Body as Collateral (1)
“It’s still as cramped as ever, even coming back here.”
Asella, stepping into my room, started complaining right away. If it’s that bad, she could just use the room we provided her—why does she have to make things so troublesome? With her attendants and guards crowding in behind her, I couldn’t even take off my coat. Not wearing my work gown since I wasn’t on duty was my last shred of pride.
Under the head maid’s direction, preparations for Asella to stay in my room were done in a flash. They even put up a seven-foot curtain between my area and hers. My room, indeed.
After the others left, I grumbled.
“Did you really have to stay here?”
“We’re sleeping together anyway. Moving back and forth every night would be more hassle. It’s not like it’s right next door at the Moonlight Palace.”
“You’ll just have to put up with it.”
“What are you talking about? You got rid of the need for the young master to come to my room in his pajamas every night.”
“Ah, so I’m the one going to you. Of course. Thank you for your consideration.”
“You’re welcome?”
Asella looked at me with a little devilish grin. Since she seemed in a good mood, I decided not to poke the bear. I smiled back like an idiot.
“Then let’s go sightseeing.”
“I’m on vacation. Can’t I just catch up on sleep?”
“What about me in the meantime?”
“I’ve got nurses on standby outside. See one of them if anything comes up.”
I was on vacation, after all, so I’d called Chloe in for a visit. She’d handle Asella’s checkups while I was out. Hugo was buried in curse research at the Imperial Medical Office for months now, even gearing up to write a paper.
“Not work—what am I supposed to do? I’m bored.”
“No idea. Practice magic?”
Asella pursed her lips, displeased with my answer.
“I’m bored.”
“Wander the mansion. You said you wanted to see it again.”
“Ugh, seriously. You should give me a tour. It’s a retainer’s duty to entertain their lord, right?”
“Only on work hours?”
“Unbelievable.”
Asella huffed in annoyance, but I wasn’t backing down this time. It was my first vacation in a year and a half. I’d barely made it home to the estate. I needed to flop onto my bed and nap right now. Besides, this was the marquess’s house—my home turf. I might even have the upper hand over Asella… Nah, who was I kidding.
“Fine.”
After our standoff, Asella folded. I figured she wouldn’t push too hard. If she thought I was slacking, she might never let me take leave again. Glad she saw reason.
Asella padded lightly to my bed, perched on the edge, and patted the blanket. “Come sleep. But just one hour.”
“I was thinking six.”
“Ridiculous. That’s not a nap. One and a half hours.”
“Three.”
“Two. No more.”
“Deal.”
I’d aimed for two from the start. Anything more, and my eyes pop open on their own. Perfect victory.
I shrugged off my coat happily, dove onto the bed in just my shirt and pants, and burrowed under the covers. The soft, cool cotton enveloped me. This was it. Eyes closed, I heard a soft rustle. Asella shifting around my shoulders, probably. Peeking through slitted lids, I saw her hand over her mouth, stifling giggles as she watched me. Glad she found her entertainment.
“Young master, enjoy it while you can.”
“What’s that mean?”
I replied with eyes shut, and she whispered back.
“Someday, you’ll be on your knees, clutching my skirts, begging for help—just once.”
As if she’d actually help. Asella definitely had the personality of a ruler. She enjoyed standing above others and pulled it off flawlessly. A strength, if nothing else.
“…Why isn’t he reacting at all?”
If only she’d stop fiddling with my ear.
***
The rare nap melted away my fatigue. At lunch with Asella and Neria, Father brought up the main topic. He wanted me to check the pharmaceutical factory site where construction had started and give advice. Even with my recipes, the factory couldn’t run smoothly without my know-how. It was the point of this vacation, so I agreed readily. And Asella tagged along.
“Hmm, so this is how it looks.”
Asella gave a light impression upon arriving at the site. Southeast from the marquessate by carriage brought us to a plot under foundation work near the rushing river. Clean water was essential for compounding medicine. Good choice on the upstream location.
Father watched Asella tour the site with Neria, then whispered to me.
“Ras, have you and Her Highness already… you know, shared a bed?”
“Yes. Circumstances piled up.”
“Hmm…”
Father stroked his chin and continued whispering.
“I won’t interfere with your choices, but she’s not even of age yet. A child now would bring all sorts of headaches. I had you right at your age, and it wasn’t easy.”
“Out of nowhere?”
“It’s happy, of course, but she’s got time before her coming-of-age. Maybe take it slow? Getting called ‘grandpa’ at this age…”
“Father, seems like a misunderstanding. Please continue the site tour.”
“Got it.”
Father was clearly off-base, so I cut him off.
“We’re also building a dormitory-cum-apothecary training facility right nearby.”
He pointed to a structure rising south. Similar to a healer training center.
“What about the apothecaries in training?”
“Growing them at the healer center, but progress is slow with few teachers. They’re swamped just grasping your materials.”
