Chapter 57

To ensure the survival of both her mind and body, Aristine's potential evolved once more.

As a result, Aristine could now see her past life.

And she could do so at will, whenever she wanted.

‘Perhaps it’s because I experienced it myself.’

Aristine speculated.

Since there were no such cases, it was hard to know the exact reason.

There were very few instances in history where the owners of the Imperial Eye had appeared.

Among them, Aristine was likely the only one who could see her past life.

The emperor, enraged that Aristine had failed to open the Imperial Eye, had her confined.

Ironically, it was because he gave up that the power of the Imperial Eye became stronger than ever before.

‘Not that I’m grateful at all.’

Perhaps because she was ‘seeing’ through the Imperial Eye, the emotions of her past life weren’t as vivid.

It was distinctly different from simply remembering what had happened.

‘Is it like watching a recording of everything that was seen through a person’s eyes and then replaying the parts you want...?’

Her past life’s personality was also quite different from her current self.

Especially, the decision to donate a liver to her ailing father was something she couldn’t understand at all.

‘It must be because of the different environment in which I grew up.’

Still, did it feel closer because it was her past self?

Or was it simply because she had seen her past life the most and grown from it?

‘The important thing is that it’s helping me a lot now.’

Because her past father had been ill for a long time, she was very familiar with medical equipment.

Moreover, in her past life, she had watched surgical videos to prepare for a liver transplant.

‘Thanks to that, I have a good understanding of medical scalpels.’

If she had been reborn with only the memory of her past life, it wouldn’t have been enough.

‘I might have remembered seeing a scalpel, but I wouldn’t have known exactly what it looked like.’

But Aristine was different.

Unlike the past, present, and future, she could see her past life at any time she wanted.

Aristine traced the scalpels she had seen in surgical videos, hospitals, dramas, and documentaries on the surface of the water.

As a result, she was able to draw several types of scalpels quite accurately.

“The handle is long and the blade is short?”

Lithren, who was examining the drawing, said in amazement.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

All the scalpels here were shaped like daggers.

“Why this shape...”

“To increase precision. There’s no real need for a wide blade when using it. If needed, you can just use a dagger then.”

Aristine hadn’t seen any scalpels with wide blades like daggers, but she wasn’t an expert in medicine, so she added.

“Precision, indeed...”

“To make it more precise, you hold it like a pencil. Just like how you can handle a chisel more precisely by holding it that way.”

“Indeed, Your Highness is truly remarkable.”

Lithren was impressed.

“No one thought to make a medical scalpel like this after seeing a chisel...”

Aristine avoided his gaze, feeling uncomfortable.

It wasn’t something she had come up with.

Moreover, with chisels already being held like pencils, making scalpels the same way wasn’t really that new or innovative.

‘If the blacksmiths had just thought about it a bit, they would have made them long ago.’

But most of them lacked the skill to sell other items, so they had no choice but to make scalpels.

Besides, scalpels were a headache for them, as they could be held responsible for medical malpractice even after selling them.

Naturally, they had no motivation or will to improve them.

“It’s just a simple idea. It’s not a big deal.”

“A simple idea can create significant changes.”

Lithren’s face was incredibly serious.

“When such an invention is introduced, many people say, ‘Why didn’t I think of that simple idea first?’ But coming up with that idea is actually remarkable.”

“Hmm, that’s true...”

Aristine also thought those people were remarkable.

However, this form of scalpel wasn’t something she had come up with; it was directly from her past life on Earth, so the more praise she received, the more awkward she felt.

Lithren, seeing Aristine’s awkwardness, was even more impressed.

‘She’s so talented and yet so humble...’

The more he knew her, the more remarkable she seemed.

Working by her side felt like a great honor.

‘I will make you the best blacksmith on the continent.’

Lithren’s heart swelled with hope.

At the time, he had wanted hope, and Aristine had saved him, so he was overwhelmed by her words.

When he came to his senses, he was already moved by Aristine.

But in reality, it was absurd for a metallurgy novice like Aristine to claim she could make the best blacksmith out of someone even Bolarten had given up on.

However, at that moment,

‘Maybe it could become a reality.’ The thought came to him with a strong sense of certainty.

“Ha, Your Highness, come here. This Brodie wants to serve you tea.”

Tarkan’s golden eyes fixed on Brodie’s face.

Brodie’s cheeks turned red, and her eyes became dreamy.

The moment a hot breath escaped her lips,

“Squeak!”

Clang!

Brodie, roughly pushed away, couldn’t resist Tarkan’s strength and fell to the floor.

She couldn’t get up immediately and twitched.

This was the first time such a thing had happened to her, a noble lady.

Every part of her body—her arms, legs, shoulders—hurt. She would likely have black and blue bruises.

“L-Lady Brodie!”

The other maids rushed to her in shock.

“Blood...!”

The white arm she had carefully maintained had a drop of blood from scraping against the floor.

While the maids were at a loss, a sound of footsteps came.

Thud.

Tarkan walked past Brodie, who was lying right in front of him, without a care.

“Your Highness!”

One of the maids called out, as if in protest.

Tarkan’s golden eyes slowly turned to look down at them.

The maids couldn’t even avoid his gaze.

Their hearts raced wildly, and a chill ran down their spines.

Tarkan’s eyes moved indifferently, just as they had when he looked at them.

Thud, thud.

With a steady sound, he walked away.

