“Even if I come again, this room is still cramped.”
As Acella entered my room, she immediately started complaining.
If that’s the case, she could just use the provided room quietly; why does she have to bother me so much?
With the attendants and guards storming in together, I couldn’t even take off my coat.
Since I wasn’t on duty, not wearing a robe was my last shred of dignity.
Under the direction of Head Maid, preparations for Acella to stay in my room were completed in an instant.
Suddenly, they even put up a curtain between Acella and my space.
This is my room, mind you.
After everyone left, I grumbled to myself.
“Did you really have to stay here?”
“Since we’ll end up sleeping together anyway. Isn’t it a hassle moving back and forth every night? It’s not like the Moonlight Palace is right next door.”
“You should put up with it.”
“What do you mean? The Prince eliminates the need for me to come to your room in my nightgown every night.”
“Oh, I was the one going. Of course, that’s only natural. Thank you for your consideration.”
“You’re thankful, huh?”
Acella looked at me, grinning like a little devil.
Since she looked so pleased, I decided not to provoke her for no reason and smiled like a fool.
“Then let’s go for a walk.”
“But I’m on vacation! Can’t I catch up on some sleep?”
“What about me?”
“I’ve got a nurse waiting outside, so if something happens, just get examined by her.”
Since I was technically on vacation, I had Chloe come as my substitute. The examination for Acella was now her responsibility.
Hugo had been buried in curse research at the Inner Palace office for months now. He was even poised to write a thesis.
“What about me? I’m bored.”
“If you ask me, I wouldn’t know. How about practicing magic?”
Acella seemed displeased with my answer and pressed her lips into a thin line.
“I said I’m bored.”
“Then explore the mansion. Didn’t you say you wanted to see it again?”
“Ha, really. The Prince should guide me. It’s a minister’s duty to entertain their lord.”
“Only during working hours, right?”
“What a joke.”
Acella huffed in annoyance, but this time I wasn’t backing down.
This was the first vacation I’d taken in almost a year and a half. I had just barely returned home! I needed to flop onto my bed and enjoy a nap right away.
Above all, this was the Marquisate.
My home ground.
I might be stronger than Acella… or not.
“Fine.”
After our standoff, Acella lowered her tail.
If she pressed too hard, I really wouldn’t have any options. It would be a huge problem if I messed up my chance to take a vacation entirely.
I was relieved she accepted.
Acella tiptoed over to my bed and gently perched herself on the edge, tapping the blanket lightly.
“Come over and sleep. But only for an hour.”
“I was thinking of sleeping for six hours.”
“No way. That’s not a nap at all! One and a half hours max.”
“Three hours.”
“Two hours. No more.”
“Alright then.”
I was planning to sleep for two hours from the beginning. Any more than that would wake me up naturally.
It was a perfect victory. With a happy heart, I took off my coat and jumped onto the bed, wearing only my shirt and pants.
As I crawled under the blankets, I felt the plush and cool sensation of the cotton. This is it!
As I closed my eyes, I heard a swish sound.
It seemed Acella changed her position around my shoulder.
Peeking through half-closed eyes, I saw Acella holding a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle as she looked at me.
I’m glad you found something entertaining.
“Prince, enjoy it while you can.”
“What do you mean by that?”
With my eyes still closed, I replied, and Acella whispered back.
“Someday, you’ll be on your knees, grabbing my skirt, begging for my help.”
Not that she’d actually help anyway.
It’s clear that Acella has the personality suited for royalty. She enjoys standing above others and handles that position well.
That’s a strength, I suppose.
“… Why’s she not reacting at all?”
It would be better if she didn’t meddle with my ears so freely.
*
Thanks to my long-awaited nap, my fatigue was relieved.
During lunch with Acella and Neria, my father brought up the topic for real.
He wanted me to check the site of the construction for the pharmaceutical factory and give some advice.
Even though I had the prescriptions, it would still be difficult to operate smoothly without my know-how. This was a major purpose of this vacation, so I willingly accepted.
