"HAA!"
"Too slow!"
I watched Leo's training with my mother in the castle yard. I sat under the shadow of a tree as I reviewed my potion crafting and recipe. I wrote them in English so that even someone stole it from me, they won't be able to decipher it.
I glanced at the entrance of the castle. A little girl was jogging toward me. She was Leo's younger sister, Alicia. She carried some kind of book again with her. Behind her, a butler was following her.
"Ren-nii-sama!!"
She called me. I closed my book and stored it inside my bag.
"Hora, stop running!!"
I scolded her. She stopped running and began walking with a quick pace. Looking at her like this was quite funny. She showed me the book. It was a thick picture book with several compiled stories inside.
Alicia was born prematurely and had a weak constitution. I found it out when I heard it from Leo last year. I checked her status with appraisal and found that she was physically weak so I made her some elixir that would gradually strengthen her physical. I diluted it and gave some flavor with fruit juice before giving it to her of course. I handed it to her personal butler and guardian every 7 days until now.
"Hmm? You want me to read it for you?"
I asked her. She nodded excitedly.
"Molar-san, how long is it till the study time?"
I asked Alicia's butler. When I became very close to Leo and helped Alicia's recovery, the king assigned me to have similar study session as Leo such as in etiquette, Linguistic and Literature, Arithmetic, Dance, Basic swordsmanship (with my mother), and Strategic Warfare. I was exempted from the Magic and Politic study and used the time for crafting potions and experimenting.
In the beginning, this world almost had no concept of the map or terrain-based strategy while the existing traveling maps were just rough sketches from subjective perspectives. During the Strategic Warfare, I introduced the mapping process and bit by bit, the map of the town, then the terrain of the surroundings of the capital, and finally the kingdom's map was made. At the beginning, the teacher would teach us about the basic warfare strategy before three of us had a discussion of the terrain strategy for the case of an emergency.
During the dancing class, Alicia sometimes insisted to join us and had me as her dancing partner. The Arithmetic one was a piece of cake for me who had lived in the modern era. Etiquette and Literature was quite a hurdle for me. My swordsmanship was so-so. My mother always beat us even when we gang up on her.
**********************************************************************************************************
I and Leo wore formal attire in the hall. Alicia was celebrating her fifth birthday. We waited for her return from the ceremony. I also dropped by the Pope's place to give a batch of potions and remedy for the church.
"To think you returned their hostility with kindness is quite surprising, Ren."
Leo praised.
"Well, getting close to the church was more beneficial than becoming its enemy. He was very delighted that I still give him some batches of potions each year for the training of the new priest knights and emergency. My potions are only given to the royal family and sold at the auction after all."
I said with a smirk.
"You're still too naive, Ren."
He said.
"Well, at least I can make the people see the Alchemists in a different way now."
I said proudly.
"You should stop doing everything yourself, Ren. And, certainly, I had heard that the people's view of alchemist had changed completely when you can clearly prove that you can make a potion and elixirs from grasses."
He said.
"They are no grasses!! They are medicinal herbs!"
I rebutted.
"Also, I can process metals too now, but if I do so, the blacksmiths will laugh at me for sure. I had shown one of my crafted blades to acquaintances and was told that it was dull and fragile."
I added.
"Just so like you."
He said. He sighed and we laughed together.
"Soon, we'll be 10 years old huh?"
Leo said as he looked up.
"And in five years we'll become an adult."
I added.
"About your plan in 5 years, will you reconsider it?"
Leo asked. I pondered and looked at the sky.
"Probably I can't. I need to travel the world and study it. And the first step would be studying in the Arkhanha."
I said.
"I see..."
Leo said weakly.
"Don't worry, I'll write."
I said.
"If you're in deep trouble, I'll dash straight there. Though, you must expect trouble or two."
I added.
"So likes you eh, Ren."
"You too"
We smirked as we bumped our fist.
"Onii-sama!!, Ren-nii-sama!!"
I heard Alicia's voice. She was waving her hand at us. Leo shrugged his shoulder.
"Let's go."
I said. We stood up and headed toward her.
**********************************************************************************************************
On the carriage, we chatted.
"Hee, an Archmage? That's amazing, Alicia."
I praised Alicia. She got a rare class just like her brother.
"But, I'm not happy at all. I always want to be an amazing alchemist like Ren-Onii-sama"
She said innocently.
"Definitely no" "I absolutely forbid you to take that route."
I and Leo said at the same time.
"Eeeeh"
Alicia looked disappointed. I activated Appraisal on three of us.
