Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 266

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Six: Beginning of the Hunting Festival

“As Earl Ehlertt, I would first like to express my respect to all who have gathered for the Ehlertt Earldom’s hunting festival.”

A large crowd had gathered in the plaza surrounded by tents. Helfried used a voice-amplifying magical tool to express his gratitude to those assembled.

“Glory shall be bestowed upon those who achieve the greatest military exploits during the hunting festival. The period is two weeks. The Ehlertt Earldom shall grant rewards to the top three honorable places.”

At Helfried’s signal, the cloth covering the prepared pedestals was removed.

“To the third place goes the pelt of the Platinum Silver Wolf, once the ruler of the twentieth floor of the Ehlertt capital dungeon, and a solid panacea. To the second place goes its fangs and a solid panacea. And to the first place—I present a scale of the Black Dragon of Thorn Forest passed down in the Ehlertt Earldom, and a solid panacea.”

Each time a reward was announced, murmurs spread through the plaza. The reaction to the final reward was especially loud.

“The Ehlertt family only brings out the Black Dragon scales on the most important occasions. That should show how seriously Brother Helfried regards this hunting festival.”

“Is that the dragon that became the origin of the Earldom’s coat of arms?”

“Yes. It was a massive dragon, so some of its materials still remain.”

The Ehlertt Earldom’s coat of arms depicted thorns and a black dragon. When Karen heard the origin story, she had thought it was a legend created to add prestige to the family. However, it seemed there truly was a history of defeating a dragon and pacifying this land in the past.

“Please be careful not to venture too deep into the Great Eastern Forest or the Bruière Mountains. These are dangerous places as there are multiple unconquered dungeons, and monsters continue to overflow from them. Particularly, there is an unconquered dungeon gate near the northern part of the Great Forest. It’s close enough to see with the naked eye if you climb that hill, so everyone should take caution.”

“Earl Ehlertt, may I inquire about the rewards?”

A noble youth dressed as an individual participant rather than a knight raised his hand.

“Go ahead.”

“What exactly is this ‘solid panacea’ that is included in all the rewards for the top three places?”

In her heart, Karen made a fist pump, thinking, "Thank you for asking!”

“It’s a new potion created by Karen, a B-rank alchemist who is on good terms with our family. It’s a small panacea but in solid form with excellent portability, and can be taken as a meal by dissolving it in hot water.”

“Hoh. That’s an interesting potion.”

The youth said this in a manner that, contrary to his words, didn’t seem very interested.

Unlike adventurers attacking dungeons with minimal personnel and luggage, nobles conquered them with large armies that even included cooks, so he probably didn’t understand the convenience of ready-made solid soup. Though there was a waiting list, he could purchase ordinary medium panaceas from Karen, so he apparently didn’t feel it was a good deal.

Having contributed to the rewards, Karen wished the reaction had been more enthusiastic.

“It’s a potion already adopted by the B-rank adventurer party ‘Crimson Thunder.’ In recognition of providing that potion, Alchemist Karen has apparently concluded a sponsorship contract with them. Currently, the Crimson Thunder is conquering the Ehlertt territorial capital dungeon. With their ability, there’s a prospect they can conquer the thirtieth floor, predicted to be the current deepest level.”

“The Crimson Thunder, that party that’s been conquering dungeon after dungeon…?”

“If it’s them, they’ll really conquer it.”

“If they conquer the thirtieth floor, they’ll be A-rank adventurers, right? I want a potion used by A-rank adventurers…!”

Gasps could be heard from here and there. The nobles seemed to have developed an interest in the solid panacea precisely because Thor was using it.

Rather than feeling professional frustration, Karen felt proud as an older sister. As she surveyed people’s faces with a triumphant expression, she suddenly felt something was off.

Among those who had gasped, there was one group with strangely dark expressions. As she observed them, it became clear they didn’t welcome Thor’s conquest, and Karen frowned. They wore the uniforms of the Ehlertt Earldom’s knight order. At their center was Knight Captain Gottfried.

“Now then, I hereby declare the start of the hunting festival!”

Startled by Helfried’s booming voice, Karen snapped out of it and averted her gaze from Gottfried.

“Everyone, as nobles, as the strong, I ask you to exert your full strength to hunt monsters for the protection of our nation!”

“For the Ehlertt Earldom!”

“For the Kingdom of Earthfill!”

“In the name of Royal Ancestor Sybilla!”

The nobles responded to Helfried’s declaration. Their unified voices roared, shaking Karen’s eardrums like a thunderous battle cry. At this moment, she keenly felt how everyone’s feelings were completely united in the purpose of hunting monsters and protecting human territory.

Karen got goosebumps from the exhilaration of hearts becoming one. This was the hunting festival. For the first time, Karen understood how important this festival was to the nobles.

“Well then, I’ll be going, Karen.”

Julius took Karen’s hand and kissed it.

At that, resentful gazes stabbed into Karen. They were probably the gazes of the young ladies whose handkerchiefs Julius had refused to accept.

