NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
The Grand Hall of the Imperial Palace. It was a place used as both an exhibition hall and a social space for the nobility.
“Doesn’t Her Highness Siena seem a bit changed?”
It was the first remark from one of the nobles who had been wandering around here.
At first, everyone just exchanged glances. The name Siena carried too much weight.
In the cheap taverns frequented by the lower classes, Siena’s name often came up for ridicule.
The second princess would allegedly capture vagrants for amusement and torture them to death, or pit imprisoned slaves against each other and watch, it was said. Some even claimed she would soon be exiled. These disrespectful whispers flowed freely in such places.
However, among the nobility—in public settings at least—there was a prevailing tendency to avoid mentioning the second princess.
Because if they were found out, they’d be punished.
But now, this unspoken rule had been overturned.
After observing for a while, the nobles quickly began chatting, as if they had just been waiting for someone to start.
“I also heard from a palace steward that His Majesty broke down in tears during a meeting the other day. He must have been reflecting on all the heartache the second princess has caused him over the years, right?”
“Moved to tears? Surely not that much?”
“Isn’t His Majesty especially lenient with the second princess? Last year, after the Founding Day celebrations, didn’t he plead with Her Highness Siena, remember? Oh, I shouldn’t have said that, right?”
“Already said it, so what?”
The nobles rejoiced at the resolution of the emperor’s longstanding problem.
“They say His Majesty gave her twelve million talers! For just twenty-five kilograms!”
“That’s morphine, though! It won’t last long. Its value inflated because of the riots at the military hospital. It’s similar to how the eastern tea leaves, like the first imported White Orchid tea, caused quite a stir before cooling off. Once the trend dies down, the bubble will burst quickly.”
“You’re stupid. I heard something that suggests this might actually be the bottom of the market. We should find the right moment to invest!”
“It’s probably just opium with something else mixed in, right?”
“Why don’t you try making it, then?”
The nobility debated the twenty-times-more-expensive-than-opium morphine.
“Sir Alan Medoff even reportedly risked his own life to plead with Her Highness the second princess. It seems she’s destined for nothing but disgrace and exile… but Sir Alan pledged he’d follow and serve her faithfully even in exile. He’d rather help her break free from her notoriety.”
“Ah, I see… So, His Highness Siena was moved by his sincerity…!”
“Wait, Alan Medoff isn’t the type to do such a thing…”
“What do you know about Sir Alan? If he’s the one who developed morphine, he must be brilliant. He probably planned it all out years ago, biding his time.”
Meanwhile, there were also noblewomen chatting about Sir Alan Medoff’s loyalty to his lord in saving her from the depths of despair.
One woman even claimed, “I saw Sir Alan kneel down and earnestly advise Her Highness Siena—it was truly moving!” Of course, no one dared to question the credibility of this witness and ruin the atmosphere.
“Actually, I have a friend who’s an alchemist. He closely collaborated with Sir Alan when he was researching morphine.”
“Really?”
“It was all done in secrecy, so it was kept quiet until now, but I don’t think it matters anymore. They continue to stay in contact, even now.”
Several individuals on the spot were even fabricating stories.
Siena, morphine, Alan.
These were currently the most intriguing topics in the state. Even those who viewed Siena and her right-hand man Alan as trash couldn’t help but lend an ear.
“The Empress approaches!”
With Empress Lianhua’s unexpected arrival, accompanied by her increased activities recently, the whispers of the nobility fell silent for a moment—but only briefly.
“It’s our daughter, isn’t it? Quite the business acumen, isn’t she?”
It was Empress Lianhua herself who brought up Siena, prompting the nobility to feel unreserved. Some even began to exaggerate Siena’s virtues in an effort to curry favor with the empress, who had influence over many interests.
Opinions on the infamous princess were gradually changing.
**
Four days passed after the delivery of the twenty-five kilograms of morphine.
“Peaceful, so far.”
That’s what it seemed like to me, though somewhere, signs of trouble would be appearing.
There would likely be medical staff feeling relative deprivation as expensive morphine is administered to patients, and some patients might plead for more, shouting, “I’m still in pain!” even as they approach tapering off the drug.
But for now, there were no visible problems on the surface. I had already provided the medication guidelines, leaving no room for further intervention.
Thus, I’d temporarily stepped back from the morphine business.
I spent these past few days in rare leisure.
Most of my time was dedicated to sparring.
The original owner of this body was a highly trained knight. Even while cooped up in the production room, I often felt restless. Only by sparing time to spar with Bono did I manage to feel satisfied.
