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Raciel felt content. Its been a while since hes been back to this place. Its been a while since he had heard this welcoming voice.
Your Highness-!
Gardin rushed out, sobbing. He had even lost one of his shoes sowhere. Raciel couldnt believe Gardin was dashing across the yard in his socks without knowing that.
Whoa, whoa. Hold on!
He wouldnt run toward him and suddenly hug him, would he? Raciel didnt want to encounter such a creepy situation, so he quickly stopped Gardin.
Fortunately(?), there was still a trace of reason left in him. He stopped abruptly, leaving a distance of one ter between them.
And then he cried out again.
Your Highnesssss!
Oh, my ears are gonna burst.
Yourrrrrr!
People will think Im dead if they hear you.
But, Youuu!
Are you that happy to see ?
No!
Gardin firmly shook his head. However, he looked very weak. Although he hadnt seen him for just about three weeks, his handso face had beco thin, and he had dark circles all around his eyes.
Gardin?
Yes, Your Highness!
Did you eat sothing bad? Why is your complexion so dark?
Its because my work has been so rewarding, Your Highness!
Rewarding?
Yes!
What kind of reward?
You, Your Highness! You left all those nurous patients at the clinic to alone!!
Ah, right. That was true.
But it appeared that Gardin had not neglected his duty. In fact, he might have worked harder than necessary.
Raciel gave a wry smile.
So, you must have had a tough ti alone?
Yes, Your Highness!
And are you happy that Ive returned?
Yes, Your Highness!
Do you think you can now relax and enjoy so carefree days ahead? Do you feel a surge of hope? Sothing like that?
Of course, Your Highness!
Really?
Really?
Kuhuhk!
Gardins tears burst forth again. But Raciel knew it wasnt an act. He was genuinely happy. Happy that he had returned safely. Joyful and pleased. But he was a bit shy to express it openly. How could Raciel not feel a sense of pride?
Raciel smiled contentedly.
Anyway, thank you for holding down the fort while I was away.
Yes, Your Highness.
You look tired from overworking, so Ill prepare so dicine for you later.
No, thank you, Your Highness. Im fine.
Tsk. Youre not fine. Your cheeks are sunken. By the way, did you hear about the incident in Cremo?
Yes, Your Highness. I was very surprised.
Really? Well, brace yourself for an even bigger surprise.
What do you an?
Gardin tilted his head.
At that mont,
Moo?
Suddenly, a massive shadow enveloped Gardin and Raciel. It approached Gardin swiftly, extending a large tongue.
Lick
The King Minotaurus, Uruus, licked Gardins garnt with his broad tongue. But Gardin wasnt startled. He neither scread nor fainted. He simply stared blankly at Uruus.
And then he tilted his head again.
Your Highness?
Yes.
Am I, by any chance, feeling very sick?
Huh? Why?
Im seeing hallucinations, and they feel very real.
Oh, thats not a hallucination.
Its not?
No.
Thats?
Yes.
Really?
Of course. Say hello. His na is Uruus, and he doesnt bite.
Kyaahhh!
Tsk. Making a fuss even though youre not that surprised.
Did you catch him?
Yes. Obviously. The news that I tad a Minotaur and brought him here has already spread like wildfire. You must have heard all about it. By the way, was there anything unusual while I was away?
Nothing much. Thankfully, there were no ergency or critical patients. Oh, there was one thing.
Gardin spoke as he wiped his face with a handkerchief.
Recently, starting from yesterday, weve been getting odd inquiries at the Star Palace Clinic.
Strange inquiries?
Yes, Your Highness. They keep asking to for a dicine that doesnt exist The nobles are making quite a fuss about it.
The dicine?
Could it be?
Raciel narrowed his eyes. It seed too soon. On the other hand, the thought that it could have already happened crossed his mind.
Gardin continued,
Yes, Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Its the new dicine that Your Highness announced you would develop and sell. How did you manage to spread it all over the country so quickly?
