Chapter 647: Tooth-Decay Warning
By the time we finished the Holy Droplets, the sun was already sinking. We had concentrated too intensely. I needed to hurry and escort Lady Fabienne home.
After saying goodbye to everyone in the compounding room, I searched for Mira and found them in the salon with Mother.
“Mira, would you help me escort Lady Fabienne home?”
“Kyuu!”
As though awaiting the invitation, Mira hurried over with tiny steps. The adorable sight warmed my heart. However…
“Mira, you have chocolate around your mouth.”
“Kyuu?!”
Mira covered their mouth with both little paws as if caught red-handed, then licked frantically.
They must have become extremely fond of chocolate. They appeared to be eating almost as much of it as dried fruit. I was worried about tooth decay.
“Mother, perhaps we should limit how much chocolate Mira eats.”
“Kyuu?!”
“Yes. They may be eating a little too much.”
“Kyuu…”
Mira drooped. I needed to make them understand, so I gently stroked their back and frightened them just a little.
“Mira, tooth decay would be terrible. It would hurt badly, and if the tooth had to be pulled out, it would hurt even more.”
“Kyuu?!”
Mira covered their mouth, eyes trembling. Apparently, the warning had worked. They immediately began nodding with the force of a heavy-metal musician.
Of course, I did not know whether a holy dragon could develop tooth decay. Their teeth hardly seemed fragile, but I kept that to myself.
“I am glad you understand. Do not eat too much chocolate.”
“Kyuu.”
That settled Mira. Rosalia was next. I might also need to warn Lelie. Nero appeared to anticipate that, because he looked at me with a wry smile.
I would check later.
“Julius, how is the skin lotion progressing? Is it going well?”
“We are still experimenting. Since it will be applied directly to the skin, we are proceeding carefully.”
“I see. There is no need to rush. Make sure you do the work properly.”
My mention of direct application had clearly affected Mother. To women, the skin was territory that had to be protected at all costs. I would ensure that the finished product was of dependable quality. Lady Fabienne would probably use it too.
After saying goodbye to Mother, I escorted Lady Fabienne home. I intended to collect her at roughly the same time tomorrow.
“Lord Julius, do you truly intend to travel to the site to test the Holy Droplets?”
“Yes. You visited a site before, but this time you may stay home. It would help if you assisted with the potions while I am away.”
“I was already planning to do that, but…”
She wanted to stop me. Yet as the potion’s creator, I believed it was my duty to accompany the party in case something unexpected occurred.
Perhaps Lady Fabienne understood my feelings, because she said no more.
After returning to the Heine estate, I reported to Lionel that the Holy Droplets had been completed. He nodded several times.
“As expected of Lord Julius. Our preparations are also complete. Between ourselves, there is a place in the territory where ghosts gather.”
“I’ve never heard of that. Is it safe?”
“There are only a few, and no one lives nearby. We have therefore left them alone until now, but I intend to eliminate them on this occasion.”
Their neglect troubled me. Naturally, the knights must have inspected the site regularly. If they had judged it safe, it probably was. Probably. Please don’t let this be a warning sign.
“I am confident in the Holy Droplets, but I shall accompany you just in case.”
“That is reassuring, but will you truly be safe?”
“Yes. I can use purification magic.”
“…Of course.”
We lowered our voices to whispers. No one could be allowed to overhear. Only part of the family and Lionel knew.
One day, we would probably tell Rosalia, Brother Cain and Sister-in-law Meeka, but that remained far in the future.
After parting from Lionel, I went to check on Rosalia before dinner. Naturally, I also intended to discuss her chocolate consumption.
“Rosalia, how is the work going?”
“It is almost finished.”
The gramophone’s outer and inner sections lay separately on the workbench. The mechanism appeared complete, leaving only the exterior decoration. Rosalia held a wooden mallet and chisel.
“As expected of Rosalia. Fine work.”
“Thank you!”
“By the way, Rosalia, you haven’t been eating too much chocolate, have you? You too, Lelie.”
“What?”
Both froze, though their eyes repeatedly darted towards something. I followed their gaze to a plate piled high with chocolate.
Ah. A lecture was clearly required. They might have eaten even more than Mira.