The Price of a Signature

“Then raise your hand, Shana.”

When Shana lifted one hand, Lucian lightly recited a spell.

Circular magic arrays wrapped around Lucian’s wrist and one of Shana’s wrists.

“From now on, if you reveal anything about the decree you’re about to read, the magic circle will break and your wrist will be severed.

Since this is a request from the imperial family, you understand why secrecy is required, right?”

“I do.”

“I won’t bind you with a silence spell. So this is something you have to uphold voluntarily.”

“Don’t worry. Unless someone offers me a thousand gold, I’m not saying a word.”

If it were a hundred gold coins, maybe losing a wrist would be acceptable.

Lucian’s expression subtly shifted.

“Shouldn’t you keep quiet even if they offer a thousand?”

“…Slip of the tongue. So can I read the decree now?”

This time, Lucian obediently handed it over.

Shana peeled off the red seal and opened the envelope. Inside was a request written in elegant, archaic script.

‘From Princess Elise.’

Her eyes scanned the letter rapidly.

For the eternal glory of the Empire, skipped.

Renowned far and wide as an exceptional apothecary, skipped.

She skimmed past the excessive flattery and empty praise.

What remained, once condensed, was this.

To Apothecary Shana Crowell,

We request the development of a complete cure for Mana Rejection Syndrome, a condition that manifests exclusively within the imperial bloodline.

Time limit: six months.

Elise Arlantia Lucretia

First Imperial Princess

“So in the end, you want me to make a cure for Mana Rejection Syndrome…

Wait. A cure for Mana Rejection Syndrome?”

Cold sweat began to form down Shana’s back as she read.

“You’re not talking about that hereditary imperial disease…Mana Rejection Syndrome, are you?”

“That’s right.”

Lucian was smiling, clearly entertained by something.

“That’s why I said you’re the only one who can do it, Shana.”

Shana’s face stiffened.

This was absurd.

It went far beyond the level of an incurable disease.

They were asking her to cure what was said to be a divine curse passed down through generations.

It all traced back to the First Emperor, who carried the blood of the gods.

The imperial family inherited abnormally powerful mana generation after generation.

But that power eventually turned into poison.

They drew the jealousy of the King of Monsters, and their bodies began rejecting mana itself.

Thus, the name Mana Rejection Syndrome.

Whether it was their own mana or someone else’s, the body reacted violently, like a severe allergy.

‘Lucian suffered from it badly as a child, too.’

“…Does it really have to be me?”

She already knew refusing would be nearly impossible now that she had read the decree.

Still, she had to ask.

How could she succeed where countless apothecaries over generations had failed?

When she blinked, her watery eyes came into view.

Lucian, about to speak, paused.

He kept staring at her eyes, forcing her to ask again.

“Why?”

Only then did Lucian look away.

“Because there’s no one else. You don’t have mana. That means there’s no risk of mana contaminating the medicine.”

“That’s…”

Patients with Mana Rejection Syndrome reacted violently even to others’ mana.

If mana were mixed into the drug, it could be lethal.

Naturally, the apothecary making the medicine had to be mana-less.

Because of this, imperial patients often struggled to receive proper treatment at all.

“And Her Highness was curious.

She wanted to know how my condition improved.

She also found it interesting that I spent my childhood with you.”

“Ah…I did make you eat all sorts of things back then.”

‘There’s no way that actually helped.’

Shana had fed Lucian everything she could get her hands on.

From ordinary weeds to experimental mixtures she’d thought up out of curiosity.

‘Drink this, Lucian. It might make you healthier.’

‘Ugh—’

Honestly, it was a miracle he was still alive.

Back then, he’d been much weaker than he was now.

‘Why did he eat all of that?’

As she thought that, Shana glanced at his body.

He hadn’t just become healthy.

He was far more muscular than when he graduated from the Academy.

How he’d gone from frail to this robust was a mystery.

Such physical strength was rare for someone of imperial blood.

It wasn’t strange that the princess would take interest in Shana, who had spent so much time with Lucian.

In Shana’s mind, it was nothing more than coincidence.

‘Accepting this request is dangerous. But refusing it is dangerous too.’

If she failed after accepting, it would be even worse.

She might earn the imperial family’s hatred.

“Oh, right.

If you look at the bottom, you’ll see the reward. One hundred thousand gold upon success.

And a thousand gold will be paid immediately as an advance.”

“…What? One hundred thousand gold?”

Shana’s thoughts churned violently.

A thousand gold.

Even just the advance was an amount an ordinary commoner family could never touch in a lifetime.

Simply by accepting the request, she could pay off the barony’s urgent interest.

With what remained, she could fund the apothecary’s operations for an entire year.

If she succeeded, it would be a complete reversal of her life.

She could shut this shabby apothecary down entirely and live comfortably at home without working another day.

“…Shana?”

She checked the document again.

The number was clearly written at the bottom.

She’d missed it because Mana Rejection Syndrome had stunned her.

It was a dazzling, beautiful number.

Aware of Lucian’s gaze, Shana realized she was practically burying her nose in the paper.

She cleared her throat and looked up.

