Chapter 43

Harti stopped being my nanny when I was eight.

During the time from eight to nine, various things happened, and now I am almost ten.

I have started to do my own preparations for going to bed and getting up.

The reduced number of attendants are further dividing their tasks to take care of me.

Still, things have become a bit easier because we now have a steady income.

I never expected that the liqueur and carbonated water would become so popular, and that it would develop into a factory.

Moreover, the name of the drink, Dinker, is a slight modification of the pseudonym taken from the title of the prince.

"Who would have thought I'd end up doing alchemy," Helcof muttered while distilling wine, even now that the factory has been established.

Helcof, a beastman who can only use body enhancement magic, uses red essence to produce magical fire, but he often says that using attribute magic is good.

Essence can hold magic power according to its attribute.

Using it means that even those who cannot use magic or do not have an aptitude for an attribute can produce the same effects as magic, which he considers a rare experience.

"I thought this level of ability would be meaningless, but it is efficient in dividing tasks like this."

Wearrel is using water essence to steep the flavorings for the liqueur.

Wearrel, who has elf blood and can only handle wind attributes, is a mage and believes that the usefulness of storing magic in alchemy is more significant than using it in an attribute for which one has an aptitude.

However, he seems to have found its usefulness in helping with the alcohol production.

Good, good.

"I'm back."

"Welcome back, Icto. How was the alcohol?"

Icto went to Moli in the capital to procure materials under the pretext of a lunch break.

"Another proposal for a new product was made. Similar products are already out, but apparently none match the quality and originality of Dinker, made by Prince Asha, and orders are pouring in from those who can discern the difference in taste among the upper class."

At first, we did it secretly because it would be bad if the illegal production was discovered.

I never expected that the prince would plan a factory, get enthusiastic Moli and the bear cub to help, and set everything up in a year.

From buying recipes to funding the expansion of production, to setting up the company, Moli is still busy.

Since the larger the scale, the more they can recover, I don't interfere.

On top of that, they keep asking for new alcohol to be made, but their enthusiasm is scary these days.

Helcof, who is busy, sometimes sends Icto or others, but they still keep pestering him.

"Also, they asked if the coffee-flavored alcohol you made before could be improved, and they gave me four types of coffee beans: unroasted, deeply roasted, lightly roasted, and medium roasted."

"Ah, you aimed for a high-end product with the Kahlua. Let's try the taste. We can also think about other alcohol using coffee."

In this world, children are prohibited from drinking alcohol.

However, I heard that in the past, children could drink alcohol because it didn't spoil as easily as raw water.

The empire expanded its territory by reclaiming land from swamps.

Since the capital is spread out along a lake, there is no shortage of water, and children do not need to drink alcohol to the point of damaging their livers, which is why it was banned.

Speaking of which, I think coffee wasn't very good either, but it can be tasted without the guilt of drinking alcohol.

"…………sigh"

To add coffee, I use experimental equipment that has been boiled to set up a siphon.

During this time, the three attendants fell silent at my sigh.

But one of them doesn't stay silent.

(Asking for the details of the equipment specifications)

Sefira Sefiroth, who is still studying human ethics and morals, is a ball of curiosity.

I taught her the basics of computers.

The matrix of zeros and ones.

Computers, which were once called electronic calculators, originally performed calculations with these simple numbers.

Sefira, who can remember anything without hindrance, theoretically can perform infinite calculations with combinations of two numbers.

I thought it was like going from one digit to two, or from three to four, but...

"Who would have thought you'd get the computational power of electronic devices?"

"Prince Asha, is it Sefira again?"

Wearrel seems to have misunderstood the reason for my sigh, but I relax a bit.

Sefira only initiates conversation with me.

I made her able to emit light and speak, but she doesn't do it excessively.

"She seems interested in the next alcohol we'll make. But today we have to make the amount of the order. It's good that it sells, but I don't want to lose study time."

"Your Highness is a diligent student. If you show such enthusiasm, it's rewarding to teach you. However, your enthusiasm in making new alcohol is making Moli even more enthusiastic."

Helcof said this while using water essence after fire essence.

At nine, I am doing some basic training, but I am mainly receiving lectures on military matters.

Unlike my previous life, it's fun because there are stories of actual combat from former soldiers.

"Everyone is good at teaching, I think. I heard that Terry runs away to the garden when he doesn't want to study... ……sigh"

Despite my efforts to compose myself, I sighed again.

Using Sefira's invisibility, I gathered rumors and information about my brother.

I also found out that my sister was born recently.

I wasn't told anything, and now I understand why my father seemed reluctant to tell me each time he met me.

I'm honestly sad that he didn't tell me.

(Inferring a decrease in the master's emotions. No definite cause. What could be the reason?)

She can calculate, but she still doesn't understand such things.

This is something she can learn, and she has been learning over time.

I just need to avoid making grand monologues.

"The reason I'm feeling down is that I found out one of my twin brothers, whom I've never met, is seriously ill, Sefira."

When I finally revealed the reason for my sigh, Wearrel and the others also looked troubled.

This became a big fuss, so they know about it even without Sefira's help.

I had heard that one of the twins was frail, but it was just that he had rashes or a high fever.

This time, he suddenly collapsed despite being fine, and it's a life-threatening situation with an unknown cause.

"Prince Asha, there are voices suspecting assassination, but there is no reason to target the Fourth Prince."

As Icto said, among the rumors Sefira gathered, there were voices suspecting poisoning.

There were also rumors that it was an assassination.

Of course, my father and Duke Lucaios thoroughly investigated, but there was no evidence of poisoning or suspicious individuals.

"Levan said there are voices suspecting me, but that's an unreasonable claim."

Levan, who is sent by the Strategus Marquis, who controls the palace guard, is impolite.

Icto told me to keep my distance from him, and he also said that he understands that I am not capable of such a thing.

Well, I am a recluse.

When I go out, I dye my hair black, but normally it is silver, which is rare and noticeable.

My attendants are also here, and my range of movement is limited.

"More than anything, after the incident with Terry, the palace guard follows me with a suspicious eye whenever I go out."

Even when I go from this residential area to the garden, they follow me as far as they can see.

When I return with the herbs needed for the liqueur, they check everything I have.

Since it is known that alchemy is my hobby, I can get them if I ask, but it is limited to harmless items, which is a bit disappointing.

"Oh, right. I need to go get the herbs. It's the day for garden maintenance today."

The palace garden is large, so the maintenance location changes daily.

To get the discarded items, I prepared and went down to the lower floor with Icto.

Wearrel and Helcof will continue making the alcohol.

"Wow, you really came today."

"Hey, Levan. Why are you here?"

When we went down to the garden using the left wing stairs, Levan was standing at the entrance, separate from the guards who usually monitor the comings and goings.

"No, I was told to confirm that the prince goes to the garden to pull weeds and returns."

"The herbs are always checked for poison."

"Well, I was just urged to do it, so please do as you like. Oh, if you come back early, I won't have to stand here for so long, so please do."

Levan, who dismissed us with a casual remark, still shows no respect to the prince.

However, he does provide information.

Since he won't tell the Strategus Marquis that he was urged, it must be someone else's doing.

There are only a few people who can speak strongly to the marquis, and given the timing, it is probably related to my brother's collapse.

I swallowed another sigh and started walking to the garden.

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Next: Prince's Assassination Attempt 2