Chapter 84

I brought a gift and headed to the office of the Marquis Strategos, which was set up within the palace grounds.

"Hey, is that alcohol? And Dink alcohol at that. It must have been expensive, right?"

Sure enough, the Marquis recognized the bottle by its shape without even looking at the label. It must be a drink he's very familiar with, but for me, this was the first time I had one in my hands, even though I had heard of it.

"I did splurge, but can I sit down for a bit?"

"What's wrong?"

The room was cleared of others, leaving just the two of us, but I usually maintain my position. Normally, I wouldn't sit and would handle things standing, but today my heart was tired.

"I came to the capital after finishing work and bought it."

There were two chairs by the window, and as I started to speak, the Marquis Strategos also took a seat.

"I heard that the front shops close before dusk, but the back ones stay open for regular customers, so I went there."

"It's popular. If there's a sudden banquet for a big client, there will be people who want it."

In response to the Marquis's guess, I shook my head, still tired.

"Apparently, only regulars and familiar customers go there. And there he was."

"Who?"

"……The first prince's bear tutor."

My report made the Marquis frown. It wasn't that he did anything wrong, and I sometimes get scolded for being rude or treated roughly, but not this time.

The issue was that I was on guard because I encountered the first prince unexpectedly, and his shadow seemed to loom.

"I didn't think he would frequent a shop that deals with nobles."

"Right? I thought the same and asked around. It turns out he's been a regular since before Dink alcohol was sold to nobles."

I only knew about Dink alcohol, but according to the bear, before Dink alcohol, the shop only dealt with lower nobles.

"Indeed, Moriyam, the merchant who built the guild, became famous with this Dink alcohol."

"I had a feeling it was suspicious, so I asked around. The employees said he's a friend of the store manager from the early days."

I probed a bit more, which added to my fatigue.

"It seems that Moriyam, the merchant who built the guild, was a former soldier and is from the land of the dragon people."

"That's not unusual. This capital is mostly human. Young people from other countries often join the military first to learn the lifestyle and language here."

It seems that they secure a living base in the military, gain the necessary basic knowledge during training, and save money because they receive a salary during their service. After completing the required years of service, they can start a new life in the capital with knowledge, qualifications, and money.

It's possible that Moriyam met the red bear during his military service.

"So, he became a regular out of old friendship when the shop opened? And then made a name with Dink alcohol?"

"What's bothering you so much?"

The Marquis, in turn, was suspicious of my suspicion.

"Um, would you like to try a taste? Oh, you probably already know, right?"

"Well, it's popular. But those who started drinking Dink alcohol early on have pressured the merchant to stock a considerable amount. Some say it's easier to get it from them than from the store."

How much do they really drink?

Basically, it's mostly nobles who drink it, and it doesn't reach people like us. I've heard that those close to the upper echelons can get a taste.

"Are you not buying it, Marquis?"

"I avoid it because it's easy to drink but the alcohol content is strong, which can lead to overconsumption."

It must be that good, and he has strong self-control.

I doubt I'll get a taste.

Why does it get weird when it involves the princess of the Lukiuseria Kingdom?

Well, that's probably due to some nostalgic bias.

"I can only get one bottle, so I won't overdrink today."

"But it's strong. One bottle is enough for some."

I borrowed a glass to drink secretly and took a sip.

The color is clear, almost like water, but the aroma of herbs and the sweet taste of the alcohol are noticeable. When I took a sip, it had a unique flavor like a medicinal wine infused with herbs, but the refreshing acidity and bitterness left a clean, warm sensation in my throat.

"……Wow, it's completely different. What is this?"

"This is the flagship product. They limit the quantity and release other varieties, so it's hard to predict what will be available next. This makes people even more eager to get their hands on it."

The flagship product, this Martini, required a reservation, and even then, there was a waiting period before I could pick it up today. The other, rarer varieties are even more expensive, but they pique my interest.

"So, why did the tutor being a regular bother you?"

I was thrown off, and the good mood I had…… well, maybe it was my fault.

"Apparently, when I asked around, I found out that the shop employs dwarves and that they are the craftsmen responsible for making Dink alcohol."

"……I remember, at one point, he was bringing a lot of alcohol into the palace, which raised suspicions of addiction."

"Back then, the prince said he was using it for alchemy."

The Marquis pondered, looked at the Dink alcohol, and then at me.

"Surely not?"

"……It could just be that a friend who enjoys alchemy frequents the shop. But thinking about the first prince, it does raise suspicions, doesn't it?"

I smiled deliberately, aware that it looked forced. I was a bit resigned to confirming negative thoughts.

"If this is true, it's a huge mistake. Why the prince? If he had been born into a merchant family, he could have become quite famous."

For the prince, being born into a noble family would have been fine. If his insight, information-gathering ability, and creativity had been in a situation where he didn't need to hide anything, even if he had been born a commoner, he could have risen to prominence.

It's absurd that he was born into the highest position and is now constrained.

"If it's a mistake, it's the parents' fault, not the prince's."

The Marquis swirled the remaining Dink alcohol in his glass, thinking aloud. It's a useful skill for a noble to speak while thinking, but I'm the only one who hasn't fully processed the content.

"There could have been a future if he had been left behind as the emperor. But bringing him here and making him a prince without the necessary foundation was a mistake. They made it impossible for him to live by giving him only a name and a fence, trapping him in his own constraints."

It's a harsh criticism of the emperor, but I nodded in agreement. I could imagine the prince being left behind at the Nistaph House, smiling and retaliating before eventually becoming independent.

More than that, I can relate because I'm in a similar position. Growing up in a completely hostile environment under a father of too high a rank? If I hadn't had a life with my mother, who made it hard but not unhappy, I might have become like the first prince in a marquis family…… let's not think about it, it's not fun to imagine.

Besides, he is the first prince.

"By the way, I have something else to report today."

"Hmm? Ah, you must have prepared such a gift for a particularly bad mistake."

When I brought up the matter in a private setting today, he must have anticipated some trouble. But he probably couldn't guess the content.

How he reacts after hearing it is the key. Let me start with the main points.

"Actually, the prince seems to have run away from the palace. He followed us when we went to the Vaphan group."

At first, the Marquis didn't understand. He heard me but couldn't comprehend it.

Then, as soon as he understood, his body seemed to freeze in shock at the extraordinary situation. The Marquis dropped his glass, and I quickly reached out to catch it. I had anticipated his shock, so I managed to save the expensive Dink alcohol.

However, I ended up reporting something unexpected. At the Moriyam guild, there is another person involved in making Dink alcohol, who seems to be a dwarf. They are led by the red bear and enter and leave the shop, but no one has seen their face. They look like a child but speak like an adult…….