When she wondered how he had refused them, it turned out Julius had honestly declined, saying he couldn’t accept handkerchiefs from anyone other than the person he loved.

It was a breach of manners, which earned him disapproval—and that disapproval ended up being directed at Karen.

“…I’m sorry, Karen. I thought it would be fine if only I were resented.”

Julius apparently also noticed the gazes and apologized to Karen with eyebrows in a distressed shape.

At Julius making such a pitiful expression, Karen shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re going to perform well at the hunting festival for me, right?”

“Yes. I’ll dedicate my victory to you. I’ll surely achieve first place in military exploits and offer you the reward.”

“Then I’ll call it even with that. I don’t actually dislike being looked at with jealous gazes either!”

When Karen appealed to her vanity so Julius wouldn’t worry, he narrowed his eyes lovingly.

“If only you knew, even a fraction, how deeply I cherish your strength…”

While watching Karen’s reaction, Julius brought his face closer. Before long, he kissed Karen on the cheek. The heartfelt kiss was adorned by the envious gazes of women who couldn’t hide it even with their fans.

Just as Karen felt her bold heart filled with happiness, a teasing whistle rang out.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 265

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Five: Desire

“What’s the matter, Mr. Julius?”

“…Ah, Karen.”

Julius looked down at Karen as if awakening from his thoughts and smiled faintly.

“That young lady tried to become my lowest-ranking wife, but her goal was you, right?”

“It seems so.”

Karen still suspected the possibility that Ottilie was using it as a pretext to approach Julius. However, if she believed Ottilie’s claims, it seemed Karen was the goal.

“When I think that she tried to use me to get close because she wanted your help, it feels unpleasant somehow. I was surprised to feel such emotions even toward a woman who tried to become my wife.”

Julius exhaled heavily, his gaze turning toward Karen, filled with suppressed feelings.

“Perhaps it’s because I felt that you would accept all of me?”

By “all,” Julius likely meant his upbringing. It seemed he had considered his mother to be part of a past too difficult to accept. It had been something Karen might have almost brushed off, yet for Julius it had been of utmost importance.

“I end up having foolish desires.”

Julius muttered in a low voice as if spitting out mud.

“Even though I don’t want to get in your way—”

Karen gasped softly at that point.

“In other words, you were even jealous of Lady Ottilie for me, Mr. Julius!?”

Karen’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Faced with her sparkling light blue eyes, Julius swallowed the dark words he had been about to spit out and nodded.

“…Well, I suppose that’s what it comes down to.”

“Kyaa!”

To Karen, who let out a delighted squeal, Julius smiled as if his energy had drained.

“Yes… in other words, even if I come to harbor desires that would hinder you… I can’t win against you. They say the one who falls in love loses, after all.”

“That’s not true! Mr. Julius, if the one who falls in love loses, then I lost first!”

To Karen, who said this while holding both cheeks and beaming, Julius stated decisively.

“No. I lost before you did.”

“Huh…?”

Karen looked up at Julius with a blank expression. Looking down at such a Karen, Julius deepened his smile.

It might have been called a sweet smile, but the tent’s dimness cast a shadow over it. Just as Karen was about to open her mouth about that, deliberate coughing echoed through the tent.

“If you two are going to flirt, I’ll be outside the tent.”

“I’ll go as well! Please don’t leave me behind!”

Petra and Rosine left the tent with exasperated faces. Though their flirting had just ended, the two didn’t seem to realize it.

Karen looked up at Julius again and tilted her head.

“…You don’t mean we met somewhere before meeting through Master Sieg’s request, do you?”

“At the very least, you didn’t have feelings for me when you completed Sieg’s request, right? You even turned down my proposal.”

Indeed, looking back, what she had felt for Julius then had been nothing more than admiration. A faint feeling of longing as one would direct at an idol. While she would be happy to become acquainted with him, it was an emotion toward Julius’s appearance and reputation, not a feeling directed at what was inside Julius.

Karen suppressed the urge to excitedly demand to know when Julius had come to like her.

Julius’s expression was dark.

He was probably thinking something negative.

He had a somewhat negative side.

It was an aspect of Julius’s personality that Karen had only recently noticed.

“Mr. Julius? What do you mean by desires that would get in my way?”

“Since I promised not to get in your way, it’s a wish that can’t be granted.”

“You could at least say it out loud, like before.”

Julius’s wish that she wouldn’t cheat on him. It was hurtful that he thought it couldn’t be granted.

“It’s a far more foolish wish than earlier.”

“What if it might unexpectedly come true if you try saying it?”

Julius glanced at Karen and sat down beside her on the sofa. Then, he suddenly pressed her down against the sofa.

She didn’t let out a delighted squeal. Because inside Julius’s golden eyes, looking down at Karen, light swirled round and round.

Though her heart pounded at his closeness, Karen exhaled softly and kept her composure.

“…I don’t want any other men, and even women, to approach you. I want you to be only with me and look only at me.”

