The creator of the Elixir was supposed to be someone else entirely, and I had planned to position myself merely as a merchant distributing and selling the medicine.
But there was no fooling the healers' noses.
If I asked them not to spread it around, they'd probably oblige, but they'd report the truth to the Emperor.
They might keep the secret if I begged, but I'd end up getting dragged into imperial matters as a connection to the court far too often.
'If the Emperor suddenly sends gifts under the pretext of repaying a favor, the people around me would be shocked, right?'
More headaches to deal with.
Should I just drop the delinquent image altogether and go all out?
I seriously considered it, but at this point, going head-to-head with the cult was still beyond me, so I decided to hold off a bit longer.
"I've gone on too long. The point is, if it's a medicine developed by Young Master, I believe it can cure the Princess. It's just that the sample amount seems insufficient."
"Don't worry about that."
I pulled out a flask bottle and shook it in front of them.
Unlike the sample, the liquid sloshed inside, giving it a substantial weight.
The healers checked the amount inside the bottle and nodded in unison, deeming it sufficient.
"Then let's head straight to the Rose Palace where Her Highness resides."
"Is it alright to meet the Princess without first paying respects to His Majesty the Emperor?"
"We already reported to His Majesty ten minutes ago."
"His Majesty has formally given permission. So please, relax!"
It had all been exposed from the start.
Now that everything was out in the open, hiding it further was pointless.
Since things had come to this, I might as well strut around the palace during my stay.
I needed to rack up some serious favors so that if trouble came knocking later, I could call on the imperial family's aid.
"Just follow us."
Under the healers' guidance, I toured the palace where Princess Rosmel resided.
The corridors were spotless, without a speck of dust, and the garden brimmed with roses of every color.
True to a princess's residence, the exterior was beautifully elegant overall.
However, the maids and butlers working in the Rose Palace didn't look too well.
They weren't slacking off—in fact, they were working diligently—but not a word passed between them.
The atmosphere among the servants was utterly subdued.
I could guess the reason without asking.
It made me realize the Princess was someone who got along well even with her servants.
"This is Princess Rosmel's bedchamber. Please refrain from any disrespectful behavior."
Even the healers, who had been excited over the Elixir, now lowered their voices and adopted a calm demeanor.
I nodded, and the butler guarding the door knocked. A soft voice responded from within.
"Come in."
The door opened, and as I stepped inside with the healers, we all dropped to one knee and bowed our heads.
I showed maximum courtesy to the woman sitting on the bed.
Princess Rosmel was awake. Any irreverent action could be seen as blasphemy.
"Heir to the Altesia Count House, Heinz Altesia, greets the Empire's Princess."
"Nice to meet you, Young Master Heinz. You can raise your head now."
"My apologies, but while His Majesty permitted my visit, I haven't yet asked if I may behold Your Highness's countenance."
"Pfft! You don't need permission for that. I give it, so please look up."
Even in the game, hardly anything was known about Princess Rosmel's death.
The Emperor, unwilling to leave memories of her dying in agony, had everything purged.
The publicly announced cause was an incurable disease, but the details were sealed.
Was that why?
I felt nervous facing the Princess.
If her face was rotting away, I'd instinctively grimace.
Judging a princess's appearance was irreverent. Even a tiny gesture could lead to a charge of blasphemy.
The Emperor's word was law, after all.
"Then, forgive my impertinence."
I raised my head and met Princess Rosmel's eyes.
My gaze locked onto her rose-red hair.
Strands swayed like petals dancing in the breeze, captivating me.
Only after admiring it for a while did I take in her face—and fortunately, her condition didn't look severe.
Just pale cheeks and a faint flush of color.
She didn't look like someone on death's door.
"Is there something on my face?"
"M-My apologies! Your beauty was so striking that I forgot myself for a moment; you hardly seem like a critical patient."
"Thank you for the compliment. But while I may look fine on the outside, inside it's a total mess."
"May I ask about your specific condition?"
"It feels like needles pricking all over my body. The pain started at my toes and has been spreading day by day. It's already reached up to my neck."
