While Michel experienced the consequences of his actions, Rishe, as his student bowed her head in his place.
"I'm sorry, Prince Kyle. We'll be more careful in the future. We'll make sure not to do research in soiled clothes, and we'll eat all the food we're served! I swear, never again will he eat the flowers in the garden because getting food is too much trouble for him."
"Wait, I haven't heard that one! Besides, Michel's not the only one I'm getting complaints about."
"Huh?"
Rishe blurted out. She looked up to see Kyle glaring at her this time.
"It's you too, Weitzner. You're hoarding so many books, one scholar is worried the stone floor will give out. Could you consider moving them out when you've finished reading them?"
"What?! Um, I—"
"I believe we've already spoken about you stacking books taller than your own height. That's dangerous! What if they collapsed in an earthquake or something?"
"I have no excuse…"
Despite this, every book in her room was valuable, and she wasn't done learning from them. She'd read some of them so many times that she could recite their contents from memory. Depending on when she picked them up, however, she could make new breakthroughs on her rereads.
I'm just freeloading here. I can't cause trouble for the castle. But I don't know how to prioritize which books to keep and which to get rid of! I'll have to spend at least another two weeks—no, three weeks—reading them all from cover to cover one last time…
"And that's why I'll be opening up one of my rooms for you two to use as an archive."
"I'm sorry, Prince Kyle, give me just one month to consider—wait, what?!"
Rishe was baffled. "Are you sure? All the books in my room pertain to alchemy, so I'm the only one who'd use them. I wouldn't want to take up a whole room…"
People tended to view alchemists as crackpots who sucked up time and funds without producing results. Michel had been invited to Coyolles not for his alchemy knowledge but for his expertise on other subjects, like medicine. Kyle had no reason to respect Michel and Rishe as alchemists.
Yet Prince Kyle met their eyes with an unwavering will and said without hesitation.
"It's my duty to support you, and I intend to do so without compromise."
"Oh, Prince Kyle…"
That wasn't the end of it either—Kyle helped Rishe and Michel countless times after that.
"You two were so focused on your research that you forgot to eat again, didn't you?! Wait, it's fine, you don't need to get up. Keep watching your flasks; just eat this bread for now. But drink water first!"
"If you need research funds, I can negotiate with my father. I know you two will produce results. I'll convince him."
"It went well? I see. Congratulations. Above all, I'm glad to see your hard work rewarded."
Immersed deep in her memories as she sat in a room in Galkhein's palace, Rishe thought, Prince Kyle always treated me kindly in every life, so I have to help—
"Rishe."
Michel called her name, and she looked up. After Arnold gave her permission to continue her training, Rishe had spent her afternoon visiting the tower quarters of the scholars from Coyolles.
"I looked over it. The focus is very interesting; I'm curious to see the results."
"Thank you, Professor Michel."
On the table between them sat a research paper Rishe had written in the few days since she'd reunited with Michel. It was an idea she'd only half completed in her life as an alchemist. She thought it might be useful for her war avoidance plan and wanted to hear Michel's opinion on it.
"It's all verified up to a certain point." He told her.
"I dabbled back home, but I had to stop when I came to this country to get married." Rishe mixed some lies with the truth. In reality, she'd died in the middle of her research.
As her knight guards watched over them, Rishe asked him several questions.
Michel the scholar is one of Coyolles's greatest weapons right now, but he's not enough. If Galkhein wanted him, they'd just pluck him from Kyle instead of forming an alliance.
There was another reason she didn't want Michel and Arnold meeting again. Remembering her parting with Michel, she clenched her hands into fists.
"Say, Rishe." Michel put the paper down and smiled softly.
"Do you like learning?"
"Yes, I love it! I get excited learning anything new, whatever it is. It feels like my world expands, and everything I've seen up to that point suddenly looks different."
"Heh heh, I know what you mean. Learning is fun—especially when you can apply what you've learned. I'm sure about this now…" Michel put his chin in his hand, grin widening.
"You're not suited to being an empress."
One of her knight guards opened his mouth to protest, but Rishe silenced him with a glance. Michel didn't mean anything by it.
He continued sunnily, "Well, it's true, isn't it? You're better suited to the freedom to go wherever you want and try whatever you want. I think you should be living that kind of life."
"Professor…"
"You should just come with me." He cocked his head, blond hair spilling over his shoulder. "Then you could learn a bunch of new stuff. I'll teach you anything you want to know."
"I appreciate the invitation."
Rishe looked out the window. Far in the distance, she saw the detached wing where she and Arnold lived. Arnold would be there now, having returned to his work.
"However, I'm working to understand one particular subject at present."
"Arnold Hein, huh?"
Rishe flinched.
Michel cast his eyes down, the shadows of his long lashes falling on his cheeks.
"I'm interested in him too. He rejected Kyle's request, but the way he did it piqued my curiosity. I'd love to give him a certain compound and see what happens…"
"O-oh." Rishe felt clammy sweat breaking out on her skin.
"I call it gunpowder."
There was a darkness in Michel's eyes as he looked at Rishe.
"Heh heh… I'm sure your husband would make great use of it."