Acella’s last response was written confidently.
It included a note stating that every household should stock up on medicine for the health enhancement of the citizens.
“Medicine? Does that mean aspirin and iodine will be included?”
“Of course. Digestive aids and ointments too.”
Heike’s eyes narrowed.
“If you’re distributing that much to the commoners in your jurisdiction, Acella, that’s an outrageous quantity. Your healers must have been working for months on it. Even Gothberg has been away, hasn’t he?”
Heike suspected Acella.
The medicines that Lars produced were still quite rare.
She could barely get enough for a thousand knights from Lars.
But to suddenly supply such a large quantity of medicine…
“How did you procure it?”
Acella smiled like a demon.
“The Gothberg Pharmaceutical Factory has begun its trial operation. Soon, the regular operation will start as well.”
Since the Moonlight Palace had shares, Neria had sent an official notice regarding the trial operation.
Seeing that, Acella had thought of this operation and requested samples of the medicine.
“The pharmaceutical factory.”
It was news to Heike.
And of course, it was natural. The Gothberg Pharmaceutical Factory had the Moonlight Palace and the Western Duke as its only investors.
Given how advantageous it was for later movers, they were keeping the information from leaking outside.
If Heike had known that the medicines would soon be supplied cheaply, she wouldn’t have purchased them at a premium.
“The ships from the Supre Association come from upstream. They’re loaded with a ton of medicine from the north. It’ll be supplied at around this price.”
The figures were absurdly low. Since it was still in the trial phase and just a sample sent to the investors, it was calculated at cost.
Commoners would be able to buy a set of medicine for just a few silver coins.
Lau sensed Acella’s intentions.
“That’s ridiculously cheap. There’s no way the unit price of those medicines hasn’t been recorded in the palace accounts…”
“It’s written right here.”
Acella presented the delivery details from Mokhwi Palace.
“…Indeed.”
Heike nodded.
Until now, she had been paying high prices to Lars for the medicines just to ensure they weren’t taken by other nobles due to their scarcity.
The price recorded in the accounts had to be based on Mokhwi Palace’s records. The medicines distributed tomorrow would be recorded at a high price.
Acella’s jurisdictional household assets would be unreasonably inflated.
“This is a field that requires specialized knowledge. Adjusting the unit price in the accounts will take time for review.”
It would be revised soon, but not by tomorrow.
Before that, the outcome would be decided.
Utilizing Mokhwi Palace’s materials… She had been caught off guard.
Heike admitted it.
Acella’s strategy had outpaced her.
As she conceded defeat, she leaned back in her chair.
“Then, Acella, will you submit that response as your final one?”
Lau asked Acella in admiration.
With this, the victory for the Moonlight Palace would be secured.
However, Acella was silent.
“Acella?”
Lau sensed something amiss.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Acella’s cheek.
She gulped, having barely managed to swallow.
“…The submission…”
Acella’s hands trembled.
She still hadn’t completed the document. There was still much left to write.
“…Ugh.”
She dropped the quill she was holding.
A pain surged from her abdomen.
With the agony pouring into her brain, Acella bowed her head and supported herself on the table.
“Acella, present your final response.”
Lau spoke clearly so that she could hear.
That was the utmost consideration she could offer as a neutral member.
He had realized that Acella was in trouble. She looked like she might lose consciousness and collapse at any moment.
Perhaps she had already been unwell and was just enduring the pain throughout this meeting.
If Acella failed to present now, all the carefully prepared medicines would become useless. The distribution to the commoner’s homes tomorrow would be canceled.
The victory would return to Heike.
“Acella!”
Despite Lau’s urgent call to snap back to her senses, Acella’s arm lost strength.
Bang!
The support holding her up collapsed, and she fell with a crash.
“Your Royal Highness!”
“Princess!”
The head maid and Chloe, waiting behind, rushed to support Acella.
Chloe immediately began emergency treatment.
However, Acella wouldn’t regain consciousness and ultimately had no choice but to leave the room.
“Quickly to the next room…!”
“Immediately to the examination…!”
The Moonlight Palace exited the VIP Room, leaving only Lau and Heike at the table.
Heike picked up the quill that had broken due to Acella’s excessive force.
Her determination was palpable.
“…Huh. Shall I present the final response, Heike?”
Lau felt torn but had to do his duty as a member.
Heike pondered for a moment before swiftly drafting a document and passing it to Lau.
“I’ll purchase wheat through a gift transaction. Indeed, this will only increase the net assets in the accounts.”
Lau frowned as he read the numbers.
“I’ll be purchasing wheat worth 7,200 gold coins, not 12,000… is this correct?”
“Absolutely. However, it seems we haven’t set how to deal with the situation if both sides end up with the same score.”
Heike gazed at Lau intently.
“Shall we handle it at the discretion of the member?”
Realizing Heike’s intention, Lau snorted.
