Chapter Six: The Blended Tea
“I’ve never seen a potion like this before.”
“So the appraisal showed results?”
The appraisal mirror only works on items imbued with magical power. Magical plants, magical tools, potions, monster materials. It doesn’t react to regular plants or animals even if magic is infused in them.
When Karen asked excitedly, Sara looked puzzled.
“You didn’t know it was a potion? Were you going to give Master Sieg something without knowing what it was?”
“I’m embarrassed to say my research isn’t complete yet. I tested its effects through human trials on my childhood friend… but I assure you I didn’t use any ingredients harmful to humans.”
“…Would you like to see the appraisal results yourself?”
“Yes, please show me!”
Sara handed Karen the appraisal mirror. When Karen looked at the herbal tea through it, she could see text floating:
Blended Tea
Reduces fever
“I knew it! The effect is exactly what I thought!”
When Karen’s marriage to Lyos was arranged, she didn’t yet know the reason for his poor health. She later learned about the mysterious curse called the Bloodline Blessing. Since they were told he would be fine if his body could hold out until he finished growing, Lyos’s mother Frieda and Karen began experimenting with various ways to help his body.
During this process, something strange happened. While exhausted from attending commoner’s school during the day and working at night for Lyos, who would take out his frustrations on her while envying her health, she tried a bite of honey-preserved lemons she had made for him and mysteriously felt her fatigue disappear.
She had made the honey lemons for fatigue recovery, true enough. It was for Lyos, who was exhausted from anger at his uncontrollable body. But the way it recovered her fatigue was unusual. Honey lemons naturally have fatigue-recovery properties. But she suspected this effect had transformed into an instant-acting magical medicine.
In other words, could some of her creations be turning into potions?
To make a potion, you need magical power and an understanding of the ingredients. Karen infuses magical power when she cooks. Originally, this was to prevent food from spoiling. Infusing magical power helps food stay fresh longer.
Could this be combined with her knowledge from her previous life to create potions? That was Karen’s theory until now. And her theory proved correct.
If so, it meant Karen could make various other potions as well. Feeling like new possibilities were opening up before her, Karen was elated.
“Could this perhaps be a new type of potion?”
“I think so. I’m only F-rank, so I don’t have access to much information, but…”
“Unlike a normal fever, magical power fever doesn’t go down with regular medicine. But this tea will reduce the fever?”
“I believe it should have at least some effect.”
When she gave this tea to Lyos during his fevers, he seemed to regain his energy. Back then, she had neither tools to measure temperature nor means to appraise the tea she gave him. Everything was just Karen’s speculation.
“…If it can reduce the fever even a little, it should help ease Master Sieg’s condition. Let’s have him drink it right away.”
Though Sara remained expressionless, Karen could tell she was fidgeting with anticipation.
“Yes, let’s do that. I hope it works.”
“Yes.”
Sara pushed the cart forward, unable to wait any longer. Though expressionless, her genuine concern for Sieg was evident.
“Master Sieg, Lady Karen has prepared some tea. Please try to drink just a little.”
“…Is it medicine?”
Sieg asked reluctantly.
Sara responded to him while maintaining her blank expression.
“I can taste ginger in it.”
“So it’s not medicine.”
Sieg probably thought this because normally, adding extra ingredients to potions would nullify their effects. For instance, potions made from medicinal herbs have a grassy taste, but if you try to mask it with sugar, the effect disappears completely.
Sara transferred the cooled tea to a pitcher since Sieg couldn’t sit up.
After taking a sip, Sieg appeared thoughtful.
“…I don’t hate it, but it tastes strange.”
“It’s good for your body.”
Karen poured herself some tea and drank it freely.
“Please drink some too, Ms. Sara. It helps prevent illness. Since Master Sieg’s body is weak right now, everyone around him needs to stay healthy too.”
“If you insist, I’ll gratefully accept.”
“I’m done now. Sara, you drink it.”
“Yes, Master Sieg.”
Sara took another drink from the cup she had used for taste-testing.
“It tastes strange, doesn’t it, Sara?”
“Yes, it’s a peculiar taste.”
As he watched Sara about to take another sip, Sieg tried to sit up but fell back onto the bed.
“Master Sieg?!”
Karen caught Sara’s cup as she nearly dropped it, and Sara rushed to Sieg’s side.
“What’s wrong?”
“I felt like I could sit up, but I got dizzy and couldn’t.”
“It’s dangerous to try sitting up suddenly. Please let me help you.”
“Yeah, sorry. But I really felt like I could sit up.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
Sara stood up and began cleaning up. When she turned her back to Sieg, while maintaining her expressionless face, a tear rolled down her cheek. Since she didn’t want to be seen crying, Karen helped with the cleanup.
When they reached the waiting room, Sara spoke while crying quietly.
“Lady Karen, I know it’s presumptuous of me as a mere maid. But please, I beg you to help Master Sieg. I implore you.”
“I intend to do everything I can.”
Sara grasped Karen’s hands tightly. Karen squeezed back firmly to match Sara’s intensity.
Upon further analysis, the second cup made from the used tea leaves showed no magical effects and produced no appraisal results.
“Amazing…”
Karen gasped as she looked at the appraisal mirror. With this magical tool, she could clearly define the boundaries of her previously ambiguous power.
Surely she could help Sieg too…
Karen gently placed the appraisal mirror back on the silver tray with trembling hands.
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