What Was With This Country… Two Emperors? (6)

For now, my tasks were already decided.

Neither the Empress nor the imperial princess could leave their places for long. Moreover, Agnes left me with a warning not to think about leaving the imperial palace yet, before disappearing somewhere.

I was suddenly left with the maids, but their gazes were no lighter. Women’s hearts seemed to be all the same.

“When there’s more time later, I’ll make them for you bit by bit… For now, could you bring more medicinal ingredients and prepare plenty of clean cotton cloth?”

“Leave it to us!”

Perhaps because of my positive tone, even the maids who had until now only bowed silently or gave short answers responded more actively.

I should have thought it was a good thing… but in truth, it wasn’t such a pleasant situation.

‘I’ll need to negotiate prices, and they won’t easily let me leave the palace either… this is quite complicated.’

Frankly, it didn’t seem possible to slip away unnoticed like I had back in the Apoca Kingdom.

At the very least, I could only hope that Rita or Guts would not forget me and occasionally send regards to the Empress.

So, I rolled up my sleeves, glaring at the Tiger’s Fang Grass the maids were carrying in as though it were my enemy.

I couldn’t afford to rest even for a moment, as the quantity I needed to prepare was beyond imagination.

Afterward, my plan was as follows.

Breakfast, four hours of work, lunch, four more hours of work, dinner, then two hours of work before resting. Even during the supposed free time, I couldn’t truly rest, constantly being called here and there.

Although I wasn’t working in those hours, the fact that there was no such thing as “clocking out” began to wear me down.

‘This is slavery! A servant’s life! No matter how much money it brings, this isn’t it!’

Crying out only in my heart, after a week of such a life, my body finally gave out.

“Urgh… I feel like I’m dying…”

I lay on the bed, unable to so much as lift a finger. A recipe to cure my condition surfaced in my mind at once, yet strangely, I had no will to make it.

‘This is my small resistance toward freedom!’

That’s what I told myself. But by morning, news of my condition had spread through the palace, and I ended up receiving an unexpected guest…

“Uh, ngh… what brings you here?”

Barely raising my body to sit on the bed, I looked up as the imperial princess quickly closed the distance and spoke in a hurried tone.

“You need not strain yourself. I was distressed to hear that you had collapsed from overwork…”

Her kind actions warmed the heart, yet they could easily become a problem. Even with maids in attendance, I was still a young man.

Even if she used a cloth to avoid direct contact, there were situations where being in the same space together was improper, so I quickly spoke.

“It’s not so serious. Once I’ve rested enough to use mana again, I intended to make medicine for myself. So please don’t worry, and return at ease.”

‘I wish you’d understand that leaving me alone is the best way to help me rest…’

Though I pleaded silently, the message never reached. I tried to emphasize my exhaustion with the dead eyes of a salted fish, but it still didn’t work.

Understanding only comes between those who share a similar context. Could a princess, who had never experienced such exploitation—like a black company squeezing its workers dry—possibly understand?

She wouldn’t, not in the least, which was why she didn’t notice that my eyes were fading away.

If I carelessly spoke my mind, I might end up forbidden even from resting when ill, forced to work regardless. So I kept my mouth shut, looking at the princess with the gaze of the dead.

‘Fill it with emptiness… show the hollow… make it clear I have no will…’

“You don’t look well. It feels like it’s my fault… I feel awful about it.”

I longed to tell her, It’s because of you right now! But in moments like these, it was better to hide the truth. So, with a light smile, I spoke.

“I’m grateful for your concern. I’ve done my best to help, but because of my weak body I collapsed. I’ll do my best to recover quickly. Thank you greatly for sparing your precious time to visit.”

“Oh, if you’re making medicine, just tell the maids what ingredients you need. I’ll have them bring you anything. Don’t worry.”

Those words were music to my ears.

Countless recipes filled my head, ranging from easily obtainable herbs to rare, difficult-to-find ingredients.

Still, I had to be “reasonable.” So, while the princess was still there, I decided to ask.

“Since you mentioned it, may I tell you the ingredients that just came to mind?”

“Of course! Please say it. Thanks to your medicine, I finally had a refreshing morning for the first time in ages.”

It seemed she had recently begun treating scars across her whole body.

It was good news, but from my position, it wasn’t something I could smile about.

The difference between a leisurely two months and an intense two months was enormous. I decided I had to make use of this opportunity wisely.

How far could the princess cover my requests?

Would it be acceptable to ask not for low-grade herbs but for mid-grade or higher-value ones?

A few came to mind, so I asked immediately.

“I want to make a special medicine for my current condition, but I’ll need some rare ingredients. Could they be obtained?”

“Whatever it takes, I’ll get them. Even if they’re rare, if you ask, I’ll bring them!”

