Kays Translations

Chapter 435: My Apprentices Are Multiplying

Leon’s ability was not a problem. He still lacked experience, but his movements were careful and precise. With that degree of caution and accuracy, I could safely teach him how to make magic potions.

If he mastered the compounding process quickly, I could consider my role fulfilled and return to House Heine. I hoped to be back before the social season began, so the timing was ideal.

“Fabienne, what did you think of Leon-sama’s work?”

“His movements were steady, and I saw nothing dangerous.”

Fabienne seemed to share my assessment. Her eye for detail was becoming sharper. Seeing her improve every day made me happy.

Leon apparently overheard us and turned in our direction.

“Um, can Lady Fabienne make magic potions as well?”

“Yes. Julius-sama taught me.”

“Then she’s my senior apprentice, isn’t she?”

I supposed that was correct. Since she was a woman, perhaps “senior sister apprentice” would be the more precise term, but the meaning was the same. Leon’s eyes sparkled. Did he see her as a fellow disciple? No, that wasn’t quite right. Fabienne was my fiancée, after all.

“Could you show me how Lady Fabienne compounds a magic potion?”

“Huh? Um…”

Fabienne looked at me anxiously. What should I do? House Mulan tacitly accepted that she made magic potions, but it was not information that should be spread outside the family.

“If you can keep Fabienne’s ability to make magic potions secret…”

“I promise. I’ll keep it secret, and my sisters will as well.”

“Of course.”

“I understand.”

I nodded to Fabienne, and she immediately began preparing. She apparently intended to make a sweetened elementary healing potion, which even children could drink easily. Leon watched closely as she laid out the ingredients and soon realised that her method differed from his.

Fabienne had compounded potions many times, so her movements were smoother and more assured than Leon’s. The members of House Mulan watched in stunned silence.

“It’s finished. How is it?”

“The quality is good. Even children would be happy to take this.”

“I lost… This is an evolved form of the potion.”

Leon slumped in defeat. What competition had he imagined? Lady Hilda and Caro, surprised by his reaction, became interested in the potion Fabienne had made.

It had a refreshing fragrance, after all. Perhaps they were curious about the taste.

“May I try this magic potion?”

“I’d like to try it as well.”

“I don’t normally approve of drinking healing potions when no one is injured… but if you’re curious, why don’t the three of you share one bottle?”

“Master, I want to try it too! Please let me have some!”

Leon eagerly raised his hand. He truly resembled Mira. Mira was probably having tea with Marchioness Mulan at that moment. They preferred sweets to potion-making and were extremely easy to read. Marchioness Mulan seemed very fond of Mira and lavished affection on them. Mira wasn’t pestering her for treats, were they?

I divided the potion among the three of them. It would have no effect because they were uninjured, but it wouldn’t harm them either; each received only one-third of the usual dose. Leon drank slowly, savouring every sip, while Lady Hilda and Caro cautiously sampled the elementary healing potion.

“What is this? It’s sweet and refreshing. It’s completely different from the elementary healing potions I drank as a child…”

“It’s delicious. So this is what a magic potion can taste like.”

“Incredible… I never imagined anyone could add such fragrance and flavour to an elementary healing potion.”

Their reactions were all different. I would need to explain to Caro later that Fabienne’s potion was exceptional. If she drank an ordinary potion with the same confidence, the result could be disastrous.

Lady Hilda must have been forced to drink some truly dreadful potions in the past. If so, no wonder she had resisted taking them whenever she was injured. She must have been quite a handful as a child.

“Are you surprised? Magic potions are advancing every day.”

“I am. Soldiers would gladly drink something like this. So that’s why Father asked House Heine for help—he knew about these potions, didn’t he?”

“Master, please teach me how to make this potion too!”

I had intended to return to the salon after assessing Leon’s ability, but this was fine. We could begin his first lesson immediately. When I agreed, Lady Hilda seemed reassured by Leon’s skill and returned to the salon. Caro’s curiosity persuaded her to remain.

“Could Caro be interested as well? Then I’ll teach her… no, let’s learn from Master together.”

“…Julius, may I watch for a little while?”

“Of course. You’ll be able to make an elementary healing potion in no time.”

And so my second apprentice—for the moment—was born. If a noblewoman became a magic pharmacist, Fabienne would surely feel reassured. It could hardly be a bad thing, although Marquis and Marchioness Mulan might respond with wry smiles.

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