Chapter Eighty-seven: Moving to the Alchemy Workshop
After booking a carriage for later that day, Karen headed home. Since she had been away from home for a long time and was just returning, she thought her neighbors would likely call out to her if she wandered around the neighborhood. So, Karen thought she’d take that chance to let everyone know about her move… but oddly, no one spoke to her as she walked.
“Huh?”
This was supposed to be Karen’s home district. Yet, even the usually friendly uncles and aunties who would normally call out to her just ignored her. Did they think Karen, who had been with Julius, was from a different world?
But these locals were known for their blunt friendliness—even if a C-rank adventurer came from their area, they’d approach old acquaintances without reservation. Some might call it being emotionally attached.
“I wonder if some strange rumor is going around again…”
Muttering complaints, Karen returned to her home. As she was unlocking her door, the neighbor lady who was just leaving her house spotted her and widened her eyes.
“My, could you possibly be Karen…?”
“Huh? Yes, that’s me.”
“Your atmosphere has changed so much. For a moment, I thought you were some young lady from elsewhere.”
“Oh, come on, you’re exaggerating.”
“It’s true! If I had met you on the street, I wouldn’t have recognized you.”
Karen tilted her head in confusion with rounded eyes, though she had some idea what might have happened. While staying at Earl Ehlertt’s mansion, she had received constant etiquette lessons from Sara. Although she couldn’t claim even a fraction of the elegance that the Ehlertt family possessed, perhaps she had acquired some refinement.
“Actually, I’ve decided to move. You see, since I’m an alchemist, I finally got my own alchemy workshop!”
“Oh, congratulations. Should I have my husband help you?”
Karen was about to gladly accept the offer when a shadow fell over her from behind, and she fell silent.
“I will help, so your concern is unnecessary.”
“My goodness!”
Upon seeing Julius, who had appeared, the neighbor lady’s eyes went wide, and she hurried back inside. Karen couldn’t imagine Julius helping with moving at all, but since they were now officially dating, perhaps it was okay to rely on him for this much.
Julius helped Karen pack her belongings, and when the carriage arrived, they carried out the luggage and loaded it onto the carriage. Most of the items were alchemy tools and materials, along with luxuries like the dresses prepared for her by the Ehlertt family.
She planned to use the furniture that came with the new place, so she wasn’t taking any from her old home. This was to avoid causing trouble for her brother when he eventually returned. Therefore, there weren’t many large items, and with Julius’s help, they finished in no time.
After satisfyingly surveying her belongings that had been moved into the new residence, Karen turned to Julius.
“Master Julius, thank you for your help. Would you like some tea?”
“I’d be happy to.”
Karen looked at Julius’s face and decided on the tea. He appeared tired, so a fatigue-recovery tea would be suitable. After Karen served the tea and Julius took a sip, he said:
“You seem to like this face of mine?”
“I was only looking at your face earlier to consider what kind of tea you might enjoy!?”
“Thank you for thinking of me. But that’s not what I meant—From the time you first wished for me as your reward for completing the request, it’s not wrong to say that what you liked was my face, my reputation, the slight power I carry, and my skill with the sword, right? That’s why you wanted to keep me close and accepted my courtship?”
Karen’s eyes darted nervously. Though she wanted to think of it that way, it was quite a terrible reason when stated so plainly. If she fell for Julius of House Ehlertt, who might just be trying to use her as an alchemist, she’d be the only one who ended up hurt. That’s exactly why she didn’t want to think their relationship started because she liked him. However, when accused of only liking his “specs,” she wanted to protest.
“I-I do like you, Master Julius.”
“You admire me, surely. And perhaps you do like me. But isn’t that feeling directed at something entirely superficial, completely unrelated to my inner self?”
Put that way, Karen had to wonder how much she really knew about Julius. If asked whether she liked Julius for who he was inside, words failed her.
As Karen became confused, Julius spoke with a gentle expression:
“I’m not blaming you, Karen. Our relationship began because we sought each other’s abilities and power. I used what I had to try and win you over, and you simply responded to that. But… lately, I find myself wanting more than that.”
“M-More than that…?”
As Karen held her breath, wondering what he meant, Julius quietly gazed at the tea Karen had prepared.
“Until now, I’ve been afraid of letting anyone know my true self. I was convinced that I would surely be shunned, disliked, and hated.”
Karen looked puzzled. She couldn’t imagine Helfried, Alise, or Sieg disliking Julius. Yet, Julius seemed to genuinely believe this. Realizing this wasn’t going to be a romantic conversation, Karen relaxed her guard and sat down in the chair opposite Julius.
“But with you, Karen, I feel like even if you saw the real me, you wouldn’t be afraid. That makes me want to find out for sure.”
“Why don’t you try and see?”
Feeling as though it might help heal the wounds in Julius’s heart, Karen said this.
She remembered Julius when he was affected by magic intoxication. Even then, Julius had seemed convinced that Karen would fear him.
But that wasn’t the case at all. If anything, she thought his increased wildness gave him a different kind of attractiveness than usual. She couldn’t imagine herself being afraid of Julius.
Julius smiled at Karen, who felt this way.
“It’s not just that I want you not to fear me. I even want you to love this version of me. But if you fall for me, won’t your brain melt? And yet… is it really okay for me to make an effort to be accepted by you?”
“…I’ll try not to let my mind melt, so don’t worry about it.”
Karen instinctively pressed one ear, her palm touching the earring in her earlobe.
Looking at the blue stone in Julius’s right ear, Karen said:
“In exchange, may I also try to make you like me? It would be unfair if only I fell in love.”
Despite such excuses, Karen simply wanted Julius to like her.
As Julius said, they had a calculated relationship. Even if Karen fell in love, she was convinced that Julius wouldn’t return her feelings. But if there was a chance Julius’s feelings might change, Karen could perhaps move forward.
Julius smiled at Karen’s words.
“By healing Sieg as you declared you would, approaching and calming me without fear when I was intoxicated by magical powers, drawing a portrait for me at the New Year’s Festival… I think you’ve done more than sufficient, Karen.”
When he mentioned the New Year’s Festival portrait, Karen slumped in disappointment, thinking she had been rejected.
Incidentally, the portrait Karen had painted was apparently taken down as soon as Irene, who had become a painter, completed her first painting, and its whereabouts were now unknown.
Julius seemed surprised by his own words and covered his lips. And then he burst out laughing.
“Hahaha, I see, it’s already sufficient. I hadn’t realized… until just now.”
“Master Julius?”
“You look displeased, Karen. So you haven’t realized it yet. Then I’d prefer you remain unaware for now.”
“What are you talking about?”
As Karen tried to figure out what she hadn’t realized, Julius leaned closer, interrupting her thoughts. Seeing Karen’s face turn bright red, Julius deepened his smile. He seemed to find it highly amusing how women became flustered by his facial proximity, and his golden eyes sparkled with divine brilliance.
“Don’t think about it, Karen. Until my efforts bear fruit, please continue to notice nothing.”
“Even without you saying so… the entire context of our conversation has completely vanished from my mind…”
“Whatever I do, I’ll be careful not to interfere with your ambitions as an alchemist, Karen.”
“That’s very considerate of you.”
Whatever Julius intended to do, he apparently would support Karen’s life as an alchemist. He probably still wanted her to become an alchemist beneficial to the Ehlertt family.
Whether Karen was in love with Julius or not was likely irrelevant to him, and as long as he protected that aspect, Karen could feel relieved.
As Karen let out a small sigh and took a sip of her tea, Julius continued watching her until she finally noticed that and became flustered.
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