"Pal, could you hand me that medicinal herb?"
"Yes."
While it's good that the soap sales are thriving, it's gotten so busy that even I have to pitch in.
From morning to evening, I treat the sick and injured at the clinic, and in the evenings, I work on soap production.
This all started when the soaps I presented to Lady Lucia and Her Majesty the Queen became a massive hit.
There were already soaps for the nobility, but the ones I presented to them were specially formulated for the royal family. Word of these soaps spread among other royal ladies, creating a buzz.
I thought we wouldn't need to produce such a large volume, but it was perhaps inevitable that Bale's shop received a flood of orders.
Now, I'm personally making these royal soaps to meet the overwhelming demand.
After spending several days making soaps for the royal family, I stepped out into the backyard with a wooden sword.
I practice swings every morning, but today, I planned to spar with Medis, a former knight.
In one corner of the backyard, there’s an herb garden. Thanks to Pados’s meticulous management, it has grown impressively.
Pados had just finished his morning tasks and was now training with Medis in swordsmanship.
At first, his stance was shaky and unsteady, but he’s become quite competent recently.
"I’ll join in too."
"Even if you're the leader, I won't go easy on you."
"Big talk."
Medis calls me "Leader." Since Boronbo is still referred to as "Boss," I guess it's for differentiation.
When Medis and I clashed fiercely, the children gathered to watch. They cheered for both of us equally, as long as they found it entertaining.
After a heated session that got my body warmed up, I decided to spar with Pados.
"Your stance is off. Step in more firmly."
"Yes!"
While Medis is already a finished product in a way, Pados still has room to grow. As I gave him instructions, he immediately executed a sharp step forward.
"That was a good move just now. Remember that feeling."
"Yes, sir!"
After guiding Pados, I also trained the children who wanted to join.
Some of them showed promising potential, though for most, it was just an extension of playtime.
The next day, I headed to the castle. Earlier, I had handed the king documents regarding an assassin—proof that Duke Ardeck had commissioned the assassination.
The king had stated he would punish Duke Ardeck, and I was here to learn the outcome.
Frankly, I didn’t care if the duke's family was destroyed or if there was some other punishment. My only concern was ensuring a single promise was upheld, which was my main purpose for this visit.
In the room where I was to meet the king, Lady Lucia and Her Majesty were also present. After greeting them, the king gestured for me to sit on the sofa.
We sat across from each other—me on one side, the three of them on the other. Lady Lucia and Her Majesty smiled warmly, but their smiles felt somewhat unsettling. Maybe it’s just my twisted personality.
"The soap you gifted us, Sai, was wonderful. I've purchased more," Her Majesty began.
"It’s such excellent soap! My skin and hair have never felt better!" Lady Lucia added enthusiastically.
"I’m glad to hear that. Please continue to support our products."
"Sai, I hear you’re leaving for a journey. What about soap production?"
"Your concern is valid, Your Majesty, but there’s no issue. I’ve ensured that production can continue even in my absence."
Relieved by my response, Her Majesty’s face lit up. Pal once mentioned how important skin and hair care are to women.
"I’ll miss you, Sai," said Lady Lucia.
"Thank you. I’ll make sure to visit when I return."
"Promise?"
"Of course."
After making a promise to visit upon my return, Her Majesty and Lady Lucia left the room.
Just like last time, the Prime Minister entered as the two exited.
"Now, let’s get to the main topic," the king said, speaking for the first time. It seems the king is rather weak to the queen and Lady Lucia.
The Prime Minister handed me a document, which I accepted.
"Duke Ardeck will be forced into retirement. I couldn’t completely dismantle the duchy, so this is the compromise."
"That’s fine, but you’re not letting Monoglok inherit the duchy, are you?"
Pados had mentioned wanting to punch Monoglok, so him becoming the head of the duchy would be troublesome.
"No. That one has inherited far too many of his parents' flaws."
At least the king understands that.
This way, Pados’s wish is fulfilled, and I can keep my promise.
"I had hoped you would return to the duchy and take over, but..."
"That’s not going to happen."
If I had any intention of succeeding the duchy, I would have ousted them and taken over long ago.
"I figured as much, but hearing it directly is still disappointing. What do you think, Homriya?"
"Indeed, it is. But if that’s the case, who should inherit the duchy?"
The two glanced at me as they spoke. Not cute at all.
"In that case, I’d recommend Viscount Elden."
I answered reluctantly.
"Elden, huh? While he is competent and sincere, wouldn’t someone like Count Pines oppose it?"
Count Pines, the head of the Ardeck branch family, would likely resist if a distant branch like Viscount Elden inherited the title.
"Wouldn’t this be a great opportunity to eliminate any houses that defy Your Majesty’s orders?"
When I said this, the king and the Prime Minister were momentarily stunned.
In this country, the temple and noble factions wield significant power. Some even disregard the royal family.
To counteract this, it might be beneficial to destroy a few branch families of Duke Ardeck’s house to set an example.
"You’re also a descendant of the Ardeck line. Are you okay with this?"
"My ties to Ardeck are severed. I have no concerns."
If necessary, I could even leak the incriminating information held by the Night Crows.
There’s plenty of evidence of noble misconduct, and while I don’t care much about the temple, the High Priest will have to answer for his actions eventually. That’s a matter for another time.
"I won’t ask outright, but it seems you have more tricks up your sleeve," the king said.
I responded to his remark with a smile.