Chapter 74

Passing the buck is the best.

"Wouldn't it be good to have a naming contest?"

"Contest?"

"Yes, something like, 'Rust-proof steel! Please name this steel yourself!'"

Aristine asked Tarcan, "What do you think?"

Although she said it was passing the buck, increasing consumer participation is a pretty effective marketing strategy.

Tarcan nodded, agreeing with that point.

"Sounds good. It will also be good for promotion."

"Great."

Tarcan looked at Aristine, who was grinning.

'I wonder what names people will come up with?'

It's too easy to predict.

Aristine was revered as the Goddess of Peace.

The Goddess of Peace was using a new steel to make a life-saving scalpel.

Moreover, the perception that medical scalpels have no business value would make it seem like a charitable endeavor to people.

The Goddess of Peace had worked hard to make the scalpel, even at a loss, solely to save the sick, and the results were astonishing.

Who could dislike a royal who is benevolent, smart, and shrewd?

It already seemed like there were loud cheers for Aristine.

'If I ask them to come up with a name for this steel, what would happen?'

A few names that would shock Aristine flashed through his mind, but Tarcan said nothing.

"I think it would be good to narrow down a few candidates and decide by voting."

Aristine's words made Tarcan smile crookedly.

How brave, to decide by voting without knowing the outcome.

Aristine had just thrown away her last chance to save herself from embarrassment.

"Maybe the blacksmith should choose the candidates?"

Tarcan's question surprised Aristine.

'Tarcan is considering Liretren's opinion and even suggesting to respect it?'

She couldn't help but be surprised.

For some reason, Tarcan had always disliked Liretren.

'What a change. Did he finally recognize my employee after seeing the stainless steel?'

Indeed, it was an achievement that couldn't be denied.

Aristine nodded, feeling proud.

"Yes, that sounds good. I should tell Liretren too."

Liretren had contributed the most to the development of stainless steel.

He couldn't be left out of the naming process.

"But the naming contest should be postponed until after the scalpel is released. I want to show it with a big reveal first."

Tarcan agreed with Aristine.

"Without prior knowledge, it will be more shocking."

"Yes, that will create a greater impact."

The thought of it was thrilling.

Aristine counted on her fingers, thinking about all the tasks ahead.

Tarcan watched her quietly.

'She's smart.'

Incredibly sharp.

Developing rust-proof steel, the process of which he didn't fully understand, was one thing.

But wasn't this conversation flowing too smoothly?

No need for additional explanations, and she understood the implications of every word.

'She even added new ideas.'

Could this be the work of someone who grew up alone, without any formal education or meeting anyone?

'If...'

If Aristine had received proper royal education, what would have happened?

Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine.

She would undoubtedly stand out in the succession struggle and become the emperor without any trouble.

And no one would be able to stop her once she became the emperor.

"Emperor Silvanus made a big mistake."

Aristine looked up at Tarcan, who had muttered this.

"Emperor?"

Why would the emperor be mentioned here all of a sudden?

Then Aristine realized.

'The maids left for Irlugo today.'

They were escorted by carriage for a month-long journey, handcuffed.

She had been so focused on the scalpel that she had forgotten.

The incident with the maids was already in the past for Aristine.

Once they were out of sight, it was over.

Aristine's gaze was always forward.

"Yes, that's right. With the emperor's attention on the maids, it might be easier for me to conduct my business."

Irlugo, a powerful nation on par with the empire.

While the emperor's interference has limits, it's better for international trade if he's preoccupied.

There were issues with the emperor's appointments, from knights to maids.

Too coincidental to be a mere accident.

Public opinion was in an uproar.

"I have to pretend to love and cherish her until I die."

Tarcan looked at Aristine, who said this casually.

A calm face, stating the facts without anger, resentment, or sadness.

He raised his empty hand, clenched it, and let it fall.

The emperor had officially stripped the maids' families of their titles and made them laborers.

Not just any laborers.

The Black Thorn Tower.

The laborers there were all the worst criminals, stripped of basic human dignity, even the right to speak and eat, and obeying the researchers' commands.

A fate worse than slavery.

There were rumors that they became experimental subjects.

'Rather be locked in an ice prison for life, I suppose.'

The emperor, in issuing such harsh punishment, said that daring to make his beloved daughter like this was tantamount to treason.

A statement clearly aware of public opinion.

'Fortunately, the emperor has no idea I'm preparing the scalpel business.'

Thinking I can't do anything right is a good opportunity.

He probably thought that knights and maids were enough to monitor me, not being professionals.

'They're only interested in tormenting me and seducing Tarcan.'

Thanks to this, there were gaps in the information.

The knight had left long ago, and the maids might not even know Aristine was making a scalpel.

They only knew she was making something like a butcher's knife and dismissed it as barbaric.

'The less they think I can do, the better.'

The emperor wouldn't meet the maids, but even if he did, he'd be at ease.

They have no interest in the barbaric knife Aristine is making.

'Selian and Melodia will probably direct all their blades at Rosaline for revenge.'

The emperor wouldn't listen to Rosaline, the cause of all this.

'He won't risk sending additional personnel.'

Another maid or knight would be unwelcome.

'Good.'

An assassin might come someday.

