That really shocked Rishe to the core.

“What’s wrong?”

“I-Is that alright? What I have in my room are books on medicine. I’m the only one who uses it, and it would be inconvenient for you to open a room.”

Alchemists were always seen as “just spending money and time, but rarely produced results”.

Koyor invited Michel not because of the need for knowledge in alchemy, but because he was expected to be knowledgeable in various fields, including pharmacology.

Kyle essentially needn’t respect Rishe and the others as “alchemists”.

But he said it without hesitation. With a serious face that straightforwardly conveyed his intentions.

“It’s my duty to support you, but I absolutely don’t want any compromises on your own behavior.”

“Prince Kyle …”

As he said, Kyle had helped Rishe and Michel many times.

“Are you guys immersed in research and not eating again…?! Wait, okay, don’t move, don’t move. Just watch the flask and immediately take this bread to your mouth. Drink water first.”

“I’ll talk to my father for the research funding. — I know you’ll definitely get results. I’ll make him nod his head.”

“Did it work?? … Great, congratulations.”

“Above, I’m really happy that all your hard work has paid off.”

In a room in the Garkhain Imperial Castle, Rishe quietly pondered.

… Prince Kyle has been so good to me in every life I’ve had. That’s why I am…

“Rishe…”

She raised her head up when Michel called out before her.

In the morning, Arnold allowed her to continue her training. And in the afternoon she visited the tower where the Koyor scholars were staying.

“I’ve read through it.. The points of view are very good and interesting. I’m interested in the results myself.”

“Thank you, Dr. Michel.”

Lined up on the tabletop were the research drafts she had written out in the days since her reunion with Michel.

These were the ones that had ended up being only aspirations in her alchemist’s life. She wanted to get Michel’s opinion, as some of them could be used for her future plans to avoid war.

“All of them have been tested to some extent, haven’t they?”

“When I was at home, I did some as a hobby. I had to interrupt it because of my marriage to this country.”

Rishe mixed the truth with lies. In fact, it was because she died in the middle of her research.

“For reference, have you ever experimented with this material?”

“I did. That’s why I’ve been wondering about the proportions here. The chemical solution is too strong with the material…”

While her knight guards were on the lookout, Rishe asked Michel a lot of things.

One of the weapons that Koyor has in its arsenal right now is the product of a scholar named Dr. Michel… His Royal Highness Arnold will be interested in this, but it won’t bridge the friendship between the two countries. Dr. Michel isn’t going to be part of Koyor for the foreseeable future.

Besides, she thought.

There was another reason why she didn’t want Michel and Arnold to be close to each other. Remembering when she once parted company with Michel, she clenched her hands together.

“Hey, Rishe…”

Michel smiled softly, stopping her arguments.

“Do you like studying?”

“Yes, very much!”

She nodded sincerely at the question.

“Learning something new is always exciting. The world just keeps expanding and once you get to know the different perspectives, you’ll see things differently.”

“Fufufu, yeah. It’s fun to learn, and it’s also fun to put it into practice”

“Yes. I jump for joy when I can prove in an experiment a theory I’ve built on my desk.”

“I get you. And you’re definitely right.”

Michel propped his cheeks up on the table and said with a bewitching smile.

“— You’re not fit to be a queen.”

“…”

The knight guards were about to say something, but Rishe deterred them with a glance.

Though it was riddled with elements of misunderstanding, Michel meant no offense at all. He continued in a clear voice.

“Because, you know what?　The freedom to go anywhere and try anything you want anytime suits you better. You’re much better suited to that way of life.”

“… Teacher.”

“ I wish you could come with me.”

When he craned his neck, his golden hair spilled out in the breeze.

“Then you’ll discover a lot of things you don’t know. I’ll teach you everything you need to know, how about it?”

“Thank you so much for the invitation … but what concerns me most right now is …”

Rishe looked out the window.

In the distance, she could see the detached palace where her room and the others’ were located. Arnold should be back in his office and conducting official business in that one room.

“Arnold Hein?”

“!”

She stiffened.

When Michel looked down, the shadow of his long lashes fell on his cheeks.

“I’m interested in him too. I heard that he refused Kyle’s request, but his refusal was very much suited to my experiments, you know? I’d like to know what would happen if I gave him a certain drug.”

“Ah……”

She felt an unpleasant sweat trickle down her face.”

“I’ve named it Gunpowder. If it’s your husband, phew…”

Michel said, looking at Rishe with somewhat dark eyes.

“– I have a feeling its use would be very effective.”