Chapter 94

After Henry left, Shirley and Jessica continued their mock battle.

I watched their fight intently, as if I were glued to the scene.

Shirley is a serious and single-minded woman. When she focuses, she can thrust her blade at me, the prince, without hesitation, just as she would during the knight selection.

Jessica is a similar type of woman. The moment I command her to fight seriously, her demeanor changes completely, and she exudes a sharp, refined aura, more so than any seasoned warrior.

Their clash, which sparked both physically and mentally, was beautiful.

It was so beautiful that I could have watched it forever.

That's why this is my mistake.

A serious battle, even if it's a mock one, can easily cross the line.

Shirley deflected Jessica's sword and, with a fluid motion, thrust her blade straight at Jessica's chest—

"No!"

In a split second, I hooked my middle finger with my thumb, creating a snap.

The air mass that was snapped flew straight and deflected Shirley's longsword.

Shirley, who had been watching in a daze as the longsword, spun and embedded itself in the distant ground.

Jessica, who had been put in check, was sitting on the ground.

"That's enough."

When I said that, they both snapped back to reality.

I had let my enjoyment go too far, putting them in danger, and I needed to apologize.

"Sorry—"

"Amazing! As expected, Your Majesty!"

"That was... a block of air. You sent a pure block of air...?"

Shirley praised me with innocent joy.

Jessica, though surprised, looked at me with adoration, her cheeks flushed.

"Hmm."

It felt very awkward to be looked at like that by both of them.

"...Anyway, that's enough. Jessica, go change. We're going to see my father."

"Understood."

Jessica instantly changed her demeanor.

She had been a seasoned warrior a moment ago, but now she exuded the air of a noble lady.

I watched Jessica's back as she returned to the mansion to change into a dress, reflecting on what had just happened.

And then...

☆

I brought Jessica, who had changed into a dress, to request an audience with my father.

A meeting between the emperor and the former emperor is usually a solemn ceremony, but my father had us brought to the garden and appeared in casual attire.

"Father"

"Yes, well done, Noah. Oh, is this your new consort?"

It seems my father's information network is still intact, even after he abdicated the throne.

The news of Jessica becoming my new consort had clearly spread.

That's good; it saved me the trouble of explaining.

"Jessica, greet him."

"Yes."

Jessica stepped forward and bowed gracefully to my father.

It was a perfect bow, one that could not be criticized, following the etiquette of a noble lady—specifically a secondary consort.

As expected, the etiquette and manners differ greatly depending on the rank of the consort.

Jessica, who had just become a secondary consort, demonstrated perfect etiquette.

"Hmm, she's quite a woman."

"I agree, Father."

"I heard she's skilled with the sword. Can I see it?"

"I would prefer not to, Father."

Given the incident with Shirley, I wanted to save that for another time.

Father looked at me for a moment but then backed down, saying, "Alright."

"So, you intend to have this girl accompany the expeditionary force?"

As expected, Father gets straight to the point, and I nodded quietly.

"Yes, that's my intention."

"Isn't a flower better left in the vase?"

"People are treasures, Father."

"Hmm?"

"And half of the treasures remain untouched. Jessica is just the beginning."

"I see. Heh, that's like you, Noah."

Father laughed happily.

I could tell he was at least favorable toward my thinking.

"That's why I need your cooperation, Father."

"What do you need?"

"Those who oppose this will likely appeal directly to you."

"True, I have ten times as many consorts as you. You probably think I would be the most affected."

"Yes."

In reality, it wouldn't affect him at all, but we communicated this through eye contact, so I didn't say it aloud.

Even if I publicly announced that I would make my consorts my subordinates and broke tradition, it wouldn't have any real impact on Father.

However, it would change the formality, and those who oppose it would undoubtedly come to Father.

"Understood, leave it to me."

"Thank you, Father."

I bowed slightly, and Jessica, without a word, did the same beside me.

A consort is supposed to support her husband.

Jessica, fully embodying her role as a secondary consort, performed it perfectly.

"But... it's been so long since your ascension, and you still only have two consorts... shouldn't you increase them more quickly, Noah?"

"More quickly...?"

Father's demeanor changed.

It seemed serious, but he was actually teasing me.

It was similar to when an elderly relative asks, "Aren't you going to get married yet?"

"As a man, you should always carry the scent of a woman."

"Ah."

"The scent of the battlefield and the scent of a woman in the bedroom are essential for a man. You should have about a hundred consorts, Noah. It will elevate you to a higher level."

