The brief autumn slipped away, and the footsteps of winter drew near.
In the fields on the outskirts of town, the farmers had already finished sowing their wheat seeds. By early summer next year, the landscape should be bathed in a sea of gold. I was already looking forward to the harvest.
As winter approached, the movement of people in and out of the area grew more frequent. Perhaps because of that, all sorts of characters had been appearing in Tower City lately. They were mostly merchants seeking my shampoo.
Apparently, a few outlaws and spies had also snuck in, hoping to steal the formula for the Saint Hair Tonic. The city’s Knight Order and the local adventurers seemed to be working hard to maintain public order, as no major incidents had occurred so far.
I never imagined that making shampoo for Witch-ko would lead to something like this. My shampoo was terrifying. Though, I did still use it every day. It gave my hair such a magnificent shine.
Aside from the influx of visitors, there was only one other major change. An Imperial Princess had taken up residence in Tower City.
"So... why... did the three of us... end up... having a tea party... exactly?"
We were at the Lord's manor. In front of the flower beds, for some reason, Lord Manfred, Imperial Princess Freundliche, and I were having tea together. Just what sequence of events had led to this specific group gathering for an afternoon snack? I hadn't seen this coming at all.
"I simply wanted to speak with Master Alraune," the Princess explained. "Besides, since I’ll be in this city’s care for the foreseeable future, I thought I should deepen my acquaintance with Lord Manfred as well."
It seemed Princess Freundliche had decided to call me Master Alraune. While it felt nostalgic to be called "Master" by her—just as she once called me Master Iris—I hadn't revealed my true identity to her. Being called "Master Alraune" kept me on edge, making me wonder if my secret had been compromised.
Manfred, meanwhile, had been wearing a strained expression for a while now. Between the King summoning him to the Royal Capital over the Saint Hair Tonic and an Imperial Princess moving into his town uninvited, I couldn't blame him for looking a bit haggard.
"How long... do you intend... to stay... in this city... Princess Freundliche?"
"I have not decided," she replied. "I came here intending to become a bridge for peace between the Glanz Empire and the Kingdom of Gardenia. If I am to be considered a hostage, then I may never return to my homeland again."
The Princess spoke with heavy resolve. I had thought she was staying here on a whim, but it seemed she had her own reasons. However, her answer only seemed to add to Manfred’s mounting headache. With a weary face, he addressed her.
"While Your Imperial Highness remains in the city, you shall be a welcome guest at my manor. That is the command of His Majesty the King, after all..."
"Yes, thank you. Come to think of it, I saw a Portrait of Saint Iris displayed in the room next door. Lord Manfred, were you also an acquaintance of Master Iris?"
"Y-Yes, that's right!" Manfred’s face lit up instantly. "Lady Saint Iris is the object of my deepest admiration! I traveled to the Royal Capital countless times just to etch her beauty into my memory. In fact, I painted that portrait myself!"
"My, how skillful. It is the very image of Master Iris as she was in life."
"I-It is not that much...!"
Manfred was visibly delighted as Princess Freundliche gave him a beaming smile.
"Actually, I admired Master Iris so much that I became her disciple. It seems we are kindred spirits."
"Princess Freundliche...!"
Manfred, who had been dejected a moment ago, was suddenly revitalized. He became incredibly talkative now that the topic had turned to Saint Iris—which is to say, me. Even though it was clear earlier that he was only at this tea party because the Princess had forced him, they were now in complete accord.
If I weren't the subject of the conversation, it might have been entertaining. As it was, it was just mortifying.
While I devoted myself to photosynthesis, the two of them chatted for what felt like an eternity. Hey, am I even needed here?
Manfred was in a fantastic mood now that the Princess was prompting him to talk about his favorite subject. He went on and on about how wonderful Saint Iris was, even bringing out more of his paintings to show her. In response, Princess Freundliche kept the conversation moving smoothly, smiling and interweaving insightful questions.
Wait. Could it be that these two were actually a good match? Their hobbies seemed to align perfectly. Well, from where I was sitting, it looked more like Princess Freundliche was skillfully flattering Manfred to keep him happy... and Manfred didn't seem to notice in the slightest.
