…As he recalled the memories and sensations of the previous day, he felt his spirit, which had been cleared through arduous training, becoming clouded once again.
Affliction.
Desire takes over the body, anxious to feel that sensation once more.
However, unfortunately.
[It is called artificial 'Ambrosia.' A legendary miracle medicine said to have actually existed in ancient times that could heal all curses and diseases. The recipe for Ambrosia was recently successfully restored, and this was prepared directly by the royal family. The medicinal ingredients used in its preparation are all herbs that would be difficult to obtain without being at the level of the royal family. Creating the finished product would only be possible for the royal pharmacists, and the greatest investor and director of the Ambrosia restoration project is none other than myself. And if you simply follow my words well, I shall give you the finished Ambrosia first when it is completed. What of it, it is a gift from an older sister to her younger brother. You need not decline, ho ho.]
A witch would never hand over medicine so easily.
'Ruthless auntie, that's truly a vicious move.'
Ambrosia.
It was the name of the liquid he had consumed the previous day, merely an unfinished product, a potion whose efficacy would be only 1% compared to the completed product.
However, with merely 1% of the effect, Lee Han witnessed a 'miracle.'
The miracle of a permanent disability he had inwardly given up on being healed...!
"Huu...!"
When such firewood is added to a possibility he had already given up on, it is only natural for afflictions to arise.
Lee Han had to close his eyes as if in meditation and take some time to calm his mind.
...Because if he didn't calm his boiling rage from the past, he felt like he would rampage at any moment.
'Damn bastards...!
Grit!
Suppressing his rage was not an easy process, however.
* * *
During the time he was being raised as an assassin, Lee Han consumed various poisons.
It was to build poison resistance, and at the time, he was merely a fifteen-year-old greenhorn without memories of his past life, so unlike now, he obediently followed adults' words.
On which day was it while consuming various poisons?
Some bastard ate the wrong poison and caused an incident.
[What's wrong with that guy!?]
[That poison, it seems to be one of the ingredients used to make virility medicine?]
[Crazy bastard.]
An incident where one of the trainees tried to assault a female executive and died on the spot.
After that, the assassins recognized that the trainees' 'sexual desire' might become a problem.
Desire for sleep, appetite, sexual desire.
The fact that these commonly called three major desires would become a major problem within the organization was the same whether in his past life or current life.
If the organization had been an ordinary guild or union, they might have solved this problem flexibly.
However, by coincidence, the organization Lee Han belonged to was an assassination organization, and extreme restraint of desires was taken for granted.
And so.
[Castrate all of them.]
[Shall we cut them?]
[No, they could die if we cut. Use Curse Poison (呪毒).]
Curse Poison.
A mysterious poison born from so-called curses, it does not cause great harm to the body, but is a deadly poison that can leave a permanent disability.
It was extremely rare, very seldom used, and its value was undervalued since if shown to a priest quickly and healed, it wouldn't have much effect, but by coincidence, the assassination organization not only possessed that precious Curse Poison but also thoroughly controlled its members so they couldn't move as they pleased.
The process that followed is probably predictable.
Lee Han consumed that Curse Poison, had to lie sick for about 3 days, and most of the children called 'Numbers' had their sexual desire 'removed.'
No, the sexual desire itself still exists, but it's close to being unusable.
...Because it doesn't stand.
However, there was no one who considered this a problem at the time.
Reason?
They were children who hadn't received any education whatsoever.
Moreover, they had no awareness that this needed to be treated.
And so naturally, this remained as a permanent disability.
Lee Han was no different.
He never imagined that the organization would collapse a few years later, nor did he know that by coincidence he would recover his past life memories.
And the moment he recovered his past life memories and realized he was crippled...!
"Uuuugh...!!"
...Just recalling that time, anger still boils up.
Past life 30 years, current life 30 years.
A total of 60 years, making him effectively an old bachelor fighting solo.
However, as time gradually passed and he devoted himself solely to becoming stronger, he didn't pay much attention to this disability of his.
Occasionally when there were members who boasted about their lovers or wives, his chest would ache, but each time he would beat up—no, properly spar with those bastards and was doing quite well at changing his mood.
But now, Lee Han came to a realization.
That he hadn't overcome a difficult pain, but had merely given up.
And that his heart was wavering because an opportunity had now arisen.
Flash-!
"...It would have been more comfortable not knowing, but what am I supposed to do now that I know."
One thing he completely couldn't understand was how she knew his shameful secret.
Where did the information leak from?
He had never disclosed it to anyone.
"She's a scary auntie, honestly."
Crash!
"Oh my!"
"...Please stop falling over. Just stay still."
