Chapter 159

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‘What. I have not seen Cicline Renny for a while, did she secretly study at night to hide the recipe? That’s great. Now, that there’s no one around, this is my chance to take it.’

Peter looked inside through the gap in the door of the lab and gave a crooked smile. The laboratory was separate from the dormitory and management room, so even if there was a small disturbance during this time when there were no people, no one would come to help her.

When Peter opened the door and went inside, Cicline was lying on her desk and sleeping.

‘I can take it with both hands on my back.’

Her desk was strewn with herbs along with recipes. It looked as if the juices were extracted and she was heating them up.

Cicline remained completely knocked out. Peter quickly transcribed her recipe, then quietly left the lab again.

When she felt Peter leaving, Cicline slowly opened her eyes.

The final submission of which drug to take to the test is up to today. Tomorrow would be the real deal.

‘Peter is greedy and meticulous. He’s probably trying not to let anyone know that he’s got the recipe.’

That’s why he wouldn’t come to the lab. He also had a roommate in his room, so he won’t go further with the research. Moreover, there is a lack of time. But, it was an irreplaceable drug and he would try to use the incomplete recipe.

Now, it was a fact that he would take the practical skills exam without even dreaming that the recipe was fake.

Cicline has already confirmed the effectiveness of the drug. While manipulating the medicinal herbs through the method of fumigation, as taught by the Little Madam, this time, the efficacy of the mana nutrient was properly seen.

‘Now I just have to wait for the practical exam with a light heart.’

Cicline smiled, feeling grateful to Luciel.

* * *

7. Peter Lenkins – <Goddess Mana Spring: Powerful for mana recovery and Expansion>

34. Cicline Renny – <Mana Supplement: Stabilizes the flow of mana and is effective in increasing the amount of mana>

The pharmacist exam internal inspector looked at the names of two test-takers who had submitted similarly effective mana-effective medicines and then grabbed one.

Until recently, Cicline Renny had not made much progress, but Peter Lenkins, befitting of a family of excellent pharmacists, had already succeeded in developing several medicines.

‘I’m sure Peter Lenkins must be the one who passed this practical test.’

He had already made a promise with Viscount Harman that he would be the first to give information on the talent who developed Mana nutritional supplements and receive a large sum of money.

The supervisor happily hummed as he ran to Palos, Viscount Haman, and the news went straight to Prince Reynold.

His murky eyes narrowed.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, Prince.”

“Good. Bring him in front of me. Right now.”

“……Yes, I understand. But isn’t it the right order to bring him in after he takes the practical examination tomorrow?”

“We need to make a check with him first. If a person who developed a drug with such an effect becomes widely known, they will try to take him from all over the world. If that happens, it might be difficult to keep him under me.”

“……But I’m afraid you’ll be criticized to have stolen talented people for nothing, Your Highness.”

Palos said while watching to see if he would touch the Prince’s temper.

“I am the Prince of this country, and I will inherit the throne in the future. You have to remember such things before you tease your mouth like that. And I’m only going to call Peter Lenkins for an appointment, so everyone will also know after the announcement of the successful candidates.”

“Your Highness’s words are truly plausible.”

Reynold gave a sharp laugh, Palos nodded his head and gave him a smirk.

“Oh, and I have selected a few suitable teachers, would you like to take a look?”

“That would be nice.”

It was then. The servant, who was outside the palace, ran up to him and told him.

“Your Highness the Prince, Her Majesty the Empress wants to see you.”

“……That woman?”

Reynold frowned, and told the servant to wait for a while, as it was sudden. Palos also quickly bowed his head to the prince and was about to retreat.

“Viscount Haman, don’t go, let’s talk together. I have heard from Marquis Garsol that you have selected a few of the Prince’s teachers.”

The Empress, who came in first as an adult from the Imperial family, said so to Palos, and then looked at Reynolds with a very benevolent smile.

“Prince, I’m sorry that I haven’t been paying attention to you. It was concluded that it would be better to have an interview with the candidates for the Prince’s teachers before making a decision.”

“What? They will be my teachers. Wouldn’t it be appropriate for me to see and decide? Besides, I know that your Majesty the Empress is busy with other things.”

‘Please don’t mind my business.’

Reynolds drew that line, but the Empress did not step down.

“No. These days, Princess Claudia has stood out in many ways and is receiving good reviews. I think it’s time for the Prince to pay attention to such topics. And it was not my decision to see the teachers together.”

When the Empress had finished speaking, Emperor Neuschwan entered the parlor of the Imperial Palace.

“Reynold. These days, the rumors about you are growing day by day. Let’s hear what you have been doing about it.”

“……Yo-Your Majesty. Why all of a sudden…….”

