"The main herb of this pill is rare and expensive. How did you get your hands on so much?"
Oriana answered hesitantly, "From the royal pharmacy…Master Erich's—"
"Erich knows of this?!" Martha said in disbelief, her tone laced with anger.
"Yes, no, I mean, I have been getting it through the royal pharmacy, and Master only discovered it when I was about to leave with the delegation. He warned me but he also understood my situation, and I promised him this would be the last time."
Martha continued to scowl. "How can he allow you to…? Is he losing his mind with old age?"
Oriana stared at the reaction of the older woman who always behaved calmly, but suddenly lost her composure. She realized that Erich and Martha might be closer than she guessed.
"You are not taking this medicine after this," Martha warned her.