And Acella followed along too.
“Hmm, so this is how it is.”
Acella gave a casual impression as we arrived at the factory site.
If you ride southeast from the Marquisate, there’s a foundation under construction near a rushing river.
When making medicine, clean water is essential. Locating it upstream was a good choice.
After observing the site with Neria, my father whispered to me.
“By the way, Lars, have you already slept with the Royal Princess?”
“Yes. Some circumstances came together.”
“Hmm…”
My father rested his chin on his hand and continued to whisper.
“Of course, it’s your choice, so I won’t stop you, but if you get her pregnant before she’s an adult, it’ll lead to a lot of trouble. I’ve been through this at your age.”
“Out of nowhere?”
“Of course, it’s a happy thing, but the Royal Princess still has time until her coming of age, so why not take it easy a bit? It’s a bit strange to be called grandpa at this age…”
“Father, I think you’re misunderstanding something. Can you please continue with the introduction of the site?”
“Got it.”
Since my father clearly had some misconceptions, I cut him off.
“There’s also a training facility for apothecaries with a dormitory being built nearby.”
My father pointed to a structure going up in the south. It resembled a Healing Academy.
“How about the current apothecaries being trained?”
“They’re being trained at the Healing Academy, but honestly, the lack of instructors means the progress is slow. They’re struggling just to understand the materials you sent.”
“We’ll dispatch healers from the Inner Palace. On our side, the education is almost complete, so we’ll teach them well.”
“Hmm. I’ve seen the content, but it’s a bit difficult. It’ll probably take around two years to have some useful apothecaries ready.”
“Since it’ll take that long for the factory to be completed too, there’s no need to rush. It’s a long-term endeavor, so we have to prepare thoroughly at this initial stage.”
“That’s true, Lars. But…”
My father trailed off, scratching his chin.
“Is something bothering you?”
“It’s the funding, Brother.”
Neria showed him some documents.
“If we assume substantial earnings begin three years from now, we’ll have to spend some coin for now. Construction costs, apothecary training costs, and later we’ll need to contract with the merchant guild.”
“Does it really cost this much?”
The scale of the business was immense, much more than I had expected.
When I first thought about it, I pictured a small workshop where a few apothecaries made medicine by hand, but the factory looked to be the size of a soccer field!
“Early acquisition is key in business. If the medicine becomes popular, later on, it may be taken over by capital-rich competitors. We should establish a large scale from the beginning.”
Neria confidently stated.
Already drawing a big picture like this really shows her different perspective.
Maybe because she’s destined to become a Saint encompassing the entire Empire.
“Still, that increases the risk. The medicine might not become popular.”
“It’s your medicine, Brother. I’m sure everyone will love it!”
Neria clasped her hands tightly, her large eyes sparkling.
I appreciate the faith, but that also means the responsibility has become heavier.
‘Well, either way, I need to gain achievements.’
―――――――――――
· Good Ending
· ■■■ ■, ■■ ■■ at 14%
· ■■■■, ■■■, ■■■■ 0%
· ■■■ ■■ 0%
· ■■■■
· ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ 0.1%
―――――――――――
The probability of a good ending was slowly yet steadily climbing.
This meant I was steadily building achievements.
The two below were still unchanged.
Was it a good ending that could only be attempted if I chose a profession other than a doctor?
In essence, the only good ending available to me right now was to achieve a ton of accomplishments as a doctor and systematically delete the bad endings.
This process included spreading medicine to the public.
Getting my medicine accepted by the masses was inevitable.
… I wonder what’s at the bottom.
I gave Neria a friendly pat on the back and replied.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Hehe, I’m sure you’ll do great, Brother!”
Receiving Neria’s encouragement gave me spirit.
“Lars, regardless, funding is still a bit of an issue.”
“Right now? But you received a investment from the Moonlight Palace. We even signed a contract.”
Acella owns shares equivalent to two thousand gold coins in the Gothberg Pharmaceutical Factory.
