Chapter Fourty-three: A Blooming Moon
“You’re a guest today, Sister Karen. You don’t need to help me get ready.”
“I made a new potion and brought it to give to you. Ms. Sara, this is a massage oil with a skin-beautifying effect.”
Sieg spoke to Karen, who had followed him to his room, but when she explained, he nodded knowingly, "Ah, alchemy, right.”
Sara took the fragrant oil from Karen, checked its contents, and let out a soft sigh.
“What a lovely fragrance. A skin-beautifying effect, you say… This will keep Master Sieg’s skin from getting rough.”
“Master Sieg must be tired from working so hard today, so please use this to give him a massage.”
“What a wonderful celebratory gift.”
There was no need to worry about being reprimanded for creating more work for them. Sara and the other maids looked at Karen with sparkling eyes. The more they could do for Sieg, the happier they were.
“Ah, but there’s no appraising mirror.”
“We do have a rare grade one, so I’ll check it just to be sure. Not that I doubt your abilities, Lady Karen.”
“Of course, please do. I wonder if the rare-grade mirror will show any results?”
“… It worked, it shows ‘beauty enhancement oil.’”
Karen tilted her head curiously.
“The result is a bit different from what I got.”
“They say appraisal results become vaguer with lower-grade mirrors.”
“I see. When I appraised it, it showed up as ‘patchouli oil.’”
“Lady Karen, isn’t that just the ingredient name?”
At Sara’s remark, Sieg gave an exasperated look.
“Sister Karen, you shouldn’t reveal recipes so casually.”
“But anyone can tell from the scent anyway.”
“Still, you shouldn’t.”
“Yes, yes.”
After being scolded by Sieg and responding obediently, Karen returned to her room to prepare herself. She quickly bathed and changed into her nightwear, then prepared a fever-reducing potion while Sieg was in the bath. Soon after, Sieg emerged, completely relaxed from the bath oils and massage.
“I’m getting sleepy… yawn.”
“Have some tea with me before bed, Master Sieg.”
“Yes… tea with Sister Karen.”
Though nodding off, Sieg managed to finish the fever-reducing tea with Karen.
“You can go to sleep now.”
“…Not yet.”
“Even though you’re so sleepy?”
“Mmm…”
Sieg frowned with closed eyes, fighting against sleep. Even with the sleeping potion, his drowsiness seemed manageable enough. To guide him to sleep, Karen suggested:
“Shall we talk under the blankets?”
“You too, Sister Karen.”
“Alright, alright.”
Pulled along by Sieg, Karen lay down on the bed as well. She glanced at the maids to check if she was being too familiar, but they were all smiling warmly.
“Did I… look like a proper Ehlertt heir today…?”
“You were very impressive.”
“Sister Karen, you were too busy with other things to watch, weren’t you?”
“From my perspective, you were very reliable in covering for my stumbling dance. That’s my view.”
“Cover…? I was just showing how much I love you, Sister, that’s all…”
Karen and the maids’ expressions softened as they watched the drowsy Sieg.
“I love you too, Master Sieg.”
“The one you love is… mm… Uncle Julius…”
“That’s a different kind of love.”
“Hmm…”
Sieg wrinkled his nose in response and hugged Karen’s waist tightly. As she patted his chest gently, he drifted off to sleep.
“Good night, Master Sieg.”
After whispering goodbye, Karen carefully slipped out of Sieg’s arms and left the room. Sara, who came to see her off, spoke:
“Lady Karen, are you leaving tomorrow already?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Master Sieg looked so lonely. He was trying so hard to stay awake to be with you.”
“Was he really…”
As Karen was feeling touched about having gained what felt like a second younger brother, Sara continued:
“Please do come visit the Ehlertt house again. This isn’t just social courtesy… And it’s not just for Master Sieg’s sake.”
“Will you miss me too, Sara?”
When Karen asked teasingly, Sara nodded straightforwardly.
“Yes, I’ll miss you very much.”
“Then I absolutely must visit.”
Sara smiled at Karen’s words. Though it was a small smile, Karen’s eyes widened.
“Sara! You just smiled—!”
“Ever since drinking your wonderful potion, I’ve been able to move my facial muscles again.”
Had her previous inability to move her facial muscles been due to some kind of poison? As Karen stood there stunned, Sara smiled gently.
“I sincerely thank you for everything you’ve brought to us, Lady Karen.”
“I should be thanking you for taking such good care of me all this time. Thank you very much.”
As Sara bowed, Karen returned the gesture. They both laughed at their mutual bowing and sat down to chat on the hallway sofa for a while.
Sara slowly shared stories about what happened after Sieg found her and she came to this mansion. Karen also told Sara about various events that occurred after her encounter with Lyos.
The bright starlight streaming through the windows kept them awake, and they ended up talking long into the night.
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