“Ah, that can’t be granted.”

When Karen cut him down in one stroke, Julius furrowed his brow. Karen pinched his cheek at close range.

“Don’t make such a hurt face. Even without any promises, such a wish wouldn’t come true! I have work to do, after all!”

“I know, Karen. I find you dazzling as you work as an alchemist. Therefore, even though I don’t want to get in your way, I end up having desires that would.”

Cornering Karen in the corner of the sofa, Julius whispered.

“I find myself wanting to live together with just the two of us in a small house in a forest far from human habitation, unknown to anyone.”

It was a strangely detailed wish. If he had acted to fulfill that wish before Karen became a B-rank alchemist, when she was still a much weaker alchemist, Karen would have been helpless. However, Julius had never once ignored Karen’s will for the sake of his own desires.

“If we hide away so no one knows, you won’t be taken from me either…”

As Karen saw it, Julius was experiencing magical power intoxication. His eyes unfocused, Julius spoke as if in delirium.

If this magical power intoxication was from ascending a step, Karen would have joyfully enjoyed this situation. However, this magical power intoxication was an affliction from Julius’s anxiety.

Even while cornering Karen in the corner of the sofa, Julius’s body didn’t touch Karen. It seemed he was maintaining his reason by doing so. Karen worried about whether to touch Julius or not, and eventually stretched out her arms and slowly embraced that large body.

“Mr. Julius, I won’t be taken by anyone. Not even by you, if you want.”

“…Not even by me, you say.”

“You sound unhappy about that!”

As Karen laughed and clung to Julius, eventually Julius embraced her back. While being hugged painfully tight, Karen looked up at Julius from within those arms. Julius, no longer even smiling and expressionless, looked down at Karen.

When his doll-like, beautiful face became expressionless, its force increased all the more. Moreover, since the identity of that increased force was his obsession with Karen, Karen grinned and said:

“I’ll give myself to you of my own will, Mr. Julius, so don’t try to take me—just wait properly.”

“…I see.”

“Getting from me is definitely more worthwhile than taking!”

“…That may be so.”

“And, and, obviously, I can’t avoid approaching anyone other than you, but I don’t want to make you feel bad, so if there’s a man whose approach to me you absolutely can’t bear, please tell me. I’ll make an effort to distance myself too. Ah, but it would be troublesome if it’s too frequent.”

Julius’s eyes sparkled for a moment, but he immediately lost the highlight in his eyes.

“However, you would wonder why I chose that man and wanted to exclude him.”

“I would wonder why, yes.”

“If that man had feelings for you, it would be troublesome if I ended up making you aware of where that man’s heart lies when you hadn’t paid him any mind.”

“That’s oddly specific?”

Moreover, it assumed that some man was in unrequited love with Karen—and that she hadn’t even noticed it.

“If someone had unrequited feelings for me, I’d obviously notice. And if I did, I wouldn’t get close to him. Though for work, I’d like you to tolerate some level of interaction.”

“You absolutely wouldn’t notice.”

Julius declared heavily.

Karen pursed her lips in protest.

“Are you saying I’m dense?”

“I like you just the way you are now, Karen.”

Julius said with a bright smile.

Karen was easily won over.

“Well, if you like me, Mr. Julius, then that’s okay…!”

Julius let out a deep sigh and smiled as if resigned.

The magical power intoxication seemed to have subsided.

That meant Julius’s heart had calmed down.

Karen let out a smile of relief, then tried to separate from Julius.

However, Julius didn’t release his hands, keeping them in the position of embracing Karen’s waist.

“Um, Mr. Julius…?”

“I want to hear your feelings too, Karen.”

Understanding what Julius was trying to make her say, Karen’s cheeks flushed red. She had said it many times, and if anything, she had even desired marriage from the beginning, but being asked to say it anew was embarrassing.

“…I also like you, Mr. Julius.”

To Karen, who said this while fidgeting, Julius laughed as if breaking free.

“If you like me, then even someone like me must be acceptable.”

His cheerful smile was bright, dazzling, and pierced her chest.

Rather than being captivated, Karen found her eyes welling up, and she simply smiled softly.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 264

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Four: Unfathomable Fixation

However, immediately after, Ottilie abruptly lifted her face. A strangely cheerful smile floated on that face. It wasn’t the expression of someone who had just placed their last hope in Karen and begged for help, and Karen furrowed her brow.

“Thanks to you, I’ve deepened my understanding of you in several ways, Lady Karen.”

“…Pardon?”

“Next time, I’ll prepare the compensation you seek and come to ask again.”

“Huh? Wait a moment, please! I’ll be troubled if you come again!”

As Karen called out to stop Ottilie, who was about to leave the tent without hesitation, Ottilie turned back and grinned broadly.

“If your heart still isn’t moved by what I offer next time, Lady Karen, you can simply refuse me then.”

“No, but still…!”

To the flustered Karen, Ottilie laughed with a giggle.

