Chapter 68

There are various issues, but today is the day I meet Princess Diora of the Lukiuseria Kingdom.

She had been announced to visit the imperial capital by letter before, and she had also said she wanted to meet me.

The first time we met was when I was seven, which was three years ago.

At that time, I remember I was wearing a blue formal suit and had dyed my hair black.

This time, I plan to wear a light blue formal suit, which was given to me by the princess, and dye my hair black.

"Preparations, I understand. Should I just spray the perfume when preparing it?"

When I asked the new maid, Nomariola, to prepare, she said this.

I remember in Japan, they used to burn incense to remove the smell from clothes.

But I don’t have any perfume.

That would be too disrespectful to meet the princess with.

So, I hurried to the Emerald Room and took out the rose extract.

It’s a simple extract, not a sophisticated perfume made to match high-end alcohol and high-end scents.

"This is so concentrated... I understand."

Nomariola, what’s with the look? Do you think the rose scent doesn’t suit me? Yeah, I think so too, but that’s all I have.

With that, I met Diora again, smelling of roses.

The place was a corner of the palace, neither the left wing nor the main building.

This is where the Marquis Strategos performs his duties, a building separate from the palace where various government offices are gathered.

And it was a reception room prepared in that building.

Of course, the Marquis Strategos, who acts as a liaison, is also present.

In return, all the preparations, from tea and sweets to flowers and tablecloths, are entrusted to him.

"It’s been a while, Diora. Although, I was rude last time we met without introducing myself. I thought about apologizing, but it feels strange now."

"Yes, Lady Asha. I’m sure we’ve exchanged more letters than words. Don’t worry about the first meeting; you’ve already apologized in your letters. I’d like you to speak to me as you did when we first met."

Diora, with her cheeks flushed, had become a beautiful girl with orange hair.

At the same age of ten, she already had a well-defined appearance and an adorable expression, promising to become a beauty.

"I’m grateful to the Marquis Strategos for facilitating this meeting."

"No, not at all. I hope this can make up for the damage to the portrait you sent me, which I failed to deliver."

When I mentioned it, he said this with a serious face.

The Marquis Strategos, who did not give me the portrait sent by Diora, claimed it was damaged due to poor management and could not be delivered to me.

Diora was more pleased that the meeting was arranged than angry about the mishap.

For me, who knew the truth, it seemed insincere, but it was still helpful to have the meeting arranged.

For the Marquis Strategos, it was a painless way to monitor us openly.

Hmm, I wanted a normal tea party with a friend, but I guess it’s fine since he went to the trouble.

"Is the magic recovery potion already in production?"

"No, we will first mass-produce the herbs, then stockpile them during the processing stage, and predict the production volume based on the estimated demand."

"I see, even if mass production is possible, it’s good to manage it without waste."

While the maids and attendants prepared by the Marquis Strategos served us elegantly, we enjoyed our conversation.

But the Marquis Strategos and the attendants kept glancing at us.

Then, Levan, standing by the wall, moved his lips to convey something.

What? Not sexy enough, too difficult?

" somehow, even when we meet face to face, it feels like we’re just exchanging letters."

"Well, how embarrassing. I should have come up with more interesting topics."

"No, that’s not true. I find it interesting and enjoyable. Plus, I know you were worried about people who were struggling and couldn’t succeed. It’s already a joy to see you smiling and talking about the future."

Diora covered her red cheeks with both hands and blinked frequently.

When I looked, Levan was moving again, saying it was too much?

No, I just said what I felt, with no other intention.

"Actually, I shared the advice I received from Lady Asha with the cultivation researchers when I visited to encourage them."

"Advice? I don’t remember giving such grand advice."

"Hehe, that’s true. It was also about Lady Asha’s favorite alchemy. The advice was to first determine whether the missing or excessive elements were the cause of the plants withering."

I wrote that.

It’s a basic principle of alchemy, which involves classifying elements.

When the herbs were withering and not growing, I wrote that it would be helpful to investigate the differences in the soil layers the roots touched and the components in the water in detail.

"I told them that if reproducing the growth environment didn’t work, there must be a deficiency or excess in something invisible. So, this time, it’s also thanks to Lady Asha."

When Diora conveyed this, the researchers, who were stuck, decided to look into other possibilities.

As a result, they found that the water absorption was different from what they expected.

The herbs absorbed water through their leaves, so they needed to be sprayed.

"I only gave a general suggestion. It was your decision to share it and the efforts of the researchers who connected the dots. My idea only slightly shortened the process."

"Ah, Lady Asha is truly wise and kind..."

Diora praised me with tears in her eyes.

She’s cute, but Levan’s reaction, which seemed to imply something else, caught my eye.

Alright, if you react like that, I’ll do it.

"No... actually, in front of the beautifully grown Diora, I was just showing off a bit. I’m not as wise as you say. I hope your smile doesn’t cloud today."

I remember this from a knight’s story that Sefira read secretly.

When I tried to use a pick-up line, Diora lowered her gaze and smiled.

"I also hope Lady Asha stays the same."

"Why did your smile cloud so quickly?"

"Ah, it wasn’t my intention... my brother..."

Diora’s brother, who is fifteen this year and entered the academy last year, has a strong patriarchal tendency, which he has been suppressing Diora, his sister, and now even their mother.

"My brother believes that only those who study at the academy are supreme, and my shallow knowledge, which I haven’t studied at the academy, is not worth listening to."

"I think that’s shallow thinking to begin with, to abandon your own thoughts and rely on others’ values."

When I said what I thought, Diora suddenly smiled, the best smile of the day.

She’s cute, but it’s sad that her family doesn’t get along well.

"If I had a sister as excellent as Diora, I would wholeheartedly support her."

As I watched Diora leave, escorted by the palace guards, I muttered.

The Marquis Strategos, who heard my muttering, sighed.

"That’s a common bias among young people. Try not to incite your sister too much."

"But in the Lukiuseria Kingdom’s academy, the prince, who will be the next king, is arrogant. Is there anyone to stop him?"

It’s probably impossible, and the academy probably encourages such arrogance.

In my previous life, school was a narrow world.

Now, I think teachers were also residents of that narrow world, and while they might have had deep perspectives, few had broad ones.

The Marquis Strategos didn’t deny it, and it seems that no matter how large the scale, it probably won’t change much.

"Are you planning to attend the academy in a few years?"

"No, I’m not going."

"Eh? You’re not going?"

Levan, who was standing behind, exclaimed, and Ikt, standing next to her, was also surprised.

"Can you go? Won’t you be hindered? Isn’t it a gateway for nobles? Will they let you accumulate achievements as a prince?"

When I asked in surprise, the adults grunted.

They seemed to think it was a given for nobles to attend, but they probably reconsidered my current situation.

And since they didn’t answer immediately, it seems there will indeed be interference.

"If it’s the alchemy department, perhaps?"

"No, Totos. I don’t think it’s possible unless the form of attending the academy changes."

"Hmm, I thought the First Prince would enroll by his own will, but it’s surprising. If there’s a way, you should go."

The Marquis Strategos seemed unexpectedly positive, which was surprising to me.

Until now, he has been pursuing his own interests.

At the same time, he has not favored me due to nepotism.

"......Whose side are you on with that statement?"

"It’s a dilemma."

He really seemed to be in a dilemma, stroking his short, purple hair.

Despite monitoring me, it seems his vigilance has decreased.

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