“Ahem.

Even so, it’s hard to agree just because of money. The deadline is too tight. You want a clinical drug in three months, and a completed cure in six.”

No matter the reward, impossible was impossible.

Of course, she wasn’t actually planning to refuse.

‘This is when you quietly extend the client’s deadline.’

“Why the rush? Her Highness’s life isn’t in immediate danger, is it?”

“The delegation from the Kingdom of Ekha, the princess’s future marriage partner, arrives in three months.

She needs to look healthy by then. And six months from now will be the wedding.”

Shana’s mouth fell open slightly.

The great Emperor Magnus had only two children.

The Crown Prince and the Princess.

The problem was that the Crown Prince was catastrophically frail due to Mana Rejection Syndrome.

His condition was so severe that he frequently hovered at death’s door.

In contrast, it was said the princess was relatively healthy.

That was why a political marriage with Ekha had been possible.

With the Crown Prince unlikely to live long, securing ties with the likely next ruler was crucial.

But in truth, it seemed the princess wasn’t well either.

‘A cure needed to push through a political marriage…’

If this were exposed, the marriage itself could collapse.

“Of course, our illness is widely known even abroad. But Her Highness must prove that it doesn’t interfere with her daily life.”

If she failed to make the medicine, what would happen?

Would she bear the full brunt of imperial wrath?

“Can you give me some time to think?”

“Sure.”

She didn’t want to get dragged into something this dangerous.

No matter how much money was offered, one wrong move and she’d be retiring in the afterlife.

“Oh, right, Shana. This was in your mailbox.”

Lucian held up a debt collection notice.

…Or not.

Rather than living forever as a debt-ridden apothecary, she’d take this one chance and overturn her life.

Shana slowly nodded.

‘Alright. I’ve decided.’

She smiled brightly and said,

“I should devote myself to the imperial family. Do I sign here?”

“Yeah. Sign there.”

Lucian replied as if it were obvious.

She tried to use the pen he handed her, but no ink came out.

Watching her shake it, Lucian snapped his fingers. Another pen appeared in midair.

“Sorry. You don’t have mana, so you need ink. I forgot.”

After speaking, Lucian grabbed the side of his chair and began to laugh quietly.

‘This bastard…’

The first pen had used mana as ink. He’d clearly done it on purpose.

Should she get angry? No. Getting angry now would mean losing.

“…Fine. If we’re starting experiments, I’ll need materials and research data. That’s all covered, right?”

“Of course. Do you have something in mind?”

“I do.”

Shana muttered while shooting Lucian a sideways glance.

“I’ve seen enough over the years.”

She’d spent years as Lucian’s childhood friend.

Feeling pity over Mana Rejection Syndrome wasn’t new to her. She’d only given up as a child because she lacked knowledge.

“I think Mana Rejection Syndrome works like an immune response.”

Shana continued calmly.

“The body tries to protect itself by triggering immune reactions.

The problem is when it misidentifies the enemy. In this case, it rejects its own mana.

The more mana the body has, the worse the symptoms get. If we apply principles used to treat allergies, there should be a clue.”

“That makes sense. So what’s the plan?”

“Since Her Highness needs improvement before the wedding…I’m considering extreme measures.”

“Extreme?”

“First, trick the body into thinking mana isn’t dangerous.

Administer it in extremely small amounts, letting the immune system learn gradually.”

“…That sounds incredibly dangerous.”

“Then the alternative is to trigger a stronger physical reaction than the mana response.

Something intense enough to numb the senses entirely.”

How to do that was the real challenge.

Since the first option would be rejected, this was the only path left.

“I’ll start based on that. The moment the advance payment comes through.”

She emphasized the words advance payment while quickly scribbling down her account number.

“Send it through Louis Bank. I don’t do unpaid labor.”

“Oh. Alright.”

Lucian looked like he was holding back laughter.

Perhaps this was hard for a pampered noble heir to understand.

Shana ignored him and began clearing the desk.

Once the money arrived tomorrow, she would begin immediately. But the desk was, at best, pure chaos.

Forgetting Lucian entirely, she sorted documents, discarded reagents, and washed beakers. Lucian silently watched the entire process.

Until Shana finally stopped and asked, “Why are you still here?”

“Oh. I thought I might help.”

“There is something you can help with.
I don’t have a test subject.”

She said it partly to chase him out. But it wasn’t just an excuse.

She couldn’t properly test a cure for Mana Rejection Syndrome alone.

It needed to be consumed by someone who actually had the condition.

“Find me a volunteer. Or do you already have someone prepared? A cadet branch of the imperial family, maybe—”

“Yeah. I do.”

“Who?”

Shana’s eyes lit up. With a test subject, progress would be much faster.

“Who do you think?”

Lucian sat there, gazing at her steadily.

What was he doing? Was this a staring contest?

Shana spoke slowly.

“They need to know about the research, have Mana Rejection Syndrome, and not be so severe that taking the drug would kill them…”

No. No way.

Shana blinked, silently begging him to deny it. But Lucian only answered this.

“Poor Shasha. Why do you think I came all this way?”