"A notebook?"
I absentmindedly repeated Asella's question.
She seemed suspicious of my reaction and emphasized once more.
"You wrote countless strange sentences in it. About destruction and death, with lines drawn through some of them to cross them out."
"Wait, you saw that?"
"You should have kept better track of it."
This was somewhat of a predicament.
The notebook contains Asella's physical information and medication schedule, so I always keep it on my person and never drop it.
When I need to move to the next volume, I transfer only the necessary information and burn the previous one.
What Asella mentioned must be the bad ending list.
Come to think of it, I had written those down.
The status window only displays ending names without explaining their contents.
There was a time when I organized notes to refresh my memory about each ending's exact circumstances and connect them to current events.
'When did she sneak a peek at that?'
I feel annoyed, but this isn't the time to dwell on it.
If Asella learns the specific details, that knowledge itself might inspire events leading directly to a bad ending.
Realizing this possibility made me aware of how careless I'd been.
Judging by what she's saying, she doesn't seem to have read the exact sentences.
I can still smooth this over.
I smiled slightly and answered Asella.
"Ah, you thought those notes were about my nightmares."
"Then what are they?"
"I've been enjoying a novel lately. It's approaching its conclusion, and fans have different opinions about how it will end. I tried imagining it myself, but I'm not familiar with storytelling, so I couldn't figure it out even after thinking hard."
"You're saying those were about a novel?"
"Yes. It's a story about a war between two families, and I think it will end with the protagonist dying or the world being destroyed."
Fortunately, there was a novel I'd read out of boredom that I could use as cover.
I have to stick with this explanation.
Asella narrowed her eyes like a cat, slightly suspicious.
"I didn't know the Young Lord enjoyed novels."
"They're quite entertaining. If you're interested, I can recommend a few."
"I don't have time for that. Goodness, why would you write so much about a novel? What was it again, something about magic going berserk?"
"Haha, did I write that too? I don't even remember—"
In the middle of my excuse, my eyes met Asella's.
Was it because we were standing too close, or because I heard the bad ending details directly from her lips?
—Move aside! Get out of the way! Gotberg!!
—Aah, why, why are my magic circuits...!
Before my eyes, Asella thrashes wildly. The magic circuits engraved all over her body flash uncontrollably.
Soon, uncontainable mana flows from Asella, and my vision is flooded with golden light.
BOOM! An explosion deafens my ears.
The sensation of death vividly swirls at my fingertips as my vision flickers.
"Ugh."
Unable to hold back my nausea, I collapsed ungracefully to the floor.
"Young Lord?"
Asella's startled voice.
I covered my mouth and sprang up from my position immediately.
Asella's face had gone pale, her lips trembling.
That's understandable. If your personal physician collapses before you do, even a patient would be too anxious to entrust their body to them.
I quickly waved my hand to indicate I was fine.
"I think I danced too long. Just a momentary dizziness. I'm fine now."
"...You scared me."
Asella brushed her hand over her chest.
"You're quite frail. How do you expect to survive at the Imperial Court?"
"Haha, I'll work on that."
"Huff... Are you really okay?"
"Of course. Dizziness is just a temporary symptom. It will pass with some rest."
"Let's go back inside then."
Asella and I returned to the party hall after our brief dance.
***
The music in the hall had changed to a softer melody. The lighting had returned to normal as well.
After resting a bit beside Asella, my condition improved enough that I felt I could endure the remainder of the party.
The nobles had moved past the greeting stage and were now gathered in small groups, engaging in casual conversation over light drinks.
'Let's see.'
Lauga is giggling with the Grand Princess about something amusing. Around them are about twenty young lords and ladies. That must be the social elite group.
I can see some diligently making rounds to please the older generation, and others huddled in corners giving off gloomy vibes.
Society seems the same everywhere.
"Young Lord, I need to deal with the nobles again. Can you stay by my side?"
"No problem. It would look strange if I suddenly disappeared."
"...Right."
Somehow Asella seems unusually kind.
Though by "kind," I mean she's simply not angry.
Perhaps she's not harsh even to the sick.
I should fake illness next time I want to take a vacation.
"Huff."
Asella closed her eyes briefly, then opened them.
Her expression returned to that of a charismatic imperial family member.
From a distance, the Western Duke spots Asella and approaches with his knight escort.
He's today's main target.
"Princess Asella, I am honored to see your noble countenance."
The Duke greeted her first with proper etiquette.
"Congratulations on your victory at the Central Ravine defense, Duke Schwarzschweig."
That's Asella for you. Immediately establishing dominance by using informal speech with someone she's just met.
Of course, Asella outranks him, but he's still a duke and a war hero, so she could have shown more formality. She has no reservations.
