CPSMBD Chapter 08

Chapter 8

Misunderstanding

The Crown Prince's bright laughter rang through the air.

"Kill... kill me..."

My, you're quite dramatic today, Your Highness.

Left with no choice, I precisely mimicked the gestures Brahe had demonstrated before me. First, I spread my hands and waved them gently in front of my face.

"He's handsome. Next."

Was that really what it meant? I never would have guessed.

I recreated Brahe's second gesture: tapping my throat while giving a slight cough.

"He has a good voice. Next."

His Highness has a good voice? I hear it every day, so I'd never really thought about its quality.

I immediately continued with the next motion, following Brahe's lead by bending my joints this way and that.

"To interpret this as 'strong joints'..."

His Highness looked at me as if observing a problematic child.

"He has a good physique. Next."

Hmm. Did His Highness really have a good physique?

Finally, I demonstrated the motion General Chief Aide Kuan had taught me: extending my arms and hopping in place.

"He's tall."

The Crown Prince rubbed his temples as if nursing a headache.

"How could anyone possibly draw such conclusions from these gestures? Though Brahe and Chief Kuan seemed to teach them correctly."

"Y-yes, that's exactly how I interpreted them... How strange."

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

"Now I clearly understand how Chief Violetta views me."

Had he been shot? The Crown Prince's usually proud and arrogant voice suddenly seemed bitter and weak.

"You've done your part. You may leave."

Analyzing His Highness's reaction, my report was clearly rejected.

After carefully observing the Crown Prince's expression, I finally spoke up.

"Should I rewrite it?"

"No need. In Chief Violetta's eyes, I'm a man without any merits or charm. Rewriting the report won't change that."

Was that sarcasm I detected?

"Your Highness, please don't be too discouraged. Tastes vary, after all. There will surely be women who find you charming."

"Hah. That's not comforting at all. To think you issued such instructions because you thought no woman would find me attractive..."

The Crown Prince's voice trailed off as he waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough. Would you please leave now? I have many tasks to attend to."

"Yes, I shall take my leave then."

I bowed deeply and quickly exited the Crown Prince's office.

I needed to leave faster than light before His Highness's unpredictable nature prompted him to demand a report rewrite.

***

The next day, as soon as I stepped into the aide's office, I found people waiting for me with desperate expressions.

They were none other than the culprits who had recently destroyed the castle wall.

The Directors of Alchemy and Herbology Research paced around the office, voicing their complaints.

"Chief Violetta, I must meet with His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Yes, yes. Please allow us just one meeting. We may have made a mistake, but this punishment is too harsh."

"Impossible. Return home. His Highness has explicitly stated he won't meet with you."

Of course, the Crown Prince had said no such thing. In fact, His Highness didn't even know they were here.

The Alchemy Director's face fell at my firm response.

"This is an important matter. Please, just one meeting. I beg you."

Their purpose was obvious.

They were here to plead for leniency regarding the punishment imposed for destroying the palace.

Really. Such respected, elderly scholars, fighting over research materials to the point of destroying the imperial palace.

Sometimes I wonder how this empire manages to function at all.

"No. Prince Friedrich has no time for such trivial matters."

The Herbology Director appealed to me with an emotional voice.

"I must attend His Majesty the Emperor's 20th anniversary celebration. The pay cut, I understand. Yes, we destroyed the palace wall, so that punishment is fair. But if I can't attend the celebration, my wife will have my head. Please, just this once, spare my life."

"Indeed. We can accept all other punishments, but banning us from this celebration is too much. My daughter has been eagerly waiting to attend this event. Even if I can't attend, please allow my family to participate."

"Don't you think destroying the palace wall was 'too much'?"

The Directors exchanged nervous glances at my words.

"That... that was an accident."

"Yes, yes. Just an accident."

"An accident? You demolished the palace wall and call it an accident? The punishment stands. Please leave."

Suddenly, the Herbology Director grabbed my legs.

"No! Please, just this once!"

Not to be outdone, the Alchemy Director latched onto my other leg.

"Don't you feel any pity for this old man?"

What's there to pity?

I'm the one who deserves pity, having to clean up this mess!