"Hehe, I can't do that. The Princess sent me here to attend to you, Sir Knight! I'll work hard!"
"...There's really no need for that."
"Just leave it to me!"
"……."
Another question.
...What could be the intention behind sending that airheaded innocent to him?
'...Don't tell me she's making her investigate me?'
Crash!
"Ah, I'm sorry! The dishes...!"
"……."
...Probably not.
Lee Han quietly stood up.
He still had many questions, but if he stayed like this.
'That woman will ruin my entire household.'
Lee Han ran to protect his belongings.
* * *
White Lion Palace.
A palace where only the king's successor among the Pendragon royal family could reside.
It was merely a place to stay temporarily before entering the White Dragon Palace, the king's palace.
And the current master of the White Lion Palace, Isis Irein de Pendragon, was personally caring for a child.
"Auoo."
"Your grip is strong. Unlike your father who's a walking corpse, you seem healthy and that's good."
"Uoo?"
She spoke words that shouldn't be said in front of a child without any hesitation, but fortunately, the baby couldn't understand her words.
It was fortunate that the baby was only 5 months old.
However, Isis wasn't the only one nearby.
"Ho ho, Princess. How could you speak ill of the father in front of the child? This Albert is deeply concerned that the Prince might learn your way of speaking in the future."
"Shut up, old man. Do not meddle in my child-rearing."
"Ho ho, is that even education?"
"Of course, the best woman is doing it, so it's the best education."
"...Your confidence, at least, is admirable."
"Hmph."
Arrogant remarks only an Aura User butler could make.
Overlooking his addressing of her as Princess rather than Your Highness, who was the Crown Princess, could itself be considered special treatment.
Perhaps because of that, Albert was allowed personal questions.
"But Princess. How did you know that Sir Lee Han needed Ambrosia?"
Albert was inwardly curious.
Lee Han, that young man, had never once revealed his weakness or shortcomings to those around him.
Even the royal intelligence organization knew who he was born to and that he was sold as a slave to a certain organization, but they did not know he had such a condition.
Meaning only the Princess alone knew.
"Hmph, what is the intent behind your question? Are you wondering if I bedded my sworn brother?"
"P-Princess..."
An utterly embarrassing statement.
Albert sent a reproachful glance asking how a woman could put such things in her mouth, and Isis simply drank her black tea as if it were nothing.
And then, slowly.
"My sworn brother, you see, has never come on to me..."
"…?"
"Not even once did he feel arousal toward me. Toward such a beautiful woman, I say."
"......Pardon?"
Albert thought his ears had gone wrong.
As an Aura User, there was little chance his hearing had aged, but at this moment, aging was suspected.
It was a vulgar remark he couldn't bear to think came from her noble lips.
But she was brazen.
"My beauty is the greatest in the kingdom. This does not change even as I age. No man has ever seen me and not fallen for me, and it is natural for them to act like dogs in heat. Yet my sworn brother never once did so. Seeing him have no response at such a young age, I thought of two possibilities."
Either the sworn brother preferred the same sex rather than the opposite sex, or his masculine functions had been lost.
"But my sworn brother does not like men. So I was automatically certain there was a functional problem."
"...Y-You made such a deduction based merely on that?"
"Of course. Because my beauty is foremost."
"......Your self-love is remarkable."
"It is merely an extremely obvious fact!"
"...Ho ho."
Albert was dumbfounded.
No, she figured out a secret that even the kingdom's intelligence unit couldn't uncover based merely on such a reason?
Albert inwardly felt sorry for Lee Han to the point of pity.
How did he end up having his weakness discovered by such a woman.
'...Hmm, still, since he can obtain the medicine, it would be beneficial for him too.'
Mutual benefit.
Since they can each get what they want from each other, it would be beneficial for all.
"Ho ho."
Albert let out a light laugh, struggling to accept her absurd statement.
"But why did you send Leila to Sir Lee Han?"
"Ah, you mean the maid?"
A maid suddenly assigned to work for Lee Han rather than the royal castle.
With what intention did she send her to Lee Han?
Perhaps she had discarded Leila...
"For motivation."
"......Yes?"
"My sworn brother is probably still hesitating whether to accept my 'request.' However, if he lives with a young woman, won't his body be stirred? He'll realize that accepting my request is to his benefit."
"……."
"Her head may be somewhat lacking, but her beauty isn't bad, hehe. She'll certainly cause him mental anguish."
"...You are truly cruel."
Thinking again, he feels sympathy for Lee Han.
How did he end up caught by such a woman...
The old butler couldn't help but shake his head at the meticulousness and wickedness of his master.