Baby Pharmacist Princess

A government official from the Imperial Health Department came monthly to check the depletion rate of the supplements, only to find that far too many people refused to take them, even when offered for free.

The biggest problem was that people didn’t see the need for them. Many just didn’t take them because it seemed unnecessary or they didn’t trust them.

Each time I saw the growing stockpile of unused supplements, a sigh naturally escaped me.

“Alright then, take care.”

“Yes, make sure not to take too much at once, just as I explained!”

“I will!”

Ding-ling-ling

The door chimed as it opened and closed.

And once it was fully shut, the pharmacist’s eyes grew wide with shock.

The moment the girl lowered her hood, sunlight streamed in, catching the cascade of golden hair that tumbled down her back.

As the girl turned slightly, her ruby-red eyes sparkled with a noble gleam. Her large, sparkling eyes and soft pink lips gave her an adorable look, while her hair, tied into two pigtails with cherry-shaped hair ties, added a playful, cute touch.

She had the air of someone who had been raised with utmost care, her soft cheeks glowing with the mark of a cherished upbringing.

‘No way!’

Every pharmacist in the empire would have seen that dignified figure at least once — on the day they received their pharmacy license.

“A-Ah… Y-Your Highness, Princess…!”

Thud

The pharmacist, overwhelmed, collapsed to the floor. But the Princess, flashing a gentle smile to show that everything was fine, skipped away lightly.

It was the season when plum blossoms bloomed in full glory.

Spring had arrived.

“Seen everything you needed to?”

“Yep! Now let’s go on a picnic!”

“You dragged me out here just for work?”

“Oh, stop grumbling!”

As the chill faded away and the world warmed again, the season of renewal returned.

Every year around this time, Gergys and I visited this region because my plum orchard was here.

Yes, my plum orchard.

For my fifth birthday, Grandpa had gifted me this land, and Dad had planted a whole bunch of plum trees. Not saplings, but large, mature trees!

“Idsys must be so jealous.”

“Oh, stop teasing Brother Idsys already.”

Gergys and I bickered as we rode our horses.

I was still riding the same pony Gergys had given me when I was four. Even though I’d grown a lot, I was still only ten, so a large warhorse was out of the question.

Gergys, on the other hand, had been skilled even back then, and now at eighteen, he expertly handled his warhorse. After all, both Gergys and Idsys were still heirs to the imperial throne.

No one had been able to overthrow the twins from their place.

“Wow, even from here, you can already smell the blossoms.”

We were now on the outskirts of the village. My plum orchard was vast, and during spring, its scent spread all over the area.

“Prince, Princess, welcome!”

“How’s the honey harvest going this year?”

“It’s going great, Your Highness.”

Where there are blossoms, there are bees. And I, too, had been wise enough not to let the honey go to waste. I set up beekeeping facilities and hired people from the local impoverished population.

These workers tended the trees, harvested the plums when they ripened, and even prepared plum syrup. There were almost 100 workers now, as the orchard’s size was beyond what one could imagine.

“You’ve really got a talent. After plum wine and plum digestive drinks, now you’re producing plum honey? How do you keep coming up with these ideas?”

As Gergys spread out a picnic blanket and took out the picnic basket, I just smiled and sat down under a large plum tree, without answering. Instead, I glanced at the ever-present status window.

[Remaining Debt: 5.5 billion gems!

Repay just 500 million more gems, and you’ll be able to fully use your pharmacology level again!]

‘I’ve come so far!’

Honestly, what I’d been through was nothing short of a tear-jerking, chaotic fantasy debt-repayment drama.

‘The ever-growing debt amount and the penalties that updated every two weeks…’

The hardship I endured to get here was beyond belief.

‘It’s a good thing plum wine became a massive hit among the dragons.’

The bottles sold out like hotcakes on Dragon Home Shopping, even at 1,000 gems per bottle.

It’s still one of the most popular items on their channel.

‘Once I complete the achievement quest to solve malnutrition, I’ll get 3 billion gems.’

That’ll leave me with just one year until I turn twelve, and I’m confident I can repay the rest by then. The only issue is… distributing the supplements hasn’t been going well.

“You went to the pharmacy earlier, right? Having trouble with the supplements?”

A little later, as Gergys handed me a roast beef sandwich, he casually asked the question. I took a bite of the well-seasoned meat and nodded.

“Yeah, but how did you know?”

“Because my little chick has that worried look on her face.”

“Oh, stop it. I’m not a chick anymore.”

“Then what are you? A full-grown hen?”

Gergys laughed at his own joke.

I shot him a sharp look.

“It’s rude to call a lady a hen.”

“Oh, when did you become a lady?”

“I’ll be eleven this year, you know!”

“I’ll call you a hen when you turn fifteen, then.”

“Stop calling me a hen!”

“Then you’ll always be my little chick.”

Ugh.

I gave up trying to argue with Gergys. He’s gotten more laid-back and playful as he’s grown older, and a bit kinder, too. Since Idsys and Dad are always so busy, Gergys is the one who spends the most time with me.

