Chapter Twenty: Sachet Making
“Ah, I lost to you again, Karen!”
“Haha. It’s a hundred years too early for you to try to beat me, Master Sieg.”
It took less than two weeks for Sieg to be able to sit up in bed after Karen suppressed all of his ailments with her potions. To be honest, his recovery was too fast. Karen often found herself staring blankly, wondering why it had taken Lyos six years…
That said, she hadn’t expected it to take six years. In the first few years after meeting Lyos, they weren’t particularly close, nor was she making him home-cooked meals. Still, she thought it would take at least a year or so. Because that’s how it had been with Lyos.
Was this because the Bloodline Blessing of Lyos was heavier? Or was it because Lyos, barely healed, would overdo things and nearly die every time he felt slightly better?
Karen suspected it was probably the latter. Or perhaps those with stronger magical powers recover faster. Those with high magical powers naturally have robust bodies. If they could break free from the negative cycle, their body might rapidly transform into an extraordinarily strong physique unlike that of an ordinary person.
Karen had been measuring his weight and height, and in just one week, he had gained three kilos and grown a centimeter taller. As Sieg regained his energy, just as Karen had expected, he began to get bored and started using the games Karen had brought in. In their Reversi matches, Karen was persistently winning game after game.
“By the way. I heard you met Mother?”
“Yes. I did meet her.”
“How… was it?”
Karen immediately understood what Sieg was hesitantly trying to ask. He wanted to know if she was doing well. However, she didn’t look well at all. Since that time, Karen had been having Sophie deliver potions to her regularly. Apparently, Alise would take them when she was emotionally stable, but it was impossible during her more distressed moments.
“She didn’t seem to be sleeping much.”
“I see.”
Sieg dropped his shoulders dejectedly. He probably blamed himself. Though Sieg looked like his father, he seemed to have inherited his mother’s personality.
“So, I have a proposal. Would you like to make a sachet with me?”
“A sachet?”
“It’s a fragrant bag filled with dried herbs. I’ve made some dried herbs with a calming scent, and I’d like you to make a bag for them.”
It wasn’t her first time making them. She had wondered if these would count as potions and ended up making them into medicinal fragrances.
With a hesitant expression, Sieg spoke up:
“If it’s sewing, wouldn’t the maids be better at it? I’ve never done this before.”
“A sachet prepared by the maids or me might not be something the Countess would use. But a sachet made by you, Master Sieg, I guarantee she would carry. Hehehe.”
“Karen, you’re making a really wicked face right now.”
Sieg looked exasperated once again.
But Karen shook her head.
“Oh, not at all. She would carry it of her own will. Initially, I was thinking of secretly adding a sleeping potion to the Countess’s bath water since she wouldn’t drink the potion.”
“That’s what you did to me!”
“However, since the Countess isn’t in a life-threatening condition, I abandoned the idea, fearing I might be reproached and put my position at risk.”
For a commoner woman to slip sleeping medicine to a Countess would be unthinkable. Without proper permission, she’d literally lose her head.
“Yeah… I was really angry back then. But when I woke up and found my body feeling more comfortable, I thought, well, okay.”
Regarding Sieg, she had Helfried’s permission, and Sieg likely would have agreed easily anyway.
He was a child who believed he was a burden to others. If told it was necessary for his treatment, he would have endured any pain. The fact that he now gets upset shows he’s starting to trust her.
“Would Mother accept a sachet I made?”
“She’ll definitely keep it close to her.”
The maids hiding around nodded in agreement.
“…Okay. Can you tell me how to do it?”
“Please learn the sewing part from Ms. Sara. I’ll bring the medicinal herb potion and fabric scraps.”
She had received a mountain of fabric scraps and ribbons from Sophie left over from the clothes’ alterations. Pushing a wagon loaded with bottled dried herbs for sedation and fabric scraps, she returned to the room to find Sieg learning basic stitching from Sara on the bed. Sara would apparently do the knot-tying.
“Master Sieg, here’s a sample.”
Sara showed a bag she had prepared in advance. Folding the fabric, sewing two sides, and then turning it inside out.
“I see. Turning it inside out hides the seams.”
“Exactly. Since the seams are hidden, it’s okay even if you make a slight mistake.”
Sieg looked relieved.
“Now, let’s pick the fabric scraps and ribbons. Master Sieg, please choose for the Countess, and Ms. Sara, you can choose for Master Sieg. I’ll select something for myself.”
“I don’t know which to pick.”
“Just choose fabric scraps and ribbons that would suit the Countess.”
“Suit her…”
“For example, her hair color, eye color, or perhaps the color of the dress she usually wears.”
Sieg picked up a crimson red.
Karen suddenly remembered that Alise’s hair was indeed red. Because she was such a fragile person, Karen hadn’t considered choosing that color.
“What color did you choose, Sara?”
“A blue fabric, Master. It matches the color of your beautiful eyes, and I paired it with white lace ribbon to represent your nobility.”
“Hmm, it’s a cute ribbon.”
Sieg seemed slightly unsatisfied with the cuteness, but seeing Sara sewing earnestly, he gave up on commenting. Thinking it was a cute exchange, Karen also began sewing a fabric she had chosen at random.
“Are you going to give it to Uncle Julius?”
“Huh!?”
“Oh! Are you okay!?”
Sieg immediately showed concern when Karen pricked her finger with the needle. Karen’s heart began pounding loudly as she nervously pulled the needle out and asked cautiously:
“Why… does Master Julius come up?”
“Don’t you like my uncle?”
How much did Sieg know?
Looking to Sara for help, but she continued sewing intently, completely focused on making one for Sieg. Karen turned back to Sieg and resigned herself.
“I admire him, like most women in this country.”
“I think Uncle would be happy to receive a sachet from you, Karen.”
“Haha. Do you think so?”
Why would Karen give a sachet to Julius? And why would he be happy about it?
Laughing hollowly, she continued sewing casually, and once finished, quickly turned it inside out and filled it with dried herbs.
“Tie the mouth with a ribbon, and it’s complete.”
The bag made of yellow fabric, tied with a gold ribbon, was purely coincidental. She had absolutely no intention of giving it to someone with golden hair and golden eyes.
“…Mine seems a bit misshapen. Do you think Mother will accept it?”
“How could she not be delighted by a handmade item from her own child? Just try giving it to her. Don’t overthink it.”
“Hmm. So you’ll give yours to Uncle, right? No need to overthink it, right?”
“Yes, yes, I’ll give it.”
Not that they would even meet, anyway.
Karen casually agreed and entered the adjoining room.
There, she approached Alise, who was silently crying.
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