Chapter 61

"Hahaha, you're right. What does it matter, Your Highness?"

Umiru laughed, holding Aristine's hand with one hand and wrapping her shoulder with the other, escorting her intimately.

"Since we're both women, this level of escort should be fine, right? Normally, a husband would do it, but unfortunately, your husband is too busy glaring at me."

Umiru smiled slyly and glanced at Tarkan.

"Your Highness really has a wonderful fragrance. Unlike those warriors who only smell of sweat..."

"Of course, right? They train outside, while I stay indoors. I don't sweat."

Aristine asked nonchalantly, and Umiru chuckled, finding it amusing.

"Well, I bet His Highness Tarkan is really burning up inside."

Tarkan frowned at Umiru's gaze.

"Not really."

He turned his head sharply and spat out the words.

"Oh, really?"

Umiru continued walking happily, leading Aristine to the medical supplies storage.

"Here, these are the regular scalpels."

Umiru showed her a pile of scalpel-like knives, neatly packaged and stacked like a mountain.

"Since the scalpels you made for us are much better, I think we'll dispose of all the ones we bought in advance... But disposing of all of them would be a big job."

"Wow, you have so many scalpels?"

"Yes, it's hard to manage them if we use them multiple times."

"Oh, because of me?"

She had heard that the blades of medical scalpels were so thin that they could easily get damaged.

'In my previous life, a newspaper reported that a surgeon unknowingly stitched up a patient with a broken scalpel blade inside their body, causing a big fuss.'

The X-ray image showed the blade glowing white against the black background, a chilling memory.

"But the blades of these medical scalpels are thicker than on Earth, right? They shouldn't get damaged after just a few uses."

"It's more about the difficulty of managing them over time."

Umiru shook her head.

"So, it would be great if you could prepare more of the prototypes you gave us."

"Ah, I'll talk to Litren."

Aristine nodded.

Since they were using the existing blacksmiths from Tarkan's palace to make the prototypes, it wouldn't take long.

'But if it's not about the blade, why is it so hard to use them for a long time? Is it really necessary to stockpile them in such large quantities?'

Of course, it's better not to use scalpels for too long.

But at this level, it might as well be a one-time use.

Just as she was about to ask, another doctor burst into the storage room.

"Ms. Umiru! Emergency patient!"

Umiru clicked her tongue and started to run out.

The situation suddenly became tense.

'Oh, this is what it means to be a doctor.'

Aristine was impressed.

"Then, Your Highness! I'll see you next time! I'll personally check the inventory."

Just before leaving the storage, Umiru turned to Aristine and winked.

The admiration quickly faded.

"Ms. Umiru! It's really urgent!"

The doctor pulled Umiru away, who, even as she was being dragged, blew a kiss to Aristine.

'Really, is everything okay here?'

Aristine couldn't help but think about her concerns from the operating room again.

* * *

"Your Majesty."

Aristine greeted, and King Ailugo nodded.

Today, Nefter invited Tarkan and Aristine to have tea with him.

The king's inner courtyard, decorated with black marble, was solemn and grand.

The gentle sound of flowing water added to the serene atmosphere.

Nefter waited for Tarkan and Aristine to sit down before speaking.

"How are you feeling?"

He was asking about the carriage accident during the wedding parade.

Aristine smiled.

"Thanks to Tarkan, I wasn't hurt at all. I'm sorry for causing you unnecessary worry."

"Fortunately."

"Also, riding in the carriage Your Majesty personally provided is so comfortable and cozy. Thank you."

Nefter stroked his chin without much response, but Tarkan noticed that he was quite satisfied.

'I've always thought that Nefter... no, he really likes Aristine.'

It was surprising.

Nefter was a suspicious person and didn't easily give his heart to others.

Soon, the palace staff brought out the refreshments.

Considering the outdoor setting and the gradually warming weather, they served iced tea with plenty of ice.

As a side dish, they brought out Pringprang jelly.

'Again? I heard it's often served in Ailugo, but it really is frequent.'

Tarkan's palace always served different desserts, but every time she met the king, it was always Pringprang jelly.

'Well, it's delicious.'

Thinking this, she lifted her head, and Tarkan was looking at Nefter with a very subtle gaze.

Wondering what was going on, she looked at Nefter, but the king's face was as stern as always.

"Pringprang jelly."

Nefter's words made Aristine nod.

"Yes, that's right."

She agreed, but the conversation didn't continue.

A moment of silence fell. The only sound was the water flowing in the courtyard.

During this time, Nefter's eyes never left Aristine.

'Ah, maybe he wants to eat it?'

Realizing this, Aristine quickly picked up a piece of Pringprang jelly.

"Here, Your Majesty."

Seeing him eat it without hesitation, she felt somewhat pleased.

At that moment, she felt like a little girl showing off her table manners to her father, unaware of anything.

'Good.'

The practice of picking up clay with a fork wasn't in vain.

Because there was someone to show it to.

This time, Aristine also ate a piece of Pringprang jelly.

'Delicious, as expected!'

The intense combination of sour and sweet!

Taking a sip of the cold iced tea made her mouth feel instantly refreshed.

Nefter looked at Aristine's happy face.

A faint smile unknowingly crept onto his lips.

The queen, concubines, and even his own children all found him intimidating.

Even though Yenikarina acted affectionately and playfully, he knew she was the most cautious and careful around him.

Nefter was the ruler of this harsh plain.

It was natural for even family members to find the emperor intimidating.

But Aristine was different.

'Not to the point of being completely naive, though.'

Feeling a sharp gaze, she turned her head to see her son looking at her with a disapproving eye.