"What are you doing! You're both respected elders!"

I tried prying their hands off my legs one by one. But the Directors were persistent.

They clung to my legs as if their lives depended on it.

"Let go!"

"No! Please, we beg you!"

"I won't let go until you allow us to attend the celebration!"

Ugh. How did these frail scholars who spend their days hunched over manuscripts get so strong?

My trapped legs were starting to hurt.

And today, they were particularly persistent.

What was so special about this celebration that they were making such a fuss?

I couldn't understand it.

The Research Directors working at the palace could earn more money outside the imperial walls with their expertise, but they chose to work here valuing honor over wealth.

That's why these social events were crucial to them, which is exactly why we included the ban as punishment. But their resistance was unusually strong this time.

"Fine. Have you two made peace with each other? If you've reconciled, I'll consider asking His Highness to lift the ban on attending the celebration."

The Herbology Director hesitated with an awkward expression.

"Well... about that... Not yet."

Meanwhile, the Alchemy Director pointed an accusing finger, his voice rising in anger.

"How could I reconcile with that person! He tried to snatch all the remaining Petronium branches in the palace, claiming they were needed for research!"

"Look who's talking! I submitted a proper request to use the spring Petronium branches for my research! There are procedures to follow!"

Their voices grew increasingly heated.

"If you continue fighting here, you can forget about ever meeting His Highness the Crown Prince."

Both Directors turned to look at me simultaneously.

"How can you be so harsh?"

"Don't be so strict, please show us some mercy just this once."

I glared at them.

"I said no."

At my firm response, the Directors retreated to a corner of the office and began criticizing me in hushed voices.

When people find a common enemy, solidarity comes naturally.

I had willingly taken on the role of villain for the palace's peace.

But perhaps I had underestimated the situation?

The Directors, who had initially united in complaining about me, began raising their voices again.

"I won't give up the Petronium branches! They're absolutely essential for this research!"

"The Petronium branches have always been used by us alchemists! You never showed any interest before, so why do you suddenly need them? You unprincipled old fool!"

"What? Old fool?"

I brought them together to make peace, but they're fighting even worse now.

'At this rate, will the aide's office explode too?'

It seemed their quarrel would never end without my intervention.

Heaving a deep sigh, I asked the Directors:

"Why exactly do you both need the Petronium branches?"

The Herbology Director answered first.

"There's a hypothesis that newly sprouted Petronium buds might be toxic. I need to research these spring buds to prove this hypothesis. But Petronium branches with new buds can only be harvested during this season. If we miss this timing, we'll have to wait until next year."

The Alchemy Director clutched his chest in frustration.

"But we can't perform alchemy without water infused with Petronium bark! The water used in alchemy must be purified using Petronium bark. The Petronium branches have always been used by us alchemists, and now they're trying to snatch them away!"

"So, Director of Herbology, you need the new Petronium buds, and Director of Alchemy, you need the bark from the branches, correct?"

"That's right!"

"Exactly!"

As if rehearsed, both Directors nodded simultaneously to my question.

"What if the Herbology Director first harvests the new buds needed for research, and then all remaining branches go to the Alchemy Director?"

"Ah... that would work for me."

"I wouldn't mind that arrangement either."

The Directors who had been breathing fire moments ago now nodded like gentle lambs.

"So you're making peace now? Please shake hands."

The Directors awkwardly clasped hands.

"Ahem. I apologize. I didn't realize you only needed the new buds."

"I'm sorry too. I hadn't understood how crucial Petronium bark was for alchemy."

Watching their reconciliation, I spoke up.

"I'll inform Prince Friedrich that you've reconciled. Since you've set a good example, I'll take responsibility and ask His Highness to lift the ban on attending the event."

"Is that truly possible?"

"Of course."

The Directors' faces brightened at my confident response.

"Thank you, Chief Violetta. We're counting on you."

Now that the Directors had finally made peace, I decided to ask about something that had been puzzling me.

"But why are you both so desperate to attend His Majesty's coronation anniversary celebration?"

The Herbology Director's eyes widened at my question.

"...You mean you don't know? I thought you imposed the attendance ban precisely because you knew everything."

"Know what?"