Though it wasn’t something I enjoyed, sparring was a necessary process. Who knows what might happen while running a business?
So this time, I committed myself to training with purpose. I wielded a mace now, as the sword had been returned to Siena.
The knights accompanying me were those guarding Siena as well.
Given Siena’s multifaceted business operations, these knights often had duties beyond simple protection—handling unruly customers at gambling dens, beating up debtors who didn’t pay their loans. None were trash on my level, but none were exactly the picture of honor either.
They hadn’t voiced it, but they must have endured much hardship during this period.
But now, with Siena’s sudden change in demeanor, the knights themselves seemed uneasy.
“Senior, has Her Highness really changed?”
After finishing sparring, Erica, a junior from a year behind, asked this. The other knights tried to act disinterested but discreetly glanced in my direction.
“What do you mean by this question?”
“Considering what my duties have been—though it’s almost improper to call them that—they’ve disappeared, leaving me feeling uneasy. I’m just waiting around all day now.”
“You should just wait until orders come. No need to feel burdened.”
“But I’m worried about what orders might come. This quietness makes me anxious.”
The knights had valid reasons.
Siena’s dogfighting gambling den, which she had operated since before reaching adulthood, was going through closure proceedings. The loan company she ran for pocket money had revised its management policy; debtors were being gently persuaded instead of beaten to submission.
‘She’s lost interest in these kinds of businesses now too, I suppose.’
I understood Siena, but it must be perplexing for the knights who suddenly lost their pastimes. They might have even hoped Siena had truly improved.
Regrettably, I couldn’t meet their expectations.
“You’re wishing to live like knights serving other princesses, aren’t you?”
“…”
“I hear knights serving the first princess are often deployed in military operations. Though perilous, they also earn honors and are sometimes awarded medals.”
“I guess… that’s true.”
“And the knights under the third princess? They’re often involved in formal events, right? The third princess always attends ceremonies and shows up in social circles.”
“So, will Her Highness Siena start doing the same…?”
“Don’t put too much hope.”
I answered bluntly, unwilling to deceive with false hope.
Siena had indeed retracted her claws. Recently, she was even showing affection to her unrelated stepmother, the Empress.
But this wasn’t due to a changed nature. It was a sign of her growing intelligence. She had likely chosen to indulge in her sadistic tendencies without harming her interests.
‘It’s rational to assume she’ll restart if the opportunity arises.’
After slowly observing the now-deflated knights, I opened my mouth again.
“It’s better to hope for this period of calm to last as long as possible.”
“…”
“Focusing on training at the arena and quietly standing guard every few days is a good way to make use of your time. …Expecting too much from Her Highness will only cause hardship later.”
“Understood, Senior.”
With a bitter smile, my junior and I resumed our sparring.
No mana, but otherwise a near-real combat drill.
The sword speeding towards my neck, the narrow dodge followed by a swing of the mace, the thrill of impact each time weapons collided—it was more wholesome than our main endeavors.
Besides, there was a reward in it.
Swinging a blunt weapon at someone’s head had become less daunting.
Initially, I’d hesitate unconsciously, resulting in ineffective swings, but repeated sparring helped me overcome that hesitation. Of course, it happened because everyone was skilled enough to defend themselves.
If I were to swing at someone who lacked such skill, accidents might occur, but I could only hope that doesn’t happen.
‘Not bad, this too.’
Though my body was tired, it was one of the most peaceful days I’ve had recently.
The wicked princess was behaving herself, the morphine supply to the military was only being used as pain relief, and even after earning substantial wealth, no one was annoyingly demanding more. It was probably due to the notoriety I’ve gained over the years.
It’s hard to tell how long this leisurely time will last.
I wasn’t anxious though.
Because I already knew peace wouldn’t last long. Something could happen as early as tomorrow.
“Sir Alan. Did you hear?”
In the corridor leading to the audience chamber, a servant turned to me after whispering with others.
Today, not tomorrow. When I asked what was wrong, the reply came.
“Princess Anais has submitted her resignation at the Academy today!”
The third princess, who had so far been barely holding on, had finally withdrawn.
If she had chosen to resign for a quiet life, it would have been for the best—but that was unlikely.
I learned this the hard way: the princesses of the empire are extremely active.
***
Even as I contemplated this, a servant in the corridor leading to the audience chamber turned to me after muttering with others.
“Sir Alan. Did you hear?”
Today—not tomorrow. I braced myself for the news.
“Princess Anais has submitted her resignation at the Academy today!”