Baby Pharmacist Princess

“Haha, this is the ointment I bought back then and thought I had lost.”

…That must be completely spoiled by now.

“I found it while cleaning my room to move to the palace. It’s almost like new, so don’t worry.”

Shami seemed excited, having remembered.

Unlike my shock, Solip and the other aides were unfazed.

Am I the only one pointing out that this ointment is ten years old? Really?

“You shouldn’t use something that old!”

“What?”

“It’s old! Really old! You have to throw it away!”

I reached out to Shami, squeaking with frustration.

Ugh, so frustrating!

Even ointments made with modern medicine shouldn’t be used if they’re too old, let alone this one made with the knowledge of this world.

The usage period must be much shorter.

“You shouldn’t use it for more than a year, at most. And once you open it… you should use it even faster!”

Shami blinked in surprise at my sudden outburst.

She seemed to have a hard time understanding.

It’s like she hadn’t considered that ointments could have an expiration date.

‘Is it possible that not just Shami but all commoners store and use medicine for that long?’

I looked at Solip, hoping for some support. He seemed amused yet troubled by the situation.

He seemed curious to see how this would unfold.

Meanwhile, Shami continued to defend her ointment.

“Actually, my mother always said ointments get better with age…”

No, that’s not true!

I was getting really frustrated.

Maybe because I have a background in pharmacy, I couldn’t stand it anymore.

‘This is the reality for commoners.’

Shami holding a ten-year-old ointment with poppy ingredients and smiling.

If this is the knowledge level of a maid serving a Princess closely, I can’t imagine how it is for others!

Then suddenly.

Boop-boop!

[♡ New Episode Available ♡]

That’s right!

The medical reality for commoners in the Castalia Empire is dire.

An episode has emerged for the observant debtor Cherishe.

To enter this episode, 999 gems are required.

(Note) Once you choose to enter the episode, cancellation is not possible.

Would you like to proceed?

[YES/NO]

‘You rotten system!’

I couldn’t help but shout inwardly.

Shami is hurt and in pain, and you want to charge 999 gems now?

‘But… I can’t avoid it.’

I mean, it’s bait I have to take.

Just look at the episode title.

It’s blatantly using Shami.

Turning my head in frustration, I felt a warm hand patting my back.

It was The Prince.

“It’s okay,” he said gently, noticing my distress. “We’ll find a proper solution.”

Relieved, I took a deep breath and selected YES on the prompt. If this could help Shami and improve the situation for other commoners, it was worth it.

“First, discard that ointment. I’ll have someone else clean it up, so go to the medical department for treatment.”

“Ah, yes! I understand!”

“I’ll instruct Sophia to exclude you from service for a while so your hand can heal.”

The Prince’s orders were reasonable and generous.

But suddenly, Shami fell to her knees, looking devastated.

“Please… Can’t I at least clean nearby? Don’t exclude me from service! I can’t live a day without seeing my sweet and adorable Princess!”

Wow, she said all that without pausing for breath.

She seemed genuinely desperate.

Shami clasped her hands together, breathing heavily.

But the Prince…

“Are you planning to break another teapot near Cherishe?”

Was merciless.

“Go get treated first, Shami.”

I didn’t want Shami to continue serving with her injured hand either.

“Yes…”

Shami, completely dejected, bowed deeply and left. Another maid I didn’t recognize replaced her.

“I’m going to go now.”

“Alright, go play.”

“Bye, Dad! Bye, Misters!”

I left the office without hesitation, wanting to think about the sudden episode.

‘Let’s see.’

Walking down the hallway, I glanced at the 999-gem requirement on the system screen and turned away with a huff.

‘I’m not buying it. It’s too expensive.’

Maybe if they gave me a discount?

[♡This Discount Won’t Last♡]

To enter this episode, 998 gems are required.

Would you like to proceed?

‘Nope, not doing it.’

Are they bragging about a 1-gem discount?

Back in my playroom, I sat on the sofa, trying to cross my short legs before giving up and resting my chin on my hands.

Then I smirked.

‘Give me a better discount.’

[♡This Discount is Really Once in a Lifetime♡]

To enter this episode, 997 gems are required.

Would you like to proceed?

‘Isn’t this a bit stingy?’

I’ll do it for 500 gems.

Otherwise, forget it.

I was confident the system could understand my intent. So, as a true Princess, I demanded a significant cut.

The system screen flickered and disappeared, then slowly reappeared.

