Baby Pharmacist Princess

The next day, as soon as I woke up, I used the Save Point Dart.

[If you encounter a Game Over, you will restart from this point.
Would you like to use the Save Dart?]
[Yes/No]

Of course, it’s a Yes.

‘Perfect.’

It would have been better if I could use it later, but this point is good enough.

‘Most importantly, it’s before the quests to give grandfather the plum wine and distribute the ointment!’

Once I complete those, I’ll earn plenty of gems. Then I can buy the dart again.

“Shall I tie your hair into two ponytails?”

“Yeah! With Cherry hair ties.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Shami divided my hair and swiftly tied it up. While she was doing that, a gift arrived from the papal office.

“Congratulations on your recovery. These are gifts from the Pope and all high-ranking priests.”

They were clearly gifts meant to curry favor, but why would they give these?

Were they trying to make a good impression on Idsys or Dad?

“Princess, which one would you like to open first?”

Hanna, who had just come in, sat beside me and helped me open the gifts.

One by one, we opened the large boxes first. Meanwhile, Sophia and Madam Maya entered together.

“Oh my, look at all these gifts! The Emperor also sent a gift for you, Princess.”

“Hapdi did?”

“Yes, he seems concerned about your health. Look at this, the corridor is full.”

Curious, I left the remaining gifts and peeked out of the door.

‘This is crazy.’

Servants were piling up something enormous… medicines?

‘It’s all herbal medicine!’

It must be his collection from every Agricultural Day. Wooden boxes with precious ginseng, ginseng candy, and concoctions that smelled pungent, like gongjindan. I stepped back, overwhelmed.

‘I hate bitter medicine.’

I appreciate it… really, but…

I won’t take it!

“Princess, you haven’t opened the Pope’s gift yet!”

“I thought it was one of the big boxes!”

“It’s a smaller box than expected. It’s light too… what could be inside?”

Everyone was curious.

After untying the crimson ribbon, the box opened easily.

Everyone leaned in, holding their breath.

Inside, beneath the packaging, was…

“A ribbon for a cat’s neck!”

“So adorable!”

“But why would he give a ribbon for a cat…?”

“Because the Princess resembles a cat…?”

Madam Maya, Hanna, Sophia, and Shami all had their guesses.

But I didn’t answer any of them.

Among all the gifts, this was my favorite.

‘It’s obvious.’

He’s taking care of my familiars.

One, two, three…

Exactly three…?

‘Why only three?’

I have four familiars.

Three were my cats from reality, and one was the unfamiliar one.

If he knew about our friendship in the future and my familiars, shouldn’t he know I have four?

“Piyak!”

Just then, someone called me loudly from outside.

Looking out the window, I saw Gergys with a confident expression.

And at the end of the reins he held…

“A pony! It’s your horse.”

“Pony!”

A chestnut-colored pony stood there, looking as cute as anything in the world.

* * *

Eventually, after another day of rest, I was able to toddle around White Night Palace.

Oh, busy, busy!

“Princess, should you really be walking around…?”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

“But…”

Shami and Hanna followed me around, unable to hide their worry.

But I couldn’t afford to wait.

‘I lost so much time being bedridden for a week!’

I need to make plum wine for grandfather, meet Myerden to write about allergies, and plan the distribution of my ointment with the palace medical department!

All that time was lost!

“Oh, Princess! You’re here?”

“Maya Granny!”

“We were all so worried. Are you really okay now?”

“Yes, very much! Look, I can even run!”

“Oh my.”

The kitchen was filled with the rich scent of bread. The tiled floor was white and beige, and I hopped around, stepping only on the white tiles.

Madam Maya and the other cooks watched me, relieved and smiling.

I thanked each one of them for worrying about me, promising not to get sick again.

“Thank you so much. I won’t get sick again.”

“Oh dear… You’re the only royal who thanks us lowly folks.”

Madam Maya smiled warmly, dabbing at her eyes, then blew her nose and pointed to the oven.

“A very delicious cheese olive bread is baking right now. Would you like to stay and have some?”

Of course!

The rich scent of butter and bread was everywhere.

I sniffed, eyeing the cheese olive bread in the oven.

I wanted to try it, but I was full… and I had things to do.

“Hmm… but first! I need to make some wine. Will you help?”

“Oh, wine?”

“I promised the Emperor! I said I’d make him a drink other than beer.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at my declaration.

Your Highness the Prince was high-ranking, but the Emperor was even higher, almost like a god.

“Us, making wine for the Emperor?”

Teng!

Dexon, who had just entered the kitchen, dropped the cast iron frying pan he was holding.

He’s huge like a bear but quite timid.

I placed my hands on my hips and nodded firmly.

“I made him wait because I was sick for a week. We need to hurry and make it.”

“Hoerk!”

“Oh, Dexon, don’t freeze up!”

To make plum wine, we needed to make plum extract first. Everyone was experienced, so they worked quickly.

“Making wine with Uslum! How interesting!”

“Isn’t it?”

“Is this dragon’s wine?”

“Well… kind of!”

The smell was too strong, so halfway through, I pinched my nose.

Everyone else did the work, so all a four-year-old like me could do was sit quietly.

There’s no soju here, so we used vodka instead, which should taste better.

We poured plums, sugar, and alcohol into clear glass bottles!

Once the plum wine was made, a spell would be cast to speed up the aging process, and it would be ready.

Just then, the cheese olive bread finished baking, and while waiting for it to cool, a good idea struck me.

“How about we bring this new wine to the party?”

“The, the party?”

Dexon shouted in his booming voice, looking incredulous.

“Yes, the Pope is coming in two days. It would be nice to give this to grandfather as a gift.”

Then he’d try it at least once, since I promised to make it.

And everyone would be very interested.

‘I can show how close I am to the Emperor!’

Distributing ointment through the medical department would face many hurdles.

Even if grandfather approved, it wouldn’t be easy.

The obstacles could come from the temple and lords with their own fiefdoms.

‘So, I’ll pretend to be a tiger!’

I’ll use the Emperor’s influence to my advantage!

As a future power broker, I planned with a smile and decided on my next steps.

‘I need a beautiful jewelry box and round container too.’

I’ll ask Sophia about it.

And I’ll present it at the party in front of all the nobles.

‘They say you’re labeled a witch if you make medicine at home. Let’s see them try.’

I guarantee that distributing my ointment will face immense opposition from the temple and its affiliates.

They might not call me a witch outright because I’m a princess, but they’ll do everything to obstruct it.

So, I had two choices.

1. Proceed in secret until the right moment, then quickly distribute the ointment.
2. Or reveal everything from the start and use power to crush any nonsense.

‘The former seems easier.’

But there will be spies from the temple in the medical department.

My only ally is Myerden.

If so, public opinion might turn against me.

For example, they might say the ointment from the palace is fake or made with trash.

‘It’s better to face it head-on.’

I’m quite smart, knowing the dirty tricks.

In front of the nobles, I’ll show how loved I am and how the Emperor views my ointment.

By subtly showing these, I can encourage distribution to the fiefdoms.

Jin and pro factions might not want to help, but a mere cough from grandfather would do the trick.

They’d comply out of fear of consequences.

‘Just like how in a company, no matter how much the departments fight, if the CEO coughs, they all fall in line!’