'Hmm?'

Nefter was somewhat surprised.

'Can he make that look?'

His turquoise eyes were filled with interest.

"If you're that envious, why don't you ask your wife for a bite?"

At Nefter's words, Aristine looked at Tarkan with a 'Huh?' expression.

Tarkan inadvertently met her gaze.

Aristine tilted her head.

'You want me to feed you? Your hands are fine. Why would I?'

The question in her mind was quickly resolved.

'Ah, is he wondering if he should let me have it, like last time?'

Just like at the welcome banquet.

Maybe he actually wanted to eat it then, and Aristine felt a bit guilty.

"If you want to eat, just eat."

At her words, Tarkan frowned and turned his head.

"Never mind. ... Since Your Majesty likes it so much, you should have more."

After saying this, Tarkan immediately regretted it.

He shouldn't have said the last part.

But it was too late. Tarkan's ears turned red.

Staring stubbornly at the flower bed in the afternoon sun, Tarkan glanced at the two of them.

Aristine was still looking at him with a puzzled expression, and Nefter...

'He's really enjoying this.'

Despite his stern face, he looked like he was about to burst out laughing.

His lips were already twitching.

Tarkan turned his head again.

Aristine definitely didn't want him to feed her jelly.

There was no way she would want that.

"Hmm, by the way, I heard you're involved in a unique business?"

Nefter cleared his throat and asked Aristine.

'As expected.'

Aristine nodded inwardly.

Even though it was only happening within Tarkan's palace, she couldn't avoid the king's attention.

'Besides, it's not like it was treated as a secret.'

She had expected this topic to come up during tea.

"It's not common for a newly married princess to start a personal business right away."

"That's true. But I..."

'Because I want to hit the jackpot.'

She couldn't say that, of course.

Aristine smiled benignly, like a completely incorruptible person.

"Didn't I already tell Your Majesty what I want?"

At her words, Nefter recalled the day he first met Aristine.

'To cleanse Ailugo of its reputation as a barbaric nation.'

This bold princess had clearly stated that this was what she wanted.

And it was also Nefter's wish.

Nefter's eyes, which had been relaxed, became sharp and focused.

"Your Majesty must know that I'm working on a medical scalpel business. I plan to introduce innovative scalpels that have never been seen before. If successful, Ailugo will..."

Aristine paused, her lips curling into a confident smile.

"Become a leading medical power."

Aristine smiled, her eyes forming a crescent.

"Yes, that's right."

No one would think of a leading medical power as barbaric.

This could overturn the centuries-old stigma in one fell swoop.

Healthcare is a matter of life and death.

Without alternatives, other countries would clamor to buy the scalpels Aristine created.

And no country could match Ailugo's metallurgy.

'In other words, there would be no alternatives.'

They would have to use Ailugo-made scalpels.

This would give Ailugo a significant advantage in diplomatic relations.

'Smart! Clever!'

No, even that wasn't enough.

Nefter wanted to grab Aristine's hand and tell her he would grant her every wish.

At the same time, he regretted not thinking of this sooner.

Coming up with ideas was the hardest part.

'But.'

There was a prerequisite for all of this.

'The scalpels Aristine is making must be outstanding enough to change the market.'

Nefter's eyes darkened.

'Otherwise, it will fail.'

"Do you have confidence in the product you're making?"

At Nefter's question, Aristine lifted her head.

"It's not enough to just be a slightly better scalpel. If it's something that's nice to use but not essential, it won't make much money. It definitely won't make Ailugo a leading medical power."

Instead of becoming anxious, Aristine calmly took a sip of iced tea.

'What I'm most interested in is making money.'

But she couldn't say that.

If King Nefter opposed it, the business would fail before it even started.

Feeling the cool liquid slide down her throat, she smiled.

"If I didn't have confidence, I wouldn't have mentioned it to Your Majesty."

Nefter looked at Aristine without speaking.

Despite his intimidating gaze, Aristine met his eyes calmly and steadily.

'Good eyes.'

Even if the scalpels didn't do well in the market, it wouldn't harm Ailugo's reputation as a barbaric nation.

'But the queen's faction is different.'

Mistakes are bound to happen in business.

The queen's faction wouldn't let such mistakes slide.

'They would use it as an excuse to change public opinion against Aristine.'

It would be unwise to give them any unnecessary reasons.

"Rine, if you fail, the queen will act."

"I know."

Aristine's eyes were clear and calm, like a deep well.

Nefter nodded.

"I'll give you a chance."

Nefter had also seen reports of the scalpels Aristine made.

'They definitely have the potential to succeed.'

It was a promising product.

"I will do my best to live up to Your Majesty's trust."

Aristine said this and looked at Tarkan.

Their eyes met, and she smiled.

'How was that? Did I do well?'

Tarkan smiled back.

'Hehe! Making money and playing the role of a partner. I'm really perfect!'

Aristine looked around with a sense of satisfaction.

After resolving the expected issues, she had the leisure to appreciate the beautiful and grand courtyard.

Her gaze fell on the stream running through the courtyard.

The sound of flowing water had been pleasant from the start. It was refreshing just to listen.

The clear water reflected the early summer trees.

The shadows of the trees rippled with the water.

'Huh?'

The tree shadows were strange. They didn't ripple with the water.

Or rather,

'The water isn't flowing; it's just shaking in place.'

It was an omen from the imperial eye.

Sure enough, something other than the trees was reflected on the water's surface.

"Hey, as expected, it's because of me..."

The face reflected in the water was Litren's.

His gentle eyes were filled with moisture.

"Forget about being a husband, I just want to make money."