All over the country? The rumor?
Yes, Your Majesty.
It spread that quickly? Already?
Yes.
Heh, heh, heh.
Could this be real?
Only eight days had passed since the decoration ceremony in Cremo. Was it truly possible that in such a short span, the rumors about Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill had reached every corner of the empire?
Can that even be possible?
Raciel found it difficult to believe.
He had certainly used the crown princes na to propagate the rumor and had even organized an award ceremony. So he had expected the rumor to gradually spread at so point.
However
I didnt anticipate it would happen so swiftly.
The rumor seed to have spread faster than he had ever imagined. It was astonishing. And upon closer inspection, it was true.
The desk in the directors office of the Oriental dicine Clinic, where he returned after an extended absence, was filled with inquiry letters delivered from across the country by couriers. These letters were arriving competitively, expressing the eagerness to purchase the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill.
But that wasnt all. On the day after his return to the clinic, the area in front of the palace was bustling from early morning.
Are those all ssengers sent by noble families?
Yes, Your Highness.
So, theyve been queuing up since dawn to buy the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill?
Indeed, Your Highness.
Phew.
It wasnt a joke; the line stretched beyond the palace gate. Observing this, the realization truly dawned upon him. An exhilarating satisfaction surged within him.
Is this what it feels like to own a restaurant where people line up from dawn?
Never had he experienced this sensation back in South Korea while managing an Oriental dicine Clinic. Only here, finally, was he relishing the sensation of a blockbuster sales day.
Well then, theres no reason to turn them away. Allow them in according to the order of their arrival.
Understood, Your Highness.
And thus, it began. He officially comnced taking reservations for the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Most of the custors who wished to purchase were either nobles or affluent commoner rchants. It was an anticipated outco.
Its a pricey product, after all.
Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. It was an item that couldnt be sold inexpensively.
Because theres a limit to the quantity of dicinal ingredients that can be produced from the top-grade cow gall that Uruus expelled. Its necessary to endure by selling it in this manner.
It would take at least a year before another cow gall could be produced and expelled by Uruus. The amount he could sell in a year was strictly limited.
Thats why Raciel employed a strategy to sell the limited quantity at a high price. It was a luxury package. He gave a distinct na to the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill product that would be available for this year and attempted to package it ticulously.
[Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill Crown Prince Edition (Year 987 of the Imperial Era / First Year Special)]
Under this na, he included honey-preserved ginseng and various other small dicinal ingredients.
And, of course, its much more expensive than selling it separately! Packaging it with silver and gold foil to match the first year special!
Thats how packages worked. Special limited editions functioned. The phenonon of prices doubling the mont items that might only cost a few dollars if bought individually at the store are bundled for occasions like New Years or Thanksgiving was evident.
But they sold. Oddly enough, they genuinely sold. Because its an item available only at that ti. Because its a product purchased for show. Furthermore, this was exclusively the first-year special, a limited edition that symbolized the brands launch.
That ans its a success!
Raciel was confident. And that confidence was justified. Reservations exploded. In just two days, the reservations for the entire year were completely sold out!
Is this real?
It certainly was real.
Was it the influence of the limited edition? The nobles competed even more fervently to make purchases. The symbolism of a dicine crafted and sold directly by the crown prince. The concept of an upscale limited edition luxury item. The fear that they might fall behind the trend if they didnt secure such a luxury item in ti.
As a result, Raciel was so ecstatic that his grin nearly reached his ears.
O God of Money, thank you.
He was exhilarated and started producing the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. However, he didnt manufacture all the reserved quantities at once.
He couldnt.
He had to attend to the inpatients and outpatients of the Star Palace Oriental dicine Clinic. In the anti, he gradually reduced his rest ti to create the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Naturally, the production quantity was intentionally kept manageable. But this unintentionally led to another stroke of luck.
Your Highness?
Hm?
The inquiries from the nobles are skyrocketing again?
Inquiries? What kind of inquiries?
