Lea, having promised the Count to take responsibility, soon succeeded in developing a vitality potion.

“Good enough!”

Beaming, Lea shook the potion bottle, having assured its safety through a few volunteers.

Her first plan was to sell it to the empire’s nobility through Magnolia. And at a very high price.

‘Once it gets popular among the nobles, commoners and even foreigners will seek this potion.’

Recently, the empire was suffering from a severe issue of low birth rates. Solving the nation’s problem with her potion while making money to aid the Count was like killing two birds with one stone.

The thought was ingenious. She left the room, grinning from ear to ear.

“Why are you grinning like an idiot?”

As Lea turned the corner, a familiar voice from behind stopped her. It was Rikel, smirking.

Are you turning into an idiot like the Count?

“Who are you calling an idiot?”

Lea frowned. Rikel raised his index finger at her.

“You.”

‘Really?’

Here it goes again.

Ever since returning from the execution grounds, if the Count wasn’t around, Rikel would pick a fight with her.

But she was in a particularly good mood, so she could tolerate Rikel’s petty squabbles.

‘I won’t share my earnings with you, Rikel.’

Imagining her notsodistant future, Lea smiled smugly.

“Do you know what I’ve developed? Recognize this?”

She shook the pastelcolored bottle at Rikel. Initially indifferent, Rikel’s interest perked.

“What is it?”

“A vitality potion.”

“…What?”

He looked disbelieving.

“You’re going to sell that?”

“Yes, starting with the nobility in Magnolia.”

Interest in male vitality was high in this world, too. But the actual effectiveness of known foods was questionable.

‘There’s no concept of taking a potion for vitality here.’

Surely, her potion would garner attention.

“If Magnolia vouches for it, people will trust its safety,” Lea spoke confidently.

“First, let’s target the nonnobles. As word spreads, even nobles will seek it out.”

Skeptically, Rikel scanned the potion she offered.

“Does this really work? You’re not scamming, are you?”

‘Scamming?’

Feeling insulted, Lea glared at him.

“Try it if you’re curious. You seem like you could use it.”

“Ha! Me, in need? Are you serious? This is a first for me, really!”

He snorted repeatedly.

“I’m fine without it. In fact, it might cause me problems.”

Rikel shrugged, exuding overconfidence.

Lea assessed Rikel from top to bottom and nodded.

“Since you say so confidently, I’ll take your word for it. No way to verify, after all.”

The two were friendly when criticizing the Count together; otherwise, they were always at each other’s throats.

Rikel, who had gotten a jab from Lea, clenched his jaw.

“Why don’t you give it to the Count?”

Rubbing her chin, Lea mumbled quietly.

“As for the Count…”

She was about to say ‘probably doesn’t need it,’ when

“I don’t need that sort of thing.”
An unexpected voice sounded from behind Lea.

(This is a time delimiter.)

Akia looked down at the letter he had received from the palace on Rikel’s behalf. Rikel, who had been with him in the office, had said he would return shortly but had not come back.

Where could he have gone? Because of that, Akia had to go all the way down to the mansion’s entrance to receive the letter.

“Summoned to the palace.”

The letter contained an imperial decree sent to Lea. She had refused to become the palace’s chief physician; it seemed they were now intent on bringing her to the palace.

Akia moved to find Lea. She was nowhere in his study or bedroom, presumably out for a walk.

Walking through the mansion and heading toward the garden, Akia couldn’t help but think of Lea who had confidently said she would take responsibility for him yesterday.

“What do you think you’re taking responsibility for?”

Did she know how much a nobleman’s townhouse was worth?

By her looks, it seemed she would buy even a palace, not just a townhouse. Akia let out a soft chuckle.

“Well, I feel good.”

Who would dare say they would take responsibility for a nobleman of the empire? The term “responsibility” tickled Akia’s heart after quite some time.

As he happily turned the corner—

“Is this really effective? Are you not scamming me?”

“Try it if you’re curious. It looks like you could really use it.”

“I don’t need such a thing, okay? If anything, it could be dangerous.”

Hearing the familiar voices, Akia halted. He had been wondering where Lea was since she had been missing since morning.

So this is where she was, apparently chatting with Rikel. But seeing how close they looked, Akia’s mood plummeted.

“When did they become so close?”

Come to think of it, was it since they left for the capital? After the invasion, they seemed to have grown considerably closer.

Akia’s eyes darkened as he watched the two from the corner.

“I’ll trust you since you’re insisting. I have no way to verify, anyway.”

“Why not give it to the Count instead?”

“Give it to me?”

Just the comparison to Rikel annoyed Akia.

“How dare you compare?”

Frustrated, Akia stepped forward.