Volume 10 - Chapter 30

The Apothecary Diaries

Chuue #

“When little Chuue was a child, she was a very happy girl.

Her father was a trader who married later in life. It seemed that he fell in love at first sight with her beautiful mother, despite his age.

Her mother was a hardworking foreigner, although she struggled with the language. She often helped her father. Chuue loved holding their hands and going to the church. On their days off, the three of them would pray together and then dine out before returning home.

It seemed that her father met her mother by chance. Her mother was aboard a ship from the neighboring country of Sao. She had been rescued by her father’s merchant ship after a storm wrecked her own vessel. At first, they had trouble communicating due to the language barrier, but since her father was proficient in the language of Sao, he took care of her mother in many ways.

Although her father initially planned to send her mother back to Sao, it didn’t work out. The shipwrecked vessel had her mother’s husband and child on board, both of whom had unfortunately died. Her mother had no relatives in Sao and nowhere to go if she returned.

Her father was a kind-hearted businessman who had earned the respect of others, and his business flourished. It was unthinkable for him to abandon her mother, a lonely soul in this world. Moreover, despite being over forty and unmarried, her father unexpectedly fell in love.

“I had thought about adopting a relative’s child at some point.”

The following year, Chuue was born. Although her father hadn’t expected to have a child, he was overjoyed, and for ten days after Chuue was born, he distributed sweets to people passing by his shop.

Her mother named her Chuue, which means “sparrow”. Her father thought it was a cute name, likening her to a small bird. Chuue didn’t resemble her slim and beautiful mother but took after her father, who was a bit stocky. She had small eyes, a button-like nose, and a not-so-tall stature. However, she had freckles and dimples. Her father boasted about Chuue to their relatives.

Although Chuue’s appearance wasn’t particularly remarkable, she had a sharp mind. She began walking before she turned one, and by the age of two, she was chatterbox. Her father eagerly looked forward to seeing how she would continue to grow by the time she turned three.

Chuue had a good head on her shoulders.

She remembered when her mother disappeared before she turned three and even the state her mother was in before she vanished.

One day, her mother suddenly disappeared. Her father was in a panic. The employees were shocked and bewildered, and it created a big commotion.

Every day, they drew numerous portraits and searched for her.

Her father suspected that she might have been involved in some incident. He searched for her mother, and gradually, strange things started to come to light.

It seemed that information about her father’s business transactions had been leaked. Although there was no concrete evidence, there were peculiar patterns in the import and export from other countries.

Her father’s success in business wasn’t solely due to his popularity. Chuue’s sharp thinking ability had been inherited from him.

Her father never ignored any slight sense of discomfort. He examined the flow of events and the books from the years since her mother arrived.

A certain country was connected.

It was called Ryo and was located next to Sao. Although they didn’t have diplomatic relations, it was a country located on the eastern side, sandwiched between Sao and Ryo.

Her mother referred to herself as a person from Sao, but her appearance was closer to that of someone from Ryo.

“I will definitely find her, no matter what.”

Father handed the textbook to Chuue, saying, “I study while saying that. There’s nothing else to do, so Chuue had the servant read the textbook to him.

“Mother must have had a reason. It must have been something unavoidable,” Father said gently.

For the first time, Chuue thought that Father was foolish.

Years later, Father said he might have found Mother. There was someone who claimed to have seen a person who looked exactly like the portrait.

Father was overjoyed and boarded a ship bound for Lai.

At that time, Chuue regretted not reaching out his hand. It would have been better to think that Mother had died. Father and Chuue could have lived happily together.

But that dream would not come true.

Father never returned.

What will become of a child who has lost their parents? Chuue would have had a different story if she had been a little older. But as a daughter who had not even reached the age of ten, she couldn’t do anything.

In less than a month, Father’s fortune was taken away and disappeared. Only a few gold coins left by the servants, who had barely felt indebted to Father, remained in Chuue’s possession.

Surely, if Father had been sane, he would have chosen a proper guardian for Chuue. Mother was beautiful, but how much did she drive Father insane?

“If something happens, go to the church.”

Chuue clenched the gold coins and headed to the church.

The priest was relatively decent. He pitied Chuue and tried to put her in a poorhouse. But Chuue knew that it was no good. The remaining gold coins would be taken away as soon as they were found.

Chuue had a goal.