“Hm-hmm, what do you mean all of a sudden? Isn’t it natural for a father to wonder how his son’s education is going? It’s been a long time since you have studied by yourself without a teacher, so it’s necessary to check your skills.”

The Emperor said as he looked at Reynold, who had his lips tightly closed, unable to find anything to say.

“Claudia volunteered to take a test first, so I suggested that Reynold should also take this opportunity to gauge his skills.”

“…….”

‘It was all because of Claudia, damn it……!’

Reynold clenched his teeth with a grey face.

* * *

Two months had passed since Luciel hurriedly returned to the Castle from the townhouse of the Capital.

Luciel ate cookies with maple tea while watching the fallen leaves one by one.

Whenever she saw Maple Cookies, she would think of Rupdell.

She won a promise to renew the confidentiality contract with Zerda, who came to her after much deliberation and promised to allow him to meet with Rupdell.

But Zerda was still making Princess Claudia’s teddy bear. It was difficult for him to work with Luciel right away.

‘Oh, I have to eat that first before eating the cookie…….’

Luciel had been drinking the mana nutrients that Cicline carefully made every day for about a week or so.

She’s been recommending it to Soliaphe and her family too, but the taste was not good, and Leoni especially hated it enough to run away.

‘Little Madam, I passed that pharmacist exam! The efficacy of the mana nutritional supplement has been recognized, so if stability passes safety in the future, it is said that it can be patented by both the royal family and the Association of Pharmacists.’

It seems like only yesterday that she heard about Cicline’s admission as a pharmacist but the apothecary she set up on Luciel’s little fief was already booming.

She turned down numerous scouting offers and chose to become a pharmacist for the Bellstein Duchy.

Glass workshops that had been closed in Ivnak reopened one by one and came to life.

Since Her Majesty’s recent visit to Hamel’s workshop to purchase crafts, they seemed to be busier than ever.

On the contrary, Max’s side was now so flooded with orders that he even begged to make time to be able to work for the Empress with proper attention.

“Everyone is having a great time.”

Luciel smiled brightly.

There was still a long way to go, but it was progressing well enough to allow for an interim settlement.

In the words of Princess Claudia, Prince Reynold showed insufficient skills even in the basic evaluation test, and it seemed that his transfer to the academy would be confirmed.

‘It would be neat to send him to a monastery altogether, but I can’t help it.’

At least within the academy, he won’t cause any major accidents.

Maybe it’s time to catch a breath?

In the meantime, there had been changes in the work of Marquise Baluk.

‘To escape the tracking net of Black Wing Order means to disappear in an instant like a ghost.’

At the order of the Duke, Jarga and the Black Wing Knights searched for the Marquise of Baluk several times, but they disappeared without a trace.

Following her, even Penelope whereabouts, whom she had taken, were unknown.

The Marquisate of Baluk, where Penelope was staying, one day suddenly became empty, and the diamond brooch that indicated the location was no longer working.

The Duke and Gillard reassured Luciel, who was anxious.

‘They can’t touch you because I’ll be there for you.’

‘There is also this old grandfather. Perhaps there is a need for them to hide. Don’t worry too much, Luciel.’

‘No matter what happens, I will always protect you.’

Kizef said so as if he was very determined. Thanks to her family, Luciel relieved some of her anxiety.

If you just worry about it, nothing will happen. At such times, it was better to anticipate and prepare for what would happen next.

Aside from that, she was happy to see that many of the things she had planned so far were going smoothly, and Luciel was filled with pride.

Nevertheless, there was still a lot of work to be done. Her mind was complicated by a lot of things, but at the same time, it became clear.

‘I’ve been running this far, but I feel like I have to run more.’

The power of the jewels that she hasn’t fully discovered yet, there must be people she hasn’t met yet and also things that must be done.

Luciel summoned and popped mana drops. She knew that her own magic had a long way to go. But for some reason, her heart was pounding.

‘I still have to build up my strength. Finer, smarter, stronger.’

Because, in the end, we have to reinforce the Black Wall of Bellstein, and completely destroy the House Cavill, Prince Reynold, and even Baluk.

“I can’t stop. I have to keep going.”

For Bellstein.

And for myself.

The days ahead for the future seemed far away, yet they felt close enough to hold in her hand. As Luciel’s small heart pounded, mana that had been collected more stably made a large pink diamond.

As the sizes of the jewel grew bigger and bigger, Luciel seemed to know by now.

‘This power can’t be hidden. It’s getting stronger.’

Luciel, who was looking at the jewel, soon heard a voice that she had almost forgotten.

– Luciel. You haven’t completely forgotten me, have you? I think the time has come. Come and give me your mana. It’s okay to give jewels.

At that gentle voice, Luciel got up on the spot. How long has she waited for the Phoenix to be resurrected?

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Luciel hastily started running to the greenhouse garden.