No Such Thing as a Chaste Man! Just Give It Ten Tries! - Chapter 52
“Did you hear the news?”
“What news? About the Saintess’ reverse summoning ritual?”
“Yeah. It was almost a disaster. If the High Priest hadn’t caught the error in the summoning circle, both of them might’ve died, right?”
“The Saintess must be disappointed. That was her chance to return to her homeland…”
“I heard she planned to stay in Genève anyway. But still, having the option to leave and not taking it is different from not having the choice at all.”
“They say fixing the ritual would make it possible for her to return in the future, though. But honestly, isn’t it better this way? I would’ve been a bit sad if she’d left right after the victory celebration.”
“Totally. I haven’t even seen her in person yet! I hope she’ll attend the New Year’s festival at the Sun Palace next year.”
Ohh, how wonderful.
From the second-floor terrace of her tea salon—a five-story establishment located in the heart of the capital’s bustling district—Miriam, the second daughter of Grand Duke Istel, sipped her tea with a satisfied smile.
The chatter flowing through the streets below echoed her carefully orchestrated rumors, a melody to her ears.
Feeling delighted, she lifted her teacup to her lips. The tea she already loved tasted even better in her cheerful mood.
“How does it feel, dear alchemist?”
She asked after setting the cup down without a sound.
“Or should I call you philosopher instead? Our most valuable contributor, Lady Jenny?”
“Ahem.”
Jenny replied, crossing her short legs and resting an arm on the chair’s armrest with exaggerated pride.
“There’s a saying: ‘The best medicine is affection.’ That’s what inspired me. Nothing works better than triggering someone’s true feelings.”
“Wow, is eloquence a basic skill for alchemists now?”
Miriam teased, wrinkling her nose as she placed an orange biscotti from the tea tray onto Jenny’s saucer.
Jenny, whose short stature made reaching the tray difficult, accepted the treat with a smug grin and took a bite. The tangy orange, sweet chocolate, and buttery richness perfectly danced on her tongue.
The truth was, the candy Jenny had given Seo-ah had no actual effect.
“Seo-ah, this one… you must only use it at a crucial moment.”
“Why?”
“See, I wrote in ancient script that it’s an extremely potent sleeping agent. But it actually does nothing.”
“Eh? Then what’s the point?”
“I was inspired by what our noble elven friend said last time. Instead of relying on a drug, why not appeal to the High Priest’s sense of compassion? I made it so it only ‘activates’ if the entire candy is consumed and wrote that the only antidote is through the exchange of bodily fluids.”
“So…”
“If you swallow it and pretend to collapse, he’d have no choice but to try to save you—whether by removing the candy or initiating an exchange of fluids. Since he’s already experienced how ineffective holy power is in these cases, he’d believe the explanation.”
“Jenny, you mad genius…!”
Of course, Jenny had added some minor features. The candy dissolved quickly to prevent hesitation and emitted a slight fizz to make it visually dramatic.
While the ultimate goal was physical intimacy, Jenny believed that once they kissed, the rest would follow naturally. Based on her years of experience—far more than Seo-ah’s—Jenny had noticed something special in the way Ephelinus looked at her.
“No wonder. I always felt like he was glaring at me every time I looked at Seo-ah.”
Their other companion, Nemion, who had lent Seo-ah an artifact that turned out to be of little use, shrugged.
Thankfully, the artifact that Ephelinus had flung off the balcony was recovered by the Sun Palace’s ceremonial staff, and Nemion had retrieved it without trouble.
“The so-called Crown Prince of the Holy Kingdom? In the end, he’s just another male blinded by jealousy. I thought he despised me because I was filthy and beneath him.”
“Well, that part might still be true.”
Miriam chuckled, causing Nemion’s teary-eyed glare to narrow sharply.
“But I never expected those officials in the United Government to have such disgraceful thoughts about Seo-ah.”
Listening quietly to the two young humans bicker, their elven companion, Rurina, sipped the herbal tea Miriam had specially prepared for her.
