Kays Translations

Chapter 172: Rumours Take on a Life of Their Own

The carriage that took me back to the townhouse was an ordinary noble carriage. The previous day, even the return journey had been made in a carriage displaying the royal crest, so naturally it had attracted a great deal of attention.

Rumours were already spreading. I managed to persuade the attendants to change the carriage before any more strange stories could take on lives of their own.

When I returned safely to the townhouse, I immediately told Brother Alex, who was already home. Judging by his surprise, this was the first he had heard about it.

“There are already rumours among the ladies? You really can’t let your guard down. I asked Princess Daniela to make as little fuss as possible.”

Brother Alex gave an uneasy chuckle. The gossip had clearly spread faster than he’d expected.

“Once I can handle the entry formalities myself, may I go to the castle in the House Heine carriage?”

I looked at him for an answer. Brother Alex folded his arms and thought about it. Was entering the castle really that complicated?

“I understand, Julius. It probably won’t be possible immediately, but we’ll work something out. I agree that we can’t let this continue. You’re strong enough to protect yourself, so I’m sure you’ll be fine. I trust you. Anyway, did you get into any trouble today?”

“…”

That was the exact opposite of what he’d just said!

He said he trusted me, then immediately asked whether I’d caused trouble. Did that mean he trusted me to cause trouble? What was going on, Brother Alex?

Afterwards, he summoned the servant assigned to me and spoke with him privately in his room.

What in the world were they discussing? I was desperately curious. More than anything, I wanted to see that notebook before its contents were reported to my brother.

At dinner, we reviewed the day’s events. Was this going to become a daily routine? The food should have been delicious, but somehow I could barely taste it.

“Julius, is it true that the Royal Magic Pharmacists tried to form a ‘blood pact’ with you?”

“Ghk!”

I nearly spat out my food. A servant hurried over with a towel.

It was true, but I hadn’t forced them to do it! What exactly had been written in that report?

I glanced around at the servants, but not one of them would meet my eyes.

They knew exactly what they’d done.

After that, Brother Alex brought up one thing after another, until I couldn’t even remember what I’d eaten for dinner. Finally, he told me to put the icehouse project on hold. He would first consult Princess Daniela, and from there she would speak to His Majesty the King.

Hmm. I’d only been planning some modest alterations, yet somehow it was turning into a major affair.

And Brother Alex’s next letter to Father was going to be thick again.

After finishing a dinner I had barely tasted, I withdrew to my room. I hadn’t intended to hold a private reflection session, but my thoughts drifted that way on their own.

“Why does this always happen to me? Is it bad luck? Or am I just being pushed around by fate?”

I muttered as I slumped over my desk.

No one answered.

There was nobody else in the room. Maybe being alone was making me a little sentimental.

“I wonder how everyone is doing back at the estate. Why am I the only one stuck here?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have told the state how to make the Panacea?

No. It would be dangerous for me to be the only person who knew how to make it. If that information leaked, I’d become a target and have to live every day looking over my shoulder.

On the other hand, if the government possessed the method, the chances of attention settling solely on me would be much smaller. The state could announce that the Royal Magic Pharmacists had discovered the method and classify the details as a state secret. It would be unlikely to leak outside the country unless one of the Royal Magic Pharmacists betrayed that trust.

Sooner or later, people would discover that I had been coming and going from the Royal Magic Pharmacists’ facilities. Even then, they would probably assume that the grandson of a famous magic pharmacist was being trained from an early age as a promising successor.

In reality, I was the one teaching them, but an outsider could hardly know that.

Sooner or later, the Royal Magic Pharmacists would also be able to make the Panacea themselves. Once that happened, the amount of attention directed at me should fall even further.

“Well, things will work themselves out somehow!”

Again, no reply.

That only made me feel lonelier. I really should have brought Mira with me. Maybe I should make a stuffed Mira to keep me company.

The next morning, I finished breakfast and prepared to leave. At exactly the right moment, a carriage bearing the royal crest arrived at the townhouse.

The timing was so perfect that I wanted to propose the theory that somebody was watching me from somewhere.

Brother Alex had already left for the academy. He’d hesitated because he was worried about me, but I couldn’t let him neglect his responsibilities because of the trouble I kept causing. I finally managed to send him off by saying, “Please trust me.”

I was exhausted before the morning had properly begun.

I climbed into the carriage and headed for the royal castle, attracting attention the entire way. Thick curtains covered the windows so nobody could see me, but whenever I peeked through a gap, people were staring.

It was uncomfortable. I couldn’t wait until I was allowed to use the House Heine carriage.

When I got off at the same place inside the royal castle as the day before, several Royal Magic Pharmacists were waiting to greet me again.

I really wanted them to stop doing this, but if it was their way of showing respect, I felt bad about forcing them to stop too strongly.

Carrying that indescribably awkward feeling, I followed them towards the room where the rest of the Corps was waiting.

Now I had to give them the bad news about the icehouse.

My steps felt heavy.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter