LogFAQs > #901068950

Apothecarius Argentum, Vol. 1 (of 6)
Whose fault is this: Wifebolo
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Author/Artist: Tomomi Yamashita
https://imgur.com/a/yedbNmA

This is one I've been meaning to try for a while! The artstyle is right up Wifebolo's alley (not so much my own, but I don't dislike it) and while you do have a bishie-lookin' dude on the cover, the setting seems like something we could both get into.

The Lady Primula is feeling ill, and sends for the healer, but gets a backup. She appears a bratty, tomboy type, and the guy who shows up apparently used to work for her but got fired. I can't decide whether I like her or not, but she is reckless and a good swordfighter so signs point to my deciding yes. We meet the newish chef Garna, who reminds me of Gohda from Umineko right down to the design, as we tease out a bit more of the backstory between Primula and Argent, the apothecary. He used to be her food taster, and kept her company in addition to absorbing numerous poisoning attempts. Primula goes out to visit him after he pre-emptively gives her an antidote (dangit, not-Gohda!) and she re-iterates that she's too stubborn to worry about poison and such. On the way back (alone) she successfully baits a followup attack from Garna and a rescue from Argent, who has spent his life slowly building up an immunity to poison (and in fact a poisonous touch) as alluded to previously.

We get the full backstory in a flashback- they both served to inspire the other. Primula staged Argent's escape because he was suffering, inspiring to become a healer to protect her after she risked her own life to save his a couple of times. In turn, he saved her from his poison, and inspired her to be strong on her own. Well heck now I ship this. Come to think of it, it's a not-dissimilar setup to Pushing Daisies, where it's a cute ship but they really can't touch. Also a show Wifebolo's pretty into and I'm cool with.

Next up, Primula has to do princessly things at a festival, which is very much not her strong suit, but important for superstitious reasons. Rival factions try to sabotage her, but Argent has her back and her hard work pays off. Primula hires him as the royal apothecary, but her father shows back up immediately and whisks Argent away. He gives him a test by asking him to assassinate a young boy, but Argent refuses. The two of them are betrayed by the boy's father and captured, but Argent is able to MELT THE WALL and break them both free. The King claims to be pleased at Argent's ideals, but ultimately wants to use him as a weapon.

Finally, we find out that Argent is not a part of the apothecary guild, and they're not too happy that he's barging in on their turf. They send Soda the apprentice to spy, but Soda just winds up going over to be Argent's apprentice after bonding over a few cases. Argent and Primula also come to a bit better understanding- Argent becomes willing to accept help, and Primula learns that she's shut out of his workshop for safety reasons. Development!

My rating: 9/10
...I like this a lot actually. Art's cute, story's cute, characters have depth and development, setting's my kinda thing. This should be good!
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Look at all those chickens
There's a hunger in the land, there's a reckoning still to be reckoned