This volume was a huge drag for me. I still like the characters and I'm still looking forward to what happens next, but this particular volume was a struggle to finish.
The main plot here is essentially the nobles gearing up for Sei's official debut as the Saint and the mysterious appearance of a visiting foreign prince.
I didn't care for this new prince character at all. I found him annoying and was irked that most of the book involved him. It was so strange that he was allowed to keep appearing at the Institute that held many national secrets and was allowed to talk to Sei, the Saint they were keeping under wraps, everyday. I couldn't understand why the Prince didn't just ask the King if there was someone in the kingdom who could make the panacea. It's not like it was his father, the king, who was sick. It was just his concubine mother. What harm could happen by divulging this? The way he tried to unearth information about an alchemist who could help him was so inefficient and havey-cavey. And the secrecy of the main characters was baffling. They allow the prince to interact with Sei but refuse to divulge that she is the Saint even though the prince will probably find out during her debut ball.
There was also a little too much conversation about herbs and illnesses in this book. Despite being a series about a Saint who heals people, the previous volumes didn't go that deeply into details, which suited the flow just fine. But here there's a lot more specifics and the author's lack of knowledge shows. You should never go into details about a topic you're not that familiar with.
Another point I disliked is that despite all the fuss in the beginning of the book about Sei's debut and who would be her partner, months go by and no one mentions this ball to her. How long does it take to plan a ball anyway? Everything afterwards is just about Sei and the prince chatting about potions. I was so afraid that the Prince would end up asking her to be his partner. Albert's absence was completed ill-timed.
Lastly, I really disliked the collection of short stories that were just tossed in at the end without thought. The stories themselves were interesting, but it shows a great lack of heart on the author's part about this book. I wish the collection had been incorporated into the very one-dimensional plot of this volume.
Overall, I'd still say that readers of this series should read this volume but should think of it more as an interlude or a crossroads between the last arc and, hopefully the beginning of a bigger and better one.