Baby Pharmacist Princess

“Natural digestive remedy?”

After reading through the quest details, I immediately thought of a certain tree.

The first sign of spring approaching and winter retreating.

A tree that blooms flowers even in the snow…

“A plum tree.”

And the fruit of that plum tree was none other than plums.

“Plum extract is a natural digestive remedy!”

It not only helps when fatigued but also aids in mild stomach ailments.

Moreover, diluted in water and consumed, it not only quenches thirst but also restores energy, making it appealing to swordsmen who often get thirsty during training.

“After training, when the throat is dry, offering a chilled plum drink… it should score some points!”

Alternating between observing His Highness the Prince and Solip, I wriggled my fingers under the table.

“I think I saw a plum tree on the way here. Maybe there are preserved plums in the storage from last summer.”

But can I use the plums as I wish?

I tilted my head in thought.

I also wanted to ask how long I could stay here, but I couldn’t interrupt His Highness the Prince and Solip’s conversation.

That would be impolite.

“I’ll ask Sophia later.”

While waiting, I felt a bit thirsty.

I held a glass of water in both hands, sipping it slowly and enjoying the abundant autumn sunlight.

They say haste makes waste.

Slowly…

“Cool.”

Why is the sunlight so lethargic?

Feeling a bit drowsy, I soon noticed His Highness the Prince standing up first.

“Then, enjoy your leisure.”

“G-Go?”

“Yes. There’s a lot to do.”

Startled, I quickly got off the chair and hurried towards His Highness the Prince, then stopped abruptly in front of him.

“Um, well.”

Oh dear, I should speak quickly.

It’s not wise to detain someone busy like Your Highness for long.

“B-but…”

“Princess Alexandra won’t be able to leave my palace for a month. You don’t have to worry about anyone bothering you.”

I didn’t mean to ask that.

While Your Highness reassured me, it also made me a bit relieved.

“I, um, how long can I stay here?”

I wanted to ask, but it seemed like a potentially unpleasant answer might come.

Your Highness hasn’t formally accepted me as a daughter yet.

After a moment of hesitation and inner conflict, I gathered my courage and raised my hands cutely.

“…As a daughter!”

“A daughter?”

Your Highness responded, and I tapped the ground again with my right foot, asking with a pout.

“Are you testing me to see if I’m worthy of being your daughter?”

“Oh.”

Upon my exclamation, a fleeting look of realization passed over Your Highness’s handsome face.

“Right, that’s how it was.”

Surely, he didn’t forget, right?

That wouldn’t be good.

Even though I’m affiliated with the Wynn faction, at its core, Wynn revolves around Prince and his sons.

There are many noble families bearing the name Wynn besides me.

But there was nowhere else for me to belong and offer reliable support.

“Don’t think of us as belonging to the same faction.”

We may seem like allies from the same faction, but ultimately, we are competitors within it.

Competitors to become the Emperor of the South.

So I was neglected until I turned four.

The people of the Wynn faction won’t lend a hand.

The first one to help was His Highness the Prince.

I have to catch him.

“…”

The bright sunlight cast a backlight on His Highness the Prince’s tall figure.

As I stood there tensely, His Highness the Prince tilted his head slightly and responded.

“It’s good to have a child who enjoys playing.”

“…Play? Instead of studying?”

“Yeah, play. The sunshine is nice, and it’ll be good to run around in the garden.”

I wondered if that was really okay.

I thought there might be some kind of test, but that notion quickly dissipated.

My expectations clashed with his words, and I turned my head slightly, pursing my lips.

I hope he won’t scold me later for not studying!

“Do you want to study?”

“No!”

But as soon as His Highness the Prince asked, I immediately answered.

I even nodded vigorously, fearing he might force me to study.

Then His Highness the Prince raised his handsome lips and gently ruffled my hair.

“I’ll check tomorrow how well you played. So, play to your heart’s content today.”

“Okay.”

…Looks like I have plans for this afternoon now.

“Making plum extract is also playing, right?”

It’s an experiment!

Eventually, His Highness the Prince left with Solip, and I ran to the spot where I saw the plum tree.

“Princess! Be careful not to hurt yourself while running!”

“Okay!”

“You have to be careful!”

“Got it!”

Running around joyfully with my hair fluttering, I felt a strange sensation in my chest.

‘His Highness the Prince really is a good dad.’

Phew, phew.

My weak body soon grew tired, but I could lean against a tree and rest, so it was okay.

I blew kisses to the tree that provided me shade and lay down, feeling the scent of grass.

