Baby Pharmacist Princess

“The little Princess must be very tired.”

“She trusts you completely, Your Highness.”

“A baby can only fall asleep in the arms of someone they trust wholeheartedly.”

The attendants, while receiving the signed documents, couldn’t resist adding their comments.

“Stop saying such unnecessary things.”

I’m only being overly cautious because it would be troublesome if this child dies. She is a precious piece of lost memory that needs to be protected.

So holding her like this was a very rational decision.

In truth, Vikal almost fainted the moment he saw Cherishe today.

He could barely breathe from the cuteness that followed him everywhere, so much that he couldn’t help but sigh repeatedly.

Thus, he desperately searched for an excuse to hold his daughter.

‘She might freeze to death.’

Vikal had a higher body temperature than most.

In an emergency, sharing body heat to survive was common sense.

So holding her like this was perfectly reasonable.

This child had a body so frail that even a slight chill could be fatal.

Despite the fact that the magically kindled fireplace was blazing with warmth.

Even though the room temperature was exceptionally high.

It was uncertain whether this child could feel the warmth.

She was so fragile.

“Your Highness.”

After all the other attendants had left, someone entered cautiously.

It was Solip.

“I brought a wool blanket.”

“Well done.”

Solip is always dependable, thought Vikal, wrapping the small blanket around the child’s tiny body.

“The adoption process should be completed in three days. The surprise party preparations are almost finished as well.”

“Good.”

“We should hold the party as soon as the two princes return. They’ve disappeared somewhere.”

Solip frowned.

He was right.

The twins had finished their semester early by taking their exams ahead of time.

This news came not from the twins themselves but through the dean.

They should have returned to the palace immediately, but they had vanished.

Where they were and what they were doing was anyone’s guess.

Although, with Idsys, there was little worry about unnecessary trouble.

“They should return by the end of the semester… We’ll plan the party for then.”

“That would be best.”

“Oh, and Sophia was asking if she could use magic to make the plum trees bloom. It seems she wants the theme flowers to be those.”

“Plum blossoms.”

It fits.

This child made medicine from the fruits of that tree.

Using magic to make flowers bloom against the natural order requires an extremely high level of magical skill.

It must be done without harming the tree.

Although there was a court wizard, their skill wasn’t high enough for this, so Vikal nodded.

“Tell her it’s fine.”

Doing such things is part of being a Dad.

Though the kind of Dad this child wants requires doing a lot of things, somehow.

He didn’t mind.

* * *

The news that Princess Cherishe Wynn Castalia would be adopted by Prince Vikal spread like wildfire, hitting the capital’s social circles with force.

Nobles, one by one, began to chatter.

“In my opinion! That Princess might not actually be a simpleton.”

“Perhaps the rumors were spread to protect someone with extraordinary qualities.”

“So what does this mean for the future? Could Princess Cherishe change the line of succession?”

“I’m not sure… But considering ‘that’ His Highness is adopting her, there’s a possibility.”

“And I heard Princess Alexandra has been placed under house arrest? Isn’t that some kind of power play?”

Cherishe was genuinely a simpleton, and thus had never appeared at any official event.

Most nobles didn’t know what she looked like or who she was.

When those following the royal faction ‘Jen’ spread the rumor that Cherishe was a simpleton, everyone believed it.

Now, with the ‘Wynn’ faction spreading new rumors, everyone was inclined to believe them again.

“I can’t wait to meet Princess Cherishe. She must be incredibly adorable.”

“I hear her birthday is in February, when the plum blossoms bloom.”

“It sounds like there will be a grand banquet for her fifth birthday.”

Some were already predicting and planning for events months away.

These noble rumors grew more vibrant, creating a sense of anticipation.

“I heard the Orjena and Sistani families are decorating the baby Princess’s room.”

“They’ve brought in the best talents within their families for the task.”

“To think they’ve gone to such lengths already…”

“I don’t think they did this much for the two princes.”

“Well, sons and daughters are different. You always want to do more for a daughter.”

Especially the story about involving the ducal families in decorating the baby Princess’s playroom got everyone excited.

Just what kind of person deserves such treatment!

The Princess that His Highness adopted right after his release from isolation.

Naturally, she drew a lot of attention.

Yet, all this was happening without Cherishe herself knowing anything about it.

* * *

“Achoo!”

Is someone talking about me?

I sneezed and rubbed my nose, forgetting that my work gloves were covered in dirt!

The strong smell of earth made me realize my mistake, and I let out a wail.

