"No, smaller," Yura gestured with her fingers, trying to visualize a Calendula or Marigold.
"The petals feel almost like wax when they are fresh. It tastes... peppery. Salty. It helps the body fightoff the heat that cos with a deep cough."
The woman’s face cleared. "Ah! You an Gold-leaf. We feed it to the cattle when they sicken in the winter, but so healers use it for the chest-heave."
She reached back into a dark wooden crate and pulled out a jar of dried, vibrant orange petals.
Yura leaned in, sniffing the jar. The scent was earthy, slightly sharp. Bingo.
The market noise faded slightly as she concentrated, her eyes scanning for the correct shape, the correct color, the correct texture.
Every detail mattered.
She couldn’t afford to fail.
Finally, after several tense monts of description, miming, and repetition, the sellers eyes lit up. "Ah... you an this!"
Yura reached out, and her hands closed around the dark brown roots, her heart hamring in relief. "Yes... exactly. That’s it..."
Saar exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "One more to go. You’re close, Georgiana. Just one more. You can do this."
Yura nodded, already flipping to the last page, determination blazing in her gaze.
This was the final step. She would not leave the market without every herb she needed for Min-jae comfort.
Yura practically collapsed the mont the carriage door shut behind her. She slid down onto the cushioned seat, back pressed against the side, legs stretched out without a shred of grace.
Every muscle in her body scread in protest.
She closed her eyes. It really had taken the whole day to get those damn herbs.
Her fingers were still clutching the wrapped bundles, as if afraid they might disappear the mont she let go.
"You did a great job, young lady," Saar said after a mont, arms folded as he leaned back against the opposite seat. "But next ti, do not take along with you."
Yura cracked one eye open, glaring at him.
"What? Tell it wasn’t fun."
"It was not fun," Saar replied flatly.
"Humph." Yura turned her face away, hugging the herbs closer to her chest. "Suit yourself."
The carriage began to roll, wheels creaking softly as it pulled away from the market and headed back toward the estate.
—
By the ti Yura returned, Min-jae was already feeling sowhat better.
The nausea had finally subsided, leaving behind only a dull exhaustion and an unfamiliar sensitivity that lingered in his body.
He sat in the study, shoulders relaxed but posture straight, pen moving steadily across parchnt as afternoon light filtered through the tall windows.
The room slled faintly of ink and dried paper.
He paused only once, gathering his thoughts, before continuing to write.
The letter was addressed to Robert, the long serving butler of the Amagi household and Kaizar’s good friend.
To Robert,
I hope this letter finds you in good health.
I am writing to inform you that I will be visiting the Amagi household in the near future.
The exact date will be communicated once preparations are finalized, but I wanted to give notice in advance so that the estate may be ready.
Recent events have left the household without clear leadership, and it has beco necessary for several matters to be addressed. With Veynar and Dorian gone, many of the existing rules and internal structures are no longer suitable.
So regulations are outdated, while others have allowed unnecessary confusion and misuse of authority.
During my visit, I intend to review these rules in full and implent changes that prioritize fairness, accountability, and proper managent.
The household must function with clear guidance, not fear or neglect, and I expect cooperation from all departnts.
Please inform the senior staff that this is not a ceremonial visit. It is an administrative one. Records, ledgers, and household rosters should be prepared accordingly.
Further instructions will follow.
Until then, take care.
— Kaizar Amagi.
Min-jae set the quill down slowly and leaned back in his chair, exhaling through his nose.
This was only the beginning.
The knock on the study door was soft but urgent.
"Madam.." a maid said carefully from the other side. "Lady Georgiana has returned to the estate."
Min-jae’s quill paused mid movent.
He set the pen down at once, pushing his chair back with far more force than necessary.
The relief that flickered through him was brief and quickly buried under irritation.
"She’s back," he muttered. "Good."
He rose and left the study without another word, descending the stairs at a brisk pace, expression already set.
Yura had barely stepped into the main hall when she heard it.
"Georgiana."
She froze.
Then slowly turned.
Min-jae stood at the top of the stairs, one hand gripping the railing, eyes sharp and very much not pleased.
"You left the estate without informing anyone," he said evenly as he descended.
"Do you have any idea how irresponsible that was."
Yura straightened, instantly bristling. "I left with Saar. I wasn’t alone."
"That is not the point," Min-jae replied, stopping in front of her. "You are not a child wandering the streets anymore. If sothing had happened to you—"
"But nothing happened," Yura shot back. "I ca back alive, didn’t I."
Min-jae stared at her. "That is not how consequences work."
She huffed, clutching the bundle of herbs to her chest. "I didn’t have ti to inform you. You were sick, everyone was tense, and soone had to do sothing."
"And you decided that soone was you," Min-jae said flatly.
"Yes," Yura snapped. "Because no one else was going to!"
Silence snapped between them.
Min-jae exhaled sharply through his nose. "You disappeared for hours."
"And I was productive for every single one of those hours," Yura shot back, stepping closer. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to find these."
She shoved the wrapped bundle toward him, practically pressing it into his hands.
He looked down instinctively.
"Ninjin," she said quickly. "They don’t call it insam here. Do you know how hard it was to find these herbs just by description?"
Min-jae’s scolding stalled.
He stared at the bundle for a long mont before lifting his eyes back to her.
"...You went to the market for this."
"Yes," Yura said, chin lifting stubbornly.
"Because you were nauseous, you couldn’t eat, and you needed the right herbs. Not substitutes."
"You should have told ," Min-jae said quietly.
"I knew you’d say no," she replied without hesitation. "And I wasn’t asking for permission."
-_-
His jaw tightened. "That is not how siblings work."
Yura snorted. "Since when have we ever done things the proper way."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are annoying. Do you know that?"
-_-
"You raised like this, of course I’m annoying," she shot back.
"That is absolutely not true."
"You taught to think ahead, to not wait around, and to fix problems myself," Yura said firmly. "So don’t scold for doing exactly that."
Min-jae opened his mouth, then stopped.
For a mont, he simply looked at her.
"...You are still grounded," he said at last.
Yura’s eyes widened. "Grounded? I am eighteen."
"And still my sister," he replied coolly. "You leave without notice again, and I will personally strip you of all rights to leave the estate"
-_-
She scoffed. "You wouldn’t dare."
"I absolutely would."
They stared daggers at each other for practically two seconds.
Then Yura’s shoulders slumped slightly, exhaustion finally creeping back in. "You’re welco, by the way."
Min-jae sighed, the tension easing just a fraction. "Thank you," he said reluctantly.
"For the herbs."
She smirked faintly. "You better drink them properly."
He glanced at the bundle again, then back at her. "Next ti, you tell ."
"...Next ti.." Yura agreed, just as reluctantly.
"And don’t take my right hand man without my permission."
-_-
"Saar..is..."
"Saar is mine, along with everyone and everything in this house. So you better take permission next ti.."
-_-
"So that’s how you wanna play? Humph! Fine, I’ll build my own army then.."
Min-jae laughed, the tossed the bundles back at her.
"You bought it, you cook it."
-_-
Yura fumbled the bundles, barely catching them against her chest. "What kind of logic is that," she protested.
"And you are the one who went on a grand herbal quest without permission," Min-jae replied calmly. "Consider this the price."
She stared at him, then huffed.
"Unbelievable. You nearly faint at the sll of soup and suddenly you’re issuing orders like a tyrant."
He arched a brow. "Careful. I am head of this household now."
"That went straight to your head," Yura muttered, turning on her heel. "Fine. I will cook it. But if it tastes bad, that is on you."
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