Her eagerness was reassuring yet also troubling, but still, it was encouraging enough that I asked without hesitation.

“In that case… pollen of the Hornet Queen, liver of a Grizzly, Vitality Herb, and Singing Grass… could you manage those?”

At my words, the princess turned to look at her maid. With a firm nod, the maid silently promised she would.

As if to say whatever it took, she’d fetch them, the princess gave a satisfied smile and looked back at me.

“She says it should be possible.”

Though I hadn’t heard any answer directly, I could only say “Thank you.” At that moment, the world spun before my eyes.

I must have been standing too long. Judging from the recipe in my head and my symptoms, it was clearly “Mana Fever” caused by repeated mana depletion, leading to exhaustion and weakened resistance.

Even if I possessed the mysterious aptitude known as the Blessing of Mana, and thus was presumed to have a large mana pool, my untrained body couldn’t handle excessive use. It was my basic stamina being consumed.

I wasn’t a physician, so I couldn’t give a precise diagnosis, but that was my conclusion.

“When the priest arrives, let him examine your condition carefully. They’re skilled, and I believe they may be able to heal you.”

“A priest is coming as well?”

Why did it feel like everyone and their dog wanted to visit me? Still, since the princess said it, I had no choice but to wait with gratitude.

If I just refused them all and slept it off, it might solve everything… but no, their true aim was clearly to keep me from resting even for a moment.

If the priest healed me and restored my body…?

‘Then I’ll have to start working again. They mean to remove all my excuses, don’t they?’

With that thought, the princess’s beautiful smile began to feel terrifying. As her scars faded day by day, who knew how her heart might change? After all, she had no real reason to show such trust and kindness to a nameless apothecary like me.

I couldn’t believe it was just because I was her “benefactor.”

Having lost my innocence long ago, I could only suspect ulterior motives. At that moment, the maid’s announcement came with a knock: the priests had arrived. The princess quickly lowered her cloth covering her face.

Why did she reveal her face so naturally to me but hide it again from the priests?

Perhaps because I had already seen it once, and I hadn’t reacted with anything but comfort, she felt it was safe to show me. That must have been why.

Entertaining that thought, I looked toward the priests as they entered.

Their robes and demeanor were different from the priests I had met back in the Apoca Kingdom. Perhaps it was a different religion—or perhaps their status was simply high enough to enter the imperial palace.

“This is Archbishop Rahammar of the Church of the Central God. He often visits the palace to share sermons.”

An archbishop doing missionary work? Well, that made sense. Nobles wouldn’t meet just anyone; they needed rank. And drawing royalty into their faith would bring great advantages.

“It’s an honor. I am Jin-woo, an apothecary and adventurer.”

“Mana fever, is it? It looks fairly advanced… ah, forgive me, I rushed. As the princess introduced, I am Rahammar, Archbishop of the Church of the Central God. My manners slipped. May I ask—how have you been using your mana?”

“And what would be the reason for that question?”

“Depending on how you use it, different parts of the body weaken. Though I can only give you strength rather than cure you, I wish at least to ease your pain.”

“Ah… when making medicine, I often need to use mana. Usually it flows out through my hands… but I’m not sure exactly.”

“If you can sense your mana, then you must also know where it is stored within you, do you not?”

“…I don’t.”

Rahammar gave me a bewildered look. Then, forcing a laugh, he said, “There are some like that, yes.”

He was clearly flustered.

So I gave a vague reply.

“In my homeland, people say mana gathers here and here.”

I pointed to the dantian (lower abdomen in martial arts lore) and the heart (like a mage’s mana core in fantasy novels). Rahammar slowly nodded, then turned to the priests beside him.

“Prepare the hymn. It seems we’ll need the light of deep healing.”

What were they planning? A priest guided me to a chair in the room and reassured me to stay calm. Rahammar approached, placing his hand on my forehead as the priests around began to sing in soft voices.

I couldn’t understand the words, but the sound was beautiful. From Rahammar’s lips also came incomprehensible words, and soon a warm sensation spread from his hand into my body.

I was bewildered by this mysterious feeling when, suddenly, my consciousness faded, plunging me into blackout.

Where am I, who am I?

“Ah… the treatment…”

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was that I wasn’t in my assigned room. My voice startled someone nearby, who rushed over.

“Are you all right?!”

A familiar voice and face looked down at me. I flinched and tried to rise, but then I realized—my body felt impossibly heavy.

“What… happened?”

“Ah, thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness.”

The princess, with tears in her eyes, spoke those words. Just then, hearing her voice, others entered the room.

Among them were the Empress, the Emperor, Agnes, Rahammar, and others.

What kind of situation was this? I wanted nothing more than to prostrate myself on the floor and escape their sight entirely.

‘This pressure… it’s overwhelming…’

Why were they all gathered around me?