“Lady Karen, you’re a kind person.”

“I just refused your request, though!?”

That was hardly an impression one would have of Karen, who had just refused such a desperate plea.

As Karen stared in shock, Ottilie narrowed her eyes.

“The compensation I offered all seemed to be off the mark and troublesome for you, Lady Karen. But you listened to my story, didn’t you? Rather than hearing me out from curiosity, it seems you worried about me to no small degree, doesn’t it?”

“Not particularly, that’s not…”

“If we had fallen into such dire straits that we would meet our end immediately without your assistance, Lady Karen, you wouldn’t have been able to refuse, would you? You’re a kind person.”

To Karen, who fell silent, Petra’s eyes widened.

“Huh? No way, you were thinking that?”

“If someone is innocent and yet caught up in something terrible, isn’t that pitiful…!”

If it had been a matter of someone about to die immediately, even Karen wouldn’t have been able to abandon them. However, judging from Ottilie’s story, it sounded like there was still time. If measures were taken during this winter, it seemed possible that things could be resolved even without Karen’s involvement.

“It’s true that we’re not currently exposed to such an imminent threat. …Though I don’t know what will happen after the palace announces the matter.”

According to Waltride, Horst was a traitor. If the Bell family, including Ottilie, were currently regarded as Horst’s allies, they might find themselves in dire straits after the spring announcement.

As Karen’s expression grew serious, Ottilie smiled.

“Lady Karen, you need not concern yourself with my efforts going to waste out of your kindness. Simply accept my proposal if it pleases you, and refuse it if it does not.”

“Even so…”

“Or is it that any woman who has approached Master Julius even once is unbearably offensive to you? However, it seems there are cases like Lady Petra who are forgiven, so I wish to follow after her.”

“I don’t think you need to fixate on me so much…? Surely there are others who would help you!?”

If she used that overflowing, bewitching charm, seduction would be easy. Karen had no objection whatsoever to her using seduction on anyone other than Julius. Rather, if seduction was a method that could only be used on Julius, the problem would be back to square one again.

“I want you, Lady Karen.”

“…Because you can get close to Mr. Julius?”

“My, how deeply rooted.”

To Karen, who spoke with suspicion plain on her face, Ottilie laughed merrily, apparently finding something amusing.

“Discovering that you, Lady Karen, hold the authority between the two of you was quite enlightening. I naturally thought Master Julius held the decision-making power.”

That was apparently why her opening move had been the offer to become a lowest-ranking wife. Noble men would probably jump at the offer with delight if a noble woman proposed to become a lowest-ranking wife.

Just before Karen was about to turn a cold gaze toward Julius, he pulled her close by the shoulder.

“Even if I held the decision-making power, I wouldn’t have accepted your proposal.”

Julius took Karen’s hand and brought his lips close. With a gasp, Karen’s face turned red.

Letting his lips hover just shy of touching Karen’s hand, Julius directed a sharp gaze at Ottilie.

Ottilie met Julius’s gaze and lifted the corners of her lips.

“I thought you were someone who upheld the code of nobility and knighthood, Master Julius, so those are also unexpected words.”

“I’ve been able to meet a woman who doesn’t care in the slightest whether I’m un-noble-like or un-knight-like.”

“Mr. Julius, you’re too close!”

As Julius brought his cheek close to Karen’s cheek, Karen inadvertently interrupted. Julius looked down at Karen, whose face had turned red, and showed a smile with what seemed like relief.

“Would you not like to make it so that anyone who sees us understands that no one can come between us?”

“Certainly, if you’re this close, no one could get between us, but…!”

Normally, shouldn’t this be something where Karen, trying to prevent Julius from being stolen by Ottilie, was the one closing the distance?

Faced with Julius’s relentless advance, leaving Karen no time to counter, Ottilie merely shrugged.

“It was fortunate for me that Lady Karen holds the decision-making power.”

“Just why do you fixate on Karen so much?”

“A person who became a B-rank alchemist at a young age. A creator who developed one new potion after another and ultimately even produced a panacea, and moreover, a rare educator who taught alchemy to one with less than F-rank magical power and raised him into an alchemist.”

The excessive flattery made Karen writhe.

While writhing, what surprised her was about Harald.

It turned out that Karen taking Harald, a disciple with very low magical power, was not well known. Although information about Karen, who became a B-rank alchemist, was restricted, there were no restrictions on information about her disciple Harald, so it wasn’t strange that it was known, but it didn’t come up in conversation.

When negotiating with nobles to take in the children, Karen had thought it would be the first topic to come up. She had the track record of once making Harald into an alchemist. If it were known that Harald could also make potions from non-magical materials that other alchemists couldn’t make, she thought there was a possibility that, from there, her early talent scouting would be exposed. Yet not a single noble recalled Harald’s existence.

“Finally, she’s also a person of mercy who pities all children with little magical power and tries to take them in and raise them. How could I possibly think of serving anyone other than someone like her?”

