Baby Pharmacist Princess

“Sophia must be excited to jump around.”

White Night Palace, where Prince Vikal resided.

The building consisted of three floors in total.

So, there was no 4th floor, at least not according to the blueprints.

But in reality, the nonexistent 4th floor was a magical space created by Vikal using Dragon Heart as soon as he became an adult.

Inside were various treasures, including an enormous amount of gems, paintings, sculptures, all categorized into five levels.

Level 1 contained various accessories and fabrics.

As you went deeper, there were artworks that shook the entire history of human art.

The existence of the 4th floor, rivaling Dragon Rare, was a secret known only to Solip, Sophia, and Vikal’s closest associates, including the troublemaker sons who had forcefully infiltrated.

Vikal’s collection was substantial due to his strong desire for collecting, so allowing access to anything in there was a significant deal.

“Oh, speaking of which, there are jewels in there that I intended to give to Kienna. But in the end, I couldn’t give them to her.”

“I remember that too. It’s been a long time.”

“…Yeah.”

Vikal’s voice grew heavy.

Vikal and Kienna had a significant age difference.

When Vikal was fifteen, Kienna was born.

Vikal naturally didn’t know how to deal with the child and their meetings were always formal.

To be precise, Kienna liked him, but Vikal avoided her.

“Big brother, let’s play in the sand together!”

Those words she used to shout still echoed in his mind as if it happened yesterday.

But at that time, he was struggling to control his burgeoning power, so he was afraid of accidentally hurting Kienna and kept his distance.

And when Kienna turned six years old.

When Vikal became twenty and ascended to the position of Prince, he started to collect small items suitable for his youngest sister.

That was the beginning of the 4th floor.

Whenever he saw something cute or pretty, he would secretly collect it.

But as he debated whether to collect more or give them directly, time passed, Kienna turned fifteen, and left the palace.

“I collected things cautiously, but I should have given them to her after all. She would have liked them.”

A muttered regret.

There was a hint of remorse in it.

Perhaps that’s why.

As soon as Vikal received the last letter from Kienna, he rushed to where she was like a madman.

And what he witnessed there…

“Ugh.”

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

For a moment, a strong headache shook him as if his head was splitting apart.

Vikal grimaced and focused on the rhythmic pulsing of his Dragon Heart.

Something was blocking his memories.

A magic superior to his power.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t undo it.

“You still don’t remember?”

“Yeah. It’s like that day is cut out entirely.”

A moment later, Solip handed him a drink and a towel as Vikal broke out in a cold sweat.

In fact, just three days ago, Vikal had been buried under the lake.

Not metaphorically, but literally.

And that was related to Cherishe and some other matters.

Four years ago from now.

Kienna, Cherishe’s birth mother and the fourth generation heir, quietly passed away in a rural estate.

Vikal, who had always been frail since childhood, rushed down to the countryside upon hearing the news of his youngest sister’s death.

And there, Vikal witnessed something.

Probably something he shouldn’t have seen.

So he went berserk, losing his sanity and causing devastation around him.

The only one who could stop him was Emperor Raerhod in the end.

After that, Vikal was buried under the lake, not able to leave the palace due to the aftermath of his rampage and not just because he had harmed the people as a noble but because his rampage had not subsided.

And Vikal’s memories of that day were all gone.

It wasn’t a post-rampage aftermath.

He kept feeling an alien sensation in his heart.

It was clear that someone else’s power was blocking parts of his memories.

Upon returning to the palace after the secret burial was lifted, Vikal went to meet Cherishe to fulfill Kienna’s request from the letter.

The second reason was to find out what lost memories were and whether seeing Cherishe’s face would trigger his memories, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the case.

However, one thing became clear.

Cherishe was not living happily.

“In Kienna’s last letter, she asked me to take care of her daughter. She entrusted her to me.”

“I’ve checked the authenticity of that letter dozens of times, but it seems to be real. Kienna’s energy still lingers in the words.”

The Castalia nobles infused Dragon Heart’s power when writing letters or documents.

It was possible to determine the authenticity that way.

So it must be true, but Vikal didn’t want to believe it.

He couldn’t take care of her well, couldn’t become close to her, and now his sister was gone.

Time had underestimated how much it would have.

“Your Highness, could it be because you resemble Lady Kienna that Princess Cherishe also has a weak Dragon Heart?”

