Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Three: Celebration Party 4
In consideration of the children’s stamina, the first part of the celebration party came to a close. Some of the children who seemed exhausted after finishing the performance were starting to doze off. The accompanying maids and caretakers picked them up or held their hands and led the children out of the reception room. The Ehlertt estate had apparently prepared a nap room, which warmed Karen’s heart.
Those who remained were Karen, Harald, and the nobles who were the children’s parents. When Karen stood up at the sight of the approaching nobles, Harald hurriedly stood up as well.
A noble gentleman bowed respectfully to Karen.
“Lady Karen, we sincerely thank you for the words you gave to the children earlier.”
“I thought I’d be scolded for saying something unnecessary.”
It wouldn’t have been strange to be told not to fill the children’s heads with unnecessary things when they were being educated to become proud nobles.
But not only the father who had approached first, but the other people were shaking their heads as well.
“Our child is trying so desperately hard to learn to make up for lost time. We’ve been terribly anxious that he might fall ill again.”
“It was the same for our family. At first, we let our child do as she pleased, but she seemed to be overdoing it. My words only seemed to drive her further instead of stopping her…”
“It’s the same everywhere, isn’t it, Master Sieg?”
“Why are you looking at me?”
Though grouped with the children, Sieg, being the oldest and the host of this party, remained in the room.
He put on a sulky expression, but there was humor in it meant to lighten the atmosphere. The adults chuckled at Sieg’s composure while letting out sighs of relief. It probably reassured them more than any number of words that their own children would someday recover just as well.
“Everyone, the children must feel painfully indebted to Sister Karen, so if you tell them to follow her instructions, they should stop overdoing it.”
“Speaking from experience, Master Sieg? How reassuring to hear.”
“That’s right, Sister Karen.”
As Karen laughed, Sieg answered with complete seriousness.
“This is a token of our gratitude, Sister Karen—so sincere it’s almost desperate. It’s also a celebration for many things all rolled into one. So please don’t hold back—accept it.”
When Sieg said that and gave a signal, Sophie and Sara pushed a wagon over. The wagon was covered with a cloth, so it was impossible to tell what it was carrying. But everyone except Karen seemed to know what was inside, and when they noticed Karen’s gaze, they smiled.
“Open it.”
Sieg had them remove the cloth.
Karen’s mouth fell open at what emerged from underneath.
A translucent golden-colored alchemical cauldron.
“An orichalcum alchemical cauldron…?!”
“I was worried about what to do when I heard Uncle Julius was going to give you the same thing.”
Sieg exhaled.
“It must be terrifyingly expensive…?!”
“I thought you’d say that, Sister Karen, knowing you. We knew you wouldn’t be happy if we forced ourselves to give you something too expensive. So everyone here pooled their money together. That way, the amount each family contributed wasn’t that high.”
Karen looked around the room with a bewildered expression. The noble parents who had entrusted the children to servants and remained in this place. They nodded at Karen with smiles.
“At first, we wondered if it might be rude not to prepare individual gifts for our benefactor and instead divide the cost. But Sieg suggested that the best way to repay our benefactor was to give her what she needed most in a way that placed no burden on her.”
“Seeing your reaction, it seems Master Sieg’s thinking was correct.”
“As expected of the next heir to the Ehlertt family, Your Excellency.”
One of the nobles looked back at the screen they had been hiding behind earlier.
Seeing that, Sieg exclaimed in surprise:
“What? Don’t tell me Father is there too?”
“I’m here as well, Sieg.”
“Even Mother! …Wait? Where’s Father?”
Alise, who emerged from behind the screen, directed an exasperated but amused look at the screen.
“He’s in no state to come out.”
“Don’t worry. I was in the same state until just now.”
“As was I.”
Though they tried to appear calm, the nobles—whose eyes were red and swollen—directed affectionate gazes toward the screen.
Seeing that, Sieg’s face reddened.
He must have realized that his father had been moved to tears for him.
“I-I see… But I’m already different from the other children, I’m big, and I’ve been healthy for a long time… Father is so exaggerating…”
Mumbling, Sieg’s eyes grew moist.
Alise approached Sieg and looked at Karen while embracing him and hiding him from view.
“Ms. Karen, won’t you please accept this gift of gratitude and celebration from all of us?”
Even split among everyone present, it must have been a terrifyingly expensive item.
Karen had emptied her savings even for two pairs of rings. Of course, she had left herself enough funds for expenses she might need for work in the future.
Still, this was much easier to accept than Julius trying to buy it for her personally.
Karen drifted over to the golden cauldron and touched it. Though it was a material that could even become a sword at times, it didn’t feel cold to the touch. It had a strangely warm texture.
Karen turned back to face Sieg, Alise, and the nobles.
“—Everyone, I will eventually become an S-rank alchemist. And I intend to create the Philosopher’s Stone. They say the Philosopher’s Stone produces gold, grants people immortality, and is also a perfect panacea that cures all illnesses. When troubled children are born in the future, the potions I make—and the Philosopher’s Stone itself—will help them. The alchemical cauldron you’ve all given me will surely help me along that path.”
Karen made as elegant a curtsy as she could, befitting a noblewoman.
It was Karen’s way of showing her utmost courtesy to those who had considered the sensibilities of a commoner alchemist like herself.
“Thank you for this wonderful gift.”
More than the fact that it was made of orichalcum, she hoped that her future achievements would make today’s gift truly worthy of being called wonderful.
“Congratulations, Lady Karen!”
Harald said that and began applauding.
Though he had been intimidated among the nobles until just now, his green eyes grew moist at the future Karen spoke of, and he applauded with all his might as if he’d forgotten where he was, that he was a commoner, and that he was surrounded by nobles.
No one present would treat such a Harald coldly, and everyone followed his lead with smiles. Warm applause rained down upon Karen as she curtsied.
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