Before she knew it, for some reason, Julius and Ottilie were smiling while glaring at each other, leaving Karen aside.

However, when she made eye contact with the flustered Karen caught between them, Ottilie stopped the smiling glare-off with Julius and smiled brightly.

“Since it’s not my intention to trouble you, Lady Karen, I’ll come again another time.”

Ottilie smiled brightly and alluringly, then departed from the tent with graceful steps.

As Karen stood dazed, watching her back, she furrowed her brow, noticing that she didn’t hold as much negative feeling toward Ottilie as she had at first.

“…Could it be that Lady Ottilie is quite shrewd?”

“She’s the top genius in the Ehlertt territory, and she was even called a prodigy when she was young.”

“Well, after Master Julius appeared in high society, it became all about him, so before anyone knew it, she stopped being called that.”

At Rosine and Petra’s words, Karen held her head.

“What should I do… if my heart wavers at the next offer…!”

“If you’re attracted, wouldn’t it be fine to accept?”

“If that was all an act and she is actually a cunning vixen trying to get close to Mr. Julius, then it would be even worse if she is truly capable…!?”

To Karen, who said this with eyes wide open, Rosine smiled wryly.

“So it is not that you do not wish to accept her because she may carry troublesome circumstances?”

“As long as she didn’t assist Horst in the dungeon anomaly incident.”

If she had been involved in that, even Karen could do nothing about it.

Remembering the fluffy pegasus foal born from the blackened egg, Karen sighed.

When she looked up, Julius was staring at the tent entrance where Ottilie had departed with somewhat dark eyes.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 263

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Three: Ottilie’s Reason 2

“Because Horst appears so powerless, people will assume there must be another mastermind behind the harm done to the royal capital’s dungeon, and my family, being influential among the former earl’s faction, will be suspected first.”

“That is…”

Ottilie had looked like a central figure even among the young ladies who had gathered while avoiding people’s eyes. To that extent, she was certainly from a powerful family. She clearly understood that her standing allowed her to influence Horst, to the extent that she needed to take the initiative in showing submission. However, the impression Karen had received from actually encountering Horst was not like that.

Karen had felt that those with little magical power, after desperate efforts where blood, sweat, and tears were shed, had managed to reach that situation entirely on their own. Rather, they probably hadn’t borrowed the help of those with magical power precisely because of their pride.

Even Karen, who knew nothing about them, thought so. Yet because of their lack of magical power, they apparently couldn’t even claim the infamy of plotting an evil conspiracy that shook the nation.

“Even if I asked the Ehlertt family for help, they wouldn’t help us. If we come under suspicion, they might even be accused of involvement in this incident as well. But if it’s you, Lady Karen, who was the very person who stopped the dungeon anomaly, you won’t be suspected.”

That’s why only Karen could help the children with almost no magical power. She could be on their side wholeheartedly. Even if someone suspected her of aiding in treason out of sympathy for those without magical power, she could talk her way out of it. Because Karen was the very person who had crushed their hopes. That fact would be guaranteed by none other than this country’s First Princess, Waltride. So if Karen wished to help, she could probably help Ottilie too.

“The Bell family was certainly in the former earl’s faction, but that’s because we hold a small-scale dungeon in our land and therefore believe in strength. Forgive my rudeness, but the current earl appeared to focus solely on Master Sieg, whose health was frail, and neglect the territory. That is why we became disillusioned. We were aligned with the faction, but we never served Horst.”

From Karen’s perspective, she found Helfried—who devoted everything to Sieg—admirable. However, she also understood that, as a noble, as a lord, it wasn’t necessarily praiseworthy, and she understood the feelings of nobles who held resentment.

Karen already knew that they were people who had, to a greater or lesser extent, resolved to protect their country and their territories.

Ottilie bowed her head deeply.

“If you would help me, I will use my power, recognized as equivalent to a B-rank mage in the Mages’ Guild, for your sake, Lady Karen.”

“While I appreciate your offer…”

To Karen, who still seemed reluctant despite all the words, Ottilie asked:

“What am I lacking? What kind of trial must I overcome to be able to serve at your side, Lady Karen? Could you tell me?”

“From your perspective, Lady Ottilie, it’s such a trivial reason that it’s hard to say…”

“Whatever the reason, I will receive it sincerely.”

Ottilie opened her drowsy-looking eyes wide, so desperately earnest. Her desperation made Karen feel apologetic. But Karen had no intention of changing her mind. Still, keeping the reason to herself felt wrong, so Karen murmured almost in a whisper:

“I don’t like having a woman who tried to become Mr. Julius’s wife near me.”

“…Goodness.”

Ottilie put her hand to her mouth and looked dumbfounded. She might be inwardly exasperated and blaming Karen for refusing help over just that much. But Ottilie closed her mouth there and said nothing further.

In other words, Ottilie’s initial move had been completely wrong. The moment she tried to become Julius’s wife, the shutter of Karen’s heart had completely closed.

