***

Rishe was pleased by how things ended, and she stayed behind in the parlor after Tully and his staff left, thinking.

I’ve secured a route for stockpiling goods. I sure am glad I managed to develop a prototype in time. Also, my herb garden is thriving, and the maids are progressing in their studies. It’s time to begin the next steps.

Suddenly, she felt a throbbing pain in her forehead.The medicine’s worn off, I see.

Taking care of the field, teaching the maids, making ingredients, working on developing the product—she didn’t have nearly enough hours in the day, and she’d been pushing herself too hard. She’d spent all the previous night preparing for today’s negotiation, forgoing sleep, stretching her body to its limit.

I don’t have the endurance built up for this lifestyle.

She performed a self-examination, making sure she didn’t have a cold she could spread, and concluded it was probably just exhaustion. She’d recover with rest.

But there’s one last thing I need to finish up,she thought as her guards returned from escorting Tully out. “We apologize for keeping you waiting, my lady. We shall escort you back to your chambers now.”

Rishe smiled, trying to mask her fatigue. “Thank you.”

“My lady? Are you well?”

Rishe blinked. Her vision wavered. With her medicine wearing off, she suddenly found herself unable to rise from her chair. “Don’t fret. Just…would someone summon Elsie for me?”

Sensing that something was wrong, a guard made haste to do her bidding.