In the church, there was a teacher who wanted to spread the teachings to the East. And she heard that he would soon depart.

“Take me with you,” Chuue said to the stern-looking teacher.

“Children can’t come with me,” the teacher replied.

The teacher was about forty years old. He used to be a bodyguard for a large church and had a sturdy build. Since he was going to a foreign land full of non-believers, it seemed that he had to have physical strength.

Chuue was just a child. She had no power. There was only one thing she had.

“Oh God, are you watching us?”

Chuue remembered the contents of the textbook that she had been read many times. She had been read to many times. She recited every word without making a mistake.

“…”

“Please take me with you, too.”

If she had no value, no one would see her.

For Father, Chuue was his daughter, so she had value.

For the employees, Chuue was the employer’s daughter, so she had value.

So Chuue showed her value as a useful pawn for the teacher’s missionary work. Above all, Chuue was her mother’s daughter. She had features from the East.

Afterwards, the teacher resisted for a while, but in the end, he gave in. Maybe he knew that Chuue had no place to go anymore.

“I can’t take responsibility even if you die.”

“I understand.”

Chuue set off with the teacher to the East. However, because they had to engage in missionary activities while moving, their progress was slow. It took them a year to cross the Sand Ocean and reach Lai. But it was very difficult to move within Lai.

Along the way, the teacher gave Chuue textbooks written in various languages.

“Listen, it’s about language. Learn the language. Don’t make a single mistake. It can be a matter of life and death.”

The teacher was blunt, but he took good care of her. However, he became irritated because he was chased by people who opposed the teachings of the church several times on the way. Sometimes they were confined and subjected to torture-like treatment.

“Damn non-believers. I won’t forgive you until you convert.”

That was the teacher’s favorite phrase.

The circumstances that led him to come to Lai, a land full of non-believers, were strange, but it didn’t matter to Chuue.

Even though they were a group of the church, the treatment of child servants was not particularly good. The group itself didn’t have much funding, so it couldn’t be helped. At that time, she remembered what she was. She was not the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She was just a poor child servant.

So she had to use her wits to feed herself. Sometimes, when she cried next to a kind-looking woman in town, she would occasionally receive alms. There were also children who would share their snacks if she made them laugh like a clown. When there was a feast, she ate sparingly, knowing that she wouldn’t have that kind of meal on a regular basis.

When shereached Lai, Chuue was determined to make the most of her situation. She dedicated herself to learning the language of the land, studying tirelessly from the textbooks the teacher had given her. She knew that her ability to communicate effectively would be crucial for her survival and success in this foreign land.

As the days turned into months, Chuue’s language skills improved. She practiced speaking with the locals, making an effort to pronounce the words correctly and understand their cultural nuances. Gradually, she started to gain the trust and respect of the people around her.

Chuue’s intelligence and quick wit became her greatest assets. She used her knowledge and language skills to assist the teacher in his missionary work, translating his teachings into the local language and explaining the concepts to the people. Her presence brought a new level of understanding and connection between the teacher and the locals.

Word of Chuue’s abilities spread, and she became known as a talented young translator. People sought her out for help with various matters, from business negotiations to personal letters. She was able to earn a modest income by offering her translation services, which allowed her to support herself and contribute to the church’s activities.

Over time, Chuue’s reputation grew, and she gained the attention of influential individuals in the city. They recognized her potential and offered her opportunities to further develop her skills. She was introduced to scholars, diplomats, and merchants who needed a skilled translator to navigate the complexities of their respective fields.

Chuue seized these opportunities with enthusiasm. She immersed herself in different areas of knowledge, learning about politics, economics, and culture. Her insatiable curiosity and determination to excel propelled her forward. She became a trusted advisor and confidante to many, known for her reliability and sharp intellect.

As the years went by, Chuue’s successes continued to accumulate. She became a key figure in bridging the gap between the East and the foreign lands. Her language skills and cultural understanding facilitated diplomatic negotiations, trade agreements, and cultural exchanges. She was instrumental in fostering understanding and cooperation between different nations.

Chuue’s journey from a young orphan to a respected translator and diplomat was not without its challenges. She faced prejudice and discrimination as a foreigner and a woman in a male-dominated society. However, her perseverance and talent allowed her to overcome these obstacles and prove her worth.