It was when he had just finished the morning treatnt at the palace and was trying to catch his breath. Gardin brought unexpected news.
So, um, its about the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill.
Weve already filled the reservations for the entire year. Tell them to apply when we open reservations for the next season.
No, thats not it.
Then what?
The nobles who have already made reservations and received waiting numbers are constantly making inquiries.
What are they asking?
Mostly, the inquiries are about whether they can expedite their reservation number by paying more money, Gardin explained.
Heh heh?
Gardin continued, Currently, theres a frenzy among the nobles of the Imperial Court. Despite having made reservations for the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, they cant get their hands on it imdiately, causing their impatience to go through the roof. Furthermore, word is spreading about a few nobles who have received the dicine in quick succession.
Word is spreading? Whats being said?
A few days ago, one of the nobles, the Duke of Trca, suffered from chest pain, but he recovered after taking the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill.
Heh heh, did it alleviate his angina?
But thats not all. Those who have taken the dicine are all reporting incredible sleep, praising it so much that theyre talking non-stop about how refreshingly they slept.
That was the catalyst.
The perception of a luxurious image, coupled with enthusiastic testimonials from those who had personally experienced the benefits. Thanks to this, reservations were sold out, and the popularity of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill soared even higher.
However, production was still limited. Thus, an unexpected aura surrounded it. A dicine that was worth waiting for. It carried that premium image.
This is like the Honey Butter Chip phenonon.
Suddenly, a mory stirred a snack that had taken Korea by storm. A product that people would patiently anticipate. An item that gained massive recognition just for that reason. This was the impact that Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill was having.
Co to think of it, there were similar instances. Like a Volvo, the Honey Butter Chip of the car world, where youd have to wait a year to get one. Or a Rolex watch that required rushing to the store at opening to secure a spot in line.
At any rate, it was a favorable developnt.
Thanks to that, Raciel relished the sensation of being completely booked for several days. The finances of the Star Palace were gradually replenishing. The treatnts were proceeding smoothly. He was even accumulating a decent amount of surplus. It had been ideal days genuinely content tis.
He hoped that this flow would persist. He would savor the enjoyable life as a crown prince. The optimistic routine carried on, welcoming the morning.
However, after ten days, unexpected dark clouds erged. It was the summon from the Emperor, conveyed by Gardin.
What? Summon to the palace again? Why?
Im not certain, Your Highness.
Tsk.
Raciel furrowed his brow. The imperial summon disrupted his planned schedule for the day. But there was no way he could disregard it.
Get the carriage ready.
He removed his dical attire, exchanging it for formal clothing for the audience. He boarded a carriage bound for the imperial palace. Guided by the head steward, he proceeded to the audience hall, using the ti to ntally prepare himself.
What is he trying to find fault with this ti?
The emperor was an adversary against whom he could never let his guard down. A minor misstep, and he could pounce on it. Thus, ticulousness was crucial in everything. Raciel made vows and reaffird them, reinforcing his determination as he walked.
However
Isnt this the route to the audience hall?
Raciel tilted his head.
Not that it wasnt the correct way, but the corridor guided by the head steward diverged from the usual path. Instead of leading to the familiar audience hall, it veered deeper into the palace.
Whats happening?
A growing sense of unease gripped him, causing him to tightly clench his fist. Eventually, he arrived at the location where the emperor awaited.
Here we are, Your Highness.
As the door gradually opened, revealing the Emperor on the other side. What kind of vexation would he stir with his cantankerous deanor today? Raciel sought to fortify his ntal preparation as he braced for potential conflict.
However, Raciel abruptly halted. He loosened his grip on his fist. Unintentionally, his eyelids quivered.
Beyond the open door.
Lay the emperor, swathed in white sheets. His facial muscles contorted on one side. Feeble and unconscious. Essentially, this was a very typical
Stroke?
Comprehension washed over him, accompanied by a sinking sensation in his chest.
(To be Continued)
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