The Princess's Meal (5)

The First Star Palace, where Crown Prince Kwunter resided. The building was so plain it hardly felt like part of the imperial palace—almost as if it reflected his personality.

―Hwaaaah!!

The screams that echoed every evening had earned the palace a reputation for being haunted.

"We successfully exorcised the demon today as well. The goddess's blessing was with us."

As Simon closed his holy book and made the sign of the cross, Kwunter, sprawled face-down on the bed, rebelled fiercely.

"What blessing? My shoulders, my back—nothing doesn't hurt!"

"Health comes at a price. Look—even today, we've extracted this much impure energy from you."

Simon proudly showed Kwunter the black clumps. They had all come from Kwunter's body. It was true that he felt lighter after the exorcism massage, so Kwunter couldn't complain too much. The problem was that the demon-exorcism spells hurt like hell while they were being cast.

Of course, as his personal physician, Simon obeyed his lord's commands, but timid Kwunter always worried about what others thought.

"Can't we do it less intensely now? It feels too frequent…."

"What are you saying, Your Highness? The date set by His Majesty is almost here. To prove yourself greater than the Third Princess, we must continue the exorcisms."

Simon pressed the point, and Kwunter fell silent. As he got up, he asked his secretary.

"What about Moonlight Palace? Can we win?"

"Well…."

The secretary, who had been monitoring Moonlight Palace's movements, explained the situation to Kwunter. Simon doubted the report.

"Tuning mana circuits with mere food? What kind of unheard-of method is that?"

"They're seeing considerable effects."

"Even if there are effects, how much could they be…."

―Ku-gu-gu-gung!!

Suddenly, a massive roar drowned out Simon's ears. Startled, he flung open the window. Over at the magic training grounds, a gigantic ice mountain was rising.

"W-what is that?"

"It's Asella's magic! It's way stronger than before. Simon, how are we supposed to beat that?!"

Kwunter stomped his feet in panic. The surge in magic power clearly showed Asella's mana circuits were far more refined than before. Simon ground his teeth and immediately set off.

"Simon, where are you going?"

Simon returned straight to the Imperial Medical Office and gathered intel on Gotberg and Moonlight Palace.

If things stay like this, we have no chance of winning.

Simon bit his nails in anxiety.

Failed to subdue the Second Prince's faction too. Palkenhain won't even listen to me.

It was all Kwunter's fault for being so weak. Despite being crown prince, he was ignorant of imperial politics and lacked power. Naturally, Simon's standing in the Medical Office had suffered. He even blamed Kwunter for Palkenhain defecting to Gotberg. And the physically frail Kwunter couldn't endure his exorcisms for long, screaming like a girl. If he'd been Georg or Heike's physician, he'd have achieved far better results.

Gotberg, you demon.

Simon stared at the vial filled with the black sickness he'd extracted from Kwunter. Suddenly inspired, he picked it up and cast a spell.

Shadow Walk.

A stealth technique he'd used to track heretics. Slipping into the shadows, Simon moved silently. No one spotted him as he infiltrated the imperial kitchens. The faint oily smell of the darkened kitchen tickled his nose. He entered the ingredient storeroom, quickly found his target, and removed his hood.

Moonlight Palace exclusive. This is it.

Opening the box revealed high-quality meats, vegetables, and ingredients for tomorrow's meals. Simon uncorked the vial.

This is the yin energy from Prince Kwunter. If the Third ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Princess eats food tainted with this, her condition will worsen too.

If Gotberg's method failed, victory would be his. As Simon tilted the vial to pour the black, viscous contents over the ingredients—

―Thwack!

"Urk?!"

Simon froze at the sensation of his wrist being grabbed. Turning, he saw a smirking face.

"Mister, no matter how urgent you are, this won't do. That's high treason against royalty."

Ras Gotberg pulled a lollipop from his pocket, stuck it in his mouth, and grinned.

"Gotberg—how?!"

Simon's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shadow walk was top-tier on the continent. There was no reason anyone should detect him. He'd acted alone, so no leaks.

"How'd I know? Trade secret."

Ras flicked away his status window dismissively. Of course, Simon had no idea what the gesture meant. Ras eyed the numbers on the dismissed window.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Black Death ending happens when Asella unleashes plague on the continent. He'd hit on poisoning the food with sickness energy.

Ras had deduced Simon's actions from bad ending knowledge and rushed to the kitchens.

"Gotberg… you demon!!"

