The Seven-Star Alchemist and the Princess’s Plea

The Roland Empire stood as the most formidable nation on the continent. Its current monarch reigned with exceptional wisdom and martial prowess, and his court teemed with brilliant minds. This led to speculation that within a few decades, the three great empires would inevitably merge into one.

The Emperor of the Roland Empire had only three children. His eldest, Prince Edward, spent his years defending the distant frontiers, while his two daughters resided permanently within the imperial capital.

The Second Princess, Elena, was undeniably the Imperial Capital’s most exquisite bloom. Her breathtaking beauty captivated all who beheld her, drawing gasps of admiration from every corner.

As for the youngest princess…

“Aiya’s health has always been delicate,” Elena explained with a sigh to the white-haired girl seated on a small wooden stool. “We’ve secretly sought out numerous physicians, but all of them have been helpless regarding Aiya’s condition.”

Huh? Weak health. But what does that have to do with me?

“Your Highness Elena, this doesn’t seem to have anything to do with potions, does it?” the girl blurted out. “In this situation, I suggest you contact those charlatans in the Holy City directly.”

Though she held a strong dislike for those mystical figures, the girl had to admit that they possessed remarkable achievements in the field of healing magic.

“That is precisely why I came to find you.” Elena retrieved a glass vial from her pocket, a small amount of liquid still clinging to the inside. “Is this your creation?”

Taking the glass vial Elena offered, the girl dipped a finger into the residual potion. She then brought her finger to her nose and inhaled deeply.

“Blueglow Grass, Icebloom Flower…” The girl swiftly identified the various ingredients within the potion. “Yes, it’s one of mine.”

The sole purpose of this particular potion was to stimulate the body’s vitality. However, due to its potent effects, it could only be used once a day at most.

But what does this have to do with curing an illness?

“The Saintess from the Holy City devised a treatment plan for Aiya, but Aiya’s physical strength is simply too poor,” Elena revealed. “We need this kind of potion that can invigorate her vitality.”

Several months had passed since the Saintess proposed this plan, but Aiya’s treatment progress had stalled due to the inability to find a suitable potion.

Then, just over ten days ago, a merchant returning from the border brought back a peculiar vitality potion. According to the merchant, he had acquired it from a hunter on the frontier. Its effect was to stimulate the body’s vitality, enhancing the user’s speed, strength, and self-healing abilities.

Increased vitality—this was precisely what the Saintess needed. She immediately sought out the merchant and purchased the potion.

After confirming that the potion posed no harm to the young princess, the Saintess administered it to Aiya. The effects were remarkable. For the first time, Aiya was able to fully undergo the Saintess’s treatment.

But a new problem arose: there was only one vial of the potion. They needed to find the alchemist who created it.

This was why Elena, the empire’s precious jewel, found herself here.

“We need a large quantity of this potion.”

However, the girl seemed rather unenthusiastic. This particular potion was merely a failed experiment she had concocted while trying to change herself back. She had no desire to waste her energy on such matters.

“I can write down the formula and manufacturing steps for you,” the girl told Elena, knowing the item was useless to her.

“Actually, I intended to invite you to the Imperial Capital.”

Huh? The Imperial Capital? That place overflowing with trouble?

“No, thank you. Too much hassle.” The girl unequivocally refused Elena’s invitation. “I don’t wish to be disturbed.”

All she wanted now was to find a way to turn back into a man. What did princesses have to do with her? Could they help her change back? They could not. Could they become her wife? They could not. So what was the point of going there? To work? Did an alchemist like her need to work? What a joke.

Elena hadn’t expected the girl to be so resistant. She had always believed the royal family’s reputation among the common folk was quite good.

“The royal family will provide all the raw materials, and all your expenses during your stay in the Imperial Capital will be covered by the crown,” Elena continued, laying out the incentives. “Not only that, but you will also receive a substantial sum from the royal family every month.”

Money? What’s the use of that?

“Are you questioning an alchemist’s ability to earn money? Or perhaps you think I’m short on cash?” The girl’s tone turned sour. Clearly, she felt offended.

“I don’t make potions for money,” she told Elena. “I only wish to break the curse placed upon me and return to my original form.”

“A curse?”

“Yes, a curse. I used to be a man, but then one day I encountered a very strange woman…”

Oh, no, she’s going off on another tangent, Elena thought, a look of despair on her face.

“Hey, you should at least listen properly!” Noticing Elena’s mind wandering, the girl called out indignantly.

Clearing her throat, Elena felt the need to educate this little one on some basic facts. “But, to this day, no magic or curse has ever been able to transform an adult male into a young girl.”

“But it happened.”

“I admit, your age might be older than I imagined, but your gender—I am certain you are naturally a lady,” Elena stated bluntly.

This statement infuriated the girl. She sprang from the stool, pointing a finger at Elena’s nose, her body trembling with rage. It was clear she was extremely angry.

“Forget it, what’s the point of talking to you fools?” In the end, however, she sat back down on the stool. After all, she was facing an imperial princess. It wouldn’t be appropriate to utter vulgarities in front of her.

“Will you not reconsider?”

“No, I won’t. I don’t have the leisure to play games with manipulative people like you.” The girl was resolute.

Using a blue pen, the girl wrote down the potion formula Elena needed on a piece of paper and handed it to her. “Take this and leave quickly.”

Her handwriting is quite beautiful, Elena thought as she took the note.

But soon, her smile faded.

“These ingredients, so many steps… If I may be so bold, this potion must be of a Seven-Star grade, wouldn’t you say?”

Elena had never imagined that the medicine she sought would be so incredibly precious.

“Seven-Star? Call it what you like. It’s useless to me anyway.” The girl shook her head indifferently. This potion had no effect on her, so giving it away was of no consequence.

“You… you wouldn’t happen to be a Seven-Star Alchemist Grandmaster, would you?” Elena felt as if she were in the presence of an extraordinarily important figure.

A Seven-Star Alchemist Grandmaster? The girl tapped her chin with a finger. Yes, I think an old man did give me a rainbow-colored badge once.

“Is it this?” The girl rummaged through a pile of miscellaneous items nearby and pulled out a badge shimmering with seven hues.

“Alchemists’ Guild, Seven-Star Alchemist, Ziyao.”

Elena covered her face. It really was true.