Introduction

Apothecarius Argentum is the creation of mangaka Yamashita Tomomi. There are ten volumes in print and is currently being serialized in Princess Gold magazine. CMX, the US distributor, currently has eight volumes in print, with the ninth volume hitting streets in June 2010.

Plot Summary

  Princess Primula is the only daughter of the aging King of Beazol. Many outside kingdoms see this as opportunity to expand their boundaries, so over the years many attempts have been made on Primula’s life, mainly consisting of poisonings through her food. As a child, she stopped eating out of fear. In an effort to correct this, the King purchased a slave who was to dine with Primula, tasting her food to ensure it was safe. Thinking he was only meant to be company for her during meal times, Primula took to the boy straight away, even giving him a name: Argent.

  Argent, however, was no normal food taster. Since birth, he had been force fed poison and trained in deadly arts, turning him into the perfect human weapon: a basilisk. As the name implies, the body of a basilisk is venomous. A bite or a touch could easily result in the death of the victim. With ones body being so toxic, it is also immune to the effect of poisons, making Argent the ideal food taster.

  Certain events revealed to Primula about Argent’s true purpose and fearing for his life, she set him free. Several years pass when Argent once again steps back into her life, this time as a skilled apothecary, using his deadly handicap to save lives. Both Primula and Argent are older and romance yearns to bloom between them, but will Argent be able to overcome his past and his toxic disability or he let fear and self loathing keep them apart?