Night. In my living quarters at the detached palace.
I sat cross-legged on the bed, my right palm held upward at about the height of my solar plexus.
I focused my mana into it.
Using the power of Apophis, I began transmuting the concentrated mana.
"Your Majesty."
Suddenly, I heard a voice calling to me from the side.
Looking up, I saw Audrey, accompanied by a retinue of servants.
Even in the inner palace—which was, in essence, our private home—the Empress always walked around flanked by a large entourage of eunuchs and attendants.
It was partly to ensure the Empress suffered no inconvenience, partly to shield her with their bodies if anything went wrong, and partly to maintain an air of imperial dignity.
With all those reasons compounding one another, the Empress invariably trailed such an excessive procession wherever she went.
Incidentally, the same was largely true for the Emperor. However, in an empire known as a "nation of warriors," an active sovereign often moved around alone in disguise to demonstrate his own strength.
Audrey gave a light flick of her hand.
At that, the attendants bowed deeply and filed out of the room.
Left alone, Audrey climbed onto the bed and nestled against me.
"What are you up to, Your Majesty?"
"Brewing a potion."
"A potion... Like the one you gave to Jessica?"
"Yeah."
"That was your own invention, if I recall. Wait, oh?"
Pausing mid-sentence, Audrey tilted her head.
"What's the matter?"
"I know you invented it, Your Majesty, but why are you making it with your own hands again? I heard you were mass-producing it using the lands of Almeria."
"Good question. I'm not satisfied with the current potion."
"Not satisfied?"
I gave a slight nod.
"The current version only mends minor wounds. It lacks the potency needed for the battlefield. I'm developing something with far greater efficacy."
"I see. Is that possible?"
"It's already done."
"Already?"
I picked up a small vial from the bedside table and handed it to Audrey.
"That's the new concoction. To keep things simple, I named it High Potion."
"High... Potion..."
"Watch."
I drew the magic sword Leviathan from my bracelet.
In the dim chamber, the blade traced a faint, pale blue luminescence before I thrust its tip straight through the palm of my hand.
"Your Majesty?!"
"Don't fret."
I pulled Leviathan free and returned it to my bracelet.
In the same breath, I splashed the High Potion over the pierced palm.
In the blink of an eye, the puncture wound sealed shut and vanished without a trace.
"Like that."
"Incredible..."
"With this, wounds close instantaneously... however."
"However?"
"If a body part is lost—say, a severed finger or a lopped-off arm—a severe injury of that magnitude will only have the wound itself sealed shut."
"...The arm would still be lost, then."
"Precisely. Still, it's far more effective than a standard potion, so it serves its purpose well enough."
"You are truly amazing, Your Majesty."
"Hm?"
I turned to look at Audrey.
She was gazing at me with wide, sparkling eyes filled with pure wonder, like a young girl.
"To think you can craft something so magnificent."
"It's merely an extension of the original potion. It's not perfect yet. Sometimes, when attempting to brew this, it turns into something else entirely."
"Even so, it is extraordinary. For centuries, recovery magic and healing elixirs existed only in ancient lore. Not only did you revive them, but you have improved upon them even further."
"Humph."
"I... feel as though I am standing at the turning point of history. You are truly marvelous, Your Majesty!"
She looked at me with absolute, unadulterated admiration, like a village maiden starry-eyed before a legendary bard.
Being praised to that degree certainly wasn't unpleasant.
"Ah."
"What is it?"
"Um... Your Majesty. There is a favor I would like to ask..."
Audrey pulled back slightly, speaking with a bashful hesitation.
"What, is there something you want? Shall we build another detached palace?"
"No, nothing like that. It's... I would like you to bestow this High Potion upon Jessica."
I blinked, taken aback.
Audrey's request had come from an entirely unexpected angle.
"To Jessica?"
"Yes. I believe she is the one who needs it most right now."
"You're concerned for her?"
"As women who both serve Your Majesty, I would be delighted if we could become like 'sisters.'"
"I see."
"Besides, since she is someone whom Your Majesty went out of your way to test, we must treasure her."
"Is it really that rare for me to test someone?"
I let out a soft chuckle, speaking in jest.
"Yes, very."
Audrey chuckled right back, then delivered her answer firmly.
