Chapter Seventy-three: Tea Party Reveal 2
“Your Highness… Your Bloodline Blessing has been healed… Congratulations…”
“Thank you, everyone.”
The young ladies offered their congratulations one after another.
Nodding with a gentle smile, Waltride then said:
“Would it be alright if I introduce the alchemist who healed my Bloodline Blessing and brought me beauty? If it would be a nuisance, I’ll take her back.”
“It’s not a nuisance at all!”
“Please, do introduce her!”
“Forgive any impropriety due to her common birth. Come, Karen.”
As Karen stepped forward, the young ladies’ eyes gleamed like hungry beasts. Karen flinched with her forced smile, but Waltride embraced her shoulder and spoke:
“Karen is an alchemist cherished by myself, a princess, and the Ehlertt family. Please treat her kindly.”
“I’m Karen. Pleased to meet you all.”
She gave the smile she had been taught, offered the minimal greeting, and bowed as a commoner would. When she raised her head, the rational light had returned to the young ladies’ eyes that had been targeting her.
“Her Highness’ and Ehlertt’s…”
“Could she be the alchemist who healed Master Sieg’s Bloodline Blessing?”
“Then she’ll be difficult to poach… I heard Master Julius is trying to win her over with his charms.”
“We mustn’t interfere.”
Though she overheard some troubling remarks, Karen felt a wave of relief as the attention shifted away from her. But straightened her back again, overwhelmed by Waltride’s smile.
“Your Highness, which face powder are you using for your lovely complexion?”
“It’s so white it seems to glow.”
“Actually, I’m using nothing at all. I was told additional applications would reduce the potions’ effectiveness.”
Waltride lifted her golden hair to make her white skin more visible. Even her gesture elicited sighs from the young ladies.
“Bare skin…?”
“How beautiful…”
“Karen’s potions use non-magical ingredients, so I cannot guarantee their safety. Still, if you’re interested, I brought the very potion that gave me this body to share with those who have always been kind to me. What do you say?”
At Waltride’s signal, the maids opened the boxes they were carrying. Inside, potions were neatly arranged in sparkling crystal bottles.
“It’s a detox tea. It naturally removes harmful substances from the body. And then, your skin becomes beautiful like this.”
The young ladies drew a collective breath.
Seeing this, Waltride smiled.
“If you’re interested, feel free to examine them.”
The ladies rose from their chairs and took out their appraisal mirrors to peer into the potion-filled bottles.
“A detox tea? I’ve never seen one before.”
“What does it mean that harmful substances accumulate in the body?”
“Like getting pimples after eating greasy food the previous day?”
Though they might not understand the biology, the beauty-conscious ladies seemed to grasp the concept instinctively.
“Please accept this gift from me.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“We’re delighted.”
These young ladies would use unknown powders if they promised beauty. Some even continued to use the powder they knew to be poisonous. Likewise, even if the potion used strange non-magical ingredients, having seen Waltride’s results, they had no reason to hesitate.
As maids distributed the potions, Waltride added a note:
“This is a special potion, so there are a few precautions. It’s not suitable for long-term storage. Consider it expires within a week. Also, I don’t recommend drinking it here. It’s like a beauty-enhancing laxative.”
A lady who had started to drink the potion hastily recapped her bottle.
“Excuse me, Your Highness. Earlier, you mentioned that additional applications reduce the potion’s effectiveness. What did you mean?”
“Exactly as I said. Isn’t that right, Karen?”
Waltride was planning on explaining it all anyway, but since the young lady asked the question directly, it made things easier. Prompted to explain, Karen smoothly delivered her prepared words:
“Yes, Your Highness. This potion removes harmful substances from within the body and prevents skin problems. However, for instance… someone who has applied poisonous face powder to their skin and absorbed this poison will find the potion’s effectiveness diverted to removing that poison, preventing it from addressing the harmful substances causing skin issues.”
This was a low-potency detox potion Karen had created to deter the young ladies from using poisonous powder. To remove the kinds of waste products that cause skin irritation, this potion was more than enough. But if more harmful substances were ingested, the potion would be entirely consumed in removing those. Waltride once said that a potion would work according to the implied intent. A potion, being a form of magic, worked based on the wishes infused into it. That was how magic operated, apparently.
Such is the fantasy world.
“In other words, it’s wise to avoid unknown substances that might interfere with the potion’s genuine effects. Especially the poisonous face powder currently circulating.”
Several ladies were secretly wiping their faces.
Some, like Rosine, stubbornly maintained their pure white complexion, but what could be done? If the person herself wasn’t willing, then no one could save her.
All Karen could do was provide results so convincing that they might change their minds.
“To be gifted such a wonderful item, thank you, Your Highness!”
“Where can we purchase these?”
“Karen?”
When Waltride’s gaze fell on her, Karen panicked.
She had thought they might sell well but hadn’t expected this kind of rush before even publishing a paper or presenting her research. Everyone was so cautious when it came to potions for Bloodline Blessings, yet when it was about beauty, they were far too hasty. But perhaps that was how desperate they were. Not that they didn’t want to fight, but each had their own circumstances.
“They will be available for sale in the royal capital.”
“I’ll go buy them myself.”
“I’ll ask my father to purchase and send them.”
“Oh, it’s too far…! Won’t someone buy mine as well?”
Observing the ladies’ lively excitement, the popularity of skin-damaging poisonous powder would likely decline.
Looking at Rosine, Karen saw that she was trying to remove her makeup by pretending to put a handkerchief over her mouth while saying, “I’m so moved.”
“Your Highness, thank you for caring for us and not abandoning us…!”
“Honestly, I was always scared. But because everyone was using it, I couldn’t stop using it alone…”
Petra had said some girls might think Waltride was meddling, but clearly, not all felt that way.
The princess, receiving their gratitude, spoke with a radiant smile:
“I’m glad if I could help you all.”
Her eyes, framed by golden lashes, were narrowed, and her expression was full of compassion.
The smile was so complete, so beautiful.
Poor Karen, will she have time for her research?
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