###########################################################################
Alicia Michaelo Level 7 Archmage Level 1
Titles: Third Princess of Maximilian, Weakened Princess, Doll Princess, King's doted daughter
Race: Human
###########################################################################
Ren Concerto Level 49 Alchemist Level 45
Titles: Genius Alchemist, Saint's Son, First Prince's childhood friend, Scientist, Prodigy, Miraculous Eyes possessor, Auction Hall's VVIP
Race: Human
###########################################################################
Leonardo Michaelo Level 23 Paladin Level 20
Title: Maximilian's First Prince, Prodigy, Saint's Disciple, Hero Candidate
Race: Human
###########################################################################
I almost reached level 50 where I'll be able to learn my second Job. Unlike combat-oriented ones like Leo's, Alchemist's leveling pace is several times faster than Paladin since he didn't go out to hunt monsters.
"Prince Leonardo and Princess Alicia had arrived."
The announcer said. I walked behind them like an aide so that none announced my arrival. The two were looked by the young nobles as the subject of admiration. I parted with them and stood at the edge of the room.
I took a glass of juice as I watched the entire place from the side. A grand party like this would be a perfect place for assassination. I looked around and activated my appraisal skill. The nobles' names and details were transmitted to my head as well as the food and drinks inside the bouquet hall. I had several bottles of antidote, potions, and remedy inside my storage ring I had bought from the auction.
So far I found none with [Assassin] Profession except Rosemaria who was acting as the maid of the royal castle under my mother's order. The countermeasure against outside assault was almost perfect. However, who knows if there were people who wished for doing some foolish errands in the inside.
"To celebrate my daughter's, Alicia's, fifth birthday. Cheers!!"
The king said to start the party.
Just a moment when the king raised his cup I sensed a poison inside his wine. Furthermore, it was a quick-acting poison. I quickly sneaked to get closer to the king just a moment before he drank his wine. The king gasped for air as he held his throat and fell to the ground. The hall panicked and I quickly leaped toward the king and poured the antidote I had prepared to his throat.
###########################################################################
Alexander Michaelo Level 100 Magician Level 98 King Level 96
Title: King of Maximilian, Lion of Battlefield, Wise Lord, Doting Father, Loving Husband, Wiseman, Spellmaster, Genius, Prodigy
Race: Human
State: None
###########################################################################
I sighed in relief when I made it in time. I raised my arms when I saw the spearheads were aimed at my neck.
"Don't move!!"
The guard said.
"Stop right there!!"
I heard Leo's voice. He walked toward us rushingly.
"This guy is my friend and a trustworthy person. put down your spear."
He said. The guard reluctantly pulled his spear. Leo sighed in to relieve and approached his father.
"Ren, how's my father?"
He asked me.
"I had him drank an antidote. It'll take some time until he regained his consciousness."
I said. I looked at his condition. There was no sign of anomaly in his breathing. I wished I could check his pulse but doing such a thing might rouse the guard again.
"Kuh!"
I heard a voice under me. I looked down and saw the king slowly opened his eyes.
"Your Highness!!" "Father!!"
The people called the king. The king staggered for a bit and I sighed in relief.
"What just happened?"
He asked.
"You were poisoned with that wine, my king."
The prime minister said. I took a deep breath and activated my appraisal eyes. I looked at my surroundings to find a clue. I saw a butler holding a wine bottle and about to hide it under the table. I jogged toward him in a hurry.
"Sir Augustus, what are you doing down there?"
I asked innocently. I asked with a pretty loud voice that I attracted a lot of attention. The butler gasped and looked at me in a hurry.
"Ah, no. I just accidentally dropped the cork for the wine bottle and about to find it."
He said calmly.
"I see... If you're looking for the cork, you should look for it near the throne. I saw it over there."
I said.
"I see... thank you for your kindness, Young Master Ren."
He replied courteously as if I was a noble.
"You see, I'm not a noble, Uncle. The announcer didn't announce my name either. How did you know it? Also, who are you?"
I said. The man gasped and took a step backward. The eyes of the nobles were glaring at him.
"Tch!"
The butler rushed toward the exit. I smirked when I saw Rosemaria had stood on his path. She lowered her stance and with a swift movement, she neutralized him.
"With this, the incident is taken care of."
I said.
**********************************************************************************************************
The party resumed with the dance. I managed to avoid getting recognized and stood at the side again. I saw Leo and Alicia were dancing with several nobles in turn.
"It seems like you've saved my life this time, Ren-kun."
I heard the king's voice as he pretended to watch his children danced in the hall. I didn't reply but nod once. We watched the gallery as their attention was directed at the dance performed by Leo and Alicia.
