Baby Pharmacist Princess

“Hey. Why are you talking to Cherishe like that?”

“…Don’t start unnecessary fights, Geek.”

Right after Cherishe sneaked out, inside Idsys’s office.

Gergys, who was lying on the sofa pretending to sleep, quietly opened his eyes.

Idsys had already noticed that Gergys was awake.

He could tell by his breathing.

The only one fooled was Cherishe.

Gergys pretended to sleep so he could have a private conversation with Idsys without Cherishe hearing.

“What’s wrong with Cherishe hugging people affectionately?”

“I meant she shouldn’t hug just anyone. Such close physical contact is a perfect opportunity for someone to poison her.”

“Who would dare poison Cherishe?”

“Anyone.”

Idsys sighed briefly and threw the documents he was holding onto the desk.

The sound of paper fluttering.

Gergys, still lying down, used magic to summon the fallen paper to him with a gust of wind.

“What’s this? Is the Pope dead?”

“…The situation has changed.”

The reason the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been busy lately is because of the Papal State.

The Papal State, which serves the main god Haphneous and various other gods, manages temples and believers.

They have an independent power and are the only group opposing the imperial family, and their leader, the Pope, secretly passed away.

“He was expected to die soon, being of an old age, but it happened too quickly. It’s almost as if they wanted to force a change in leadership.”

“So, you’re saying…”

“The day the former Pope died. An eight-year-old child living in the temple was newly appointed as the Pope.”

“No wonder. You’ve been overly sensitive lately. That explains it.”

Gergys, sitting up, scratched the back of his head.

He understood what his twin was implying.

“The new Pope might propose to Cherishe?”

“Exactly. Don’t let her wander around carelessly. I’m too busy with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to keep an eye on her.”

“Ha. What a sudden mess.”

The Pope is in a position of ultimate sacrifice.

In simple terms, they have a terminal status.

Among the eight-year-old children living in the temple, one is chosen as the Pope and, after ascending, is sacrificed to the gods after ten years.

Since the gods only take pure blood, the Pope becomes a sacrificial offering before becoming an adult.

And such a self-sacrificing Pope has the legal right to marry one of the Princesses.

Of course, it’s not a proper marriage since the child won’t reach adulthood.

It’s just a ridiculous formality.

But even so, the Pope’s wife is still the Pope’s wife.

The chosen Princess must leave the imperial palace and live in the Papal State.

Sometimes, she has to travel around temples spreading the word of the gods.

For a Princess, it’s a very harsh position to be thrust into, but there’s a problem.

Politically, the status of being the Pope’s wife is very high.

So much so that someone might even plot to poison her.

“If I were to challenge for the throne while Cherishe is the Pope’s wife… it would certainly benefit the Wynn faction.”

Idsys murmured softly.

“But I don’t want that to happen.”

There aren’t many girls among the fifth-generation children of the new era.

In the Jen faction, there’s Alexandra and Lizbel, but Lizbel can’t be considered a Princess.

Though she has royal blood from the previous generation, she’s ultimately a member of the Orzena Ducal House.

In the pro-faction, there’s only Helga.

And in the Wynn faction… Cherishe is the only one.

The problem is Alexandra, Helga, and Cherishe.

Among them, the only one without a claim to the throne is Cherishe.

The Papal State, wary of the imperial family, will likely exclude those with succession rights, and in the end, the only one left is…

“No one is going to take my sister away.”

Gergys gritted his teeth.

“I’ve wished for a sibling for so long.”

“You wanted a younger brother to boss around and play with.”

“That’s true, but even the weak little chick is nice to have around.”

Even though Cherishe often bothers Gergys by appearing in the training grounds, it’s become strange if she doesn’t show up.

Seeing her bright smile makes him want to protect her.

He wants to keep being her brother, and suddenly hearing about the Pope’s proposal is unacceptable.

It probably won’t happen, but just thinking about the possibility is unpleasant.

“Anyway, there’s going to be a party soon to celebrate the new Pope’s ascension. The Pope will personally come to greet.”

“What if Cherishe doesn’t attend the party?”

“Even if she doesn’t…”

Idsys shook his head.

It’s useless.

The Pope’s proposal isn’t made out of affection but for strictly political reasons.

But having a husband who dies at 18.

How many wives in the world would wish for that?

The noble status of being a Princess disappears once they enter the Papal State.

As the Pope’s wife, she must live modestly, without beautiful jewelry or elegant dresses, and she can’t have maids.

The future awaiting the chosen Princess is a dreadful one.

“But Idsys, doesn’t Father have any plans?”

“Even Father can’t stop the Pope’s rights. He could kill the Pope, but…”

“If the Pope dies, it’s an all-out war?”

“Exactly. And there are many Pope candidates anyway. If one dies, another is chosen.”

The position of the Pope isn’t particularly special.

It might have been in the past, but now it’s just a means to fill the bellies of the temple’s old pigs.

Of course, people believe the Pope sacrifices himself to protect them from evil spirits, so they live in peace.

To the people, the Pope is very special and not seen as the same kind of person, so they don’t mourn his death.

The only ones who suffer are the Pope and the Princess who becomes his wife.

Idsys looked down at the scattered documents.

‘Politically, sacrificing a Princess is the right thing to do.’

If it means avoiding conflict with the temple’s power.

Marriage has always been the best means of reconciliation and a living contract.

As long as a Princess is in the Papal State, the two groups can maintain a delicate peace.

His great-grandfather, Emperor Raerhod, wasn’t wrong in making such a decision.

‘But.’

It can’t be Cherishe.

Even if it’s selfish, it doesn’t matter.

Whether he genuinely cares for her or not, Cherishe is now his sister.

An older brother must protect his sister.

That’s why.

“…She would surely cry. And I don’t want to see her cry.”

Idsys murmured softly.

‘Besides, I’m not so incompetent that I can’t ascend the throne without sacrificing my young sister.’

Cherishe will stay as she is, a Princess.

She should live just like now.

That’s the new righteousness Idsys defined for himself.

“Don’t worry. If diplomacy doesn’t work, I’ll step in.”

“…Ha.”

“Why are you sighing? If I destroy everything, they won’t have time for marriage proposals.”

Gergys smiled, showing off his muscles.

Idsys, holding his forehead, looked like he didn’t know where to start correcting him.

“Emperor won’t just watch you wage war on the Papal State… No, there’s no point in discussing complicated politics with you. Just focus on your training.”

“Yeah, I won’t let my sister be taken to the temple.”

“Right. We can create some ‘events’ to distract the Papal State from the royal family.”

What is diplomacy?

Simply put, it’s the act of benefiting my side.

If we easily hand over a Princess, the royal family’s pride will be hurt, so causing some trouble to distract the Papal State is something Emperor will likely tolerate.

“Hmm, by the way, what does the new Pope look like?”

“Black hair and red eyes.”

“Black hair? Then the one with my sister isn’t the Pope.”

Gergys had the ability to see through things.

He could see what he wanted to see, even through multiple walls.

That’s why he let Cherishe go out.

He could see her as if she were in front of him, no matter where she was.

“Alright, I’m off. Take good care of our sister, Idsys. Make sure she doesn’t get taken by the Papal State. With… diplomacy, since I can’t do that.”

“You take good care of her too. I can’t protect her up close.”

“Don’t worry.”

Gergys opened the window and jumped out.

He shone even brighter under the sunlight.

Just like his sunny disposition.

“The moon must do its part.”

Idsys, watching Gergys disappear, reviewed several pending matters.

Including a subtle ‘wrecking the temple’ plan, which remained a secret.