Patrolling the Streets (1)

"Compress, reinforce, compress, reinforce, compress, reinforce."

Back in my room, I first mass-produced a bunch of rose medicine. Taking several at once doesn't stack the effects. It just means your maximum stamina doesn't increase. All it does is offset the debuff.

"Healing up to max is the limit anyway."

The only option is to sleep it off properly like always. The best treatment when you're sick. Get plenty of sleep and rest. If a patient doesn't do those two things, no miracle drug from any genius doctor will make a difference.

"Tch, but man, the taste is still awful."

It tastes like mud dumplings made in the void dimension hell where ancient demons live. In other words, disgusting.

"Eating four or five of these every day is a bit much."

I scrutinized the skills in my status window for any other options.

"Oh, could this work?"

The skill that caught my eye was Alchemy's [Synthesis E]. I placed the rose medicine on the left and pulled a random candy from my pocket for the right. A high-end stick candy made from honey.

"Let's synthesize the rose medicine's effect with the candy's sweetness. Simple materials, so it might just work."

I reached out and cast Synthesis. Now, I didn't even need to focus—the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic circle drew itself, and mana slotted right into place.

—Whoosh!

A white light flared, and the result appeared.

"That's more like it."

I popped one honey candy into my mouth. The thick sweetness spread all the way to the tips of my hair, making every sensation come alive. I'm alive, alive.

You can eat as many candies as you want. Just watch out for cavities, of course.

"No scaling skill for dental cleaning?"

Nothing beats it for preventing cavities. Feels so refreshing, puts you in a good mood too.

Before I knew it, time was running short while I was synthesizing candies. It was the appointed time to meet Asella in the back garden.

"If I'm late, she'll make a fuss again."

I grabbed my coat and hat and left the room.

The annex had relatively few servants. Avoiding Sibers meant no fuss, so I slipped out quietly.

Asella wasn't in the rose garden. It had looked a bit sparse to begin with—like a middle-aged man's crown—and I'd picked them enthusiastically all night. There were still plenty left, but I should have Sibers plant more.

Asella wasn't here yet? I scanned around and spotted knights patrolling in the distance. I slipped into the willow grove.

"You're late."

"Whoa, you scared me."

Asella was suddenly standing beside me. Must've used a presence-concealing spell. I barely stopped my fist from flying out on reflex.

This woman doesn't let you relax for a second.

Asella had pulled up her hood to hide her shimmering golden hair. She took a pocket watch from her waist and checked it.

"I'm not late."

"If you're later than me, you're late. Let's go."

She glanced around cautiously.

"Do we really need to sneak out?"

"Escorts would ruin the fun. I want to see things as they are."

"As they are?"

"I never get to see how the empire's people really live."

"No need to."

"When I sit on the throne someday, I need to know who's holding it up."

Asella said it so matter-of-factly, like it was nothing. She'd wanted the emperor's seat since childhood, I realized now.

"Do you have to? Become emperor."

Asella glared at me fiercely.

'Can't say the wrong thing to her.'

That question was a landmine.

Asella snorted.

"It's the natural ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠goal for anyone with imperial blood. As my fiancé, watch your reckless words, young master."

"I'll be careful."

"Lead the way."

I headed to the wall separating the annex back garden from the mansion grounds. There was a gaping hole in the middle—the spot I'd scouted earlier.

"Over here."

"Through there?"

Asella hesitated. Noble imperial blood must find dirty holes offensive.

"Simple. Just duck a bit."

I demonstrated first. Butt back, waist low, head diving under the wall. I'd snuck into demon king castles under worse conditions. This was practically a palace.

"Whoops."

Problem. Stuck at the chest. It looked wide enough. Wasn't this my usual hole?

"Princess, a little help?"

"No."

Asella refused flat-out. Knew it.

"You were trying to shove me in there?"

"Misunderstanding. Really."

I apologized desperately without seeing her face. Bad ending odds skyrocketing right now? Unsettling.

"Princess? You there? Princess?"

No reply. Anxiety growing. ...A faint giggle? Nah, imagination.

Soon, bricks crumbled—poof poof—freeing me up. Asella's magic.

I brushed off the dirt. Asella smirked devilishly at me.