[……This Discount is Really Once in a Lifetime]

To enter this episode, 900 gems are required.

Would you like to proceed?

‘Wow, look at that!’

They were so offended they even removed the heart.

I scoffed arrogantly and nodded.

‘Fine. I’ll enter.’

I knew they wouldn’t drop it to 500 gems anyway.

And exactly ten seconds later, I regretted my decision a little.

[♡Achievement Quest Unlocked♡]

The ointment owned by maid ‘Shami’ is expensive and has minimal effect.

There are 92,824 people in the Castalia Empire using the same ointment.

(1) Create a new ointment and give it to Shami.

♡Reward: 100 million gems

(2) Distribute the new ointment to all 92,824 people.

♡Reward: 100 million gems

(Time limit: 2,160 hours)

♡Failure: Game Over

What?

‘You heartless system!’

A day is 24 hours. Multiply that by 30 days.

That’s 2,160 hours.

So, I have to find all those people and replace their ointments within three months.

How am I supposed to do that?!

‘Is this even a feasible quest?’

* * *

‘Calendula-infused oil ointment.’

That’s the only solution.

The next morning, I woke up with bleary eyes, staring blankly at the bright sunlight streaming in through the window.

I had stayed up all night thinking about it, unable to get any decent sleep.

But considering it’s a quest that could result in a game over, I couldn’t help but worry.

‘It takes about a month just to make the infused oil. The ointment can be made quickly, but…’

The first achievement quest linked to the episode is easy.

The problem is the second one. The second one!

The probability of a four-year-old child finding 92,824 unknown people within the remaining two months?

‘Absolutely none!’

Telling the Prince and asking for help also seemed strange.

It’s not something a child my age should be doing.

No matter how exceptional the royals are…

“Princess, are you worried about Shami?”

“Sophia.”

I must have looked gloomy throughout breakfast because Sophia discreetly asked.

‘The system is trying to game over me just because I asked for a discount!’

I couldn’t say that, so I just sighed deeply.

“Shami will be fine. We’ve decided to exclude her from tasks that might cause metal allergies and assigned her to laundry instead.”

“Okay.”

That’s a relief.

I nodded and forced myself to eat the rest of the fluffy potato salad and steamed crab.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the window. I couldn’t hear exactly what was being said, but it was very noisy.

“Huh? Why is it so noisy outside?”

“I’ll go check.”

Hanna, who was standing by the door, went outside. I had no appetite but finished my meal and washed up.

Then I was choosing a pretty dress for the day when…

“Princess! Princess!”

Hanna came running in, breathless.

“Hanna, what’s the matter?”

Sophia raised an eyebrow at Hanna’s breach of etiquette.

Hanna caught her breath, then lifted her head and shouted loudly.

“The Princes have returned! The ones who will be your brothers!”

Really?

* * *

The presence filling the long hallway was overwhelming.

From the intense aura starting at the entrance, I even felt a slight dizziness.

‘Idsys and Gergys!’

The twin brothers who had gone to the Special Yensa Academy had finally returned!

“Sophia, how do I look?”

“You look adorable and the most lovely in the world, as always.”

“Anything strange about me?”

“Not at all.”

My heart was pounding.

Finally, it was the first meeting with the twins.

I held Sophia’s hand and walked gracefully, feeling a bit nervous.

I wanted to look as mature as possible when meeting my notoriously difficult brothers for the first time.

“Idsys greets Father.”

As we got closer to the entrance, the first thing I heard was a playful, nonchalant voice.

Rushing a bit, I saw a boy striking a knightly pose with one arm extended forward.

With slightly messy and curly blonde hair and crimson eyes… the genius of strategy.

Idsys Wynn Castalia!

“Gergys greets Father.”

The next voice was calm yet dry.

With wine-colored hair and crimson eyes, a boy who looked remarkably like the Prince.

Gergys Wynn Castalia!

‘Oh my… game illustrations don’t do them justice.’

They’re so much better in person!

I gazed at them, slightly dazed.

Idsys was truly dazzling.

His sly smile, the upward curve of his lips, and the mole near his mouth!

He exuded an aura of someone who would be a master manipulator behind the scenes.

In contrast, Gergys, though still a boy, was captivating.

Half-closed eyes, a perpetual smirk, and even his sharp teeth.

He was the perfect action leader.

“Returning from the academy, I find we have a cute new sibling. I’d like to see her face… where is she?”

Idsys relaxed his pose and smiled charmingly.

It was truly a bewitching smile that could easily enchant anyone.