Even when called by the maid, he never stopped, so the moment their eyes met was fleeting.

But to them, it felt like an eternity.

Their arms were still tingling.

The maids, with dry mouths, watched Tarkan’s back.

Complete disregard.

Tarkan didn’t even acknowledge them.

The maids’ faces contorted.

Chapter 18. Subtly Unbuttoning

“Amazing!”

Aristine marveled as she examined the completed scalpel from all angles.

The blade gleamed silver in the sunlight.

Holding it like a pencil, unlike a dagger, the cool metal sensation adhered to her hand.

‘This is it.’

It felt much more stable.

Aristine drew the scalpel on a piece of paper on the table.

She didn’t just swipe it once but drew the shape she wanted, as if using a pencil.

There was no scratchy sound; the scalpel moved smoothly.

It cut through the paper without any resistance.

The rough, thick fabric underneath the paper was also cut.

Aristine was careful, as a slight increase in pressure would likely scratch the table.

The table, prepared for her, was a luxury item made by carving a large carnelian, something money couldn’t buy.

The scalpel Lithren made had excellent grip and cutting power, so it seemed ready for production after a simple test.

‘Then it’s time to sit on a pile of money!’

She was excited.

Click.

Aristine, putting down the scalpel, turned her head toward Lithren, who was standing by the table.

Despite creating such an amazing item, Lithren still looked tense.

Finding it amusing, Aristine let the moment linger.

“Lithren.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lithren became even more tense. His usually gentle face was now furrowed.

Aristine looked at him with a serious expression.

“I don’t know how you’ll take this, but after using it...”

Swallowing, Lithren’s Adam’s apple moved up and down.

“It’s really excellent!”

The stern expression on Aristine’s face suddenly broke into a wide smile.

“It’s much lighter and easier to handle than I expected, and the cutting power is outstanding!”

Aristine waved the cut paper to emphasize her point.

“A...”

Lithren could only manage that.

A beat later, he bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

He was grateful.

Being recognized was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“I should be the one thanking you. You’ve created such a great product. Even I, who have never held a scalpel, can use it without any issues, so doctors will handle it even better.”

“Yes, with this, more patients will survive, as Your Highness intended.”

“Hmm...”

Aristine neither confirmed nor denied, just smiled ambiguously.

“I made it lighter because I thought it would be easier to handle delicately.”

“Yes, the weight adds to the pressure, so that makes sense. You didn’t just follow my instructions but thought it through.”

He always delved into his work and researched.

This was a trait she had observed through the many alloys in his room.

A trait that honed his talent and led him to higher levels.

‘And he will continue to improve.’

Aristine nodded approvingly.

‘I really did pick an amazing employee.’

An employee who not only follows orders but also develops independently.

“You will become the best blacksmith.”

Lithren’s cheeks turned slightly red with joy and embarrassment.

“...If I can be of help to Your Highness, that’s enough for me.”

“Haha! Of course, you’ll say that!”

Aristine confidently clicked her fingers.

“There should be a bonus, right?”

“Huh?”

Lithren’s eyes widened in surprise.

“No, I’m fine... I really just wanted to help... And you already gave me money before.”

Aristine hadn’t recruited Lithren with empty promises.

She had already paid him a large sum as a down payment, enough to make his mouth drop.

Lithren, who had been treated as a disgrace to the blacksmithing profession, had refused, saying he couldn’t accept so much, but how could a subordinate refuse a superior?

He had no choice but to accept the enormous sum.

“This is a bonus, not a down payment!”

Aristine proudly opened a drawer and took out a gold bar she had prepared.

What was the best way to lead people?

Excellent character? Overwhelming charisma? Superior ability?

All wrong.

‘Money!’

People should be led with money!

To ensure continuous and developmental exploitation of labor, you must provide money at the right times.

“Here, well done.”

“No, really...”

Lithren looked at a loss.

Aristine seemed to have taken his words, “I’m satisfied as long as I can help Your Highness,” as flattery or empty words.

But Lithren had been sincere.

Accepting this would feel like admitting it was just flattery.

“My arm hurts.”

Hearing this, Lithren was startled and quickly took the pouch.

He was worried about Aristine’s thin arm.

The moment he felt the weight of the pouch, he realized his mistake.

But he couldn’t return it once he had it in his hands.

Refusing a personal gift from a prince would also be inappropriate.

Lithren had no choice but to accept the pouch.

It was quite heavy.

“You can open it here.”

Though it was a suggestion, it was still an order from a superior.

Lithren cautiously opened the pouch.

He felt a bit down, thinking Aristine had misunderstood him.

But the moment he saw the contents, his eyes widened like saucers.

He looked like a dog who had found a chew toy made from turkey tendons.

‘...I have to work hard.’

Lithren clenched his fist.

He was human.

The amount was too large to refuse.

Aristine watched Lithren, who was wagging his invisible tail, with satisfaction.

‘I’m glad I extorted... no, received the settlement money.’

As soon as the knights arrived in Silvanus, they sent Aristine a large compensation and settlement fee.

They must have been stripped of everything they had.

‘Cheaper than a ransom.’

They were disgraced, penniless, and had lost their knight status.

They couldn’t avoid the emperor’s wrath, so their future would be quite difficult.

Their wealth, now in the stomach of her first employee, made her feel incredibly satisfied.

‘After all, feelings should be expressed with money!’

Apologies and gratitude!

Forget being a wife, I’ll focus on making money.