Baby Pharmacist Princess

“How about this blue dress? It would look so elegant with the sapphire tiara!”

“No, this flower-patterned dress is perfect for a day like this! It will catch everyone’s attention!”

It was 1 PM.

Idsys and Gergys were supposed to come to get me around 3 PM.

Since there was plenty of time, I could choose a more complicated outfit.

It would help me focus my mind better.

After all, today was an important day when I would meet grandfather for the first time, and I needed to concentrate on this.

I had to momentarily forget about the boy who had vanished.

“I’ll wear this one.”

“The floral dress! An excellent choice.”

The white dress was adorned with lace and reached just below my knees, giving it a very cute look.

Pink flowers bloomed beautifully around the waist and shoulders.

Of course, they were all real flowers.

A ribbon made of sheer, veil-like fabric trailed down the back, swaying lightly and lifting my spirits just by looking at it.

I also had matching pink flower shoes!

‘Now I’m ready to face people.’

I would wear a veil to avoid showing my face, making it perfect.

‘I still don’t want to show my face to the nobles.’

But wait for me, great-grandfather.

I’ll soon turn you into a doting grandfather!

“Shall we also put on a floral crown?”

“You’ll look just like a little fairy. A fairy of flowers!”

Sophia and Nania looked at me with adoring eyes, barely containing their excitement.

Well, I know I’m cute.

Today, I left my hair down instead of braiding it or tying it into pigtails.

A crown made of lisianthus and flower branches was placed on my slightly curly blonde hair.

I looked like a baby just born from a flower.

My cheeks were plump and rosy with a healthy flush.

I wasn’t planning on showing my face to many people, but the people in this room could see it!

“So cute!”

“How could you be this adorable!”

I wiggled my hips this way and that, admiring my reflection.

Shami and Hanna, who were staring at me in a daze, turned and fluffed the cushions.

Doesn’t it hurt their hands?

“The two princes will arrive in a bit. You didn’t eat much breakfast… would you like a cookie with chocolate chips?”

Even after I finished getting ready, Idsys and Gergys had not arrived yet.

Well, I did finish 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

When I nodded, Nania brought me a freshly baked cookie filled with chocolate chips.

It was warm, just as I had requested from the kitchen.

‘Delicious!’

I held the large cookie with both hands and nibbled on it happily, even dipping it in milk.

Taking a big bite, I felt my fatigue melt away.

Although my mouth was covered in cookie crumbs and chocolate, I decided to clean up later since it wasn’t a formal dining setting.

‘How did he know I was at the dragon’s market and not the palace?’

No one knew I went to the dragon’s market.

Not Dad, not the twins.

So, how did he know to find me there?

Did my future self tell him about it?

‘That’s a hard thing to share with just anyone. We must have been really close.’

For him to travel back from the future to find me, I must have been important to him too.

The only thing I could deduce was that we would know each other in the future.

So, he would be someone I would meet as I grew up.

Probably a noble.

He might even be a priest. His clothes suggested that.

‘And… he might know how to forcibly log me out and return to reality.’

It felt like he tried to call me ‘Chaeri.’

‘Wait. But…’

If I exist in the future, why did he come to the past?

Why go through the trouble?

“Umm.”

“Princess, does the cookie not taste good?”

“No! It’s delicious.”

Why worry about it alone?

If he came back to find me, he’ll definitely show up again.

He must have a reason for coming to me.

“Piyaki, it’s time to go.”

“Pretty one, it’s time to leave.”

Right then, the door burst open, and Gergys and Idsys appeared.

They arrived before I could clean the crumbs off my mouth!

“What’s this? Eating messily with crumbs all over your face?”

Gergys teased me, chuckling.

Instead of wiping my mouth myself, I handed him a silk handkerchief.

“Then wipe it for me, brother.”

“What? You want the great Gergys Wynn Castalia to wipe your mouth?”

Oh, still not working.

What a pity.

‘Making him a doting brother is tough!’

I immediately turned to Idsys and gestured.

“Brother Ids.”

“What scheme is our lovely sister plotting now?”

Idsys smiled and knelt to my level, ready to play along.

I blew a puff of air and wiped his mouth with the handkerchief.

“So cute, so cute.”

Of course, there was nothing on Idsys’s mouth.

It was just for Gergys to see.

Then, I glared at Gergys with the handkerchief still in hand.

“Why are you glaring at me like that? Id gets it, and I don’t?”

“You didn’t say ‘so cute’ to me, did you?”

“Who said I wouldn’t? You asked me to wipe, not say ‘so cute.’”