"That would be more than you, Father."

"That's fine. Given your capacity, that's the minimum."

I received an incredible evaluation.

But even without such an evaluation—people are treasures.

"I'll consider it, Father. I want quality, not quantity."

"Hmm, that's fine too."

With that, the conversation ended, and I left the palace with Jessica.

After we left the palace, Jessica spoke softly.

"Your Majesty."

"Hmm, what is it?"

"Are we going to the expedition? Should we look for women among the enemies, prisoners, or locals?"

"Father's talk, huh?"

"Yes."

Jessica looked at me with a serious face, not as if she was joking or testing me.

She was asking if she should do it, and her face suggested that she would do it if I ordered her.

"That's—no, forget it."

I swallowed the words I was about to say and changed them.

"Did you hear Father? Quality over quantity. Bring back only the women who meet your standards and whom you think are suitable."

"---Yes!"

Jessica nodded vigorously, trusting and correctly interpreting my words.

☆

In the study of the summer palace, alone, I summoned Apophis.

I took a deep breath and commanded Apophis.

"Do it."

A slight hesitation from Apophis, but he obeyed my command hesitantly.

"---Guh!"

In the next moment, poison coursed through my body.

It was Apophis' poison.

The deadly poison spread in an instant—

"Disappear."

—It disappeared on command.

"…Hah!"

I vomited up the contents that had risen from the depths of my stomach.

It was purple blood, a sign of being poisoned.

After expelling most of it,

"Again, Apophis."

This time, the hesitation was brief, and he obeyed my command, letting the poison course through my body again.

"Disappear."

And it disappeared again.

"…I see."

After experiencing the poison and its disappearance twice in my body, the sensation was almost as I had expected.

When Apophis neutralizes his poison, he doesn't completely nullify it but uses an opposing force to counteract it.

That opposing force was what I needed now.

Knowing it existed—three times.

To feel it better, knowing it existed.

"Do it, Apophis—Disappear!"

I took the poison into my body again.

I vomited up the poisoned blood again.

The floor was covered with purple blood.

Thanks to this, I found what I needed, what I had identified.

I extended my hand, focusing all my senses on my index finger.

Eventually, a clear, sparkling droplet emerged from the tip of my finger—.

☆

At the Ministry of War, the Prince's office.

Henry, who had been talking to Jessica, exclaimed, "Who are you!" when I entered without knocking, but he quickly stood up from his chair when he saw my face.

"I didn't know it was Your Majesty, I apologize."

He knelt on the spot.

"It's fine, I told you not to report it. Jessica, you can relax too."

Since Jessica had also knelt, I had them both stand up.

"So... why is Your Majesty here?"

"Yes, I have something to discuss with Jessica. I thought it would be easier to assign roles for the expedition if Henry saw it too."

I said this and took a small vial from my pocket.

A pale blue liquid swirled inside the vial.

"I want to give this to Jessica. It's still a prototype, but I'll have enough by the deadline."

"What is it?"

"Watch."

I first slashed my wrist with a hand strike.

I cut it quite deeply, and blood gushed out.

Henry and Jessica, who had braced themselves, were surprised.

"Your Majesty!"

"What are you—"

"Just watch."

I stopped them and poured the liquid from the vial onto the wound on my wrist. The deep cut closed instantly.

"Wha—!"

"I made this. Jessica, take it with you."

"Is this—could it be the legendary potion?"

Henry said, amazed.

"Potion? What's that?"

"Your Majesty must know about the 'healing magic' of the ancient civilization that once flourished."

"Ah, yes."

The ancient magic that has been completely lost.

"Even with healing magic, not everyone can use it. So, a magical item called a 'potion' was created to have the same effect as healing magic."

"I see, that makes sense."

"Does it really heal wounds?"

"It can heal cuts. For more severe injuries where parts of the body are missing, it can only seal the wound instantly."

"It's the legendary potion... made by Your Majesty?"

"Yes, I made it."

"What... Truly, Your Majesty is amazing."

Henry was more surprised than ever.

Leaving Henry aside, I turned to Jessica.

I handed her the potion.

I had seen her and Shirley get injured during their mock battle and had created this potion to help.

"Jessica"

"Y-Yes."

"You are also my consort. Use it immediately if you get injured to keep your body beautiful."

"---Yes!"

Jessica was moved and knelt on the spot.

On the other hand, Henry, who saw the potion, said:

"Amazing... If there were more of these... the shape of war would change..."

with a serious expression.