In the silence of the office, Solip sighed softly and produced a large bead-shaped magical device.

“I left the Dragon Heart gauge next to Princess last night, but it only gathered this much. A clear sign of weakness. In fact, with this level, it’s doubtful she could even use the power of a dragon in combat…”

“Not different from an ordinary person then.”

“Yes, that’s the truth of it. When the succession battle for the eleventh generation starts, she won’t even last a day.”

Eleven years old.

That was the only boundary set by Emperor Raerhod within this royal family.

Protected until eleven.

But the moment she turns eleven, assassins will attempt to strike without warning.

Though everyone has some degree of protection and intelligence, as well as strength to plan their survival, Cherishe was different.

“Even those known as the weakest among the fifth-generation royal heirs won’t be able to surpass her.”

Solip concluded seriously.

Common knowledge among the Castalian populace.

The royals have two hearts.

The regular heart everyone has and the Dragon Heart.

To kill a royal, both of these would need to be destroyed.

But Cherishe’s Dragon Heart pulse was exceedingly weak, almost as if it was just formed.

Not only combat but even defense seemed impossible.

“That’s true. However, no one will easily eliminate Cherishe.”

Vikal chuckled.

It reminded him of the scene where the sturdy little one chewed on Alexandra’s ankle, snapping and kicking, several times stronger than himself.

Quite a venomous little creature.

‘Initially, I just brought her along. But…’

Originally, the royals couldn’t move residences freely.

They couldn’t be protected without any reason either.

The imbalance of power, the resistance from nobles following Jen or Chyn, wasn’t much of a problem.

What worried him was one thing.

Cherishe’s dignity.

If she’s perceived as weak and in need of protection, her dignity will be tarnished.

Through countless tongues of people, mouths to mouths, it will spread.

The label of being unable to do her part even as she ages will surely follow her.

‘And that would tarnish Kienna’s dignity too.’

Moreover, it would be like Wynn’s name falling to disgrace.

“Wynn’s name should only be associated with reverence.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

No one could turn those associated with Wynn into gossip.

So…

“I’ll adopt her.”

That was the answer.

“I’ll make her my daughter. Then, no one would dare to touch her.”

From his thumb, a blue ribbon floated into the air.

‘Perhaps Kienna wanted this from the start.’

If Cherishe didn’t like him much, she would have been content with just being watched and helping when necessary.

But the moment they met, the little one desperately clung to him, crying out that she wanted to be his daughter.

It was a voice that vividly expressed how much she had suffered without parents all this time.

And how could he ignore that?

A child who had shown no reaction to external sounds until yesterday suddenly broke out of her shell the moment she met him.

That fact hinted at a subtle affection for Vikal.

“I will prioritize the adoption procedure over any other matter, Your Highness.”

Solip, rising from his seat, bowed respectfully.

Vikal’s gaze shifted from the ribbon to Solip, who was skillfully tying it.

He had to concentrate so his eyes twinkled.

When he asked for a needle, he was slightly surprised, but in truth, it was quite endearing.

Just a needle, not for combat or anything.

It seemed like a child’s play, fitting for her. And seeing her delightfully plump cheeks turn pink with joy…

“Come to think of it, I remember when Lord Gergys, around your age, stormed into your room wielding a real sword.”

“We were just playing war.”

“By the time you were five, you were eagerly waiting for walks with Your Highness and would swing your sword when falling from a tree.”

“Yes, those were memories.”

Vikal’s lips softened as he recalled old memories.

If one were to describe him in a word, he was strong against the strong but very weak against the weak.

How to deal with someone so fragile that a flick of his finger could end their life, Vikal still didn’t know.

Though his twin sons had learned to use the Dragon Heart perfectly by the age of four, making it easier to handle them, Cherishe might forever remain fragile.

‘But Your Majesty, you simply brought that fragile newborn to the palace and did nothing.’

Weakness leads to defeat.

Uselessness is worthless.

As a royal, one should know how to manage at least one’s own palace from a young age.

That’s how Vikal was raised and educated.

However, such values of the Emperor didn’t sit well with him.

If Emperor Raerhod had just said “take care properly,” Cherishe wouldn’t have been disrespected by the lower ranks.

“No blood, no tears.”

Tsk.

Vikal deliberately let out a disdainful remark about his great-grandfather and Absolute Emperor, Raerhod.