Based on the percentage of initial investment, that’s how much Moonlight Palace would claim once profits come in.
The contract states it will expire if not renewed after five years, and I only need to return the initial investment.
“Marquis, what’s the issue? How could there be no circulating gold with such a large sum in hand?”
Hearing the story, Acella questioned. My father answered with a troubled tone.
“Well, the initial investment estimated over the next three years is twenty thousand gold coins.”
“What?!”
“Excuse me?”
Both Acella and I dropped our jaws at the unexpected amount.
“Are you building a 20-story hotel in the middle of the capital right now?”
“It turned out to require that much.”
“So you don’t have a single coin left right now?”
“That’s how it is. The family’s surplus funds have all been invested.”
“We’re in a situation of taking out additional loans instead.”
Neria added.
“Loans? From where?”
“Uh…”
My father scratched his head.
“Actually, the Western Duke Schwarzswike came by recently. He said he owed you a big debt and willingly lent ten thousand gold coins without interest or a deadline.”
“What?!”
The Western Duke was the same man I saved with the antidote.
The Duke’s territory is so strong that although they’re wary of the imperial family, they could essentially become independent at this level.
It seems he came by to strengthen his friendship and got involved after hearing the story.
“Father, transferring such a large sum between families cannot come with no strings attached.”
“Well, that’s true, but it can’t hurt to maintain a good relationship with the Duke’s family, right?”
“Was the expansion of the business suggested by the Duke?”
“Uh… now that I think about it, it was. To be precise, it was his daughter, the Lady.”
“Oh dear.”
I unknowingly put my hand to my forehead.
Somehow, the scale of the business seemed much larger than what my father or Neria would normally conceive.
This confirmed it for me.
After being tricked by Camilla and engaged Acella, my father should never be involved in politics or business.
It’s suspicious how the Marquisate has survived in the empire until now.
It was probably because it had been isolated in the North, leading to peace.
But just one step outside, the empire is a wild savannah filled with conspiracies and plots.
“Since the Lady is staying at our mansion, what do you think about having a chat with her?”
“The Lady is here? Why didn’t you mention that till now?”
“I’m telling you right now.”
“Are you kidding me?”
This business must, at all costs, become the Gothberg family’s endeavor.
If the Duke’s house interferes without a contract, there’s a possibility that we might not even recover our investments.
The fact that the Lady is here means it’s to keep an eye on the business he heavily invested in.
It can’t be purely for goodwill.
“Father, are you sure about the Duke’s verbal promise of no interest and no deadline?”
“Absolutely. Ah, but the Lady did have one additional condition.”
Why are you just mentioning this now?
“What condition?”
“She asked to be introduced to you. I suppose it would have meant to solidify the relationship.”
“It means the Prince is the collateral.”
Father!
What kind of deal have you made?!
I immediately returned to the marquisate to find the lady.
In the East Wing courtyard, she was leisurely sipping tea, and upon our arrival, she greeted us formally.
“I thought it was about time you would come. It’s an honor to meet you, Royal Highness.”
Acella stepped forward, crossing her arms and showing her displeasure.
“Are you saying the Duke’s daughter was waiting here instead of greeting the Empire’s Royal Princess first?”
“Oh dear, I apologize. Please forgive my minor rudeness. I thought it would be impolite to trouble one as great as you, Your Highness.”
As the lady lifted her previously bowed head, the overtly ornate dress and garish jewelry caught my eye.
She looked good enough to pull off such clothing quite easily.
The lady smiled wide as she approached me, taking my arm.
“I really wanted to see you again, Teacher Gothberg. It’s been since the Moonlight Palace party, right? I wanted to thank you for saving my father.”
She winked at me.
“I’m Freda. I’ve heard so much about you from Lau!”
She stroked my arm with hers, her lips curling.
“I’d really love to talk directly with you. Do you have some time?”
[No. 077: Incarnation of Jealousy 14% → 92%]
Looking back at Acella, her eyes were burning fiercely, as if she was ready to set both me and the lady ablaze.
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