Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Please ask, Your Highness."

"Please don't address me as Your Highness here, just call me Charlotte," Princess Charlotte said. "What kind of person does Violet think Mr. Isaac is?"

“Mr. Isaac? That’s him,” Violet asked, puzzled. “Why do you ask?”

Chapter 87: Charlotte and Violet

"Why do you ask that...? Of course, I want to know how Violet views Mr. Isaac," Charlotte asked, blushing as she hugged her pillow.

“How to put it… I’ve only known Mr. Isaac for less than six months,” Violet recalled, “but to me, Mr. Isaac is the most important person.”

Violet's idea was very simple: she just wanted to stay by Isaac's side.

Just being by his side and occasionally receiving praise is the happiest daily routine.

"Then...can you tell me how you met Mr. Isaac?" Charlotte continued to ask.

“Yes,” Violet told the princess without hiding anything.

Violet recounted the scene of their first meeting in a calm and even tone, but the princess's heart was in turmoil after hearing it.

The two met on a boat and even got into a fight? More importantly, they ended up drawing.

Charlotte couldn't help but glance at Violet lying next to her with a surprised look.

To be able to fight Mr. Isaac to a draw... she seems to be quite formidable as well.

“I used to think I was living as a prop, but Mr. Isaac told me that I am a real person,” Violet said.

"Really... That's wonderful."

“Yes, I’m so glad I met him.” Violet’s face showed a rare smile.

"..."

The princess recalled her first encounter with Isaac, how he ignored her as she ate and drank at her birthday party, how he gave her a birthday present, how he ignited her will to resist when she was forced into a marriage alliance, and how he has been helping her ever since.

Charlotte herself understood that Isaac's gaze was fixed on Violet more than on her. Although his eyes held more admiration and affirmation for Violet, she was still unwilling to accept it.

“It’s important to me too…” Charlotte whispered, burying her face in the pillow.

"Charlotte, what are you saying?" Violet didn't hear Charlotte's words clearly.

"It's nothing!" Charlotte hugged her pillow tightly, then peeked out with half her head out a moment later and whispered, "I haven't given up."

Violet looked puzzled, not understanding what Charlotte was talking about, but she should offer encouragement at this moment.

"Okay, good luck." After saying that, Violet turned around and closed her eyes to rest.

Charlotte was taken aback by this answer.

What did you mean by that last sentence? Did you not consider me a rival? Are you so sure that I, the princess, cannot win?

Thinking about it carefully, the two of them aren't actually a couple, and I have a lot of advantages.

With that thought in mind, Charlotte pulled the blanket over her head and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning.

Charlotte woke up very early.

Looking at Violet, who was still fast asleep beside her, a wicked smile appeared on her face.

Now is a great time to improve his favorability. Make Mr. Isaac breakfast in the morning, and Isaac's favorability towards you will definitely increase!

Charlotte's mind was already filled with unrealistic fantasies of Isaac telling her, "You'll definitely be a good wife."

"Since you didn't seize such a good opportunity, Violet, then this princess will gladly accept it." After saying that, she skipped off to wash up and prepare to go to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Although she was a princess, she had seen the palace chefs cook before, so making breakfast was not a problem for her.

Charlotte stepped out of the room after everything was ready, only to find Isaac sitting at the dining table eating breakfast.

"Hey Charlotte, up so early?" Isaac greeted Charlotte, who looked dazed.

"I... Mr. Isaac, why are you awake so early?" Princess Charlotte asked, somewhat exasperated. It was only 5:00 AM; shouldn't a normal person still be asleep?

"What are you talking about? There's still a war going on. Of course I have to get up early. I need to check on how well the soldiers are digging their trenches, see if the supplies have arrived at the rear, and observe the enemy's movements... There's a lot to do," Isaac said after finishing his milk.

"Then... who made breakfast?"

"The owner of this house heard yesterday that I was going out on errands early this morning, so he got up early to make me breakfast," Isaac laughed. "Neither Violet nor I can cook, and they thought it was unrealistic to have the princess cook, so they did it themselves. They're so hospitable, hahaha."

"...doing unnecessary things."

What did you just say?

"No, no, it's nothing, haha." Charlotte quickly laughed it off, trying to smooth things over. "Should I go wake Violet up?"

“Oh, no need. She must be tired from accompanying me around these past few days. Let her get some rest,” Isaac said. “By the way, they’ve prepared breakfast for you; it’s right here.”

"Okay..." Charlotte said weakly.

The plan fell through.

"What's wrong? You don't look well. Are you sick?" Isaac asked.