"Your Majesty tends to handle nearly everything yourself."
As she spoke, Audrey reached out and gently took my hand.
Though the wound had closed, blood diluted by the High Potion remained on my skin.
She scooped up a drop with the pad of her finger, lifting it so I could see.
"You frequently act without regard for your own danger or pain. For someone like you to go out of your way to nurture someone through trials is rare indeed."
"I see."
I had to admit she had a point.
"Therefore, please grant Jessica the High Potion."
"I understand. If that's all, there's no need to worry—I've already had it delivered."
"What?"
"I had the first completed batch sent to her immediately. Though, to ensure it didn't fall directly into her hands, I entrusted it to another subordinate stationed by her side."
"Why go to such lengths?"
"Audrey, what went through your mind when you learned I developed the High Potion right on the heels of the standard potion?"
"Eh? Well..."
Caught off guard by having a question turned back on her, Audrey paused to think before answering.
"That it was incredible, and remarkably swift."
"Exactly. If Jessica adopts that mindset, it will breed complacency. First, she might think minor injuries are of no consequence because a High Potion is readily available. Second, she might assume something even better than a High Potion will emerge before long."
"Ah..."
"I will protect her, but from the shadows, so as not to foster careless habits."
"I see... As expected of Your Majesty. To think you had looked so far ahead."
Audrey looked at me, her eyes shining even brighter than before.
☆
The following day, in the study of the detached palace.
Before me stood First Prime Minister Jean-Brad Reidouk.
With seasoned grace, Jean dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
"At ease. How goes the investigation?"
"Yes, Sire. As per Your Majesty's decree, I had a covert investigation conducted across the provinces to locate any restorable dragon veins."
"Umu."
"We determined that the Geraha Desert holds the greatest potential."
"The Geraha Desert... That lies in Saralria, does it not?"
Saralria Province.
Situated in the southeastern reaches of the Empire, it was the largest province in total area.
Its vast footprint was owed to its position on the frontier, its sparse population, an utter lack of notable industries, and the fact that desert consumed more than half of its territory.
"Saralria was... Margrave Gert's fief, was it not?"
"Indeed. As the land offered negligible benefit to the Empire, it was essentially foisted upon one of the counts."
"Grant Gert another territory. In exchange, Saralria shall become an imperial crown land."
"Understood... Your Majesty."
"Hm?"
"If I may ask, why go to such lengths? If it is a dragon vein you seek, would Almeria alone not suffice...?"
Jean asked, his words chosen with deliberate care.
I had anticipated the question.
Picking up a small prepared vial, I allowed a single drop of its liquid to fall onto the lantern resting on the desk.
Instantly, the lantern flared with light.
It was not the warm glow of a flame, but something far more brilliant, reminiscent of the crisp white light of midday.
"Wh-What is this?!"
Stunned, Jean leaned in toward the lantern's glow.
"A potion's... well, a failed byproduct."
"A failed byproduct?"
"When I craft potions using my power, the process occasionally yields something completely unforeseen."
I had mentioned it in passing to Audrey the previous night, though she hadn't shown much interest.
"This is one such result. Sometime after being exposed to air, it begins to glow."
"To air..."
"That single drop will burn bright for an entire night."
"What?!"
Jean stared at the lantern, his astonishment deepening.
"The mana drawn from a dragon vein can produce potions, but by altering the flow of that power, it can yield entirely different creations. I sensed limitless potential lying dormant within it."
"I-I see. That is why you require the dragon vein."
"Yes. Transfer Saralria directly under imperial control."
"..."
Jean stared fixedly at the lantern for a long moment before letting out a slow breath. Straightening his posture, he set the lantern back down.
"To think you could produce something of this caliber as well... Truly magnificent, Your Majesty."
With those words, Jean's expression hardened into a crisp, serious demeanor—a countenance befitting the First Prime Minister.
"I shall expedite the matter regarding Saralria. The restoration of the dragon vein as well."
"Very well. It will serve as a trial run for the future, so utilize as much of the budget as necessary."
"Understood."
With a final, deep bow, Jean departed from the study.
A single drop of mana, drawn from the depths of a dragon vein.
It held the power to fundamentally reshape human life.
Of that, I was quietly, undeniably certain.