"Do you know the mastermind?"
I shook my head at his question.
"You should have said something. It would attract attention if I were staring at a child of someone who isn't a member of the nobility."
"Yes"
"Hmm... Did you notice that the wine poisoned."
"Yes, somehow."
"And you saved me using your antidote?"
"Yes"
"Are you always carrying them around?"
"Yes"
"Are you in good terms with Leo?"
"Yes"
"Are you the one who helped my daughter recovery?"
"Yes"
"Are you going to marry my daughter?"
"Yes"
The king grinned at me. He took his leave to his throne again. I took a sip of the juice in my hand when I realized my mistake. It took me several seconds to realize that I had answered his question without thinking straight.
"Wha-"
I became speechless. I wanted to refute my answer but the king was already talking with the nobles and I couldn't interrupt him. He talked about something before he and the nobles looked toward a woman who was talking with the queen and a maid, my mother.
"..."
It was getting complicated. The king guided the nobles to where my mother was and talked with her.
"Here you're."
I heard Leo's voice behind me. It seems like he had done his portion of dancing.
"That's unfair that you escape by yourself."
He grumbled.
"Well, I'm not a noble here. And attracting attention isn't my thing."
I said.
"Said the person who rushed in to save the King from being poisoned."
He said.
"I can't help it. It was an emergency."
I complained. I sighed and took a sip of the juice in my hand. We watched the gallery just as I had done with the king.
"Say, if I became your sister's husband, what'll you do?"
I asked on a whim.
"Finally you decided to take a step. I'm already in pain seeing my sister waiting for you to realize her feeling."
He said nonchalantly. I looked at him in disbelief. I had thought he would hate this idea. At this rate, I could no longer back down. I sighed and looked at my mother. She was looking at me and gave a thumb up. I seem like she had heard the gist of things from the king earlier. This is hopeless.
**********************************************************************************************************
"Ahem!! Attention everyone!"
The king started his speech.
"I'm sorry for disturbing your fun but let me say a few announcements. First, I wanted to thank my son's swordsmanship and paladin instructor, Emilia Concerto. Due to his quick-witted action, he had saved me from the death door. Also, in truth, he had been creating medicines for my daughter so that she could stay healthy till this Occasion. And now, as the King of Maximillian, I want to give her the title of Baronet along with the title of Baron to her only son, Ren Concerto. "
The king said. The audiences were giving merry applause. They looked at me in admiration.
"The second announcement is regarding my daughter. She is now 5 years old and was eligible to have a gentleman to be engaged to. And in the past several months, I had received many proposals from the noble families and the royalties of the neighboring kingdom. And thus, I have my people watched everyone's conduct and behaviors behind my back. And thanks to the result of my investigation on this, I will make my decision.
The king said. I decided to give up and walked toward Alicia's side in secret. I took a couple of silver and gold coins from my ring and secretly activated my skill.
"[Material Remodelling]"
I changed the shape of the coins into the shape of a ring. I made the mainframe that would fit Alicia's finger. Then, I made some motif on it with gold and silver gradation in the form of 2 small doves and fences of small roses. Well, this might be looked a bit cliche but in my opinion, such eventful moments for Alicia must be made as grand as possible.
"The man that I choose to be my daughter's future husband is among us. He's Baron Ren Concerto who I mentioned earlier."
He declared. There were voices of protest but with a single glare of the king, they were unable to refuse his decision. But, when I looked at their gaze, I found out that they were avoiding eye contact with my mother.
"I will glad-fully accept the engagement."
I straightened my back and gave up on refusing any more. Alicia looked at her left and her right as if looking for someone. I approached her closer. Alicia turned toward me and widened her eyes seeing me behind her.
"Ren-Onii-sama, no, Ren-sama, I'm so happy!!"
She said as she suddenly hugged me. This kind of thing is normal, isn't it? I mean in this world.
"I-I- I have something for you."
I said it. I took the ring I had prepared before. I took her right hand and put the ring on her ring finger.
"A-Actually, I wished to give this to you as a birthday gift but I guess this also can be made into an engagement ring for us. Also from now on, I shall cherish you forever."
I declared. I heard a single person clapped his hands. I saw at the corner of my sight Leo was smiling while doing it. The nobles were speechless and began following his applause. When the applause faded, the music for the last dance started.
"May I have an honor to dance with you, my princess?"
I bowed as politely as possible. Alicia blushed red till her ears and nodded. She took my arm and we started to dance along with the melody. We looked at each other's eyes. We didn't notice that we and Leo along with his partner had become a spotlight of the dance hall.