Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 235

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Forget about being the Successor—I’d rather just heal. Chapter 235

The Second Imperial Prince wiped his freshly healed cheek.
So this must be the Potion that Jake received.
It was truly a remarkable ability.
Common Potions are only used to treat Internal Injuries or for Stamina Enhancement—nothing more.
Even then, you could never be certain whether what was inside was poison or medicine, so the Imperial Family avoided them altogether.
But it worked just by applying it?
What’s more, the entire area of skin where the Potion had been applied felt supple and fresh, as though new flesh had bloomed.
Once the nobles of the Empire learned of this, they would certainly line up to obtain this Potion.
Which meant Lion Asteri would earn no small sum of money—but…….
Well, he clearly had no intention of doing any such thing.
As long as he didn’t seem outright terrified at the prospect of making money, that was something.

“The Garden is well-kept.”
“Not quite to the standard of the Imperial Consort’s Palace, but we do take considerable care with it.”

Lion nodded as he gazed across the Garden.
Indeed, various flowers were planted with meticulous precision.
The gentle fragrance of blooms and the fresh scent of verdant grass cleared the mind.
And…….

‘There are a lot of medicinal herbs.’

Between the flowers, detoxifying herbs were planted densely.
At first glance, you could say they were planted to make the flowers stand out more—but…….

‘No, that can’t be it.’

The arrangement was evidence of just how guarded the Second Imperial Prince lived his life.

“After all, unexpected situations always arise.”
“Indeed.”

And Lion preferred this approach.
Lion believed that a place of rest should be an environment where one could truly rest.
But most noble-tended gardens were quite different in their philosophy.
Noble gardens tended to prioritize beauty above all else, didn’t they?

‘Far too exhausting.’

Excessive opulence only served as poison to a place meant for respite.

“Hmm?”

As Lion passed the far end of the Garden, a familiar sight caught his eye, and he stepped backward to take another look.
That was…….

“Bean sprouts?”

A rather incongruous plant to grow in a garden.

‘Now that I look at it, that corner is deliberately darkened.’

Somehow the Second Imperial Prince had learned how to cultivate bean sprouts, and they were growing in darkness beneath a dark cloth.
Had a single strand not jutted out visibly, even Lion would have walked past without noticing.

“……They’re rather good eating.”

The Second Imperial Prince answered as if making an excuse.

“It’s delicious. Good for hangovers too.”

He seemed to have taken quite a liking to it.
If time permitted later, I’d have to teach him recipes—bean sprout seasoning, or bean sprout rice tossed with seasoned soy sauce.
Having glimpsed this unexpected vegetation, Lion moved on to the next location.

“This is the Imperial Library. It’s different from the Asteri Family Estate’s library, but there should be things worth seeing.”

Given permission to borrow freely or browse as he wished, Lion didn’t refuse and examined various books.
The texts on Alchemy and Magic were generally inferior to what the Asteri Estate held, though there were more historical records.
Another particular detail caught his eye.

‘There are no fairy tales.’

Not a single book suitable for young children was visible.

‘Do those destined to be emperor have no need for them?’

Even the Asteri Estate kept various children’s books on hand under the guise of “books appropriate for that age,” yet here there were none.

‘……Is that why the First Imperial Prince turned out like that?’

Harboring such an irreverent thought, Lion borrowed a few books.
After all, he’d be spending several days here, and practically speaking, there was little for him to do.
Placing the borrowed books in his bag, Lion followed behind the Second Imperial Prince once more.
The Second Imperial Prince’s tour of the Imperial Palace was quite comprehensive.
After visiting the Garden and the Imperial Library, they took a simple meal at the Restaurant with a composition that seemed “unlikely to contain poison,” and for the sake of a walk, they even ascended to the Imperial Spire.

‘Not bad at all.’

It had been a long time since he’d stood in such an open expanse, where the entire Imperial Capital spread before him in a single glance.
Bydentis Castle was higher, but this had a greater variety of sights.
Though the Second Imperial Prince didn’t seem particularly fond of it.

‘Probably he’s only shown me places where there’s limited risk.’

Even with the Second Imperial Prince taking control of the Imperial Palace, there would certainly be numerous untoward incidents.
Perhaps for this reason, when introducing Lion to the Imperial Palace, much had been deliberately excluded.
Instead of the Garden of the Imperial Consort, renowned for its beauty, they visited the Second Imperial Prince’s Palace Garden, brimming with medicinal herbs he’d personally cultivated. Instead of a gallery housing artworks collected by the Emperor himself, they went to a library filled with books. As for the Restaurant, there was hardly anything to say.

Hearing this, Lion leaned against the Imperial Spire and gazed outward.
The soft glow of sunset spreading across the clear sky, a clock tower visible in the distance, and people bustling about energetically in its vicinity.
And the wind, blowing rather fiercely at this height.
It was quite satisfying.

“You haven’t really seen much.”
“Well……”

Besides, no matter how beautiful a garden one might bring here, it couldn’t compare to the Garden within the Labyrinth that Lion had cultivated with his own hands.
Not the fragrance of flowers, not their arrangement. Not even the tenderness poured into their creation—none of it could surpass that. Still, such consolation would hardly reach the Second Imperial Prince.
Lion slowly raised himself from where he’d been leaning and answered.

“When would I ever come to the highest place in the Empire just for a casual stroll?”
“……I suppose you have a point.”

He hadn’t expected Kyle to interpret it that way.
Only then did Kyle let out a soft laugh, his gaze following Lion’s to the same vista.
Even looking at this view, he still wasn’t entirely sure what he was meant to feel.
What emotion he ought to carry, what weight he ought to bear.
But one thing had become clear to him.
He was still inexperienced.
Yet somehow, watching the view with someone else felt better than standing alone with it all.