“What? It’s the same thing! You don’t understand me. You’re such a dummy, brother.”

I pouted, insisting stubbornly.

Gergys wasn’t the type to get mad at a child, so he would just let it slide. And given Gergys’s nature…

“Give it here! I’ll do it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Now come here.”

“Woohoo!”

Gergys pinched my lips playfully, then gently wiped the crumbs off my mouth, just like I had done to Idsys.

Hmph, he was going to do it anyway, so why did he put up a fuss?

“Look at that. The two princes are being so kind!”

“I’ve never seen this before.”

“There were rumors that the twin princes were too cold to approach.”

“It must be because our princess is so adorable that the princes are charmed by her.”

Hanna and Shami acted as if they had discovered a rare artifact, seeing me interact with my twin brothers so casually.

It was amusing and I wanted to keep listening, but…

It was time to go.

“Shami, my bag!”

“Here it is.”

I had drawn this bag a while ago and asked Sophia to make it.

A small first-aid kit with scissors, bandages, and ointments I had made.

I kept Shami’s ten-year-old ointment for comparison purposes.

I planned to show it and argue that my ointment was better.

‘And I secretly added antihistamines.’

I couldn’t bring the modern medicine box, so I discarded the box and kept the pills.

‘Let’s say a dragon gave it to me in a dream!’

I hoped the excuse would work on grandfather.

“But brothers.”

“Yes?”

“What?”

As we rode in the luxurious carriage to the Celestial Palace.

I called out to the twins, who were leaning against the windows like mirror images.

I stared at their handsome faces… or rather, their empty hands.

“It’s Agricultural Day.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why aren’t you carrying anything to present to His Majesty the Emperor?”

Shouldn’t we be bringing a lot of things?

When I tilted my head in confusion, Idsys smiled slightly, his expression a bit sinister.

“Our offerings are already prepared, so don’t worry.”

“Hmm.”

Suspicious.

I scratched my cheek and decided to stop thinking about it.

Whatever, Idsys will handle it!

And soon.

“….”

What did he just say?

I found myself in a truly baffling situation.

There had been no mention of this before!

* * *

The White Night Palace had a classic beauty rather than flamboyance.

The ceilings and tapestries felt old-fashioned, even the candelabras.

Probably because Dad had a taste for the antique.

Shami once got metal poisoning from polishing the candelabras, which weren’t made of silver.

There’s a distinct difference between silver and nickel candelabras.

It wasn’t because Dad lacked money; he simply preferred the atmosphere.

‘Then this place is… truly dazzling.’

The Celestial Palace, where foreign dignitaries were received, was the Emperor’s palace.

It was essentially the face of Castalia.

It was a political space designed to showcase Castalia’s wealth and to intimidate other nations.

‘I expected it to be grand, but not this much!’

I didn’t expect it to be covered in gold to this extent.

Even the chandeliers were the epitome of luxury.

I felt suffocated by the immense wealth and power.

‘Thank goodness I’m wearing a veil.’

It was slightly blurred, so I didn’t feel as intimidated.

“This way, please.”

Contrary to my expectation of a bustling palace, the atmosphere was quiet.

The chief steward personally guided us, leading us in a different direction from where the other guests were headed.

“We’re going to the royal seating area in the banquet hall. You’ll sit between us, and grandfather will be on the right.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t be too nervous, grandfather won’t bite.”

Idsys chuckled and patted my head.

I guess he explained because I looked frozen.

‘Sometimes, Idsys can be quite considerate.’

Idsys was attentive where Gergys was indifferent.

Conversely, Gergys was easygoing where Idsys was sensitive.

How could twins be so different?

“Let’s go.”

“Wait! Hold my hand.”

Gergys was about to enter, so I quickly grabbed his jacket.

“Hey, you’ll make us trip!”

“Hold my hand, please. Okay?”

“What’s this, Piyaki? Are you scared?”

Gergys glanced at me and made a ‘hmm’ sound, as if he could see my expression through the veil.

“Well, can’t be helped. Meeting grandfather for the first time. Someone as weak as you might faint from just a glance.”

“Has anyone fainted before?”

“Yeah. A lot. Good thing you’re wearing that long veil.”

Not that I wore it because I was scared…

But I was nervous.

‘I’m about to meet Raerhod Royal Castalia!’

A man who fought the Dragon Lord barehanded.

He’s the only one alive from that era.

‘…How lonely must he be?’

I suddenly thought about it.

Everyone always talks about grandfather’s grandeur.

How great, how strong, how long-lived he is.

But I felt a little…

‘He’s neither a dragon nor fully human.’