Certainly, Ottilie had a reason to escape the stigma of treason, and her objective was not Julius. However, no matter what excuses were strung together from there, the past fact that she had first tried to approach Julius wouldn’t disappear.

A lowest-ranking wife was not truly considered a wife. Even so, there were surely some who were undeniably treated as actual wives in reality.

She had tried to become an existence Julius could lay his hands on whenever he felt like it. That was almost a seduction tactic. Whether or not Ottilie intended it, and whether or not Julius desired it. This fact was absolutely unacceptable to Karen.

“You’re refusing not only her proposal to be a lowest-ranking wife, but even her proposal to be an indentured servant—which could be said to be throwing away one’s pride as a noble—over something like that…?”

Instead of Ottilie herself, Petra, who had been listening to the conversation, said with a horrified expression.

“It’s important to me!”

“And yet, you’re fine with me acting as your guide?”

Karen looked at Petra blankly.

Seeing Petra’s awkward face, she finally remembered after a while.

“Oh, Lady Petra, you used to act all giddy around Mr. Julius before too.”

“What do you mean ‘giddy’?!”

“You’re fine, Lady Petra. I can tell that you not only have no interest in Mr. Julius anymore, but you’re even uncomfortable around him.”

Even now, Petra was positioned on the diagonal opposite Julius with Karen in between, like a cat with its fur standing on end.

“Karen, I understand your feelings very well.”

“Mr. Julius.”

Julius placed his hand on Karen’s shoulder and looked down at Ottilie, saying:

“I, too, would find it unpleasant, for whatever reason, to have a man who tried to become Karen’s husband serving at Karen’s side.”

Though his eyes should have been shining gold, Julius spoke with a strangely dark gaze. As if he truly detested it, the hand Julius had placed on Karen’s shoulder tightened.

“Even a man who hasn’t tried to become Karen’s husband, but merely harbors hidden feelings for Karen in his heart—I don’t want to keep him at Karen’s side. I can understand Karen’s feelings of not wanting to keep you at her side, and I intend to respect them to the maximum extent.”

Julius added as if emphasizing:

“I intend to prioritize it over noble principles.”

As if that was the final blow, Ottilie nodded.

“I had hoped to make an offer that would please you, and in return ask for your help… but to trouble you to the point of making you say all that—I feel deeply sorry.”

From Karen’s perspective, something that she’d normally find unpleasant was probably seen by them as a welcome act of devotion. A sad disconnect between nobles and commoners. And what was unpleasant was unpleasant.

“Therefore, I will withdraw.”

Saying that and standing up, Ottilie bowed her head respectfully toward Karen.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 262

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Two: Ottilie’s Reason

The young ladies began murmuring in disbelief and attracting attention from their surroundings, so Karen and the rest moved to Karen’s tent. Inside the tent were five people: Karen, Julius, Petra, Rosine, and Ottilie. Outside the tent stood Urte and Sepl.

In the tent that had become completely hostile territory for Ottilie, listening to Ottilie’s explanation, Karen finally grasped the accurate meaning of what a lowest-ranking wife was.

“I see… an indentured laborer in the case of nobles… no, more like a permanent laborer?”

In other words, if indentured laborers bound by magical contracts were the commoner slaves in this world, then lowest-ranking wives bound by magical contracts were apparently the equivalent of noble slaves.

Karen sighed in disgust. What on earth had Marian and Lyos of the past been trying to make Karen into? And how low her status must have been, that as an F-rank alchemist, she would not have been saved during the Great Collapse Stampede unless she became something like that.

—With what feelings were the not-insignificant number of people in this world who couldn’t even become F-rank alchemists living their lives even now?

“First, please allow me to apologize for offending you, Lady Karen, by desiring the position of lowest-ranking wife.”

Saying that, Ottilie stood and took an elegant bow. According to the explanation, she did not need to apologize at all, but she seemed to have misunderstood upon hearing Karen’s sigh.

“Please raise your head and sit down, Lady Ottilie.”

“As you wish, Lady Karen.”

Ottilie obediently responded to Karen’s words and returned to her seat.

Though only in name, as a wife, ties to one’s birth family were severed, and one couldn’t leave. Losing freedom, merely following the nominal husband and his wife—an existence in the lowest position. Though a noble, one’s dignity as a noble was reduced to the bare minimum, yet one continued trying to remain a noble.

If someone not in dire straits offered to become a lowest-ranking wife, it signified deep loyalty to the husband—and by extension, his house. Especially when someone like Ottilie—from a relatively high-ranking family and, moreover, a person who could be a fighting force using magic—made such an offer, it was normal to welcome her gladly to reward that devotion.

Because it was a contract that placed one’s very life and death in another’s hands…

“So, can you tell me again why you tried to become a lowest-ranking wife or indentured worker?”

“I want my family, my territory, and the people living there to be protected. And if possible, I would like you to help my friends who bear no ill will as well.”

