Kays Translations

Chapter 103: Everyday Gratitude

The guest list included Fabienne Ambert, Nathalie Caron, Edward Yumel, Billy Stanfield, Platon Arkhipov, and Rosalia’s closest friend, Melissa Blythe.

Edward, Billy, and Platon were clearly inclined towards magic-tool making. That left Fabienne, Nathalie, and Melissa as possible recruits to the world of magic pharmacology.

I intended to display several of Grandmother’s potions alongside the magic tools. I couldn’t demonstrate potion production openly because unlicensed compounding was illegal. Father and Lionel tolerated my work, but that didn’t erase the law or make me innocent.

I needed to remember that and avoid becoming careless.

A simple display might still awaken someone’s curiosity. Mira remained the tea party’s main attraction, so the potions couldn’t dominate the event.

What kind of product would interest the girls without requiring a magic-pharmacist licence?

Cosmetics.

The desire to care for one’s appearance existed in every age and every world. The game had included several cosmetic items. I decided to make facial toner and hand cream, both of which could be produced quickly from common materials.

The servants’ hands were often rough from constant work, so the hand cream would also serve as a practical expression of gratitude.

I entered the compounding room, locked the door, and hung a DON’T ENTER sign outside.

Both products used medicinal herbs as their base. For the toner, I slowly heated medicinal herbs in distilled water, extracting a mild restorative component rather than the concentrated effect required for a healing potion.

I added a few crushed strawberry seeds, whose mana-rich properties supported the skin’s natural recovery, and a small amount of dried poison-dispelling herb for its cleansing effect.

The mixture turned an unattractive reddish brown. I passed it through porous activated charcoal until the liquid became clear and colourless, then poured it into a decorative glass bottle made with Craft. A small bird ornament formed the stopper.

Facial Toner: top quality. Gives the skin a healthy lustre. Effect: minor.

Because the ingredients were easy to obtain, the effect was gentle. That made it more suitable for young users.

I tested a little on my forearm. The skin immediately acquired a noticeable sheen. Applying it to my face before the tea party would have made me look unnaturally radiant, so I stopped there.

The hand cream was based loosely on the athlete’s-foot ointment, but without its medicinal concentration. I combined medicinal herbs, poison-dispelling herb, cordyceps, and beeswax. Since the cream was meant for working hands, I left it unscented.

Hand Cream: top quality. Protects and restores dry skin.

The result appeared excellent. I carried the finished containers to the servants preparing the garden.

“Everything seems to be progressing well,” I said.

“Yes, Lord Julius. We’re on schedule.”

“Thank you for your daily work. Please accept this.”

They received the small tins with visible confusion. I distributed them to every servant, regardless of gender, including the kitchen staff. From my perspective, it was simply a gift of appreciation, although an unlabelled cream made by an eight-year-old probably looked suspicious.

My concern proved unnecessary. The servants already knew—at least unofficially—that I compounded useful remedies for the knight order.

The following morning, their hands looked smooth and healthy, and everyone seemed unusually cheerful.

I would have to supply the cream regularly. The facial toner might produce an even greater commotion, so I decided to introduce it more cautiously.

“Lord Julius, the garden is ready for your final inspection.”

Five round tables stood among the flowerbeds. Two were covered with colourful cakes and pastries, including several unfamiliar varieties the servants had sourced from shops in the territorial capital.

“Everything looks excellent. Thank you.”

“We merely performed our duties.”

The servants bowed together.

I had been told that nobles shouldn’t thank their staff excessively because proper service was expected and compensated. Yet I couldn’t accept that effort should pass without acknowledgement. Perhaps my habits from my previous life were showing.

Either way, the sight of their restored hands confirmed that gratitude expressed through useful action wasn’t unwelcome.

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