Chapter 605: Holy Clover

“Ahhh, finally over. Thanks, Fabienne. Thanks to you, I managed to avoid getting scolded.”

“Not at all. It wasn’t solely because of me,” Fabienne replied with a gentle shake of her head. “Besides, Father didn’t seem particularly intent on getting angry from the beginning.”

After returning to the salon, I collapsed onto the sofa in the most disgracefully unrefined manner possible. Seeing that, Fabienne gave me an exasperated little look, her brows curving downward into a troubled shape as she gracefully seated herself on the sofa opposite me.

Mira lay sleeping peacefully atop her lap, tiny breaths escaping her in soft little spii… spii… sounds.

It seemed Fabienne had something she wanted to ask.

Most likely about the magic potion I’d mentioned earlier.

Realizing that, I sat back up properly just as Nero swiftly stepped forward and poured tea for us with perfect timing, as expected of him.

“Julius-sama,” Fabienne began carefully, “what kind of magic potion is this one that grants Light attributes?”

“It’s a potion made using Holy Clover as its primary ingredient. You sprinkle it over a weapon to use it. The potion is called Holy Droplets.”

“Holy Droplets…”

Fabienne placed a hand lightly against her lips as she fell into thought.

While she pondered the name, I took the opportunity to explain to Nero everything I had discussed with Father in the study. Nero listened quietly, nodding along with a somewhat apologetic expression.

Just like Fabienne and Lionel, he was probably blaming himself for not stopping me sooner.

Well, I hoped he’d channel that frustration into being more effective next time.

“Oh! Maybe I should try adding Sacred Dragon fur into the ingredients too? I bet the results would be incredible.”

“Julius-sama, absolutely not.”

Fabienne shut the idea down instantly.

“Let us first create a normal batch of Holy Droplets.”

“I agree with Fabienne-sama,” Nero added immediately. “We should first produce it according to the original method. If the effects prove insufficient, only then should we consider experimenting with Sacred Dragon fur.”

“S-Sure. Right. I’ll do that. Promise.”

The two of them leaned toward me with unmistakable pressure in their eyes.

Apparently, my attempt at reckless experimentation had been intercepted before it could even begin.

Honestly though, I thought it was a fantastic idea.

The problem was that whenever magic potions were involved, I simply couldn’t suppress the urge to test every sudden inspiration that came to mind.

“Julius-sama,” Fabienne continued, “I don’t recall ever seeing an ingredient called Holy Clover before. Is it cultivated in the herb garden?”

“No, we don’t grow it there. …Ah, that’s a problem.”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“Holy Clover occasionally grows mixed among ordinary clover in lands overflowing with magical energy.”

“And by lands overflowing with magical energy,” Fabienne said slowly, “you mean places inhabited by large numbers of monsters.”

“…Pretty much.”

Hmm.

What should I do?

Personally, I’d have no issue going into a monster domain alone, but there was absolutely no way anyone would allow that.

On the other hand, bringing the knight order into a magical wasteland just to gather herbs was equally unrealistic. Father would never approve something so dangerous.

Which meant there was really only one option left:

Forcefully cultivate Holy Clover inside the herb garden.

First, I’d need to create soil saturated with magical energy. Then I could plant ordinary clover there and encourage mutation through magical stimulation. If I boosted the process with magic potions, it should be possible to produce Holy Clover relatively quickly.

“…You aren’t secretly planning to go to such a place yourself, are you?” Fabienne asked suspiciously. “I know very well how strong you’re, Julius-sama, but still…”

“It’s fine, Fabienne.” I raised both hands reassuringly. “I’m not planning to go anywhere dangerous, so relax. Instead, I’m thinking of modifying the herb garden so we can grow Holy Clover there.”

“That’s actually possible?”

Fabienne tilted her head in disbelief while absentmindedly stroking Mira’s stomach with one hand.

I explained the cultivation method I’d just thought up, and after listening carefully, she seemed mostly convinced. She still held a thoughtful hand to her chin, but she nodded several times nonetheless.

“In that case,” she murmured, “it may be better to expand the herb garden itself. How do you intend to infuse magical energy into the soil?”

“It’s an application of Rapid-Growth. Last time I mixed medicinal herb components into it, right? This time, I’m thinking of replacing those with mana grass instead.”

“Ah… I see. Yes, that method should indeed allow magical energy to permeate the soil.” Fabienne’s eyes widened slightly with understanding. “The books mentioned that mana grass contains extremely high concentrations of magical power.”

It seemed Fabienne had been studying diligently on her own.

Honestly, she might even be more studious than I was.

I tended to rely too heavily on the knowledge I already possessed. Sure, I’d read books detailing potion ingredients before, but not thoroughly enough to memorize every single passage.

Fabienne, meanwhile, absorbed information properly and methodically.

“Once I get Father’s permission to expand the herb garden, I’ll begin immediately.”

“I wish I could assist you as well…” she said regretfully.

“I appreciate the thought.” I smiled softly. “But you need to return to House Amber and show Baron and Baroness Amber that you’re healthy and doing well.”

Fabienne nodded quietly at my words.

As the future husband entering her family, I wanted to avoid lowering the Amber couple’s opinion of me as much as possible.

Of course, I’d also be accompanying Fabienne to the Amber estate, which meant the real work would likely begin tomorrow or later.

After spending some peaceful time together with her parents, Fabienne would probably return here to the Heine Frontier Count household again soon enough.

The real project would begin after that.

After all, I intended to teach Fabienne how to make Holy Droplets as well.

“Julius-sama, the bath is prepared.”

“Got it. I’ll head over right away.”

I stood from the sofa and stretched lightly.

“Well then, shall we go take a bath?”

“After all,” Fabienne said with a teasing smile, “we won’t be able to bathe together for some time starting tomorrow. We must make sure to properly enjoy ourselves while we can. Though… what should we do about Mira—”

“Kyuu!”

Mira suddenly sprang awake as if she had sensed danger the instant her name came up.

Apparently, she fully intended to join us.

Well, we had left her behind for nearly a month.

Tonight, I’d make sure to give Mira a thorough washing.

…And maybe I’d wash Fabienne too while I was at it.

Hm?

Sexual harassment?

No, no. We were engaged, so surely that made it perfectly acceptable.

…Probably.