Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: On the Verge of Bankruptcy (1)
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"What's the reason you've been visiting my sister every day lately?"
Wariness flickered in Canelian's eyes.
I'd been trying to build favor with Ceres to raise my reputation with Canelian.
Did I overdo it? Is it backfiring?
'It'd be a problem if she misunderstood that I had ulterior motives toward Ceres.'
Canelian knew the prince's pure evil nature all too well.
She might even hate the idea of me getting close to her sister.
'It might be better to show a calculating, materialistic side.'
Fortunately, I had a pretext.
After chatting with her for a few days, I'd realized Ceres truly had profound knowledge of magic.
A hat was a parachute for the unqualified, but proper placement for those who earned it.
"I've long known that Duchess Ceres possesses exceptional talent as a magic scholar."
In truth, I'd only learned it recently.
"As you know, mana herb cultivation must be entrusted to someone truly reliable. What if the cultivation secrets leaked out?"
"...You're saying you trust my sister?"
"Who could be more trustworthy than your sister, who shares such deep sisterly bonds with the crown princess? And you're the continent's youngest Swordmaster—that alone is solid insurance."
"... ."
"Duchess Ceres has both the skills and the trust. If you agree, I'd like to entrust her with managing and operating the mana herb cultivation."
This seemed like solid, logical persuasion...
But Canelian's red eyes glared at me.
Were my reasons insufficient?
"You think you can trust her with such an important task because she's barren?"
"Barren...?"
Barren—as in, unable to bear children?
Confused, I looked at Canelian.
Suddenly, a long-buried memory from the prince's swamp of recollections surfaced.
「Your Highness, Duchess Ceres's mana circle was twisted in a childhood accident, leaving her frail. She won't live long and can't have children. There's no need to choose her over the healthy Duchess Canelian.」
The prince cackled at his advisor's words.
A grating laugh, like rusted iron scraping.
「You fool—that's exactly why I'll make Ceres my crown princess. Then I can naturally claim Canelian too, using heirs as an excuse.」
「Your Highness's foresight is astounding! Indeed, the ducal house won't dare marry off Duchess Canelian elsewhere! 」
「This is how you naturally take both sisters.」
The abrupt memory made my head spin.
Did Canelian know the prince had thought that?
If she did, her disgust for him might run even deeper than I'd imagined...
"As one human to another, I deeply regret Duchess Ceres's condition and find it truly unfortunate."
I spoke as calmly as possible.
Canelian watched me silently.
"But as Arcana's next king, that very aspect allows me to place strong trust in her."
"Because she has no gain in betraying you?"
"Exactly."
A duchess with a broken mana circle, rendered infertile.
Unable to marry, with no young noble willing to become her consort.
Heirs mattered more than anything to nobles.
Ceres could only temporarily hold the ducal seat before passing it to one of Canelian's future children.
In that light, she was perfectly suited for mana herb duties.
But Canelian, who adored her sister, wouldn't feel good about it.
"It also fulfills a promise I made to Duchess Ceres."
"The promise to preserve her honor as much as possible after the broken engagement?"
"Not a broken engagement, but a change in betrothal... Anyway, I believe it benefits everyone. No other reasons."
"...I understand your intentions, Your Highness."
"Then may I make the proposal to Duchess Ceres?"
"Entrusting you with the business means you'll keep meeting my sister often?"
"Don't worry. I'll always bring maids along and won't be rude."
Canelian stared piercingly, uncomfortably, before speaking.
"Do you remember what you mocked to your underlings long ago about my sister's health?"
"...I deeply regret it."
"You laughed that since she doesn't menstruate, you could enjoy her anytime, year-round—a convenient body."
"... ."
He really said that...?
Every time I delved into the memory chest, I felt Canelian's immense patience toward me.
"She doesn't know."
"...That's a relief, at least."
"And if—if she ever finds out somehow, deny it to the end. Tell her you've never said such a thing."
"You mean not to reopen old wounds? Understood."
"Please, let me focus solely on being crown princess."
A warning that she'd make Raisha queen by any means if things went awry?
I realized anew how far I had to go to cleanse the prince's image of pure evil depravity in Canelian's eyes.
"Duchess, this is a mana herb seed."
"...This?"
A cluster of brown, rice-grain-like seeds.