Judging by his reaction, the Duke seems to appreciate Asella's confident attitude. He smiled and bowed his head.
"I am humbled by your enthusiastic commendation."
"Thanks to you, one hundred million imperial citizens could wake to a morning free from foreign invasion."
"It was due to the grace of the imperial flag waving valiantly."
After the formal greetings concluded, Asella broached the main topic.
"By the way, Duke, how many knights retired due to injuries in this battle?"
In social circles, every conversation has political intentions and purposes.
While Asella may outrank the Duke in the hierarchy, his family is powerful enough to rival one of the imperial palaces.
Meanwhile, Asella's Wolgwang Palace represents the smallest faction among the five succession candidates.
Moreover, this is a party where he is the guest of honor.
In reality, the Duke has the upper hand.
Therefore, Asella introduced an original topic that other nobles wouldn't have brought up to win him over.
The Duke showed interest in where this conversation might lead.
"Retirees? If you mean knights who suffered critical injuries beyond healing, there were one hundred and twenty."
"Wasn't this a large-scale battle with thirty-two Veneret knights deployed? Managing with only that many casualties is another achievement of yours."
She could have mentioned the goddess's blessing or the Emperor's grace here, but Asella deliberately praised the Duke.
Unlike others, she clearly showed her intention to build a relationship with him.
She also demonstrated her competence by showing detailed knowledge of the battle.
"It was the grace of the Princess who governs the Empire that helped us."
Despite meeting Asella for the first time, the Duke deliberately gave credit to her. He had accepted her handshake.
Every sentence spoken is wrapped in courtesy while conveying underlying meaning, without wasting a single word.
Political discourse is difficult.
Now it was Asella's turn, as the Duke had shown goodwill.
In politics, friendships don't exist merely through words.
They are founded on mutual benefits and interests.
What would Asella offer the Duke?
If she misspoke here, she would appear hollow.
"If you could have reduced those one hundred and twenty retirees to ten, it would have greatly benefited your duchy. What a pity."
The Duke raised the corner of his mouth, showing interest.
Asella was offering two things:
First, a means to strengthen the Duke's military forces, and second, permission to expand the size of his knighthood.
Even the Duke is restricted by imperial regulations regarding the size of his army.
This prevents duchies from becoming independent and weakening the Empire's power.
Asella had offered the Duke the most tempting bait.
"You speak of a way to reduce retirees?"
The Duke inquired about the specific means.
Asella lifted her chin and uttered that word.
"Have you heard of penicillin?"
Ah, so she planned to use me for business from the start.
As a result, the Duke showed great interest in antibiotics and established the foundation for a cooperative relationship with Wolgwang Palace.
In reality, even minor wounds can lead to tetanus and other secondary infections that require limb amputation.
Antibiotics are essential medical supplies that prevent such outcomes, indispensable on the battlefield.
Asella had successfully made her pitch.
She used the antibiotics that would be mass-produced once the Gotberg family business launched as bait to hook the Duke.
Of course, mass production sufficient for a large knighthood would require the business to be fully established, which would take several years.
But since this isn't an era of major wars, the Duke's family can afford to wait.
"This party is truly a blessing bestowed upon me by the Goddess. I have met the most important person."
The Duke seemed quite satisfied with his exchange with Asella.
If his duchy grows, he could become independent as a principality, and he's gained another direct line to an imperial succession candidate—he has every reason to be pleased.
Of course, he doesn't know that if Asella ascends to the throne, she'll immediately choke off his power.
To establish an equal partnership with a ducal family at her first social gathering—Asella is truly exceptional.
"I would like to propose a toast. You there."
The Duke signaled appropriately, and a nearby attendant brought glasses filled with champagne.
Asella also raised her glass with the Duke.
I'd prefer to discourage alcohol, but it's low proof, and she seems in good spirits, so perhaps I can allow one glass.
I was thinking this when—
[No. 040: Poison Trap 19% → 86%]
[No. 101: Magic Overload 4% → 100%]
My body moved before I could process the status window numbers.
Even before the memory of dying in Asella's poison trap flashed back—
—CRASH!
I knocked away the glass that Asella had almost brought to her lips.
"Young Lord?"
"You must not drink this, Your Highness."
—THUD!
Accompanied by the sound of a body collapsing, screams erupted around us.
Turning my head, I saw the Duke choking and rolling on the floor.
He had already drunk it, impatient man.
"Diagnosis."
[Injury Status: Neurotoxin Poisoning]
Was the target the Duke, or Asella?
Or both?
Someone attempted assassination by poison.
Treatment comes first.
I unbuttoned my formal coat.