To Renalute
“Mother, how are you feeling?”
“Oh, I’m much better compared to before. I can feel my magic power draining away, but the medicine is helping to manage it somehow. Right, Sandra?”
Mother responded to my inquiry, then smiled and called out to Sandra, who was standing nearby.
“Yes. I adjust the dosage of her medicine daily based on my magic power measurements and condition assessments. So please, don’t worry.”
Sandra, who would never speak so politely in her regular conversations with me. Yep, this is definitely her on her best behavior.
“….Lord Reed, you aren’t thinking anything rude again, are you?”
“No, no, I’m not thinking anything!”
Her as sharp as ever intuition made me involuntarily wince a little. Mother watched our exchange with an amused smile.
Since the day Mother had her attack and narrowly escaped death, Sandra has been acting as her primary care physician. This is because magic depletion syndrome drains away magic power, eventually sapping one’s life force, and cannot be treated with conventional medicine. Rather, with her background in magic research, Sandra was the best suited for the role.
Plus, I’ve also taught her the specialized magic [Magic Power Measurement], which she can use. She records Mother’s magic power levels daily, adjusting medication doses and tracking symptom progression. We – Father, Sandra and I – have agreed not to disclose any information about the magic recovery medicine to outsiders until Mother makes a full recovery.
Since Mother’s attack, I’ve felt an even stronger desire to complete the medicine that can improve her magic depletion syndrome as quickly as possible. And once completed, we’ll also be able to save others suffering from the same affliction. I unconsciously started to ponder this.
“Reed? What’s wrong? You have such a scary look on your face…”
Mother placed a hand on my cheek, looking at me worriedly. Noticing this, I quickly put on a smile to reassure her.
“Oh, sorry. I was just lost in thought for a bit.”
“I see. As long as it’s nothing…”
Mother seemed unconvinced by my words, but Sandra came to my rescue.
“Lord Reed, will it be alright if you don’t go see Lord Reiner soon?”
“Ah, it is about that time. Mother, I’ll be heading to see Father now.”
I glanced at Sandra, then turned my eyes to Mother. Mother nodded and flashed a smile.
“I see. Do give Reiner my regards.”
“I will.”
I bowed lightly to Mother, then conveyed my thanks to Sandra with my eyes. Noticing my gaze, she responded with a smile. I left Mother’s room and headed for Father’s office.
Earlier today before visiting Mother with Sandra, the butler Galun had come to my room. He relayed a message from Father telling me to [Come see him in his office later].
But what does Father want to discuss? Surely it’s not to admonish me for slacking on martial arts training or something. With arms folded, I tilted my head pondering this as I walked.
I was truly shocked that one time when Father barged in to my training under the guise of toughening my courage through martial arts. The sight of Father wildly swinging a saber as he charged at me definitely seemed like he was enjoying himself. Lost in thought, I arrived outside Father’s office sooner than expected.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Father immediately responded from inside, “Enter.” So I announced, “Pardon my intrusion,” and entered the office. Father was working on paperwork at his desk when I came in. He lifted his eyes from the documents and stopped writing when he noticed me.
“Hmm…so you’ve come. Take a seat there.”
“Yes, pardon me.”
Leaning back in his chair, Father rotated and massaged his neck and eyes, evidently fatigued from paperwork. I sat down on the usual sofa he had indicated. Then Father also got up from his desk and took a seat on the sofa across from me, the desk separating us.
“I heard from Galun that you went to see Nunnally. How was her condition? I want to visit too but I’ve been busy with matters concerning your little princess.”
“Mother seemed well. Thanks to Sandra, her condition also appears stable.”
Hearing my reply, Father looked slightly relieved and pleased. Seeing his reaction, I thought “Father must really love Mother,” while changing the subject to ask about why I was summoned.
“So what did you need to see me about today? I heard from Galun that you summoned me but…”
“Yes, about that matter – the date to depart for Renalute has been decided.”
As I expected. I silently nodded at Father’s words.
“I see…”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
I had consulted with Father about wanting to go to Renalute, but it took more time than anticipated. Still, I’m finally able to go now. I had strongly pushed to go because it could provide a lead on solving the problem directly linked to Mother’s illness.
One major issue with the moonlight grass, the raw ingredient for the magic recovery medicine, was that it couldn’t be cultivated and mass produced within our territory. For some reason, ordinary cultivation methods don’t work and no one has successfully grown it yet. As things stand now, we have to rely on Chris’ trading company for the ingredient. This is one reason why the magic recovery medicine hasn’t been announced yet.
Renalute has advanced pharmaceutical herb cultivation and agricultural technologies. Therefore, I felt we needed to strengthen our commercial ties and exchanges with them. And based on my [Memories of My Past Life], there’s likely information on medicinal herbs that can serve as ingredients for a magic depletion syndrome treatment medicine.
Hearing that a departure date had been set, various thoughts floated through my mind. However, Father’s expression was stern.
“But as expected, we can’t let our guard down. It appears some faction on the Renalute side has its own agenda…”
“What do you mean…?”
Hearing Father’s words, I looked back at him quizzically. What agenda could they have regarding the fiancé candidate of a borderland nobleman’s daughter? Seeing my reaction, Father answered with an exasperated face.
“Haah…it means Renalute isn’t exactly united either. King Elias seems intent on a cordial approach. However, some retainers have objected – [We should arrange a marriage interview with an imperial prince first as propriety dictates, then consider the borderland Count’s son].”
Father finished speaking with a sardonic smile still plastered on his vexed face. Every country has its own domestic political maneuvers, I suppose.
“So what if that faction of retainers tries something?”
“There’s a possibility. I doubt they’d do anything extreme like assassination. But they may scheme to get you disqualified as a candidate.”
I see. As a candidate for the princess’ husband, they want to make me appear unsuitable so they can haul in an imperial prince for marriage negotiations instead. Those dissenting retainers probably belong to a faction dissatisfied with the vassalage agreements. Even in a subordinate state position, I can understand their gradual desire to establish a more equal standing with the empire. But if they overreach, I sense danger. As I contemplated this, a question popped into my mind.
“….Where did you obtain that information, Father?”
“Didn’t I say it already? No country is truly united. Plus, if I could only gather intelligence from overt channels, neither the country nor territory could be protected.”
Father stated this frightening fact as if it were perfectly ordinary. In other words, Renalute has collaborators who leak political information to our side. And the Empire, or rather Father, probably also manages some kind of intelligence agency. Sensing my train of thought, Father made a nasty expression.
“As expected, your perceptions are sharp. Well, I’ll teach you more about that in due time.”
“I humbly ask that you go easy on me…”
Seeing Father’s expression and words, I grimaced apprehensively, paling a little. Watching my reaction, Father emanated a delighted aura. Father seems to enjoy seeing me make troubled faces. Sighing internally at my exchange with him, I steeled myself to approach the meeting.
That day, the discussions preparing for the Renalute trip continued late into the night.
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated.
Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
