BPFP Chapter 10

“Hey mister, can I take a look at your research notes?”

“Would you even understand them if you did?”

“So can I or not?”

“Go ahead.”

Felix casually showed Elia the research notes, seemingly thinking that a child wouldn’t be able to understand them anyway.

“Hmm…”

Elia carefully examined Felix’s research.

“Melatora for stamina, Suocho for aiding pregnancy, and Gujeolcho for joint treatment… and enhancing their combined effects…”

Felix looked at Elia with a stunned expression.

“How do you know about that, young lady?”

“Is that important?”

“Of course it’s important.”

“It’s all written in books. I know what they are, too.”

Felix’s face turned even redder.

“Mister, why is your face turning red?”

“That’s, uh…”

“Felix, go outside and cool your face down.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

Jasper quickly ushered Felix out.

“Miss, would you like to talk with me instead?”

“Sure.”

Elia sat in a chair and sipped her cocoa.

Why was he blushing over something like that?

“Miss, how do you know about those herbs?”

“I told you, I read it in a book.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“To be honest, it’s hard to believe.”

Which was understandable.

Elia was seven years old now.

Felix’s research notes were filled with technical terms that would be difficult for a child to grasp.

“I also know your research is stuck right now.”

“You knew that too?”

“Yeah. You’re hitting a wall with this formula, right?”

Elia corrected the dosage ratios Felix had written and showed it to Jasper on a blank sheet of paper.

“Try it like this.”

As Elia handed the paper to Jasper, Felix returned.

“Felix, take a look at this.”

“Hm?”

Felix received the paper from Jasper.

“This is…”

“It’s a modified herb ratio from the young lady.”

“What?”

Felix widened his eyes and stared intently at the paper. The ratios were slightly different.

A difference of about 0.2 to 0.5 percent.

“The young lady made this adjustment?”

“Yeah. Try making it like that.”

Felix narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t give me that look. Just try it.”

“I’ll try it, but…”

“Why trail off at the end?”

He still looked skeptical.

“If it fails, don’t bother coming back. If it works, then come back.”

“I’ll come back even if it fails. You’ll have to take responsibility for wasting my time.”

“Fine by me.”

Elia stood up with a sly smile.

Later

Elia went to see Alexis.

When she arrived at the office, the knights guarding the entrance looked at her warmly.

“Is the Duke inside?”

Just then, the door opened.

“Welcome, Elie!”

Alexis greeted her cheerfully.

“Ah, that startled me.”

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

“You suddenly opened the door! I was about to knock.”

“Oh no, my bad. Come on in.”

Alexis picked Elia up and headed inside.

He gently set her down on a soft sofa and pointed to the table with a smile. There were cookies on it.

“Cookies?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, our finances are stable now, so I got them for you. Try one.”

Alexis placed a cookie in Elia’s hand.

It was a chocolate chip cookie—sweet enough to make her eyes sparkle.

“This is delicious.”

“Glad you like it.”

“You should have one too, Duke.”

“I’m good. You eat them all.”

“Don’t change the subject!”

“Of course not.”

Eventually, he pushed the plate of cookies closer to Elia.

Alexis watched her eat with a satisfied expression.

[She fell for the cookie trap,] said Gaji, the creature perched on Elia’s shoulder.

Elia snapped back to reality.

She had gotten so distracted by the cookies that she nearly forgot the reason she’d come.

She quickly stuffed the remaining cookies into her mouth and washed them down with milk, then looked at Alexis.

He wiped her mouth gently with a handkerchief.

“Duke, I have something to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

“Yes. I have a plan to stabilize the duchy’s finances.”

“A plan?”

Elia began explaining Felix’s research to Alexis.

“So, what you’re saying is, the medicine Felix is developing is so effective it’ll sell for a high price?”

“Yes.”

“Even if he makes the medicine, how are you going to sell it?”

“Through an auction.”

“An auction?”

“Noblemen go wild for anything that boosts stamina, you know? And if the effects are proven, they’ll pay top price for it.”

At the word stamina, Alexis blushed.

“Elie, you say the wildest things for a kid.”

“What? What did I say?”

“That… that word… ‘stamina’…”

Elia clearly saw it. His ears had turned red.

“Duke, don’t tell me… are you a virgin?”

Alexis’s face turned even redder.

“Elie, that’s too much…”

Elia was just as shocked.

No way—does that mean he’ll still be a virgin in ten years?

She had never heard of Duke Cartellani being married.

He only began appearing in social circles after pledging allegiance to the first prince.

Elia looked at Alexis with pity as he bowed his head.

It made sense.

Stuck in this barren territory, he probably hadn’t had any chances to meet women.

Elia patted Alexis’s shoulder.

“Elie… what are you implying?”

“Duke, don’t worry.”

“What?”

“You’ll stop being a virgin one day.”

“Elie, can you please stop.”

How easily embarrassed he was.

[Elie, you keep forgetting you’re seven,] said Gaji.

So what?

[Shouldn’t you act more like a kid?]

What’s the point?

[You sound like a grumpy old man in a child’s body.]

That stung a little.

An old man in a child’s body…?

I should be more careful.

The idea of a “kid who acts old” was a little creepy, even to her.

“How are you planning to sell it at an auction?”

“I’ve got it all figured out. Just trust me.”

Seeing her confident smile, Alexis couldn’t help but nod.

“I should trust our guardian, right? How could I not believe in you?”

The miracle Elia had brought was unforgettable for him. After all, they finally had fertile land.

Not right away, but by next autumn, they’d be able to harvest the seeds planted now.

They had enough water, and the land was blessed.

The people were sincere about farming.

They were tilling the fields and preparing seeds with dedication. Alexis often went on inspections himself.

Everything was going smoothly.

The only issue was having enough food and supplies to last until next year.

They’d get through the winter, but the duchy’s finances were still tight.

Even so, no one dared to look down on House Cartellani—thanks to its military strength.

The northern region of the Adelheit Empire bordered the Monster Mountains and the Forest of Beasts.

It was only safe because Duke Cartellani held the line.

The real problem was how poor the duchy remained.

Sometime later, Felix visited.

Elia had been reading a fairy tale book Alexis had given her.

Felix, seeing her with the book, twitched around the eyes.

Elia tilted her head, wondering what was wrong.

He came closer and spoke.

“Miss, what is the meaning of this?”

“Hm?”

“How did you know the exact ratio?”

She wanted to say, because I know the future, but couldn’t.

“Did you forget who I am?”

“You’re the Guardian of the World Tree. Do you really think that’s convincing?”

“Then what are you gonna do?”

Felix let out a sigh.

“I just can’t believe it.”

“So it worked.”

“Yes. I tested the ratio you gave me—and it succeeded.”

“Did you try it?”

Felix’s face flushed again.

“You did, huh? Must’ve had a good time with Jasper unnie?”

“Miss!”

“What? Why are you yelling?”

“Please refrain from such comments in a child’s body. Children should be pure.”

Elia was baffled.

“Fine. You seem flustered, so I’ll stop.”

She held out her hand.

“Give it to me.”

Felix hesitated, but handed her the other research notes—one for pregnancy and one for joint treatment.

Elia carefully reviewed the documents and started jotting down adjusted ratios from memory.

She knew these formulas because she had participated in Felix’s research.

To be precise, she had originally learned the formulas in order to steal them.

Thinking back now, she felt sorry.

No—she felt really sorry.