ALL NOVEL Chapter 78
―Freda! What on earth are you doing still at the Marquis’s Estate? Didn’t you say you were going out with the Second Princess? I hear you’re causing trouble using the gold coins I gave the Marquis as an excuse!
“No, that’s not it…”
Freda, sitting meekly in front of the crystal ball, shrank into a little ball. Without the high-tech dual communication, is she curling up like that in a recorded video? It must be quite severe with the Duke.
―The Third Princess has personally sent a letter. After I went through all the trouble of building a friendly relationship with the Moonlight Palace, you’re going to ruin it all for just ten thousand gold coins! Get back home immediately!
Snap, the video cut off, and Freda pouted her lips.
Acella sent a report of the Marquis’s situation to the Duke using a premium communication sphere.
Though she used antiquated phrases, to summarize, the message was, “Your daughter is flirting with my betrothed. Is there no sense of decency?”
Three days later, a reply containing an apology came for Acella, and I thought a message would have arrived for Freda too, so I paused my breakfast and ran out to watch her.
“See, I told you, right?”
Acella said triumphantly.
“It really was an incident that the Princess caused without the Duke’s knowledge. How did you know?”
“I’ve been interacting with the Duke as the owner of the Moonlight Palace. He wouldn’t intentionally create a situation to inconvenience his benefactor, you.”
Has she already finished political analysis of the Duke? As expected of Acella.
“And the Duke is also waiting for the supply of medication for the knights. The ten thousand gold coins are merely an advance payment. Causing me discomfort would be an action that devalues the advance, so there’s no reason for him to do that.”
“How wise of you.”
“Indeed.”
Defeated and sulking, Freda trudged over to us like a defeated soldier.
“I had no idea that His Majesty cared so much for the attending physician! I was so clueless. I apologize.”
“If you knew, then disappear. We have nothing more to discuss.”
“How heartless. Poor teacher! You’ve been solidly marked by the Royal Princess.”
“Are you saying the Prince feels pitiful because of me? Ha ha.”
Acella was unusually relaxed, as if she had already claimed victory.
“‘Ignorance is bliss’ fits perfectly here. Lady, you’ll never have the chance to see the beautiful scenery of my lady.”
“What does that even mean?”
Freda protested, showing her frustration while trying to turn away from Acella.
Her maid and escort followed behind.
I’m just grateful that she’s leaving the Marquis’s Estate quietly.
It’s turned out better than even writing a contract. As long as it’s not Freda, I can manage the ten thousand gold coins as I please.
“Prince, you’ll need eight thousand more.”
“That’s the plan. It’s an amount that will be slowly consumed over three years, so there’s no need to rush for procurement.”
“I’ll prepare it, so don’t worry about it.”
Acella declared confidently.
I felt somewhat reassured.
“Oh, Lady. Are you leaving right now?”
My father saw Freda as he passed by with Neria.
“Yes. I’m planning to return to the Duke’s household. I’ve caused a lot of trouble.”
“Not at all. It was an honor to have such a dignified person like you with us. …Hmm? There are tears in your eyes. If you’re okay with it, please use this.”
My father handed a handkerchief to Freda.
She paused and slowly accepted the handkerchief.
“Thanks to the Marquis’s consideration, I’m leaving with only good memories. Thinking back, I could only stay comfortably here because the Marquis took care of everything.”
“It was only natural to treat a distinguished guest like you who visited our estate.”
“Really, you know how to make someone feel good. By the way, Your Grace Gothberg, if I’m not mistaken, your wife passed away… didn’t you?”
“That’s right. She grew weak after giving birth to my son.”
“Oh dear, that’s truly unfortunate.”
“It’s fine. It was a long time ago.”
As Freda moved closer to my father, gently touching his arm, uh-oh, this atmosphere is taking a weird turn.
“Prince, are you going to leave that be?”
“No, absolutely not.”
If things get too weird, I’ll have to kick Freda out myself, so I rolled up my sleeves.
With tear-filled eyes, Freda looked up at my father.
“It must be tough for you alone. You have to manage a vast estate like the Marquisate, run the breeding house, and take care of two children.”
“I have plenty of excellent subordinates, so I receive help. My son is now fulfilling his duties admirably.”
“Still, wouldn’t you need a wife to manage the social circle? What do you think, Marquis?”
Swipe, Freda’s finger glided over my father’s hand.
I can’t just let this crazy stepmother appear right in front of me.
The moment I moved my foot, my father answered.
“I appreciate your concern, but I hold only one woman in my heart. I do not plan to take another wife.”
His determination was palpable in his tone.
Freda must have sensed that this was not something she could break through; she released my father’s arm and took a step back.
“…I see, what a shame.”
“To think you would empathize with my situation so deeply, Lady, you are indeed a very benevolent person.”
Did my father not even notice Freda was trying to seduce him?
He seems to be so out of touch with women that he hasn’t even reached that thought.
“Even so, how can you be that oblivious? It’s frustrating.”
“Prince, is that something you should be saying?”
“What?”
I’m just muttering to myself—why is Acella getting angry at that?
Freda sighed heavily, shaking her head.
Then her gaze stopped at one spot.
It was Neria standing a bit behind my father.
“Oh, Miss Neria.”
