"At least he was able to eat dinner tonight. He'll improve gradually," Michel said.
Kyle's face remained glum. "I feel pathetic for failing to manage my own condition. I must be stricter with myself—"
"Your Highness. It's not discipline you lack, it's compassion. You must value yourself more. You need to let yourself rest, take a long bath, and eat something tasty and nutritious. I request that you exercise to the best of your ability, stay positive, and practice self-love." Rishe smiled at Kyle. "Part of being healthy is enjoying life."
"Enjoying life…" Kyle repeated, considering the words.
Rishe nodded. "Don't worry about the return trip. I'll brew medicine to prevent seasickness and send it home with you. That way, you can appreciate the scenery on your journey."
Kyle looked surprised for a moment before he bowed his head deeply. "Thank you very much, Lady Rishe."
"Please don't mention it."
"While the medicine's brewing, would you care to take a look at my writings?" Michel artlessly gestured toward a bundle of papers.
"Professor, is this…?"
"Oh, your research," Kyle remarked. "You showed me just the other day."
"That's right. People keep saying I should write things down. I don't think it's for me, though. I keep it all up here in my head."
"But you forget everything that isn't directly related to research you're interested in, right? Your notes are too complex, Michel. I'm not sure what a person who's just met you could possibly make of—"
"Wow!" Rishe breathed as she paged through the notes.
Incredible! This is the experimental data he'd already burned when I met him! He told me he didn't remember any of it. I was dying to see it for myself!
Michel dropped most experiments once he'd satisfied his own curiosity, but several were awfully promising—they just needed to be studied a bit more in-depth. Rishe got the feeling that if she started reading this, she wouldn't be able to stop.
"You can understand Michel's notes, Lady Rishe?" Kyle asked. "I'm impressed."
"Heh. You really are an interesting girl."
Rishe grilled Michel for close to an hour, then returned to the detached wing to check on her herbs. They had boiled down enough, so she let them cool before transferring them to a small bottle.
She returned to the reception room and summoned Kyle, who was resting in his chambers. Thrusting the bottle into his hands, Rishe said solemnly, "This is the completed medicine. However, I must lead with one big caveat."
Michel raised an eyebrow. "Side effects? I figured it would just make him a bit drowsy."
"No, it's not side effects."
"Please tell me, Lady Rishe. I am willing to surmount any obstacle in order to overcome my illness."
Rishe's eyes fell, and Kyle's expression hardened to match her. He gulped.
"This medicine tastes absolutely awful."
"It tastes awful." Kyle parroted, and Rishe nodded.
Michel broke into a smile and said, "What, is that all? Kyle can handle it. He's a strong kid—earnest and hardworking. Right?"
"Professor, please don't put words in his mouth!"
"No, Lady Rishe, I won't complain. If this is what I must do, I will go to any lengths."
"I know," Michel said. "I'll feed it to him. Say 'Aah '!"
"Eep! Professor, don't! At least give him some water!"
Michel put the vial to Kyle's lips, giving Rishe no time to stop him. Kyle, who had opened his mouth to speak, quickly found it flooded with muddy green liquid. The prince immediately covered his mouth and hung his head, going stock-still. He must have been struggling to swallow, but the longer he held it against his tongue, the more he would suffer. Rishe rushed to her feet, just as he gulped it down.
"A-are you all right?"
"I—" Kyle started, but a coughing fit cut him off. It seemed he was not all right. Still, he resolutely raised his head and squeezed out, "I'm fine. It was easier than that one time my father told me to eat dirt."
"This medicine is liquid, you know!" Comparing the palatability of liquid medicine to something solid like dirt was madness.
"Hey, Kyle, how did it taste?" Michel asked, giddy. "Come on, tell us!"
"It's got bitter and sour notes, and on top of that, there's a very overpowering…unique smell. And there's this strange, sticky sweetness on my tongue even after I swallowed it… Ugh…"
"Your Highness," Rishe interjected. "We don't need commentary. I'm sorry, could one of you knights get him some water?!"
"Why don't you try paying a little more attention to the taste this time," Michel said. "Here, try another swig—"
"Professor!" Rishe shrieked.
The reception room was thrown into chaos, but they eventually got things back under control and returned Kyle to his bed. Regardless of the medicine's efficacy, he still needed rest. Rishe allowed the knights from Coyolles to escort him, staying back in the reception room with Michel and her own guards.
"You should return to the scholar's tower and get some rest yourself, Professor. I've summoned a knight to escort you. Just give him a few minutes to arrive."
"Got it. Thanks."