Chapter 100

The audience chamber of the royal palace was heavily silent.

High ceilings, long stretching shadows. The King sitting on the throne slowly dropped his gaze.

Before him stood Princess Elysia. Showing no fatigue from the journey, her back was straight and her voice unwavering.

“…The above is the report of the on-site inspection and negotiations.”

The quiet voice dropped into the hall. After a brief silence, the King opened his mouth.

“…Anesthesia, did you say. An art to erase pain…”

At the edges of the words in his low, stifled voice, clear displeasure oozed.

“Pain is a trial granted to humanity by God.”

His finger slightly tapped the armrest of the throne.

“To erase that with medicine… is tantamount to blasphemy against God.”

His gaze became sharp. The air in the hall pulled taut, but Princess Elysia did not avert her eyes.

“…Furthermore, poppy seeds, no, opium, you said.”

As if spitting it out.

“Our nation is to handle that?”

That gaze was no longer one looking at a daughter.

It was the eyes of a “judging King.”

“Father.”

Princess Elysia stepped forward just one pace.

“This is not poison.”

She declares it clearly.

“If the usage is mistaken, it becomes a harm. However, if used correctly—it can save soldiers suffering on the battlefield, and soften the pain of those groaning in their sickbeds.”

The King’s brow moved slightly. Princess Elysia continued.

“I actually saw it. In the art of amputation, a scene where the treatment was performed just quietly, without screams, without thrashing about.”

A slight heat dwelled in her voice.

The vassals stirred slightly.

“…Such a thing…”

Someone’s faint mutter. The King stared at his daughter, remaining silent. Princess Elysia stepped in one pace further.

“Father, if we have this art, we can save many lives.”

Her voice wavered slightly this time.

“Please—grant your approval.”

Her words catch. Even so, she continued as if squeezing them out.

A long, long silence. Eventually, the King slowly opened his mouth.

“…The church?”

To the short question, Princess Elysia answered immediately.

“We have obtained their approval.”

She presented the document she had prepared.

The King’s eyes caught it, and he took it in his hand to confirm. His eyes widened greatly, and then—stopped.

“…”

The quality of the silence changed. It was no longer the rejection from earlier, but calculation and judgment.

“God’s proxy… approved it, huh.”

He muttered low.

His gaze slowly raised. What was there was a different light from earlier.

“…If so, the story is different.”

The corners of his mouth twisted slightly.

“If we overlook this, we will be forestalled by other nations. He who controls pain, controls people.”

A heavy, certain voice. The King stood up.

“Elysia.”

He called her name. That tone was entirely different from earlier.

“You did well to bring this back.”

Stepping one pace closer, he powerfully pulled his daughter into an embrace.

“My pride.”

Princess Elysia’s eyes widened slightly. The King immediately separated from her and turned around.

“Show me the document.”

He held out his hand. Princess Elysia quietly handed over the draft of the treaty. The King ran his eyes through it, line by line. Eventually, he opened his mouth.

“…Good. However, there is a condition.”

His gaze became sharp.

“The import of opium will be under the management of the royal family. The distribution rights as well, I will place entirely in my hands.”

He asserted heavily. The vassals gasped, but no one voiced an objection. The King closed the document.

He looked at Princess Elysia again. In those eyes, there was no longer any doubt.

“…You wrapped up this negotiation, did you.”

Princess Elysia quietly nodded.

“Yes.”

A short reply.

The King slowly let out a breath.

“…Splendid.”

That word was heavy.

“This is—a matter that will move the future of this nation.”

A quiet stir spread through the hall.

Princess Elysia bowed her head. But, her fingertips were trembling slightly.

Whether that was—relief, heavy responsibility, or perhaps both, was not yet known.

The King silently watched that state.

The stir of the hall grew distant.

…Originally. It was supposed to be a mere inspection.

Prince Leonhart’s medical university. I had merely ordered her to go see its actual state.

“…A transaction, huh.”

He muttered extremely softly, in a voice no one could hear. He had not thought she would bring back something to this extent. The supply of opium, the technique of anesthesia—both sway the power of a nation.

“…It is likely not the power of my daughter alone.”

He thinks quietly. Prince Leonhart, who is behind this—that is likely what moved it. However, the one who wrapped it up and brought it back was…

“…Elysia, huh.”

His gaze narrowed slightly. He had no choice but to raise his evaluation of her.

“This daughter is…”

He searched for words internally.

Political acumen, negotiation skills, and nerve—all of them are more than sufficient for royalty.

“…She can no longer be contained as a mere princess.”

Eventually, whether willing or not. That alone is not enough.

Bringing back an art approved by the church and profiting the nation—that state of being.

“Will she appear as a messenger of God?”

It is not irony. As reality, the people and nobles will likely treat her as such.

“…Troublesome.”

He let out a small breath.

A daughter holding too much power is sometimes dangerous. However, at the same time, there is no piece as useful as this.

“…As for a marriage partner…”

His thoughts naturally headed there.

Someone who can stand alongside this daughter, or suppress her.

“An ordinary partner will not serve.”

Rather, they would be swallowed up. She is becoming a vessel of that caliber.

Prince Leonhart’s name quietly floated up.

This negotiation, the conception, the conditions, the church’s approval—all of them are too much for the hands of a single lord. But, it is not impossible.

“…Did he accomplish it?”

His evaluation was calm. He has acumen; and it is not merely that he is excellent.

Reading ahead, arranging preparations, and binding the other party in a “form that makes them choose.”

“A troublesome man, but… as I thought, I want him.”

Those words spilled out far too naturally.

If that were in his own nation. In medicine, the military, trade—in everything, they could stand at an advantage.

“Can he be drawn in?”

His finger slightly tapped the armrest.

There are many methods. Debts of gratitude, contracts, or perhaps… his gaze returned to Elysia.

“…Marriage.”

Quiet thoughts. Binding him by tying him to his daughter is the most certain and strongest form, but… The King narrowed his eyes slightly.

“…Is he a man who will obey?”

No. That kind of human does not easily bend the knee. If bound, he will flee; if suppressed, he will bare his fangs.

“If so.”

His thoughts sank even deeper.

Instead of binding him, “make him choose.” Arrange the profits, the value, and the environment so that he chooses this nation.

“…Draw him in, huh.”

The King slowly let out a breath.

At the end of his gaze, Elysia raised her face.

“…Amusing.”

The corners of his mouth twisted ever so slightly.

Both his daughter and that man had exceeded his expectations.

“It will not be boring.”

In the King’s eyes, the next board was already reflected.