“I’m a girl.”
Neria quickly raised her defenses upon realizing Freda’s intentions.
But Freda didn’t give up, smiling and bending down to meet Neria’s gaze.
“Does gender matter? The North is quite conservative, huh? In the West…”
“Alright, Lady. Let me guide you to the teleport gate.”
Ultimately, I had to intervene and shut Freda up. I had Bruno chase her and her entourage out of the estate.
As I watched the procession leave, I subtly asked my father,
“You only have one woman in your heart? Neria is my half-sibling.”
“Hmm… I’ll explain that later.”
My father waffled on the answer and slipped away.
*
A few days passed while I worked on the business plan with Neria, and we eventually wrapped things up.
Going forward, I decided that the ultimate decision-making authority regarding the business would rest with Neria, while my father would serve only as an advisor to avoid problems.
Neria is still young but at least more reliable than my father.
She’s studying economics diligently and learning know-how by watching my father work.
If it becomes too difficult to judge alone, she can report to me right away.
Meanwhile, Acella was enjoying her vacation in her own way, but it didn’t feel like she was resting at all.
At least ten communication spheres flew toward her every day, and since Freda left, she’s also kept up with her reading and magical practice.
That doesn’t mean she’s bothering me less.
“Prince, make bubble tea for me.”
“Prince, it’s cold by the window. I want to sleep inside.”
“Prince, I want to go for a walk. Come with me.”
Maybe she’s overexcited after leaving the Palace; she’s overflowing with energy.
I wonder if I’ve changed her diet to be too healthy. I’m kind of regretting that a little.
“Well, still, lying like this during broad daylight, where else could I do that? In the Imperial Family, I’d never even dreamt of it. You wouldn’t know since you always lie down.”
As I enjoyed sunbathing in the yard, Max responded with a roar.
I had no time to play with him in the Palace since I was so busy.
Tearing up some jerky and tossing it, I watched him bolt like a cheetah and gobble it up with a thud.
Scratching Max’s white chin, I opened the status window.
―――――――――――
○ Alchemy C
· Enhancement C – Property Change B
· Compression C
· Synthesis C – Extraction C
· (Not Acquired)
○ Medicine C
· Diagnosis B – Blood Test C – X-Ray C
· Prescription C
· Emergency Treatment C – Surgery (Basic) C
· (Not Acquired)
―――――――――――
‘The speed at which my experience is accumulating is slowly getting sluggish.’
First, Alchemy.
The Property Change I usually use to develop new medicines has leveled up to B, but the other bars are crawling along like a worm.
Once I reach a higher level in Alchemy, I might be able to create a panacea after all.
‘It seems unlikely before the ending, though.’
I confirmed one message.
[A new skill in Medicine is ready to be unlocked.]
You’ll soon be able to see the skill name, too.
Besides the prescription path leading to [Prescription Issuance], three other skills were preparing to open up.
In Medicine, I hope for detailed examination or advanced surgery skills to come out.
Since Hugo has been struggling to deal with Acella’s curse, I need more clues, and if I anticipate an emergency during the removal surgery, I’d need plenty of skills.
‘This should open quickly with surgical experience, but the big problem is I rarely get opportunities to perform surgery.’
In this world, surgery is practically illegal, so there’s nothing to do.
I need the surgery rank to rise before acquiring higher-level skills of the same series.
I’m still actively volunteering whenever I can, but it’s mostly just prescriptions and emergency treatments.
‘No need to rush.’
The Emperor is just starting to use my medicines now that they’re spreading in medicine.
It’s better to prepare leisurely to the limit than to rush and make a blunder.
As I was about to get up when the sun was getting too hot, a commotion broke out from a distance.
It was near the entrance of the Marquis’s Estate. Hearing a loud voice, I decided to approach and figure out what was happening.
“Just open the door once! Is that so hard?!”
“You’re at the Marquis’s Estate. It’s not a place you can just wander into without prior appointment or permission!”
The guards were in a standoff with a man.
“Should I check what’s going on, Your Grace?”
Tanya asked, nodding at her.
“Please don’t make a scene. Return.”
“This is a matter of life and death! I heard the Attending Physician is here! Please!”
Tanya quickly returned and updated me on the situation.
“He’s a commoner from the Marquisate. He came here on a whim after hearing rumors that the doctor is here. He says there’s a critically ill patient.”
“A patient, huh.”
Hearing that made my body move before my mind could catch up.
I rushed to the front gate blocked by the iron fence and faced the commoner.
“What’s going on with the patient?”
“Oh, Young Master. I’m sorry to cause a commotion. This man just wouldn’t listen…”
I waved my hand to stop the guards and gave the commoner permission to speak.
He was drenched in sweat, having run here non-stop.
“Tell me, what kind of patient?”
“G-Gothberg teacher! P-Please! My wife… My wife hasn’t been able to deliver for over a day!”
He knelt before me, pleading.
“Please save my wife!!”
Is it a difficult delivery?
I popped a candy in my mouth and commanded,
“Over there, prepare the carriage. Commander, bring the medical bag and gown and call Chloe.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, one more thing to tell the nurse.”
“What should I say?”
I emphasized firmly.
“Tell her to prepare for surgery.”