Through it all, Chuue never forgot her roots. She remained humble and compassionate, using her position to uplift others and advocate for those who were marginalized. She dedicated herself to making a positive impact on the world, guided by the lessons she had learned from her parents and the teachings of the church.

Chuue’s story serves as a testament to the power of resilience, knowledge, and determination. It shows that even in the face of adversity, one can rise above and make a difference by embracing opportunities and relentlessly pursuing their goals. And as Chuue continues on her journey, her impact echoes far beyond the pages of her own story, inspiring others to reach for their own dreams and create a brighter future.

“However, Chuue saw a beautiful woman.

Just like silver, Chuue glanced at the sparrow and returned to the mansion with her child as if nothing had happened.

Chuue didn’t know what to do.

Yet, Chuue continued to follow her mother’s back. She thought that if her mother saw her, she would surely notice something.

However, her mother didn’t notice anything at all.

Why had Chuue been following her mother for so many years?

Was it for the sake of the touching reunion between parent and child? No, that wasn’t it.

Chuue wanted to know what value her mother had placed upon her.

That night, Chuue sneaked into the mansion.

She had to confirm it no matter what. What was she to her mother?

Perhaps due to being pursued by heathens for many years, sneaking into the mansion was easy. Chuue moved, hiding her presence, trying to find out which room her mother was in.

“A mouse reeks beyond belief.”

Someone said right behind Chuue.

Startled, she turned around, but before she could react, she was tightly restrained.

“A vagrant stealing things, huh? I could cut off your fingers for that.”

The one restraining Chuue was a man. He was likely around thirty years old, but Chuue couldn’t see his face while being restrained.

“I’m not stealing anything.”

Chuue used the most polite wording she could. It was what her teacher had taught her. However, it seemed to have backfired.

“You’re a foreigner, aren’t you? Your pronunciation has an accent.”

Chuue’s face was pressed against the ground tightly.

“You’re young, but where are you from? Sando? No, farther west? What’s your purpose?”

The man moved Chuue to a less crowded spot.

“I-I came to… see my mother.”

Chuue managed to stutter out the words.

“Your mother? Is there a parent with such a shabby appearance working in this mansion?”

A mocking laughter. No matter how she was ridiculed, Chuue didn’t mind. She simply took out a dirty portrait from her pocket.

“…What’s this?”

The man’s voice changed. Confusion was evident.

The grip restraining Chuue loosened.

“Are you… her child?”

Chuue didn’t know who ‘her’ referred to. Yet, all she could do was to exploit this moment of the man’s confusion. However, escaping was difficult. As for how to exploit the situation…

“Thirteen years ago, my mother had an accident and my father saved her. I’m the daughter born at that time.”

“A daughter, huh? Haha, I see, I remember. She was indeed here.”

The man laughed.

“That woman discarded you, the unwanted child.”

The word ‘unwanted’ echoed in Chuue’s mind.

“Unwanted?”

“Yeah. Unwanted. You must be an unnecessary child to return to this mansion. A form of identification during your years of hiding in a foreign land. That was your value.”

‘Was’ - past tense. Chuue was no longer needed, it seemed.

“Taking you back isn’t an option. You’re an unnecessary presence to fulfill a role.”

“Unnecessary presence.”

An impact hit Chuue’s head like a pounding. She had known this. When she was left behind by her father, Chuue should have realized it then.

“What happened to your father? If he was a prosperous merchant, did he take another wife?”

It would have been better if her father were such a person. Her father was kind, gentle, and foolish.

“He heard that my mother was in Lai and set off, but he died. The family went bankrupt. Nothing was left for me, so I followed my mother.”

“Carrying just this portrait?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

The man seemed to be thinking about something. He assessed Chuue. The value of Chuue was being determined at this moment. If there was nothing, she would probably be disposed of as something unnecessary.

“I can speak my native language, Lai language, and Sando language. I can understand a few other languages as well.”

Recalling what her teacher had given her, Chuue fluently spoke foreign languages.

“I can do arithmetic. I’ve survived a week on just water to stave off hunger. I’m resilient to pain, and also, my hands are dexterous.”

Chuue demonstrated some mimicry-like magic tricks.

She would do anything. To survive, to find her value.

“…You’re a fool. You have more potential than you think.”

The man muttered under his breath.

“Fine. Show me your usefulness for a while. If you prove to be valuable…”

The man grinned.

“I’ll make you my successor.”

For Chuue, the man had become a mentor.