"Good. You won't look like a marquis's heir out there."

"...High praise."

I stood, coughed a few times, shook my head. Cough from debuff? No time to check—new problem.

"Huh, big brother?"

Neria was staring at us. Asella's face froze cold. Tense Neria bowed politely.

"Leave it to me."

I went to Neria, leaned down.

"Hi, Neria. Out for a walk?"

"Y-yes. Big brother and Princess... going out?"

I pressed a finger to her lips.

"Shh. Secret."

"Secret...?"

"Back by sunset. Keep it, and this is yours."

I placed a honey candy in her palm. Her face lit up.

"Okay, secret! Be safe."

Like a proper noble lady, she curtsied gracefully. My little sister, so mature. But devouring the candy with innocent joy? Adorably childish. If Asella took after her even halfway...

I patted Neria's head and sent her off. Back to Asella.

"Handled. Shall we?"

"Close with your sister?"

"Why ask? Just normal."

"No candy for me?"

Sudden candy demand. Rose meds are mine. Gave Neria one to buy silence—she loved them last time. Asella rejected Sibers's candies anyway.

"None."

She narrowed her eyes, went quiet.

"Fine. If you were gonna offer, I'd toss it. Don't bother. Let's go."

She spun and strode out through the hole.

'Huh?'

'Why'd that go up?'

Sudden red text. Checked—a bad ending spiked out of nowhere.

'What was it... Oh, burned to death by Asella. Execution by fire.'

Worse than the dragon corps. That was quick; this one roasted from the toes up slowly.

'Reason was...'

Pretended loyalty to her? Or she assumed it unilaterally. Then decided I betrayed her and torched me.

'And it rises now.'

Women hold grudges like frost in May. Asella's side was eternal winter.

"Lively streets."

Thankfully, Asella seemed more relaxed after descending to the territory.

"Grayer than the capital."

True—most buildings in the marquisate used gray bricks. Healer powerhouse Gotberg, but not overly religious. The small-town shopping district looked ordinary. Adventurer parties hunting rare northern beasts wandered around.

"Granite country's abundant here. First time in the north?"

"First time walking the streets."

"I see."

"That. Want to try."

Asella pointed to a shop selling northern specialty butter coffee.

"Caffeine can cause sleep issues for the unaccustomed. You're still growing, so considering your health..."

"Save the lectures for after you're my doctor."

She marched to the cafe. Leaving her would spell trouble, so I hurried after.

Terrace seat. Owner came quick.

"Two? What'll it be?"

"Two butter coffees. Decaf?"

"De-what? No such thing."

My fault for saying caffeine.

"Just bring 'em. Rest is tip."

Paid five silvers. Owner left satisfied.

Asella watched the streets intently. Nothing special, but she observed every passerby.

Rare sight for me too. Visited villages in war, but never relaxed like this.

"Pretty miss, flowers?"

Kids approached Asella with flowers. Slum rags. Best to shoo with a few coppers—too much, and they bring friends.

Reached for coppers—

"Wow!"

Too late. Asella had bought flowers, paid... with gold. One gold's two weeks' work for commoners.

'Aigoo.'

Zero sense of money. The type grilled endlessly in hearings over bread prices.

Kids bowed, scampered off thrilled. I sighed.

"Princess, let's move."

Asella, twirling the flowers, glared sharply.

"Why? Coffee's not here."

"Too much money. Trouble incoming."

"Trouble. Mother says the same. Don't be kind to commoners."

She turned.

"Was I wrong?"

Golden mana swirled half-turn in her irises. System flashed.

Bad ending up. Critical answer time. Recalling scenario—

"Hey, miss."

Three burly men approached.

"Lend some coin."

Leader grumbled low. Situation clear. Slum kids took gold elsewhere; these saw, came running. Chest emblem: Shufre Merchant Company's low-ranks.

Security worse than thought. Thugs in my territory?

"Lending some. Need it."

Asella stiffened, glared like bugs. Eyes full of contempt.

Odds climbing. No panic, but negativity building. This was bad.

"Customer, coffee's—"

—Crash!

I snatched the owner's cups, smashed them. Jumped up. Men startled, focused on me.

I roared.

"Who you trying to scam in front of, you bastards?"

Time to go full delinquent.