“There’s no way a competition of this scale would end in a tie, so we simply didn’t set it.”
Thud, Lau closed the document.
“I’ll declare it a draw. This contest ends without a winner or loser.”
“I concede.”
The two princesses silently sipped their cold tea, as all the tension drained away.
*
“Ugh.”
Every time I used the teleport gate, my stomach felt unwell.
I endured the nausea and barely regained my senses as Tanya supported me out of the palace.
Wah wah wah!
In the dimly lit imperial palace night.
Had it been about two and a half months since I returned? It’s been a while.
Even though it’s midwinter, it feels warm returning from the north.
“Let’s see, I packed the amulet well.”
Acella must be asleep now.
When I checked the status window briefly, what a surprise.
[No. 101: Magic Explosion 45% → 67%]
Acella’s condition had deteriorated rapidly. This was bad timing.
“This is serious.”
“Is something wrong with the princess?”
“It seems so. We need to hurry.”
Alongside Tanya and Hugo, we headed to the Moonlight Palace.
The knight unit of the Moonlight Palace saluted and reported upon seeing me.
“S-S-Sir!!”
As soon as Chloe saw me, she burst into tears and collapsed to the floor. She seemed to have been through a lot, nearly melting like slime.
“Th-The princess!”
“Where is she?”
I immediately headed to Acella’s bedroom.
The head maid briefly explained what had happened.
It turned out Acella had confronted Heike. They had staked their succession rights, but thankfully it ended in a draw.
The problem was that Acella’s condition had worsened to the point where she had fainted just moments ago.
“I’ll go in and examine her. It’s best to schedule surgery as soon as possible.”
“Please do.”
I cautiously entered Acella’s bedroom.
The room was dark. In the spacious chamber, only her rhythmic breathing could be heard.
I slowly approached the bed to check.
The soft moonlight illuminated her face, relaxing her brow.
“Acella.”
She didn’t respond, but seeing her face after so long made me smile slightly.
She had an IV connected to her arm. Right now, she was receiving an infusion of fluids, having just finished a dose of narcotic painkillers that Chloe had prescribed.
She was likely floating comfortably on clouds in dreamland.
“Diagnosis.”
―――――――――――
· Name: Acella von Württemberg
· Health: 17 / 22
· Condition: Chronic injury accompanied by severe pain
· Injury: Evil Spirit Fusion Curse / Acute Cholecystitis / Cholelithiasis / Biliary Colic
· Location: Gallbladder
· Mood: Loneliness
―――――――――――
Now, I could completely grasp Acella’s condition with just a basic diagnosis.
Her health and stamina seemed fine. Thanks to her keeping up with her diet.
“I need materials to share with the team.”
When I attempted to activate the MRI, a message popped up.
[MRI has been ranked up to B.]
What a welcome message.
When I used the skill, there was a change.
Unlike before when I had to generate a magnetic field by placing my hands on the patient, now the results appeared on the status window quickly, just by looking at her, like an X-ray.
It became much more convenient.
I meticulously recorded Acella’s internal images in the status window. This data could later be printed in the debugging area.
Chloe must have completed the blood sampling before administering the painkillers. The data was sufficient.
I gently placed my hand on Acella’s stomach.
Given her worsened condition, I’d want to perform surgery as soon as tomorrow.
Would I be the one to wield the knife?
Thinking that, I heard a weak voice in my ear.
“…Lars.”
Acella barely opened her eyes.
It seemed she hadn’t completely awakened yet. Was she half asleep and just babbling?
“…You’re back?”
She reached out her hands toward me, her fingertips wiggling tenderly.
It seemed like she was asking for a hug.
I chuckled softly and leaned against the bed as I replied.
“Yes, Your Highness. Your useless attending physician has returned.”
Acella gazed at me for a while, fiddled with my gown, and said.
“…I missed you.”
Saying that, she snuggled closer.
Her abdomen pressed against my side.
“Won’t you give me a punishment? You’ve been absent for several months without a word.”
“…It’s all right.”
Acella spoke in a breathy, mingled voice.
“It’s a dream… it’s all right.”
As if my chest was her rightful place, she buried her head there.
“…I wanted to sleep together.”
She shared that small hope briefly.
Snore snore, without room to talk, Acella fell back into a deep sleep.
I covered her with the blankets and left her room.
“How is it?”
Hugo asked me.
“It’s late now. Let’s get some sleep and think about it in the morning. If we mess up something important while tired, we won’t have any excuses.”
“What do you mean?”
I nodded.
“Her Highness’s health is stable. Conversely, her condition requires immediate action. We’ll hold a meeting about the surgery schedule first thing tomorrow. Assemble all the inner palace team members.”
“Understood.”
After dismissing Hugo and Chloe, I decided to return to my room.
I thought I somewhat understood Acella’s feelings.
Given her state, it must have been a candid thought.
Still, to ensure I spoke with her clearly once more…
“I will definitely succeed.”
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