I love the smell of sunlight too.

When was the last time I felt this relaxed?

‘…No.’

Oh dear.

I keep getting lost in childish thoughts because I can only think of one thing.

I tried to focus my mind and concentrated my gaze.

‘I’ll win over His Highness the Prince and become his daughter, then turn him into a doting father!’

Then, I’ll comfortably solve numerous quests with my authority and return home.

The so-called ‘Give Me Back My Cat’ project!

The start of my risky plan was probably going to be making plum tea.

—

Meanwhile, as Cherishe roamed around the palace garden pretending to play, but actually searching for the plum tree, in the office of Prince Vikal at the White Night Palace:

“I didn’t expect Your Highness to completely release the magical armor.”

“If she wants to do it, she should be allowed to.”

“The young Princess probably doesn’t realize. How remarkable it is to have the privilege of touching Your Highness.”

Prince Vikal and his chief advisor, Solip, paused their work and engaged in a brief conversation.

The lively voices from outside didn’t disturb their focus.

It just made me curious to eavesdrop.

“Plum tree! Plum tree!”

Such a childish voice.

I wonder what’s making her so happy, huh?

Vikal felt the corners of his mouth twitching involuntarily and lightly rubbed his lips.

Beyond the window, a baby could be seen reaching out to the trees, hopping around gleefully.

“White Night Palace will finally shine, Your Highness. It’s natural for it to become brilliant now that the rightful owner has returned, but it will also make even the smallest stars sparkle in that radiance.”

Solip, who was looking at the same scene, smiled knowingly and adjusted his glasses.

Vikal understood what Solip meant and nodded subtly.

“She resembles her.”

“Yes, she does resemble you.”

“She approaches me fearlessly and seeks affection.”

“Even the youngest Princess did that. She wasn’t afraid of Your Highness.”

Cherishe Wynn Castalia.

Only four years old.

She was the youngest sister of Vikal and the daughter of Kayena/Kienna Wynn Karan.

However, nobody knew who her father was.

Kienna passed away leaving only that child behind, so it was almost impossible to find out.

“There were rumors of her being mentally challenged, but suddenly she seems to have recovered from that state. It’s quite unusual.”

“Pressing her governess revealed that she was mentally challenged indeed. But then she suddenly seemed to regain her senses.”

“Can such a thing happen to young children?”

“Perhaps when she thought she had no protector, she closed her heart, but upon seeing Your Highness, she might have judged that she could seek help.”

“Help…”

Tap, tap.

Vikal lightly tapped his temple, a habit he had when lost in thought.

The Castalia Empire Union was a system where a large country was divided into the North and South lands, ruled by two Emperors. However, everyone knew that real power lay with Raerhod Royal Castalia, the Northern Emperor.

The first Sword Master.

The only human with a status akin to a dragon.

Raerhod, who had been ruling the North Castalia for over 150 years, had three children: two sons and a daughter.

They were called Jen, Kin, and Wynn, respectively.

Vikal’s siblings and all their children under him continued the Wynn lineage.

You could easily tell which lineage someone belonged to by their middle name.

The aristocracy, divided into three factions, Jen, Kin, and Wynn, naturally had factions among themselves, often at odds with each other.

Until four years ago, the Wynn faction was overwhelmingly dominant over other factions.

Originally, as of yesterday, Alexandra Jen Castalia dared not to harass Cherishe Wynn Castalia, meaning it was unthinkable.

“The rodents stirred while I was away.”

“It’s time to clean house.”

Vikal scanned through the documents on his desk with a cold gaze.

It contained information about serious crimes that could lead to execution.

Crimes confessed by Cherishe’s governess and her maids.

They had embezzled the palace budget, not to mention not properly honoring Princess Cherishe and appropriating her belongings.

“Check if Sophia can find any proper jewelry among her possessions.”

“If not?”

“If she had been embezzling to that extent, she might only have plated items.”

Plated items.

At that mention, Vikal’s demeanor became sharper.

Noble belongings were always supposed to be pure.

Plated items, not made of real silver or gold, were considered inferior goods used by poorer nobles or commoners.

But to dare…

“Summon a jewelry craftsman, no, not just any.”

He instructed them to call someone to make something suitable for Cherishe, even if it took a long time.

Cherishe was the Princess who inherited the Wynn name and was the daughter of Kienna, but she couldn’t be allowed to use plated items even for a few days.

“Authorize Sophia to use Level 1 privileges on the 4th floor. Retrieve something suitable for the Princess.”