Chapter 59

Exhausted from playing, the twins fell asleep for a nap.

Terry is still only seven years old, so he doesn't have much stamina and is resting in another room.

During this time, I stayed to talk with His Majesty and Her Highness the Empress.

"Ah, I see. So, the principle is that if a path is created, the water can overcome the height difference, and that waterway is still operational?"

"Yes, the important thing is that the path through which the water flows is filled with water and not air. As long as the water source is higher than the path, if you reinsert a water-filled tube, it should work again."

I explained the experiments and the movement and properties of water to my younger brothers based on the experiments.

Then, His Majesty mentioned something about a system that sends water to a higher position.

So, I explained the principles I could deduce and, with some straw provided, demonstrated the straw phenomenon.

"Really, it was made through alchemy?"

"The imperial library says so, but even the dukes closely associated with the imperial family don't know what alchemy was used for, do they?"

I couldn't help but ask, surprised by Her Highness's reaction.

After all, this knowledge should be essential for maintaining the current infrastructure, so it's problematic that they don't know.

I mean, it would be bad if the palace suddenly faced a water shortage because they couldn't send water up the mountain.

Ah, I see.

In my previous life, even important people weren't familiar with infrastructure, and while they planned and funded it, technical matters were outside their jurisdiction.

So, did the technicians disappear first, leading to the loss of knowledge?

Without the technical knowledge, the scholars couldn't reproduce it, so it became a legend?

"According to what I heard from Wearrel, you really managed to reproduce and understand it just from the books in the library?"

As I seriously worried about the current situation, my father muttered, and Her Highness the Empress gasped.

"Your Majesty, this is a remarkable achievement. If it's announced that Asha, who is about to turn ten, rediscovered it—"

"Ah, Duke Lucaios might—"

"Please wait."

Hold on.

Why are the imperial couple so optimistic?

"There's no need or benefit to putting me forward now. It would only be a loss to create a reason for attack on Terry, who is still young and hasn't achieved anything. We should be wary of allies, not enemies. The evil schemes of those who are unhappy with Your Majesty's reign are what we should be concerned about."

What would happen if I were put forward?

The Duke of Eurasion, who dislikes the low-born Emperor, and other high-ranking nobles with the same ideology would surely try to stir up succession issues after the Emperor.

They would likely push me as a rival to weaken Terry, the successor to my father.

"Most importantly, shouldn't Your Majesty be the one to build a track record now? The information has been in the palace all along. If it's to be made public, it would be much more beneficial for Your Majesty to take the lead in the rediscovery. For example, you could say that you were inspired by my current experiments."

"No, but—. I can't take credit for my son's achievement."

"If it's an achievement, it belongs to the past emperors who used alchemy to establish the capital. It would be more legitimate for the current Emperor to take the lead."

I say this convincingly, but fundamentally, I just don't want to be in the spotlight.

Because if I make such an announcement, I'll be asked to focus on alchemy for infrastructure.

Right now, I want to make elixirs, which are called potions, alongside brewing alcohol.

With Molly's support, I'm also collecting anecdotes about elixirs outside the palace.

If I can do this, there might come a day when Fehr can eat his favorite sweets again, so I don't want to make any detours that might delay things.

"Shouldn't the territory be entrusted to Asha?"

"Yes, I've heard that essential materials for alchemy can be obtained there."

"Ah, I'll pass on the territory too. It's too early for me. Without a suitable steward and proper education, it would be unfair to the people living there."

When I gave my prepared excuse, they all made subtle faces.

"Do you really need to say that? About education?"

"Indeed, talent is the reason for my current situation. However, the bias in my education is a problem. We should start by selecting the right tutors, as Asha suggests."

Her Highness, who seemed motivated, spoke, and my father widened his eyes as if he had just realized something.

But that just means I'll lose time for alchemy.

And if I'm given homework, I won't have time to escape.

Most of the studies here are rote memorization and interpretation of examples.

Reading assigned books is still manageable, but writing papers in essay form, which requires research and submission, takes too much time.