“I’ll dispatch healers from the Imperial Medical Office. Ours are nearly trained up and can teach well.”
“Mm. I reviewed it—tricky stuff. Might take two years for decent apothecaries.”
“The factory won’t finish sooner anyway. It’s a long-term family business—no rush. Prep thoroughly now in the early stage.”
“Right you are, Ras. But…”
Father trailed off, scratching his chin.
“Something bothering you?”
“Funds, brother.”
Neria showed documents.
“Projecting profits in three years means burning gold until then. Construction, training, later merchant contracts…”
“This much?”
The scale was bigger than expected. The site alone dwarfed my mental image. I’d pictured a small workshop with a few apothecaries hand-rolling pills; this factory was soccer-field sized.
“Early market grab is key. If medicine popularizes, big latecomers steal it. Better we go large-scale.”
Neria said confidently. Already thinking big—her vision was something else. Maybe because she was destined to be a saintess embracing the whole empire.
“That amps the risk. What if it doesn’t catch on?”
“It’s your medicine, brother. Everyone’ll love it!”
Neria clasped her hands, eyes sparkling huge. Grateful for the faith, but the pressure mounted.
Well, gotta rack up achievements anyway.
· Good Ending ·
■■■ ■, ■■ ■■ 14%
■■■■, ■■■, ■■■■ 0%
■■■ ■■ 0%
■■■■ · ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ 0.1%
Good Ending probabilities were creeping up, bit by bit. Proof I was steadily building achievements. The bottom two stayed flat. Probably Good Endings tied to non-doctor jobs. Right now, I had essentially one path: pile up medical feats, erase Bad Endings. Spreading medicine to the masses was part of it anyway.
…No clue on that last one.
I patted Neria’s back and replied.
“I’ll give it my all.”
“Ehet! You’ll nail it, brother!”
Her cheer boosted me.
“Ras, funds are an issue regardless.”
“Right now? We got investment from Moonlight Palace. Contracts signed.”
Asella held stake in Gotberg Pharmaceuticals equal to two thousand gold. Proportional to initial investment; they’d get equivalent profits later. Auto-terminates after five years unless renewed; I just repay principal.
“Marquis, what’s the problem? Two thousand’s plenty; can’t be out of circulating gold already.”
Asella asked, having overheard.
Father answered awkwardly.
“Expected initial investment for three years: ten thousand gold.”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
The number floored us both.
“What, building a twenty-story hotel in the capital?”
“It snowballed.”
“So we’re broke now?”
“Pretty much. All surplus invested.”
“Actually took out more loans,” Neria added.
“Loans? From where?”
“Well…”
Father scratched his head.
“Recently, Duke Shvartsshubaiku from the west visited. Said he owed you big, lent ten thousand gold—no interest, no deadline.”
“What?”
The western duke I’d saved with antidote. His duchy was practically independent, just wary of the imperial family. He’d dropped by to bond, heard the pitch, jumped in.
“Father, no way a noble house moves that much cash without strings.”
“True, but cozying with a ducal house isn’t bad?”
“Did the duke suggest scaling up too?”
“Hm… yeah, now that you mention. His daughter, the lady, specifically.”
“Aigoo.”
I facepalmed. No wonder the scale felt off for Father or Neria. And Camilla tricking us into engagement—Father shouldn’t touch politics or business. How had the marquessate survived? Northern isolation kept it peaceful. Step out, and the empire’s a savage savanna of intrigue.
“Lady’s staying at our mansion now—perfect to talk.”
“She’s here? Why mention now?”
“Mentioning now.”
“I’m dizzy.”
This had to stay Gotberg family business. Ducal stake without contract? We’d be lucky to break even. She was here to monitor her huge investment—not pure goodwill.
“Father, the duke verbally confirmed no interest or deadline?”
“Certain. Oh, the lady added one condition.”
Why say that now?
“What condition?”
“Introduce you. Bonding, right?”
“Young master, that means…”
“Yes. I’m the collateral.”
Father! What deal did you make?!
I rushed back to the mansion to find the lady. Sipping tea leisurely in the east wing courtyard, she greeted us formally upon arrival.
“Figured you’d come soon. Pleased to see you, Your Highness.”
Asella stepped forward, arms crossed, radiating displeasure.
“A ducal lady making an imperial princess wait?”
“Oh, forgive the minor rudeness. Wouldn’t want to bother such a great one with a nobody like me.”
Lifting her head, her plunging dress and flashy jewels screamed. She pulled them off effortlessly—great figure.
Spotting me, she beamed, trotted over, and grabbed my arm.
“Wanted to see you again, Gotberg doctor. First since the palace party? Thank you for saving Father.”
She winked.
“I’m Frieda. Heard tons about you from Rauga?”
Stroking my arm, she licked her lips.
“Dying to chat one-on-one. Got time?”
No. 077: Incarnation of Jealousy
14% → 92%
Glancing at Asella, her glare promised to incinerate us both.