“In the first place, what are you troubled by? Certainly, I think Lord Helfried is treating the Horst faction members coldly, but was it to the extent of affecting territories?”

What kind of situation would make her seek Julius and Karen’s help? Helfried was certainly eliminating people who had been in the Horst faction. Not just from within the mansion, but apparently also from the knight order and official positions.

It could be said he was treating people who had been in the Horst faction, the former earl’s faction, coldly. However, he was only trying to remove them from his vicinity and shouldn’t have been trying to touch their territories. In the future, too, he probably wouldn’t do anything to trouble the territories or innocent subjects. The Helfried that Karen knew was that kind of person.

“Are you about to have your land confiscated? Or are you talking about wanting to protect your status within the Ehlertt territory or your position in the earl’s house?”

Though she had been asked by Knight Captain Gottfried to help the former earl’s faction that was being treated coldly, it shouldn’t be harsh treatment to the extent that they would immediately need to become Julius’s slave or Karen’s slave.

To Karen’s question, Ottilie shook her head.

“Since we lost the factional struggle, it’s natural that our status within the Ehlertt territory would decline, and it’s to be expected that we’d be removed from positions. Also, the Earl is not trying to confiscate lands from our families.”

“Then what kind of predicament do you want to be saved from?”

“That is…”

Ottilie, who had been speaking smoothly until then, hesitated for a moment.

“…I want to show where our loyalty lies now, so as not to be caught up in Horst’s crimes.”

“So you won’t be suspected of being Horst’s collaborator?”

“Yes. We are innocent. But we have no evidence to make others believe that. So I want to prove it now.”

Karen looked up at Julius, who had been standing behind Karen and quietly watching until now.

“What do you think, Mr. Julius?”

“You can do as you like, Karen. As long as it’s not making her my wife.”

Julius smiled brightly. His gaze directed at Ottilie just before had been cold, and his attitude seemed indifferent. Seeing that attitude, even Karen couldn’t misunderstand. Rather, she asked, bewildered by his unexpected coldness:

“…Don’t you want to help her?”

“I do think it’s questionable whether she’s truly unrelated to Horst’s schemes. Rather, I can’t help but suspect that precisely because she is involved, she’s trying to enter the protection of the person, who resolved the dungeon anomaly together with Her Highness Waltride.”

Far from being indifferent, Julius was showing reluctance to help Ottilie. Karen, too, found herself agreeing with Julius to some extent.

“Indeed, the other young ladies didn’t seem to have as much sense of crisis as Lady Ottilie. Yet I feel urgency from Lady Ottilie.”

“Proving non-involvement is extremely difficult. If, after bringing her into your circle, her connection to Horst’s scheme comes to light, it could harm you as well, Karen.”

“That’s certainly true.”

“If you bound me with a magical contract so I couldn’t lie, and question me—”

“Even if you’re uninvolved, your family, relatives, servants, and close friends aren’t necessarily uninvolved, are they?”

Julius calmly shut down Ottilie’s rebuttal and looked down at Karen.

“Still, if you wish it, Karen, it’s fine—what will you do?”

What to do indeed—at this point, Karen had absolutely no motivation to help Ottilie. Both a lowest-ranking wife and an indentured worker were useless encumbrances to Karen. Rather, they were even troublesome.

So at this rate, she would probably refuse Ottilie’s proposal.

“What do you think, Lady Petra, Lady Rosine?”

“I have the same impression as you, Karen. Isn’t she coming to grovel for help ahead of everyone else because she’s already done something?”

“I agree, Ms. Karen. To begin with, what could a man like Horst even accomplish?”

Karen felt something catch at Rosine’s remark and tilted her head.

However, Petra immediately nodded at the very words that had troubled Karen.

“Right? Even if that man committed crimes, he’s not the kind of person who could commit serious crimes.”

“Yes. To seek Ms. Karen’s help because she doesn’t want to be caught up in such a man’s crimes—I find it suspicious. Don’t you have some other ulterior motive, Lady Ottilie?”

Horst and his group would be charged with treason. Even to Karen, who was not well-versed in legal punishments, that seemed only natural given the circumstances.

And yet, Petra and Rosine continued their strange logic.

When Karen got goosebumps, Ottilie said quietly:

“Lady Karen, this is precisely the reason.”

As she indicated "this," pointing at Petra and Rosine, who tried to protest with their hostility pushed to the forefront, Karen restrained them and urged Ottilie to continue her story.

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Alchemist Karen No Longer Compromises, Chapter 261

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Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-One: Lowest-Ranking Wife 3

“Yes! Exactly! What Mr. Julius would hate having done to him, I also hate! What I would hate having done to me, Mr. Julius also hates!”

When Karen jumped out from the shadows and nodded, the young ladies surrounding Ottilie looked shocked. Even Ottilie herself widened her eyes slightly at the sight of Karen. Either she was unaware that she was doing something wrong, or perhaps such behavior—such as flirting or having affairs—was not actually considered wrong in noble society; in any case, Ottilie remained composed.