My tutors mainly explain things, partly because of my limited range of activities.

However, Wearrel, who has recently found it easier to work with Her Highness, has started giving short essays as homework as a preliminary step before more serious work.

Considering my escape days, I manage to get by.

"Considering the academy in Luciusaria, we have four years. We should first think about meeting the minimum requirements for the alchemy department."

"Ah... In four years, will the alchemy department still exist? There hasn't been much academic activity, has there?"

As His Majesty seriously considered, Her Highness expressed her concerns with great anxiety.

Please wait, it would be a problem if it doesn't exist.

If the public institution disappears, everything I do will stand out.

With the alcohol issue, it won't remain an indifferent and unguarded field of study.

"If only the academy could draw more attention than me—"

I muttered, and not only His Majesty and Her Highness but also the bob-cut girl and the maid in the room looked at me.

The bob-cut girl, in particular, had a look that said, "This guy is going to mess up."

It might be a misjudgment, but...

"Her Highness's concerns are valid. I want to hear the opinions of the tutors who have supported me so far. Wearrel has connections with the alchemy department at Luciusaria."

"Yes, that's right. It would be more reliable to hear it directly from them."

"That's true. The opinions of those who know Asha's abilities best are important."

Somehow, I managed to prevent the addition of more tutors with His Majesty and Her Highness's agreement.

Feeling a bit accomplished, I returned to the residential area of the left wing.

I met Ict, who wasn't allowed to enter the area where His Majesty and the close family lived due to jurisdictional differences, and we started walking to the deserted left wing.

"Is something troubling you, Prince Asha?"

"Hmm? Ah, I was just deep in thought. Hey, Ict, do you know how to get a small lightning lamp?"

"Well, sometimes they turn up during the demolition of old houses. But in such cases, the demolishers often pass them on to builders for discounts or as replacements in new homes."

Ict had only seen small lightning lamps in the central part of the continent.

According to Helcoff, they are more common in the capital, but less so in the countryside.

In non-human cultural circles, they are especially rare.

"Even a broken one would be fine."

"In that case, perhaps the residences of local nobles. While they are for commoners, some local nobles value practicality and I've seen them in their homes."

"Hmm, I'll ask Hearti when I write to her."

It's not that easy, I guess.

I went back and called out to Wearrel.

"Do the alchemists you know at the academy actually make tools with alchemy?"

"No, they aim to explore the truth, so they don't often make things. They might know the theory, but putting it into practice is different."

"Oh, I see."

"What's the matter, Your Highness?"

Helcoff also came and became interested in my sudden question.

So, I mentioned that the alchemy department might not exist in four years and that it would be a problem for my cover.

"Come to think of it, the equipment I gave to Your Highness was also a discarded item due to downsizing. It was reluctantly discarded to free up space for other departments—"

Wearrel couldn't bear to see his friend lament and took it, which became my toy.

It was better than being thrown away, so the friend packed it carefully and even included instructions.

"The alchemists you know have been researching for years, right? So, if I send them a small lightning lamp with a note saying it was made through alchemy, they might study it and try to reproduce it."

Since there is still a demand for small lightning lamps, I think it would attract attention.

"If it goes well, it could even elevate their status. Even if they can't reproduce it immediately, the demand for small lightning lamps won't disappear, so the academy might promote the research."

I want convenient tools like small lightning lamps, which are close to the science of my previous life, to be widely used.

After the luxurious life here ends, I want to live as comfortably as possible.

I want gas and water as much as possible, and I hope the current alchemists will work hard to revive things like small lightning lamps.

"Ah, if you have such foresight, Prince Asha... Let's do it."

Wearrel, sighing, agreed to take on the task positively.

I don't really have a sense of being a lord or a student at the academy, and being the eldest son but not the heir is a constant issue.

I need to think of a way to change that, or it will be difficult to leave the palace.

It's time to start planning for the future, not just getting by.

Regular update

Next: Brother's Heart, Unknown to the Elder

Updated 9/8 (Inserted after Chapter 40)

Idle Talk 8: A Certain Gardener