Chapter 70

"De"

"De"

"‘It’s done!’"

I raised both hands in triumph in the emerald room, simultaneously with Wearrel.

Then we looked at each other and did a high-five.

Oh, since Wearrel is tall, he bent down and lowered his hand for me.

"Hey, what's going on?"

Herkov, who had just arrived due to his late start today, came over at the sound of our loud voices.

Ikt had gone to open the door and came back with him.

"Oh, you fixed it? The small thunder lamp?"

"Ah, it’s lit. Is that the one sent by Harty yesterday?"

When Ikt mentioned it, Herkov also noticed the small thunder lamp glowing on the workbench.

Yesterday evening, a package from Harty, our former wet nurse who had remarried and left the capital, arrived.

When we opened it, there were two broken small thunder lamps inside.

As Ikt had imagined, they had been left unused and broken in the countryside mansion.

They were wall-mounted lamps with decorative elements, similar to a small light bulb.

There was a circuit board-like structure at the part that attaches to the wall, and one of them seemed fixable as only the filament inside the bulb was broken.

"Yeah, I ran a good copper wire for the circuit, just a temporary fix though."

"Creating a vacuum was a bit challenging."

"This one was divided into the magical part and the alchemical part. With Wearrel's help, it worked out well."

"Wow, I didn't expect the small thunder lamp to be a combination of alchemy and magic."

I explained excitedly, and Wearrel nodded contentedly.

However, Ikt and Herkov exchanged troubled looks.

"Shouldn't this be sent to the Rukiusaria Academy for repair?"

"Maybe it's time for Your Highness to announce it?"

Oh, I forgot.

"Well, how about Wearrel sends a letter explaining the magical part and says he doesn't know what to do next? If I announce it, I can only see a future where its spread is hindered."

"Yes, that’s true. But, I’ll mention Asha-sama a bit. After all, I couldn’t have realized the connection to alchemy on my own, and they will be surprised."

After discussing with the elated Wearrel, we decided to send the other broken one.

This one had an intact filament, but the circuit board was deteriorated and broken.

"Okay, is that fine?"

"Right. Then, Your Highness, how about you get that guy up now?"

Herkov, waiting for me to calm down, pointed to the floor.

There, the finance minister Wald was on all fours in front of a distiller.

"Oh, you were still working on it? I just asked if we could pull some funds for the new Dink wine under the research budget."

"Well, once Asha-sama is known as the mastermind behind Dink wine, this is what happens. By the way, why did you suddenly ask about that?"

"Well, I brought some of the money I had left with Mollie to pay for information to Nomariora. I thought it would be better to have Wald manage my money, so I asked him, and he was very concerned about where the money came from, so I also asked about the materials for Dink wine."

In response, the black-haired elf Wald slowly raised his head.

"Ah, how much market value does that wine have now...?"

"People love new things. The price goes up every time a new one is released. I think it would be better to take more time, though."

"No, that’s because Your Highness keeps coming up with new ideas."

Herkov repeated the criticism he had given me before.

However, something seemed to be sticking out of Herkov's pocket.

"What’s that?"

"Oh, I forgot. I got a letter from home. I often forget to read them, but this time my nephews pushed it into my pocket before I left."

It seemed he had crumpled the letter from home and stuffed it into his pocket.

"What does it say? Does it start with 'I hope you are well'?"

"Only Harty is that polite."

While I was curious, Herkov boldly broke the seal on the spot.

He unfolded the single-page letter, and his bear ears twitched slightly.

"The content is about observing the situation, but it warns that something fishy is happening near the border with the empire."

"Wasn’t there a disputed area between beastmen? Is your family nearby?"

When Ikt asked, Herkov denied it.

It seems he had been involved there during his military days and was just passing on the information.

The location was in the northern part of the empire.

At the border with the beastmen's country, the residents on the imperial side are mainly beastmen.

It’s a mountainous area, and the imperial side is almost uninhabited, so the conflict seems to be between the beastmen.

Wearrel, peeking at Herkov's letter from the side, muttered.

"The last line, 'You can come back anytime,' is a standard phrase, right?"

"Wow, they really write that kind of thing."

A closing line I had only seen in old dramas from my previous life.

When I expressed my delight, I received a warm look.

Maybe I sounded a bit childish?

Meanwhile, Wald finally stood up.

By the way, even after I explained about Dink wine, he didn’t seem to think it was a lie.

That’s why he was so affected.

"What circumstances led to Dink wine, no, why is the First Prince, who can't leave the palace, the one who came up with the idea?"

"Are you going to dig deeper?"

Just to be safe, I asked, and he stiffened again.

"......No. I thought it might lead to double claiming depending on the contract. Also, there might be other rights issues, such as whether the product can be produced."

"The name on the contract isn’t mine. I’m using a pseudonym."

There won’t be double claiming, but what about the rights issues?

"Um, I’m making various things along with the wine."

Flavors and colorants.

Since I haven’t made anything solid yet and am still experimenting, I thought it would be bad to rely solely on Mollie, so I asked Wald.

"That should be properly requested by the side that commissions the development. For that, a contract with a proper name is necessary."

According to Wald, it’s not possible through the annual allowance.

"However, almost no one knows what alchemy is. So, if it’s just for the name, it can be requested under the research budget. Still, since Dink wine is already a valuable asset, it should be discussed properly with the other party. ...You don’t know that the other party is the First Prince, do you?"

"Ah, you noticed?"

He stiffened again but recovered quickly this time.

"What a situation. It would be better to leave the property as a result for management and rights claims..."

"In other words, we need a status that can bear fruit for Dinker. Ikt, can nobles be guarantors?"

"Yes, in terms of status, my name should be sufficient. It’s a one-generation title, and I’m single, so I don’t need to consult anyone."

When Ikt responded, Wald slumped.

"No, that’s not it."

Well, Wald probably wanted to use Asha’s name.

That way, it would be my achievement, and I would gain attention from the nobility and even the emperor.

If that happened, the current unfavorable situation could improve, and for Wald, who is treated as a minor official, it would be a great honor.

"Hmm, Wald, you know I’m being targeted, right? Then, think about what happens after the results are announced. Someone might try to make things even harder for me. I might be pushed to a point where I can’t do anything, and the Dink wine brand itself might be destroyed."

I won’t say which duke, but there are people who won’t just be unhappy about my achievements but will try to destroy them.

That’s why I’m concerned about the criminal organization, but for now, I need to get the marquis to act.

If I go public, it might lead to unnecessary interference.

Wald seemed to realize this and sighed in resignation, and Herkov patted his shoulder.

"Get used to it."

"I can’t."

One word was said, and one word was returned.

Are we becoming friends?

No, Wald hasn’t blinked since just now.

It seems he’s answering reflexively without much thought.

Then, Wearrel gently advised.

"It’s normal for Asha-sama to surpass our expectations. If you don’t get used to it, you’ll only be tired all the time."

"......Well, what about the one you and the First Prince lit up just now?"

Just as he seemed to have calmed down, he noticed another issue.

And so, Wald realized something he shouldn’t have.

Regular update

Next: Cool Maid 5