Based on the information from questioning Princess Rosmel, I racked my brain for game knowledge.
It wasn't a disease—definitely a curse related to pain.
Considering how desperately the Emperor sought a cure—even inviting precious guests from the Holy Kingdom—and still failed, it had to be at least a top-tier curse.
"Is there no hope?"
As I stroked my chin in thought, Princess Rosmel's voice began to tremble faintly.
Oh no! I'd shown the patient a look she shouldn't see.
Even if it was incurable, I should have given her hope of recovery.
Of course, the Elixir I made could dispel even top-tier curses.
That's why, even if it seemed reckless, I burst out laughing loudly.
"Of course not! Your Highness's symptoms are serious, yes, but drink the potion I brought, and you'll be fully cured! I was just worrying about how everyone will be clamoring for my medicine afterward."
"Is that true?"
"I never lie to patients. If it fails, feel free to hang my head in front of the Rose Palace as payment for mocking you."
At my bold wager of my life, the people around us stirred.
The healers who'd praised me earlier tried to dissuade me, the servants whispered quietly, and the Princess's knight guards nodded in respect to my choice while subtly gripping their sword hilts.
Meaning they'd cut me down on the spot if it didn't work.
Brutal. Way too brutal.
"Words spoken before me can't be taken back. Was that really necessary?"
I smiled at the Princess's question.
This was the game I'd poured my school days into.
If my knowledge failed here, survival as Heinz was doomed anyway.
This was my proving ground.
A moment to show that even as a delinquent, I could thrive in this hopeless world.
"If I lose my confidence, I'd just be a corpse."
Delinquent trait: once committed, never back down until the end.
"...Pfft! Ahaha! If you say it that strongly, then I have no choice but to drink it to save you, Young Master Heinz."
"I specially made Your Highness's strawberry-flavored!"
"You're nothing like that overly polite first impression. So this must be your true self?"
I was about to hand the Elixir to Princess Rosmel.
But considering it might be disguised poison, a maid had to taste it first.
The Princess wanted to drink it straight, but her stubborn guards insisted on protocol.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Your Highness's safety comes first."
That was when I tried handing the Elixir to the maid.
The maid reaching for it suddenly dropped her wrist.
She grabbed the blunt end of the flask and let it slip as if by accident.
"Ah!"
Crash!
The glass bottle slipped from her hand, shattered on the floor, and most of its contents spilled onto my pants.
As everyone's eyes widened in shock, even the maid in front of me panicked, not knowing what to do.
'So you're the cult's lackey?'
She'd deliberately dropped it and put on an act of mistake in that split second.
If I hadn't been right there, even I'd have been fooled by her acting.
I wanted to order the knights to behead the wench right then, but sadly, this wasn't the place for rash actions.
Cleanup first—I reached for the spare Elixir I'd brought.
"P-Princess?!"
"Huh...?"
Princess Rosmel leaped from the bed and suddenly knelt before me.
Was she about to apologize for the maid's mistake?
In the midst of everyone's shock over the shattered Elixir, she grabbed my pants.
Her gaze fixed on my crotch, soaked with the Elixir.
"Princess?"
"Take off your pants, Young Master!"
"Pardon? What are you suddenly—?!"
"We can't waste such precious medicine! Hurry!"
"N-No need for that...!"
"If I suck it out with my mouth before it spoils, it'll be fine!"
This crazy!
Princess Rosmel was spouting wildly misleading words.
And she was seriously undoing my belt.
I had to stop her rampage.
"I-I have another one!"
"Pardon?"
"I brought a spare, so there's no need to go that far!"
Only then did Princess Rosmel's hands stop tugging at my pants.
Just as I thought I'd averted total disaster,
Someone kicked the door open and burst into the bedroom frantically.
"Rosmel! What happened?!"
In the Rose Palace, only one person could commit such an outrage.
The Empire's sun and ultimate doting father, Emperor Kraus.
Ah, this is bad. Even developing the Elixir grandpa won't save me now.