My Beloved Fiancée

I am Harks. First Prince of the Daido Kingdom and the leading candidate for Crown Prince.

I've got a younger brother too, but let's set him aside for now.

What I want to talk about today is my fiancée.

 

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Biased as it might sound coming from me, my fiancée is quite the eccentric. A noble, and a very capable one at that.

She's loved by the people to the point that they call her a "Saint of Medicine", and I think that's only fair.

To be honest, I disliked her when we first met… well, if the me of back then were in front of me now, I'd like to give him a good knock on the head.

There are many times I've been helped by Koleha Nyarlathotep.

First, the biggest point: she taught me about my arrogance.

At the time, my tutors were in the process of instilling some strange ideas in me.

What's with " 'ore-sama' and 'kisama' are equal"? That's nonsense!

Being the eldest son doesn't make me Crown Prince, our country doesn't even fix the succession like that!

"Commoners are tools; you don't need to care about individuals" — seriously, come on!!

Like that, I was being educated in a way that naturally — naturally? — made my behavior arrogant. It was a conspiracy involving the servants, and it seemed even Father, the king, was receiving distorted reports.

Koleha saw through it and overhauled my tutors.

Thanks to that, I received proper education from proper tutors and realized just how foolish I had been.

Next: Koleha's medicinal herb, Kias.

It's had a great — truly, truly great — impact on the nation.

First, the people can use potions casually now.

Some apothecaries complain that their workload has increased, but as a result the mortality rate among the populace has dropped dramatically. Especially in the case of infants, we're practically seeing a baby boom.

It's to the point that we can predict a jump in national strength.

Well, even newborn infants are scrunching their faces at how bitter the medicine is. It's so bitter that they cry out as they drink it, apparently.

… I drink it too, so I know. Like the traditional potions, it heals injuries and minor illnesses quickly, but no matter how many times you drink it, that harsh bitterness never gets easier.

I mean, how is it that you taste the bitterness even when applying it to a wound? Is it a curse? If it weren't made by Koleha, I'd suspect the producer had a nasty personality.

Ah, no, I mean, well, if you ask whether Koleha's personality is good… yeah, let's say she has a… good personality.

In a good way… let's go with that. I don't dislike it. She's queen material.

That bitterness, no doubt, is by Koleha's design.

The price is accessible… but because it's so bitter you don't want to use it lightly, it rarely runs out of stock. It's the ideal form of a healing potion, something "only those who truly need it use it."

Also, thanks to the bitterness, there remains demand for Naori-grass potions as well. If you really can't stand the bitterness, you can use those instead.

Next, thanks to cheap potions, the knights' operational situation has improved and are able to train more intensely.

In particular, because they don't want to taste the potion's bitterness, their defense and evasion skills have improved, and now, ironically, potion usage itself has decreased.

In practice, both I and the knights have risen one — no, five — levels in skill. Yes, those are somewhat shameful reasons… but the skill is real. It's being put to use in subjugating monsters and maintaining order.

Even in emergencies, this potion can save a life. That means survival rates have risen. It also means fewer losses of combat power and lower payouts in injury benefits. In the end, the amount we bought in potions more than paid for itself.

The budget officer laughed that it was a strange feeling; buying things and ending up with more money.

Koleha's potions are saving the nation as well.

We were able to suppress the spread of the plague Ilunza.

It's been discovered that this disease, which almost broke out for a time, was a "man-made" disaster abetted by agents from another country. If we had failed to respond early, there would have been significant deaths domestically. Thanks to Kias, domestic deaths from Ilunza stayed in the low two digits.

Also, many people, myself included, resolved to take the potion's unbearable bitterness as a warning and to wash their hands and gargle diligently.

… Truly, is the potion's bitterness a trial imposed by Koleha?

That's how she is. She brings people up like this. In fact, everyone's getting trained up nicely. In various ways.

Right. I've digressed into medicinal herbs.

Let me return for a moment. Koleha's good points… was that it? No, the times she helped me.

She also taught me a royal mindset.

Do you remember the orphanage? That was quite an incident.

It was large-scale wrongdoing at the Royal Capital's orphanage. And it was Koleha who discovered it.

Had we failed to notice it, it would have led to distrust in the royal family.

… I was looking at the ledgers too, at the time. Oh, after that I made sure to add ledger-reading to my studies. Not just calculations, but the ability to read their meaning and intent as well. I bowed my head to Chancellor Madama to teach me.

It's an essential skill for a king, after all. He introduced me to a good civil official related to him. A fellow named Cuza Dagon. The chancellor's nephew.

Kenho, aren't you planning to join the knights in the future? It won't hurt to learn ledger work. If you can also judge whether ledgers you find are genuine, that's powerful.

… What, you don't want to do that kind of support work because you'll be captain of the knights? You fool. A knight-captain needs administrative ability precisely to oversee everything. That's how organization works.

A fool is fit for no more than a vanguard at best. Is that enough for you? … That's what my fiancée would say.

… No, she'd probably say something even harsher.

Sorry. I can't even imagine the way she'd stab at your heart. I'll introduce you sometime.

What? No thanks? Hey, you're my candidate for close aide, don't refuse a meeting with my fiancée.

That's exactly your problem. Yes, let's have her break you thoroughly.

Ah. Kurushu was Koleha's cousin, wasn't he? Have you met her?

Oh, you met her when she was younger? She must've been cute even then, right?

Oh, you thought she was no good… You've got no eye for this, do you…

Well! Kurushu was a kid then too; can't be helped. People make mistakes. Learn from them, right?

I'm in no position to talk either! Sorry!

Right, right. No one, not even Father, the king, could've predicted that her selfishness would transform like this… She's still willful now, but in a different way.

She does things that benefit the people, after all.

This is just between us, but there was even a time she acted as bait in a kidnapping case…

… Ah, I was watching properly and saved her, so don't get the wrong idea. And she's five. Kidnappers aren't likely to try anything at that age.

Huh? There are perverts who would anyway? … Well, given she was being kidnapped to be sold to the likes of that, I can't deny it.

Yes, of course we crushed the whole lot of them. Right, Jangaria.

Yeah. If Koleha hadn't acted as bait at that point, their organization might've remained, and some would've been harmed in the shadows.

I'd have preferred she used someone else as bait, but Koleha's kind in a way that if someone must be sacrificed, she moves herself first.

She ate the cookies the orphans baked first, too. Without having them tasted for poison.

… Hm? No, wait, does poison not affect her…

Ah, sorry. Forget that. Especially you, Kenho. You're loose-lipped… You didn't hear anything. Good? Good.

By the way, Jangaria — does Roborovski still live at House Nyarlathotep?

I wish Haster would remember his main profession, already…

… Guarding my fiancée is work too, but he's a bit too taken with her.

Honestly, if he weren't an old man, I'd have Father issue a royal command.

What? "Male jealousy is ugly," is it?

… I get jealous, sure. She's my fiancée — what's wrong with cherishing her?

I will never let go of Koleha. With her, I believe we can make this country better. Even if I yield the throne to my brother, I will not yield Koleha.

… It's just… she doesn't seem to like me very much.

Say, Jangaria. Teach me some of Haster's skills. Yes, about how to court a lady.

Whether she's typical or not aside, learning the basics won't hurt me, right? I'm a prince; it should help with winning hearts too.

Please, I'm begging you!

… Truly, I'm sorry. I know when a royal bows his head you can't refuse, but I haven't the luxury to keep up appearances!!

The other day we even drafted a strange contract…