“Grandpa Tombi! Grandpa Tombi!”

“Oh dear, our little Princess is covered in dirt.”

“Please clean it off.”

“Let’s see, I’ll wipe it gently for you.”

Grandpa Tombi, who was using a trowel for something, laughed heartily and pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of his overalls.

His hands were big and rough, but when he touched me, they were so careful and soft, it was amazing.

It was fascinating that such large hands could do delicate work.

“Did you fill the basket?”

“Yes!”

This morning, I came to the garden right after breakfast. Following Grandpa Tombi, I was doing my task.

That task was finding herbs and fruits!

The garden of White Night Palace was divided into four sections.

The first section was the central garden that guests would see upon arrival.

It was meticulously maintained with no weeds allowed, so there were no herbs here.

The second section, slightly off to the right, was the most commonly used area in daily life.

It had fountains and sculptures.

If we had outdoor meals, it would be in the garden dining area here.

This section connected to the rear garden filled with plum trees, known as the ‘First Greeting of Spring Path.’

The third section was the left garden, which was connected to the area where maids did laundry and chefs stored and organized food supplies. It wasn’t a place I visited often.

So, the conclusion is, the place I’m in now is the fourth section!

The rear garden.

‘I heard White Night Palace had many herbs.’

And it was true.

While reviewing a quest I had completed, I had a good idea yesterday.

If there are going to be more medical quests in the future, why not prepare some herbs in advance?

At the very least, finding out what’s available and organizing it could be helpful.

So, I came out to investigate!

‘There was a honeysuckle vine with Honeysuckle flowers.’

Honeysuckle is a long flower that can be used for almost any ailment with “itis.”

It also has skin-improving effects.

‘It’s a shame it’s autumn and the flowers aren’t blooming now.’

Honeysuckle blooms in July.

‘Other than that, there’s the loquat tree for phlegm removal and fir trees good for joint pain.’

If you know how to use them, they can all be turned into medicine.

“Have you also seen the greenhouse?”

“Yes!”

Grandpa Tombi also managed a small glass greenhouse, where various herbs and flowers were carefully nurtured regardless of the season.

There were plenty of harvests, but the most exciting finds were feverfew and calendula.

‘Feverfew is excellent for migraines, and calendula is great for cuts and even burns.’

All useful and valuable plants.

“Ah, such a nice smell.”

“You like the smell of the forest?”

“Yes. I like the garden.”

When else would I get to breathe in such fresh air?

I enjoyed the crisp weather while walking through the fragrant bushes, basking in the sunlight with my basket of flowers and herbs.

As I did this, a question arose.

‘What’s the medical standard here?’

In the game, I never saw a doctor.

Royals were incredibly strong, so they never got hurt.

But ordinary people couldn’t be like that.

‘To handle quests, it might be good to know about this too.’

“Grandpa Tombi.”

“Yes, Princess.”

The gardener, with his graying hair and impressive beard, had many calluses and scars on his hands.

They were like medals earned from years of tending trees with scissors.

Grandpa Tombi would have had many reasons to use ointments!

He’s the perfect person for market research.

“Grandpa, where do you usually get ointments if you get hurt?”

“Those affiliated with the palace can get simple treatments from the medical department. They also provide ointments.”

“What about people who don’t live in the palace?”

“Ointments are sold at the temple, so they would go to the temple to buy them.”

“The temple?”

“Yes. They sell them at the temple of Haphneous.”

Haphneous, the god of faith and love.

In Castalia, which is fundamentally a polytheistic society, Haphneous plays the role of the chief deity among the many gods.

‘And it’s also the only force that can rival the royal family.’

In the game, I sometimes received help from the temple when eliminating other claimants to the throne.

‘But they sell medicine at the temple?’

This was the first time I had heard of it.

“Do you know how much ointments like that cost?”

“I believe it’s around 10,000 gold.”

“10,000 gold…!”

That’s the monthly food expense for a middle-class family.

Access to medicine is incredibly low!

“Then… can you see a doctor easily?”

“A doctor?”

Grandpa Tombi looked puzzled, as if he had never been asked this question before.

“Doctors are few in number and only available at Haphneous Temple… so it’s not easy to see one.”

“Are there temples in every town?”

“Not in every town… but you can find them in larger estates. To see a doctor, you have to make an appointment and wait a long time, but if you pay a large donation, you can see one faster.”

Wait, hold on.

‘It’s not by urgency or first-come, first-served, but by money?’