“Or perhaps next time, show me something even more extraordinary.”

Of course, if the Second Imperial Prince hadn’t summoned him so openly, Lion would never have dreamed of visiting the Imperial Family’s residence.
That’s what made this challenge fair.

“Something more extraordinary…….”

But the Second Imperial Prince was nothing if not earnest, so he immediately began to think.
And then it came to him.

“You’re right. There is one place we haven’t been.”
“Is there?”

Lion glanced up at the sky.
The sun was beginning to set, but there was still time before Ricshel would return.
The Second Imperial Prince’s company would be preferable to sitting alone in his chamber.

‘And it would be safe, at least.’

He didn’t know his exact strength, but the Second Imperial Prince seemed capable enough.

“Lead on.”

The moment those words left the Second Imperial Prince’s mouth, a new curiosity kindled in Lion’s mind.
Where exactly was he being taken?
Lion’s wonder was short-lived.
The Second Imperial Prince produced a key that was unmistakably extraordinary.
A Golden Key, bearing the seal of the Emperor himself.
Lion, recognizing its nature instantly, stared with wide eyes and asked,

“You’re seriously taking me there?”

* * *

“Well…….”

Lion stepped across the threshold and let out a soft sound—somewhere between wonder and awe—as he surveyed the interior.
This was beyond anything he had imagined.
The landscape before him exceeded his expectations entirely.
Marble floors of the highest quality.
Upon display cases that gleamed with luxury sat objects of particular note, each resting upon soft silk.
There wasn’t a corner that didn’t catch the light.
Yes. This was.

“Why are you showing me the Imperial Treasure Vault?”

The Imperial Treasure Vault.
The deepest, most secure vault of all—one that had been passed down through the Imperial line for generations, containing only the finest of treasures ever received or acquired by the realm.

“You seem to be asking for somewhere extraordinary.”
“…….”

Right. He had asked to see somewhere extraordinary.

‘Still, who opens the Imperial Treasure Vault to some mere wanderer?’

Could this really be happening?

“This is placing an awful lot of trust in a person, wouldn’t you say?”

Lion muttered to himself, glancing around the space.
Now that he thought about it, this was indeed the perfect finale to the Second Imperial Prince’s planned tour.
The heart of the tour had always been his safety, hadn’t it?
But even so, opening the Imperial Treasury—a place almost no one could easily enter—seemed reckless.
Where had he even gotten the key?
……No. Best not to think about it. He needed to stay out of this.

“If you want something, you’re welcome to take one. I can vouch for it.”

Vouch for what, exactly?
Lion remained cautious.
Not long ago, he would have wondered if he might find something belonging to the Hero here.
But now he was staying away from such things.

‘Be careful…….’

If he accidentally coughed up blood here in the Treasury, there’d be no excuse. None.
Even if the Second Imperial Prince covered for him, he’d definitely be caught.
Lion kept his eyes deliberately unfocused as he walked among the treasures.
Gemstones larger than anything he’d ever seen before.
Golden Crafts that didn’t seem to belong to the Empire.
Artifacts and Scrolls that looked centuries old, and he spotted Forbidden Grimoires too—even Swordsmanship Manuals from extinct Knight Houses.
Even the sharp fangs of a Dragon, long since extinct from the world, lay openly displayed.
The one mercy was that nothing related to the Hero appeared anywhere.

‘Whew.’

Lion released a silent breath of relief and finally allowed his body to relax, beginning to look around at a more leisurely pace.
With no Hero artifacts to worry about, he could enjoy the Treasury tour like a museum visitor, without anxiety.
After glancing through most of the treasures, Lion found himself drawn to a painting hung at the far end of the vault.
It was a vivid Oil Painting of a Dragon—long extinct, as the legends claimed—greedily guarding its hoard of gold and gemstones.
The thick brushstrokes layering the scales created a texture so tactile, and the Dragon’s expression was so fierce and lifelike it seemed about to burst from the frame and breathe fire at any moment.
Especially those eyes—gleaming with such brilliant hunger—they were simply overwhelming.

[You have beheld a painting alive with motion.]
[Your Painting Skill Experience has increased by 35%.]

Simply viewing it was enough to accumulate Painting Skill Experience!

“Is this a treasure as well?”
“Everything in this place is a treasure.”

He even mentioned that the very floor beneath them had been taken from some fallen kingdom’s palace.

‘Incredible…….’

To Lion, this painting seemed more precious than any other treasure in the vault.

“Does the painting appeal to you?”
“It’s quite a striking painting, actually.”

Lion quickly added that he had no intention of taking it.

‘No matter what he offers, he refuses.’

The Second Imperial Prince, visibly displeased, offered a compromise.

“Then at least examine it from closer range.”

In fact, Lion had been admiring the masterpiece from quite a distance.

“Oh, I suppose I could.”

Fearing the Second Imperial Prince would genuinely sulk if he refused even this, Lion obediently took several steps forward until he reached where the prince stood. And the moment he drew close to the painting—

Shift.

The dragon’s eyes in the painting turned their gaze.
Directly toward Lion.

“…Hmm?”

Thinking he’d misread the moment, Lion cautiously shifted his body to the side.
Swish.
The dragon’s gaze followed Lion’s movement.
Vertical pupils met his own in unmistakable contact.

“Um, Your Highness. This painting—”

Does it normally track the viewer’s movements?

“…”

The Second Imperial Prince, sensing something amiss, stepped in front of Lion.
And in that instant—

Flash!

A brilliant light erupted inside the treasure vault, and both of them vanished without a trace.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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