"without……"

"That's good. I'll need you to boost morale later. It's troublesome if you get sick now. If you have any health problems, tell me immediately. I'm quite confident in my medical alchemy." After saying that, he put on his coat and went out, leaving Charlotte completely bewildered.

How is this still playing?

Oh well, there's still a chance, no need to rush.

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Violet came out, already dressed.

She looked around but couldn't find Isaac. Turning her head, she saw that Isaac's door was open, but no one was inside.

"Where is Mr. Isaac?" Violet asked anxiously when she came out and didn't see Isaac.

"Ask Mr. Isaac, he just said he went to check on how the soldiers' trenches are being dug..." Before Charlotte could finish speaking, Violet hurriedly ran out.

When Violet woke up to find Isaac not by her side, she felt very uneasy, like a puppy abandoned by its owner, and immediately went out to look for him.

"Trenches? That should be in the western border region of the city." Violet thought to herself as she ran towards that direction.

Although he had never been on the battlefield, he had been by Isaac's side for several months and knew his tactical arrangements very well.

They ran to the western border of the city and, sure enough, saw the trenches dug by the soldiers, and found Isaac inside.

Isaac was just watching the soldiers deploy their weapons when he sensed a familiar presence rapidly approaching him.

As soon as I turned around, I felt myself being hugged tightly.

Violet?

Chapter 88: Let's Go!

"Violet, what brings you here?" Isaac asked, puzzled, looking at the girl who was hugging him.

She caught up with me as soon as I left.

“I couldn’t find Mr. Isaac all morning,” Violet said softly.

Is it because you feel uneasy about not being around...?

"Don't worry, I won't run away." Isaac had no other choice but to rub Violet's head to comfort her.

Although this girl is very strong in combat, she is still too dependent on herself.

"I promised you, I would never leave you," Isaac said softly, trying to comfort you. "You are my best subordinate, my future adjutant, and I will never leave you now or in the future."

“Yes.” Violet said, burying her head in Isaac’s chest and tightening her grip on him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Regardless of the incident, the tactical deployment is proceeding in an orderly manner.

All the medium tanks that Isaac ordered in the capital of Rhodesell have arrived and will be ready for deployment in the war soon.

Frugel's side is also in a panic, having lost two cities in a single day, a loss that is potentially fatal in the current situation.

Several protests broke out domestically, but fortunately they were all suppressed.

Inside the Palace of Flüger.

“Nephew, this is a critical time of life and death for the Frugel crisis. Can we wait until the war is over before we fight? Let’s unite against the enemy first, and we can deal with the rest after we defeat Rhodesel.” The elderly acting king said to the richly dressed young man in front of him.

“Of course, now is not the time for conflict,” the young man said.

This young man was the second prince of Flüger, and the acting king was the younger brother of the current king. They were well aware of Flüger's current situation.

"Father is still unconscious, but his injuries are too severe, and he probably won't last much longer," the second prince said. "Has the culprit still not been found?"

“We’ve investigated all the places that needed to be investigated, and we’ve questioned all the residents around the palace, but we still don’t know who did it,” the acting king said thoughtfully. “However, it’s said that, judging from the scene, it’s possible that General Torre had explosives planted in his body long ago.”

"Are you trying to say that General Torre wanted to kill Father? That's absurd!" The second prince was not satisfied with the acting king's explanation.

“But you’ve seen the investigation results before. General Torre’s body parts were scattered in various corners, while my brother dodged the explosion and didn’t die immediately,” the acting king said. “I don’t know if he wanted to kill my brother, but there may indeed have been a bomb planted in his body, and he may not have known it himself.”

"Then who exactly is it..." Just as the second prince was about to ask who did it, he suddenly thought of something.

General Torre led 30,000 cavalry to attack Rhodesel, but failed to capture it.

He was later captured, and then brought back by a special envoy.

Thinking about it this way, they could only come up with an answer that they had never dared to think of before.

General Torre was implanted with a bomb while he was a prisoner.

This situation has never happened before in history, not to mention how the people of Rhodesells knew that General Torre would go directly to see the king, and how they detonated the explosives.

There are many guesses, but none of them lead to a conclusion.

"Let's deal with Rhodesell first. They've already taken two of our cities; we can't let them advance any further."

The two nodded, agreeing to temporarily join forces, and would discuss future plans after dealing with Rhodesel.

But is it really that easy?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the afternoon, the sun was blazing.

Isaac held his binoculars and looked toward the next target city.

"So they're finally starting to amass a large force? But it's still like a mantis trying to stop a chariot." Isaac said dismissively, putting down his binoculars.