2

Even though two weeks had already passed since the completion of the elixir, Noel had still not returned to the Magic Institute even once.

To be precise, he had been far too busy to return.

The creation of the elixir, its completion, the awakening of the princess who took it, and then the documents and procedures afterward, reports to various places, and hearings.

And today, an academic conference that also served as a cabinet meeting was held in order to formally engrave Noel’s achievement into history.

With the approval at this meeting, the completion of the elixir would be engraved into history.

The summoning of witnesses, the explanation of the circumstances, and the assembly’s approval.

Naranda testified, and afterward, Ezra proved the formulas.

Then Rodney deployed the ice formula and reproduced it.

For the summoning of the final witness, Her Highness Bridget, the Second Queen, who was Princess Eugenia’s mother, personally became a witness and testified in precise detail about everything from the princess’s sleep to her awakening.

Princess Eugenia was surprised at having awakened, but she was extremely healthy, and from tomorrow onward, she would be permitted to go outside as well.

Noel’s great achievement of completing the elixir was unanimously recognized by the assembly, and the venue erupted in thunderous applause.

It was a historic moment.

To celebrate this memorable day, a grand celebration would apparently be held afterward.

“I do not know how I can thank you. Truly, thank you.”

After the meeting ended, Bridget, the Second Queen, came down from the platform and deeply bowed her head before Noel, her daughter’s lifesaver.

Royalty almost never bowed their heads to vassals. It went against manners, and it also concerned the dignity of the royal family.

However, not a single person rebuked this Second Queen’s conduct.

What every mother could do for the benefactor who had saved her daughter’s life was the same, no matter her position, whether she was a queen or a commoner.

And the current position of this foreign-born queen within the royal palace was extremely weak.

However, if the fiancé of the daughter she had borne had completed the elixir in order to save that daughter’s life, then it was easy to predict that this queen’s position in the rear palace would change greatly from now on.

“No. To begin with, though I was with Princess Eugenia, I could not fully protect her from the magical beast. I am sorry.”

While feeling the stern gaze of the First Queen, who was currently the leading force in the rear palace, on his back, Noel bowed his head even lower than Queen Bridget before him.

From tomorrow onward, a violent whirlpool of factional struggle would likely arise in the rear palace.

(That is not a matter I know about.)

At the ominous air among the murmuring women, Noel sighed.

“Still, to think that you truly completed the elixir. From now on, there will likely be many attempts to recruit you from other countries. Though she has only just awakened, quickly form ties with Eugenia and devote yourself firmly to the development of this country’s magic.”

“Your words are more than I deserve. The Saratoga marquis family, beginning with my eldest son Noel, as well as my second son, the heir, and all our clan, swear to become the hands and feet of the royal family and continue to serve the royal family.”

“Ha ha! The Saratoga family has gained an excellent son, and it seems the next generation will become even more active! I will continue to rely on you.”

“Your words are more than I deserve.”

The people having an extremely pleased conversation before Noel’s eyes were Marquis Saratoga, Noel’s father, and the king.

Due to the great achievement Noel had accomplished, the assembly approved the promotion of the Saratoga marquis family to a ducal house.

(I feel as though this is the first time this person has ever called me his eldest son.)

To Noel, who had always been abused by his father as a failure who should have died, the pleased man before him seemed like a man he did not know, and it felt unpleasant.

After obtaining the justification of completing a domestically produced elixir, the king had succeeded in raising Marquis Saratoga to a duke. With this, he had succeeded in fully incorporating the Saratoga marquis family, which had been of the Temple faction, into the royal faction, and he could not stop laughing.

Possessing an elixir was proof of great national power.

As a check against foreign countries with which friction was intense, and in the field of magical medicine, where this country had lagged behind those foreign countries, Noel had shown a great recovery.

There was nowhere to find material with which to oppose the elevation of the Saratoga family, which had brought about this achievement.

“As expected of one who inherited the blood of your late mother. Surely the completion of the elixir by Noel-sama’s hand was a feat accomplished by the blood of the Great Saintess that flows so strongly within Noel-sama.”

The Head of the Temple, who wanted no matter what to insert into the official documents that the existence of Noel’s mother, the Great Saintess from the Temple, was the key to the completion of the elixir, repeated the same statement for the umpteenth time today.

If the completion of the elixir became solely the result of research at the Magic Institute, a royal facility, then the right to use it and the right to manufacture it would belong only to the royal family.

If that happened, the Temple, which had expanded its influence by holding the rights to holy power, a healing force far inferior to the elixir, would rapidly lose its power.

The Head of the Temple loudly insisted on how much Noel’s ultramarine eyes resembled those of Noel’s mother, the Great Saintess.

This man had never once said to Noel before that the figure of Noel’s late mother resembled Noel.

The royal family, the Saratoga family, and the Temple.

The forces that had denied Noel’s life since his birth changed their stance in a single night and swarmed around Noel.

(Even though I had wanted my father to recognize me so much, wanted the Temple to bless me so much, and wanted to be useful to the royal family so much.)

Noel let out a deep sigh for the umpteenth time today.