Canelian narrowed her eyes, examining them closely.
"How did the Ancestor keep this secret for thousands of years?"
"No previous king was qualified, she said."
Obviously a lie.
Arcana was doomed from the game's start anyway—the devs had crammed in all sorts of lore.
Look at all those legendary and mythic artifacts displayed in the palace as ceremonial gear.
Of course, I'd had them securely stored away separately.
'The dragon's skull, teeth—tartar-like clumps stuck to them...'
Just in case, I hadn't scraped everything—only a bit.
Preparation for emergencies.
Cultivate these to multiply the seeds.
My Discernment Eye skill was reliable.
I looked at Canelian and activated it.
My rank rose from F to E, now appraising items and objects alike.
Someday, maybe even Swordmaster stats?
'First, I need to level up.'
The problem: this frail level 1 body made even feral beasts dangerous.
I'd learned that painfully fleeing from Canelian last time.
"Wow, it looks just like a rice grain."
Ceres examined it curiously from all angles.
Canelian pinched some between her fingers, squinting closely.
"No mana at all. Is this really a mana herb seed?"
"Certain. I stake my honor on it."
"Still..."
"Duchess, would you doubt the eyes that recognized your brooch as an artifact?"
Only then did Canelian fall silent.
Ceres's eyes widened in shock.
"Canelian, that brooch was an artifact? Not just jewelry?"
"Yeah, it was. His Highness told me."
"Heavens. What kind?"
"...I'll tell you later. It's not that precious."
Not precious?
It was the ultimate look-alike item, obtainable only in the tutorial.
"Duchess Ceres, I'll arrange a small plot in the palace grounds. Have your trusted people cultivate it there."
"Understood. I'll focus on optimal methods and yields first."
"Duchess Canelian will bury a Dragon's Fang deep in the plot. No one but us can know."
I freely shared the secret that it needed dragon energy to bud.
This showed my trust in Ceres, and she was deeply moved.
I hoped that emotion would translate heavily into favor with Canelian.
'If I build favor diligently, Ceres will speak well of me when they're together.'
That was why I desperately cosplayed the kind, mannerly, gentle prince before Ceres.
Directly approaching Canelian was tough, so indirect it was.
"I won't stint on support. And from mana herb sales profits... 5% to you, Duchess Ceres."
I'd meant 1%, but tearfully raised it to 5%.
All for the quest reward of a Swordmaster spouse NPC.
"No, no! It's just security— I can't take that much!"
"It's the least to preserve your honor when I announce the betrothal change later."
"Your Highness..."
Ceres was moved again.
Her mana circle had been damaged in childhood, stunting her growth—so even the smallest kindness would trigger her emotional response.
'If only I could approach Canelian this easily.'
A glance: she watched me and her sister with impassive eyes.
Eyes distrusting me utterly, unhappy her naive sister was involved.
'Long road ahead.'
The Dragon's Fang from the Ancestral Dragon God's shed skin was buried deep in the plot by Canelian under cover of midnight.
Buried deep, yet Discernment Eye revealed it.
No theft worries.
Meanwhile, Ceres began cultivation...
"Duchess. No need to do such menial work yourself."
"This, I must. No one I fully trust yet."
She wielded a hoe, sowing seeds herself—I was horrified.
Canelian, seeing it, took over, tilling and sowing in her stead.
Her glances at me midway were worrisome.
As if blaming me for assigning work to her frail sister.
Anyway, a week later.
Sprouts finally emerged from the plot.
Faintly infused with mana energy.
Undeniable mana herbs.
Not mana-rich test plot, so low value as spiritual herbs, but the business's explosive potential was proven.
We three raised a toast that day.
A few days later.
Prime Minister Marquis Ruindra visited with a deathly pallor.
"Your Highness, the kingdom has no money."
"Prime Minister, I know. But..."
"Nobles borrowed huge sums from foreign houses to fund the holy site pilgrimage. Debt collectors arrive soon."
"What? Nobles borrowed from abroad to cover royal costs?"
"Yes. No other way."
Brain freeze hit momentarily.
Nobles borrowing massively abroad for the royal family?
"To let nobles pay even interest, the royals must cover repayments. Otherwise, their pledged territories fall."
What were these kingdom nobles thinking?