The witch and the poisonous apple

There are two celadon dishes on the table. Thanks to the fact that there were several things of the same design in the wooden box, she doesn't have to feel embarrassed.

Today, he brought her fluffy bread and apple jam. The jam that glitters in the jar has a sweet and tart aroma that'll increase appetite, even in hot summer.

As he brings the teacup towards his mouth, he slowly put his lip on the cup's brim.

"What a peculiar scent. It's the first time I've had something like this—not bad."

The flavor also goes well with apple jam. Roze is surprised when Harij praises her—this kind of flavor is already a norm to her.

"Umm, how do you usually have your tea?"

"I just add some tea leaves."

"You mean, no spices?"

"Nope. It's the first time I've seen tea being prepared in a pot, too. I think milk will go well with this. Next time, I'll bring some."

Tea without spices; tea with milk—Roze never had it that way before.

Harij has showed her a lot of new things. Through him, it's as if Roze has opened her eyes towards a whole new world. Yet, even though so, he never denies nor devalues that which Roze upholds. It's probably because of his good upbringing. The privileges he's born with only make his tolerance abundant.

She immediately spreads the jam over the bread—after all, the bread is fluffy, and the smell tickling her nose is delicious. The refreshing sweetness of apples is packed tightly into the pulpy texture.

"If you enjoy food so much, shouldn't you've eaten properly since the start?"

Harij asked incredulously. Roze can't answer because her cheeks are stuffed with bread.

"Do you only grow medicinal herbs in your field?"

Roze nodded like a squirrel.

"What do you usually make? Are you always making secret potions?"

This time, however, he gives her a little time. Hence, Roze can chew and swallows the food.

It seems like Harij wants to properly get rid of things that are nagging the back of his mind.

"Some of the day-to-day medicines that you're all very familiar with are also made of those field herbs. What I often make is 'Potion For Bruises', 'Potion For When A Foreign Object Enters The Eye', 'Potion For Dry Skin', 'Potion For After Powder Removal', 'Potion For The Hair', 'Potion For Rejuvenation', 'Potion For Keeping Insects Away'—…"

There are also some potions that she can't tell Harij of no matter what—because it's a girl's only thing. She'll probably cry if he asks about them.

"Those were surprisingly ordinary things… Some of them are also used by the knights."

Roze barely knows about that. Market distribution is out of her jurisdiction, after all.

Maybe, just maybe, potions made by Roze helped cure his wounds in the past. Thinking that, she's a little happy.

"—then… why is there also lettuce in your field? Is lettuce considered a medicinal herb?"

"I use it for refreshment, and not for potion-making. Grandma instructed me to plant lettuce. Besides, there are also rare herbs planted in that field that I probably couldn't get anywhere else. Hence, I prefer to keep the field that way."