Julius looked at Karen and smiled.

“No matter what the actual substance might be, I cannot bear the existence of anyone other than myself bearing the name of Karen’s husband—do you feel the same way, Karen?”

“Of course!”

“I’m glad. If you wanted to have a lowest-ranking husband, I wouldn’t be able to stay calm.”

Julius approached Karen, touched her cheek, and made a pained expression. Julius’s long fingers reached toward Karen’s ear, and when she thought they touched the earring on her earlobe, he tilted Karen’s face up and brought his face close to hers, saying:

“I don’t want to obstruct your path, so if you wished for it, I couldn’t refuse.”

“Huh?”

“That’s why, let me plead with you.”

Julius wore a somewhat painful smile. Though it was the sweet smile Karen loved, she felt somewhere that Julius was forcing himself.

“Karen. Please, please—don’t have any husband other than me. Don’t wish for one. But… would even this plea become something that obstructs you?”

At the words Julius spoke while his golden eyes wavered, Karen’s eyes widened.

“No, I wouldn’t wish for that in the first place! If I said I wanted one, feel free to refuse and obstruct me!? I mean, this doesn’t even count as obstruction!”

“It doesn’t count as obstruction?”

Peering into Julius’s eyes, wavering with anxiety, Karen placed her hand over Julius’s hand, covering her cheek.

“We’re going to get married. That means we’ll pledge to the goddess that we’ll love only each other and spend our lives together, and promise that. If I try to break this promise, it’s my fault, so please stop me properly. Though I won’t break it!”

Karen tightly grasped the index finger of Julius’s overly large hand.

“I’m sure noble marriages have different values, but do you dislike that, Mr. Julius?”

“No… I like that too.”

“I’m glad. We really are compatible, right?”

If anything, Karen’s view of marriage was subtly misaligned even with commoners in this world. Even so, since it was Karen and Julius’s marriage, they could decide what to make of that marriage.

As they gazed at each other, the anxiety wavering in Julius’s golden eyes faded. The stiffness in his smile eased, turning into something warm and tender.

Karen naturally closed her eyelids and was feeling Julius’s breath approaching when—ahem ahem—an exaggerated clearing of the throat shattered the atmosphere of a kiss.

“Don’t forget our existence and enter your own little world!?”

The one who cleared her throat was Rosine, and the one who raised a protest first was Petra.

“We understand very well how passionately in love you two are, so please come back.”

Rosine looked exasperated. She wasn’t just good at managing her expressions—she apparently truly had no emotions like jealousy. This was clear because the young ladies on Ottilie’s side were directing gazes filled with hostility that they couldn’t suppress, no matter how hard they tried to control their expressions with smiles.

“I’d heard it was nothing more than winning her over for the Ehlertt territory… but that looked like they truly have feelings for each other.”

“I’m sure it’s just an act!”

“It didn’t look that way to me, though…”

It seemed that Karen and Julius’s relationship had been leniently tolerated in Ehlertt because people assumed it was a means of drawing Karen, a highly capable alchemist, into the Earl’s family and thus into the territory itself. In other words, they had overlooked Karen because they thought Julius was just toying with her.

…Ottilie, trying to insert herself as a lowest-ranking wife into that—wasn’t she looking down on Karen after all?

Just as Karen’s thoughts were about to enter a dark labyrinth again, Ottilie closed her fan with a sharp snap as if striking it against her palm.

At that instant, the murmuring young ladies all fell silent at once. Witnessing Ottilie’s high level of leadership, Karen steeled herself.

“You two are very close, aren’t you?”

“We’re mutually in love!”

When Karen declared proudly with her chest out, Julius smiled as if melting.

Ottilie looked between the two and nodded.

“Even among nobles, those who marry for love sometimes don’t want any wives or husbands other than each other. Come to think of it, the Ehlertt family was like that… I thought the Earl didn’t take other wives for Master Sieg’s sake, but…”

It seemed that it wasn’t the case that Helfried had a second wife or a lowest-ranking wife that Karen simply didn’t know about. If Helfried had other wives, Karen’s view of him would have changed. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“It seems I made a mistake in my approach.”

Saying that, Ottilie glided smoothly over to stand before Karen. Not toward Julius at Karen’s side, but directly in front of Karen, Ottilie bent her knees deeply.

It was the highest form of courtesy for noble women that Alise had once taught her.

“Lady Karen, please make me your indentured servant. In exchange for that, I would like you to protect my family and territory.”

Ottilie said this without even glancing at Julius.

With the young ladies beginning to murmur again in the background, Ottilie smiled broadly.

From up close, Karen could see the stiffness in Ottilie’s cheeks, her smiling lips trembling slightly, and tension flickering in her red eyes.

Ottilie had her own reasons for trying to become Julius’s low-ranking wife, and now that it was no longer possible, she was turning to becoming Karen’s indentured servant as her next-best option.

Karen finally understood that Ottilie’s objective was not Julius.

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