But then,

'My partner will protect me.'

Aristine looked up at Tarcan.

His beautiful golden eyes, like the sun, met hers directly.

No need to be careful, no need to worry.

Aristine smiled and flopped onto the bed.

'Why do we always have these conversations in the bedroom?'

She wondered, looking at the ceiling.

They talked more in bed than over meals or tea.

'Is that why the palace people look at us with strange eyes, thinking the candlelight never goes out?'

While they can imagine whatever they want, those lewd looks are...

It would be better to turn off the lights. It was already late.

"Let's go to sleep. I'm tired."

Tarcan lay down beside her, as he always did, holding her hand tightly and closing his eyes.

Soon, a sensation would sweep through the medical community, no, the world.

* * *

"Your Highness!"

The door opened with an excited shout.

A familiar, slightly husky voice.

Aristine smiled and looked at the door.

Umiru approached quickly with an excited face.

"This, this! It's really!"

Holding a gleaming scalpel, she could only exclaim in amazement.

Then, realizing something, she put the scalpel away.

Umiru extended her hand, and Aristine reflexively placed hers on it.

Enjoying the soft touch, Umiru kissed the back of Aristine's hand.

Aristine shuddered.

"Are you going to keep doing this? You don't have to be so formal."

"It's my pleasure."

Umiru smiled contentedly.

Even after the kiss, she subtly held onto Aristine's hand.

"Anyway, Your Highness! This is a revolution!"

Aristine laughed.

"I've heard that before."

"If that was a revolution in the medical field, this is a revolution for the world!"

Umiru repeated excitedly, "Rust-proof, rust-proof!"

Then, seeing Aristine's calm smile, she sighed in frustration.

"Why are you so calm! It's okay to be more excited!"

"I was excited. About a fortnight ago. I was more hysterical than Umiru."

On the day the scalpel was completed, Aristine and Liretren hugged and ran around the forge.

Despite the dangerous tools everywhere, she didn't think to be careful.

Macarons, Pring Pring jelly, black sugar-coated scones, cream-filled dacquoise, and fragrant tea.

Her stomach felt warm as if she had eaten and drunk all of it.

A deeply satisfying sense of fullness.

That day, Aristine realized what it meant to be full without eating.

When she first made the scalpel, she only provided the design, and Liretren did all the actual work.

But this time, Aristine was involved from start to finish, making it a particularly meaningful experience.

'Liretren seems more satisfied too.'

When he first made the scalpel according to Aristine's design, he asked if it was okay, lacking confidence.

Now, he showed considerable confidence in his work.

The dejected look he had in Catalaman had largely disappeared.

Of course, he was still a gentle person, and his mild and shy demeanor remained.

Developing stainless steel had been challenging.

'It feels like I've overcome a wall.'

As a blacksmith, he had grown to a new level, evident even to a layperson like her.

She was looking forward to the future work of her capable employee.

"Your Highness is so calm, I'm calming down too."

Umiru sat on the sofa, crossing her legs.

"Being rust-proof is impressive, but disposable blades are even more so."

She detached and reattached the blade from the scalpel.

"Why didn't I think of this sooner..."

"I got the idea from seeing you use the scalpel as a disposable tool. Thank you."

Aristine's words made Umiru's eyes widen.

"Did I mention I use it as a disposable tool?"

"You didn't say it, but I could tell. The quantity was too much to be just inventory."

Umiru's mouth opened wide.

"Oh, wow—Your Highness, are you going to learn medicine?"

"Huh?"

Aristine was taken aback by the sudden suggestion.

Why would this come up now?

"No, I just thought you'd be good at it."

"Flattery won't get you a discount. I'll sell it at full price."

Aristine laughed, calling it a funny joke.

'Half of it was serious, though.'

Umiru smiled, swallowing her words.

"Of course, I'll pay for your help with the tests before the launch. Don't worry."

She wasn't worried at all.

After all, the hospital in Tarcan's palace was funded by its owner, Tarcan.

"Your Highness is really good at accounting."

Seeing her interpret praise as a request for a discount, it seemed her interests were focused on that.

"Yes, it's better for both sides. To maintain a good, mutually beneficial business relationship long-term."

"In business, that's true."

Umiru smiled.

'Tarcan must be having a hard time.'

It would be quite amusing to watch, so she didn't add more.

No one else, but 'that Tarcan.'

She never imagined she'd see him struggle with something for his entire life.

While Umiru was thinking this, Aristine was only focused on business.

Replacing the blade will reduce costs and make inventory management easier. Space is the issue, right?"

She emphasized the benefits of disposable blades.

Space is real estate.

The hospital in Tarcan's palace isn't constrained by cost or space.

But what about other hospitals?

Even well-off hospitals that can afford expensive equipment have space issues.

'One more room or a storage room?'

The difference is significant.

"That's true. We only treat warriors, but general hospitals... often lack rooms."

Umiru whistled in admiration.

Aristine's foresight in making the scalpel was impressive.

Scalpels were something a mediocre blacksmith made out of necessity to make a living.

A troublesome product that no one paid attention to.

That's what she thought.

Not just Umiru, but everyone thought so, and it was true.

'It depends on who takes the lead.'

'Forget being a wife, I'll make money.'