Hartie stopped being my wet nurse when I was eight. Various things happened between then and my ninth birthday, and I'm almost ten now. I've started preparing for bed and waking up by myself. My reduced number of retainers divided the tasks further to continue caring for me.
Even so, things got slightly easier because I found a source of cash income. Thanks to an unexpected boom, I ended up selling liqueur and carbonated water, and I never thought it would grow enough to require a factory. Moreover, the name "Dink" liquor was derived from the pseudonym I'd taken from "Your Highness."
"Man, who would've thought I'd end up doing alchemy?"
Helkov, the beastman who still helps with the alcohol-making even now that we have a factory, muttered this while distilling wine. Helkov can only use body-strengthening magic, so he uses red essence to create magical fire, and he often says that using attribute magic like this is a rare experience.
Essence can hold mana according to specific attributes. Because using it allows even those who can't use magic or lack elemental aptitude to produce the same effects as magic, he probably considers it a valuable experience.
"I thought there was no meaning in being able to do something to this extent, but it certainly is efficient for dividing labor like this."
Wearel was using water essence to decant the spices that go into the liqueur. Wearel has beast ears and elven blood, so normally she can only handle the wind attribute. Even so, since she's a magic user, she thought there was no greater significance in using alchemy to preserve magic than simply using the attribute one has aptitude for.
However, it seems she discovered its usefulness while actually helping with the alcohol production. All is well that ends well.
"I have returned."
"Welcome back, Ikuto. How about the alcohol?"
Ikuto had gone to Molly's place in the Imperial Capital under the pretext of a lunch break to procure materials.
"They've approached me with new product development requests again. It seems similar products are already appearing, but apparently, none can match the quality or originality of what 'Dinker'—that is, Lord Arsha—creates. Orders are apparently flooding in from those in the upper classes who can discern the difference in taste."
I started secretly at first because I thought it would be bad if the illegal brewing was discovered. I never imagined that an imperial prince would plan a factory for fundraising, catch enthusiastic Molly and the cub, and get it fully established within a year, turning it into such a large-scale operation.
From buying recipes to providing capital for mass production expansion to company establishment—Molly remains busy with various things even now. Since it's based on the calculation that going big means bigger returns, I don't interfere.
On top of that, they keep requesting new types of alcohol, and their enthusiasm is frightening these days. Helkov claims he's busy and sometimes has Ikuto go instead, but apparently, he gets nagged about various things nonetheless.
"Also, regarding the improvement of the coffee-flavored alcohol you made previously, they asked if it could be refined. They gave me four types of coffee beans: pre-roast, and light, medium, and deep roast."
"Ah, the luxury-oriented one I made first—Kahlua. Shall we check the taste? We could think of other alcohols using coffee too."
In this world, alcohol is forbidden for children. However, I heard that in the past, alcohol was safer than raw water, so children drank it too. The Empire is inland, its territory expanded through land reclamation from wetlands. Furthermore, since the Imperial Capital spreads out facing a lake, they don't lack for water, and so the prohibition was established because there was no need for children to damage their livers by drinking alcohol. That said, I think coffee wasn't very good for you either, but I can taste-test it with less guilt than alcohol.
"…*sigh*"
While assembling a siphon using experimental apparatus that had been boiled for making coffee, I let out a sigh. At the sound of it, my three retainers fell silent. But one of them didn't stay silent.
*(Requesting detailed specifications of the apparatus)*
Sephirah Sefirot—a mass of curiosity still studying human ethics and morality. I ended up teaching her the basics of computers. A matrix of zeros and ones. Computers were once called electronic calculators; their original form was simply calculating these simple numbers. Sephirah can remember infinitely without issue, so theoretically, she can calculate infinitely through combinations of two digits.
I thought it would just be like one digit becoming two, or three becoming four.
"I never thought you'd actually gain computing power comparable to electronic devices."
"Lord Arsha, is it Sephirah again?"
Wearel seemed to have misunderstood the reason for my sigh, so I relaxed my shoulders slightly. Basically, Sephirah only spontaneously speaks to me. I made her able to emit light and produce sound, but she doesn't do more than necessary.