Simon leaped up, casting an exorcism spell.

Take him down, and I can cover this up!

A vicious claw formed on Simon's left hand. He swung it to smash Ras's face directly with the spell—

―Thud!!

A dull impact echoed, followed by crashing sounds. Simon tumbled headfirst into the ingredient box.

"Are inquisitors always this aggressive?"

Tanya extended her lightly swung sword and asked Ras.

"Pretty much."

"Hm. I'll have to be careful from now on."

Tanya prodded the fallen Simon to confirm he was out.

***

"Simon the inquisitor has been dismissed. Considering his past merits, no death sentence, but life imprisonment. Thus, the contest naturally ends in young Gotberg's victory."

On the month mark set by the emperor, Ambrosia reported to me.

"Prince Kwunter and Princess Asella's mana circuit measurements are complete. Even without Simon's stunt, this would have been an overwhelming win for Moonlight Palace."

"Thank you, Sister."

"Take good care of the Medical Office going forward."

I bid Ambrosia farewell and returned to the Medical Office. Turning right at the main gate, the nameplate was right there.

Ah, this is it.

"Welcome, Master Gotberg!"

Palkenhain greeted me barefoot in front of the office.

"As expected of you, sir. You made that mad dog Simon self-destruct! And the princess is safe—thank goodness."

"You've worked hard too, Lord Palkenhain."

The Second Prince faction's resources weren't just after Simon—every faction in the Medical Office had eyed them. Pulling them fully into my faction was thanks to his efforts.

"W-we've finished the move too."

Chloe and Hugo reported. Only Tanya was miffed that the office was now on the first floor.

"Good work, everyone. Let's dive into work with a fresh start."

"Sir, before that, we need orders on this."

With Hugo's report, we entered the office to a amusing sight. A dozen-plus healers in the waiting room jumped up to greet me.

"Hello, Master Gotberg!"

"We'd like to introduce ourselves!"

Quite a few familiar faces. Hugo explained as I turned.

"Healers applying to our faction. Some from the First Princess faction who volunteered with us, existing Second Prince healers, and others interested in medicine."

"Hm."

I snapped my fingers.

"Lord Palkenhain, can you handle their training?"

"Of course."

After quick triage, I entered the inner room and sank into a wide chair, leaning back comfortably.

***

"Your Majesty, these are the medicinal foods prepared by Physician Gotberg."

Ambrosia pointed to the varied dishes on the emperor's table and continued her explanation. The emperor examined each one closely, sniffed, and smiled faintly.

"Asella loves these, they say."

"Yes, Your Majesty. In the month since changing her diet, her mana flow has improved by over twenty percent."

"Interesting."

"Newly formulated medicines for Your Majesty have arrived as well. Shall we proceed?"

The emperor stroked his chin and nodded.

"Use them all."

***

Ten months had passed since my faction took root in the Medical Office and began thriving. The emperor accepting medicine after my win over Simon was huge. When the head moves, the body follows. Thanks to that, the Third Princess faction had grown to thirty healers, with our duties expanding steadily.

That meant more work for me, and now I had one request for Asella.

"Long-term leave application."

Asella frowned at the papers I handed her.

"Long-term? How long?"

"About a month?"

"Too long. No."

Rejected flat-out, as expected. The princess had grown a year older and even pricklier. As the thorough subordinate, I bowed politely.

"Princess, it's been over a year since I joined the Medical Office. I think this is well within reason."

"No means no."

"I did mention at the start—I have family duties. You said you understood."

"…Still no."

"Come on, just saying no without reason—what's that about?"

"I can. I'm the princess."

"Wow, seriously."

"Seriously what? Keep talking."

"Nothing."

Arguing more would just land me in a cell. I had to find a compromise. The leave wasn't for nothing—Father and Neria had contacted me. The pharmaceutical factory was taking shape. Early business needed my personal check.

"Where were you planning to go?"

"Gotberg Marquisate."

"Hm."

Asella pondered briefly, then asked something odd.

"Are the yellow roses blooming?"

"Wrong season—no. But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we grow golden roses year-round. Why?"

"Hm…."

Asella fiddled with her magic book page, then snapped it shut.

"I'll allow it if I go too."

That's what I don't want.

With Asella tagging along, was it work or vacation? Like a lowly employee hiking with the boss on the weekend.

"Lucy, prepare."

"Yes, Princess."

She'd decided without my input. Being the imperial princess's personal physician really was an extreme job.