Baby Pharmacist Princess

Ricklaz, the ruler of South Castalia, had two children. The eldest was his daughter, Alexandra. The youngest was his son, Luon. Officially, it was said that Luon stayed out of the fight for the throne due to his poor health. Unofficially, everyone believed this was to consolidate power around Alexandra. Some even speculated that the South Empress wanted to keep at least one child close, refusing to let both leave her side.

But Pabel knew the truth. Neither of these reasons was correct. Of course, he wouldn’t reveal what he knew to anyone.

“Luon… I hate him. I wish he would just drop dead,” Alexandra spat out, her hatred apparent. She instinctively despised Luon, as if she could sense her father’s secret plans. It was an innate survival instinct.

“Yes. To eliminate everyone but yourself, that’s what Alexandra desires,” Pabel replied, his tone calm and cold. Alexandra slumped onto the sofa, drained of anger. The maids quickly moved into action, one bringing non-alcoholic champagne and others cleaning the floor.

Jessica Fever, once their scapegoat, had quietly disappeared, leaving the maids to handle Alexandra’s tantrums. It was a pathetic sight.

“What happened to that girl?” Alexandra asked suddenly.

“Who are you referring to?”

“Don’t play dumb! The maid you took away—what are you doing with her?”

“Oh dear, calling her ‘that’—such language doesn’t suit a Princess,” Pabel muttered lazily, leaning back against the sofa. His silver hair fell lightly over his forehead, and though there was a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips, his violet eyes remained cold.

Pabel, who had now grown into the appearance of a fifteen-year-old, no longer looked like a mere boy. He wasn’t bothered by this since he knew he would soon regain his true form. Patience, he reminded himself.

“Don’t worry. I plan to release her soon. I’m just waiting for the right time,” Pabel said, toying with the small, flat earring in his ear. He whispered, “Cherishe. She’s the key to shaking that girl.”

“Of course,” Alexandra replied. “I thought she was just a dumb little insect, but no. She was planning to make a fool out of me from the start!”

Her rage reignited as Alexandra gritted her teeth, her voice rising again. In her eyes, Cherishe Wynn Castalia had surpassed her in every way. While Alexandra held a high position in the legal system, her judgments were known to be too emotional and brutal. She had even been reprimanded by the Emperor.

Meanwhile, Cherishe focused on humanitarian efforts, gaining favor with the people. The contrast couldn’t have been more stark, and Alexandra’s frustration grew by the day.

“I must become the Emperor. That way, Father will finally recognize me, not Luon… me.” Alexandra’s voice trembled with emotion.

“Of course. If Luon were to disappear, all attention would fall on you,” Pabel replied dismissively as he casually adjusted his suit. His hand revealed a scar from the past, a mark left by Idsys’s sword during the Ammon hunt.

‘That guy was the craziest person I’d ever met,’ Pabel mused, recalling how Idsys had used forbidden magic to search for Cherishe. It was a type of magic even demons avoided—dark, deadly, and linked to the abyss. The scar on Pabel’s hand was a reminder of the power Idsys wielded in his desperate search for his sister.

‘I want to face him again,’ Pabel thought with a twisted grin, causing the maids to shrink away in fear. The fact that people were starting to fear him was a good sign. His power was slowly returning, a testament to his growing strength.

“Oh, by the way, Jessica Fever has a new name now,” Pabel added with a sugary tone.

“And what is it?”

“Alice,” Pabel whispered sweetly. “Be sure to treat her well when you meet her in South.”

This was the masterpiece of a performance he had carefully prepared over time, and he would not allow anything to ruin it.

Alexandra studied Pabel with narrowed eyes, but instead of showing suspicion, she responded, “Fine, I’ll treat her well.”

However, Alexandra had already stopped trusting Pabel. She had her own plans. Soon, Cherishe would hold her birthday party in South, and Alexandra would ensure that Cherishe’s perfect little world came crashing down.

On a breezy day, Cherishe was discussing her latest project with Myerden.

“Jelly vitamins?” Myerden asked, surprised.

“Yes! They’re for both children and adults,” Cherishe responded excitedly. The Imperial Health Department had become a well-established division within the palace, with an expanded workforce to handle the growing amount of data they needed to process. Cherishe herself had been appointed as the Vice Minister, and Myerden served as the department’s director.

“Vitamins in jelly form… that’s a fresh idea,” Myerden remarked, impressed.

“Right? We’re spending all this money, but so much of it is going to waste. We need a new approach.”

“Indeed. We can’t stop the vitamin program, though. It’s made a significant difference in the children’s health.”

Cherishe recalled how, just last year, she had identified fifteen territories where malnourished children were rampant. She had sent orders to bring the gang leaders of the street children to her. It had only taken a week to round them up, and though they were initially distrustful, they eventually came around.

She had explained the benefits of vitamins and offered them a deal: every time they collected their vitamins from the pharmacy and took them in front of the pharmacist, they would receive money. The results were obvious—every single one of them had improved. Myerden had compiled the results into a study that would soon be presented to the academic world.

“So, what flavors should we make the jelly?” Myerden asked.

“Strawberry, orange, and lemon!” Cherishe replied without hesitation. Using fruit juice would not only enhance the flavor but also provide added vitamin C.

“Jelly… I’ve never had jelly before, so I’ll leave that decision to you, Princess.”

“Don’t worry! I’m a jelly expert!” Cherishe grinned. She loved jelly more than candy or chocolate. Whether it was chewy or soft, she was a true jelly lover.

“I’ll gather all the available jelly samples and see which texture would hold the most nutrients,” Myerden said thoughtfully.

“Great! I trust you, Myerden.”

Cherishe then mentioned her plan to include the jelly vitamins at her upcoming birthday party.

“I want to hold a tasting session during my party,” she suggested with excitement.

“That sounds like a fun idea.”

“Exactly! But we need to rush the samples so they’re ready in time.”

With Myerden on the case, Cherishe felt confident. Looking at the health department’s wall adorned with awards, she felt a sense of pride. Each award represented the department’s innovative contributions to improving the lives of the people.

“By the time your birthday comes around, we’ll have the first samples ready,” Myerden reassured her. “Since you’ll be in a warm region, we’ll make sure the jelly doesn’t melt.”

“Huh? I’m going somewhere?”

“You didn’t know? You’re leaving in a week.”

“What?!” Cherishe was stunned. She was completely unaware that she would be traveling.

“Where am I going, Myerden?”

“Well, it was supposed to be a secret, but I guess I can tell you. You’re heading to South Castalia. Your party will be a grand cruise on the coast of the resort city Parador.”

Parador! Cherishe’s eyes lit up as she imagined the emerald sea, the gentle sound of the waves, and the sight of palm trees.

“Have you ever been to Parador, Myerden?”

“No, but I hear it’s incredible. They have magic workers who ensure the weather stays like summer all year round.”

“Summer all year?” Cherishe was amazed. In the north, the summers were cool and mild, not the golden sunshine she dreamed of.

“Don’t worry about a thing. You deserve to enjoy yourself. Children should play as much as possible.”

“Of course!”

“And by the way, I hear it’s going to be an ultra-luxurious cruise.”

Cherishe’s eyes widened with excitement. The thought of a grand, luxurious cruise filled her with anticipation.

“I can’t wait!”