with the silver lines. Can I see it?"
The merchant's eyebrows rose slightly. "Ah, a young man with good taste. That's moonflower its quite rare."
He reached for the vial and placed it on the counter in front of us.
Up close, the petals were even more beautiful.
"It's so pretty," I said, injecting as much childlike wonder into my voice as I could manage. I looked up at Agnes with wide eyes.
"Can we get it? Please?"
Agnes's expression shifted, surprise, then hesitation. She picked up the vial carefully, examining it.
"Young master, this is..." She trailed off and looked at the merchant. "How much?"
The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Moonflower is difficult to harvest. Only blooms under moonlight, you see. Very finicky plant." He tapped the vial with one gnarled finger. "For that vial... twelve silver coins."
I felt Agnes's hand tighten around mine.
Twelve silver.
I had no frame of reference for how much money that was in this world, but from the way Agnes's lips pressed into a thin line, it was clearly expensive.
She stared at the vial for a long moment, her eyes troubled.
Twelve silver, she said internally. That's...
Her gaze dropped to me, taking in my pale face, my too-thin frame, the hope written clearly in my expression.
But this is the first time he's ever asked me for anything.
In all the years she'd served the Raith family, Jin had never once requested a gift, never begged for toys or treats like other children. He'd simply accepted whatever scraps of kindness she could offer without complaint.
And now he was asking for flowers.
Her fingers traced the edge of the vial, and I could see the war playing out behind her eyes.
I've been savingfor a new dress. For the fee if Mother gets sick again.
She had a life outside this manor. Needs of her own. The money she'd brought today was carefully budgeted.
And this costs more than I have left.
But then she looked at me again, at the fragile hope in my eyes, and her expression softened completely.
Just this once...
"We'll take it," she said quietly.
The merchant nodded and began wrapping the vial in cloth.
Agnes reached into the small pouch at her belt and counted out coins that clinked softly against the wooden counter. Then she added two more coins from the supply money she'd brought.
I watched her face carefully. There was no resentment there, no anger at the expense. Just quiet determination and something that looked almost like relief.
Like making me happy was worth more than whatever she'd been saving for.
My chest tightened unexpectedly.
The merchant handed over the wrapped vial, and Agnes tucked it carefully into her basket.
"Thank you," I said softly, meaning it more than she could possibly know.
She squeezed my hand gently. "Of course, young master." She smiled, though I could see the worry still lurking at the edges. "Just one more stop, and then we'll head back home, alright?"
I nodded.
She led me toward the final section of the market, near where the larger merchant carts were parked.
She stopped at a general goods stall.
While she haggled with the vendor, I activated Debug Vision again, scanning the nearby stalls with desperate focus.
Come on. Come on. Where's the activated charcoal?
My eyes jumped from cart to cart.
[Fabric bolts - Common] [Iron tools - Common] [Pottery - Common]
Not these...
[Object Analysis: Water Purification Tablets]
[Composition: Compressed activated charcoal + mineral salts]
I froze.
Two stalls down, a traveling merchant had set up a cart filled with adventuring supplies, rope, dried rations, waterskins, and small wooden boxes labeled in multiple languages.
One box sat near the back of the display, almost hidden behind a stack of leather pouches.
The label read "Purification Stones" but my Debug Vision showed the compressed activated charcoal formed into small tablets.
It wasn't pure activated charcoal, but it could work too.
But there was a problem.
From the looks of it, Agnes had already spent most of her money on the moonflower.
I couldn't ask her to buy more. I needed another option.
Which left...
Shit. Am I really considering this?
But this wasn't my old life. This was survival.
And I needed those tablets or I'd die.
Agnes finished her purchase, tucking the lamp oil into her basket.
"Alright, young master. Time to head back."
She took my hand and started leading me toward where Thomas waited with the carriage.
We passed directly by the traveling merchant's cart.
This was it. My only chance.
I deliberately shifted my weight, letting my legs wobble.
"Ah!"
Crash!
I stumbled sideways into the cart, my shoulder hitting the wooden frame. My hand shot out to catch myself, and in the chaos.
The impact sent several items tumbling from the cart splashed onto the cobblestones.
My fingers closed around the small box of purification tablets.
"Oh!" Agnes gasped, immediately moving to help me. "Young master!"
I clutched the box against my stomach and quickly slipped it under my cloak in the confusion, tucking it into the inner pocket.
"I'm sorry!" Agnes was already apologizing to the merchant, her face flushed with embarrassment. "He's not well, he lost his balance."
"Bah, no harm done," the merchant grumbled, already collecting his scattered goods. "Just watch where you're going, boy."
Agnes helped me straighten up, her hands on my shoulders as she checked me over with worried eyes. "Are you hurt? Did you twist anything?"
"I'm fine," I managed, keeping my expression pained. "Just got dizzy for a second."
She kept her arm around my waist as we continued toward the carriage, supporting my weight.
I glanced back once at the merchant's cart. He'd already forgotten about us, reorganizing his display without a second thought.
Got it.
Both ingredients. Moonflower and activated charcoal.
A grin threatened to break across my face, but I forced it down, maintaining my "dizzy and weak" act until we reached the carriage.
Thomas helped me climb into the back while Agnes settled beside me, her basket secured between her feet.
Crack!
The carriage lurched into motion, heading back toward the manor.
Agnes fussed over me the entire ride, checking my forehead for fever, making sure I was comfortable, muttering about pushing myself too hard.
I let her fuss, my hand pressed against the hidden box under my cloak.
I had everything I needed now.
--------------
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the manor's entrance.
Thomas helped us down, and Agnes gathered her basket, checking one more time to make sure all her purchases were secure.
"Thank you, Thomas," Agnes said warmly.
"Anytime, miss."
Agnes took my hand and led me toward the entrance.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, and I could hear birds singing from somewhere in the gardens.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Too peaceful.
We pushed through the kitchen door, and—
Froze.
Aldric Raith stood there, his tall frame radiating cold fury. His grey eyes swept over us like a physical blow.
And beside him, Vivienne.
Her expression was perfectly controlled, but there was something sharp and dangerous lurking beneath the surface.
My heart dropped into my stomach.
Shit. They're back early.
Agnes's hand tightened around mine, her body going rigid.
Vivienne's gaze swept over us, taking in Agnes's market clothes, the basket on her arm, my presence at her side. Her eyes narrowed.
"Agnes," she said softly, but there was steel underneath. "Take Jin to his room. Then come back down. We need to have a... conversation."