“Brother, do you still collect all the articles I’m mentioned in?”

“What? No, I’m just organizing them since I have them.”

“So, you do collect them.”

“I said, it’s just organizing. I’m documenting your life story, that’s all.”

Grumbling, Gergys opened a personal space—a magical storage area—and pulled out a scrapbook.

It was filled with articles detailing everything I’d done.

‘Does he even realize how odd it is for an older brother to keep a scrapbook of his younger sister’s life?’

Total brother complex.

I looked at him sympathetically, flipping through the pages.

Age 5:

Cherishe Wynn Castalia, Princess, Public Recruitment for Pharmacists!

Pharmacists to become official imperial employees. The Imperial Health Department to fully support the pharmacies…

Age 6:

Cherishe Wynn Castalia, Princess, Makes a Shocking Announcement!

A collaboration with the winter elves to build a sauna next to the pharmacy…

‘His love for me runs deep.’

Normally, Gergys wasn’t the type to pay attention to such details. Yet here he was, cutting out and collecting all these articles about me.

Age 7:

The winter elves’ sauna is a booming success! The Imperial Health Department officially announces the first distribution of supplements!

Chief researcher and surgeon, Myerden, publishes a book on “Allergies,” facing fierce opposition from doctors.

Age 8:

The Imperial Health Department releases the second batch of supplements with improved nutrients!

The Imperial Health Department begins using profits from pharmacy and sauna operations to fund relief for the poor…

Breaking News:

The Imperial Medical Association finally accepts the allergy hypothesis!

Plum honey and plum wine are now available for nationwide order.

Age 9:

The Imperial Health Department begins clinical trials of new drugs!

Breaking News:

The Kingdoms of Lomund, Khanhil, and Hitaissen have requested Castalia to open Royal pharmacy branches in their capitals!

An anonymous diplomatic official praises Cherishe Wynn Castalia for raising the empire’s prestige, earning universal praise.

I paused when I got to that part.

“Brother, this ‘anonymous diplomatic official’…”

“Hmm?”

“Is it… Brother Idsys?”

It was a plausible suspicion.

Gergys squinted at the article and whistled innocently, but that only confirmed my suspicions.

‘Since when did Idsys have control over the press?’

No wonder all the articles have been suspiciously favorable lately!

Age 10:

The Imperial Health Department distributes the newly approved drug to pharmacies.

The Imperial Health Department continues its initiative to provide jobs for the poor, with noticeable success.

Cherishe Wynn Castalia donates all proceeds from plum honey and plum wine sales to support food aid for the impoverished.

The Imperial Health Department opens pharmacy branches in the capitals of Lomund, Khanhil, and Hitaissen, sending knights and pharmacists as envoys!

And now, almost eleven years old!

The Imperial Health Department officially announces that the malnutrition rate in the Castalia Empire Union has dropped from 7% to 3% — a remarkable achievement.

In an exclusive interview, Cherishe Wynn Castalia reveals plans to reduce the size of supplements for easier consumption.

That was the final article.

I closed the scrapbook and picked up another sandwich.

‘If I can shrink the supplements even more, will people start taking them?’

That’s my dilemma.

There’s such a negative perception of supplements that people just don’t want to take them.

“Brother, it seems like no one wants to take the supplements. Why do you think that is?”

“What does Myerden say?”

“He thinks it’s because people feel insulted, like it’s something only the poor should take.”

“That could be it.”

Sigh.

I finished my sandwich with a heavy sigh.

I had completed most of the achievement quests by now. But the one about solving malnutrition, which had appeared ages ago, still lingered.

[♡ Achievement Quest in Progress ♡]

Current malnutrition rate in the Castalia Empire Union: 3%

I checked the status window again, shaking my head.

I’d tried various methods, from distributing bread and jerky in impoverished areas to offering jobs to those strong enough to work, like in the plum orchard.

That effort had reduced the rate from 7% to 3%, so it wasn’t for nothing. But lowering it to below 2% felt like an uphill battle.

If only people would take the supplements voluntarily.

I thought back to Myerden’s report, listing the Top 5 Reasons for Negative Reactions to Supplements:

“Why don’t they just give us food instead of pills? These don’t even fill you up!”
“Is this some kind of magic drug? What if I get sick from it? Who’s responsible?”
“I won’t feed my child this weird stuff!”
“Haphneous is protecting us! Stay away!”
“Can I sell this instead? We need money, not pills…”
I had thought of the opposition from certain groups, but I hadn’t expected people themselves to reject it. And the rejection had only grown stronger over time.

“So basically, they just need to take the supplements, right?”

“Yeah. But it has to be voluntary and consistent to meet their nutritional needs.”

“Hmm, I see.”

In just one year, I’d turn twelve.

Supporting the population with food had its limits, and stronger individuals would often take it all, leaving the weaker ones with nothing.

You couldn’t control every variable.

Somehow, I had to get people to take the supplements on their own…

‘No matter how concentrated I make them, reducing their size any further is impossible.’

It was at that moment…