"Oops, look at the time. I have work to do, so I must take my leave. Please, you two, enjoy the rest of your afternoon."
Leaving us behind, Manfred stood up. Even though he was busy with administrative work, he’d still made time for the Princess’s tea party. It must be exhausting. If Manfred were married, the Lord’s Wife could have entertained her instead.
Manfred had inherited the territory at a very young age after his parents passed away before a fiancée could be decided for him. I'm sure many marriage proposals had come his way since, but the fact that he remained single suggested they weren't particularly good offers. Vultures looking to seize the lands of a young lord without backing are a common infestation.
Now then. I was left alone with the Princess. We were clearly continuing the tea party, so what was there to talk about? I remembered her saying she liked Barometz-san. Did she just like plants in general? Or was she specifically a fan of plant monsters?
"How long... have you... known... Barometz-san... Princess Freundliche?"
"Since as far back as I can remember."
Because she had grown up with Barometz-san, she treated me like a normal human rather than a monster. Aside from Witch-ko, she was the only one who did that, which was a little disorienting.
"It is lonely being away from Barometz-chan, but this city is lovely enough to make up for it," she mused. "It is a frontier, yes, but the territory is vast and fertile, and the citizens are good people. The Lord's rank is respectable as well. With spirits and fairies in the forest, it’s a mysterious place. Even the fact that it’s the front line against the Demon King's Army isn't so bad."
"...Are you not... afraid... that the Demon King's Army... might... attack?"
"I am afraid, but for me right now, that is not necessarily a bad thing."
Frie... you’ve really grown up. The little princess I knew now had the eyes of a ruler worried for her people. She had grown into a beautiful woman, and her conduct was that of a perfect lady. I was sure she’d have no shortage of suitors.
But I couldn't fathom why she thought being on the front lines was a good thing. No matter how much she cared for her country, she didn't need to be here. Especially since this was the Kingdom of Gardenia—a foreign land to her.
"This city is close to my ideal right now. In that regard, the timing was perfect... Actually, Master Alraune, there was something I wanted to discuss with you in private."
Something she wanted to talk to me about? Maybe she wanted more shampoo. I thought I’d been prioritizing her orders through Manfred, though.
"The area is clear. I have an earnest request for you, Master Alraune..."
Princess Freundliche took a deep breath and stared intently at my face. Sensing her sudden seriousness, I straightened my back. She was going out of her way to make a secret request. It had to be something of immense importance. If it was some Imperial political scheme, I really didn't want any part of it.
"Um... just between us, Master Alraune..." She seemed to be struggling to find the words. Was this about the cursed Third Consort? That would certainly explain the heavy mood. "Um... Master... can you create an aphrodisiac?"
"...Eh?"
What did she just say? I thought I heard her say "aphrodisiac," but surely that was just my imagination.
"If possible, a love potion would be even better. If you can secrete it from your body, please allow me to collect some."
I hadn't misheard her!
"W-What... do you... mean!?!?"
"I heard a rumor in the palace once," she whispered. "That if an Alraune is used as a catalyst, one can create powerful aphrodisiacs or love potions."
I’m pretty sure the Witch Queen said something similar to that!
Ugh. As I thought, am I just a source of raw materials to people? If I produce nectar, it’s sold as Saint Nectar. If I make shampoo, it’s mass-produced as Saint Hair Tonic. To humans, my plant body is just a convenient resource...
"I need a love potion immediately. Surely you can produce one, Master Alraune?"
I’ve never made a love potion in my life! I don't even know where to start. Besides, even if it were true that I could produce such a thing, I didn’t want to think about it!
"...Why... do you... want... a love potion?" I asked, trying to remain calm.
Despite my internal panic, I was still a former Saint and a Duke’s daughter. Pretending to be composed on the outside was second nature to me.
"I cannot return to my country as I am," she said firmly. "Instead, I wish to establish a foothold in this land so that I never have to go back."
"Do you... not want to... return... to the Empire?"
"I will not return. Not until I've married Lord Manfred."
"Hmm?"
What?
"I intend to marry into Lord Manfred's household. For that purpose, please grant me a love potion!"
What in the world was she thinking?
But... for now, I'm sorry. I literally cannot make love potions!