"She seems interested in the next alcohol I'm going to make. But today, I have to make what's been ordered. It's good that they sell, but I'm thinking that it's crushing my study time."
"Your Highness is quite the diligent student. If you show that much motivation, it's rewarding for us to teach you. However, because of that enthusiasm for creating new alcohol, Molly is getting ahead of himself too."
Helkov said this while using water essence after fire.
At nine years old, I practice the forms to some extent, but I'm mainly receiving lectures on military affairs. Unlike my previous life, there are stories from former soldiers about actual combat, which is quite enjoyable.
"Everyone is good at teaching, surely. I heard Terry hates studying and runs away to the garden… *sigh*"
Despite my attempt to cover it up, a sigh leaked out again.
Sephirah had used her invisible [units] to gather rumors and investigated my younger brother's situation. And I learned that my younger sister had actually been born the other day. I wasn't told anything about it, and now I understand that when Father met me several times and seemed to have trouble saying something, this was what he meant. Honestly, I'm sad he didn't tell me.
*(Detecting decrease in master's emotional state. No confirmed facts. What is the reason?)*
She can calculate, but still doesn't seem to understand such things. She can learn, and she's actually been learning during this time. I wish I could do something about becoming a loud monologue, though.
"The reason I'm depressed now is because I learned that one of my twin younger brothers, whom I've never even met, is suffering from a serious illness, Sephirah."
At the reason for my sigh finally spoken aloud, Wearel and the others looked troubled. This became such a loud fuss that there was no need for Sephirah to pick it up—they already knew. I had heard that one of the twins was sickly, to the extent of getting rashes or high fevers. But this time, it seems he suddenly collapsed despite being energetic—a life-threatening crisis of unknown cause.
"Lord Arsha, while there are voices suspecting assassination, there is indeed no reason to target the Fourth Prince."
As Ikuto said, among the speculative rumors Sephirah had gathered, there were voices suspecting poisoning. And rumors have risen that it might be an assassination attempt. Of course, Father and Duke Lukaios investigated thoroughly since it concerns harm to their blood relatives, but the result was no traces of poison and no suspicious persons.
"Levan mentioned that there are voices suspecting Your Highness, but that's simply impossible," Helkov added.
Levan was the rude palace guard that Count Stratege, who commands the palace security, occasionally sends. Ikuto kept a proper distance while informing me of this, and at the same time, said that he understood well that it was impossible for me. Well, I'm a shut-in. When I go out, I dye it black, but my hair is normally silver, so my unusual hair color stands out. And my retainers are stationed here too, so my range of movement is limited.
"Above all, because of Terry's incident, the palace guards watch me with 'not enough yet' eyes when they see me."
They follow me as far as can be seen when I go from this residential area to the garden. When I return with medicinal herbs needed for the liqueur, they check everything I'm carrying. Since alchemy is known to be my hobby, I can get them if I ask, but it's a bit regrettable that I'm limited to harmless things.
"Ah, right. I have to go get the herbs. Today is the garden maintenance day."
Since the palace gardens are extensive, the maintenance location changes by day. To obtain the discarded items, I prepared and went downstairs with Ikuto. Wearel and Helkov continued the alcohol production.
"Whoa, you really came today."
"Huh, Levan? Why are you here?"
When I descended to the garden using the left-wing stairs, Levan was standing at the spot I usually use for entry and exit, separate from the guards who monitor coming and going.
"No, I was told to confirm because apparently there's a day when Your Highness pulls weeds in the garden and returns."
"They should already be checking that it's not poison."
"Well, I was just nagged persistently, so please go ahead. Ah, if you return early, I won't have to stand here forever, so I'd appreciate it."
Levan, who sees me off saying selfish things, remains disrespectful to the prince as always. That said, he does give me information. Since he wouldn't say he was 'nagged' to Count Stratege, it must be someone else's instigation. There are limited people who can speak strongly to the Count, and given the timing, it's probably related to my younger brother's collapse.
I swallowed another sigh that threatened to leak out and began walking toward the garden.
Regular update
Next time: Imperial Prince Assassination Attempt 2