Chapter 421 A Scary Thought
Sara, awakened by the sound of strong winds howling, approached the window to gaze at the streets of Royal Capital.
It seems it had been snowing all night.
The roofs of the buildings were covered in white, and the powdery snow that had accumulated on the streets was being whipped up by the strong wind.
Suddenly, a small knock was heard from the door behind her.
"Please come in."
"I see you're awake."
Despite holding a bowl for washing and a large pitcher filled with hot water, Maria set them down in their designated spots with graceful steps.
It seems the training as a Lady-in-Waiting is reflected in her attitude.
"That looks heavy and difficult. You could just use magic to get that much hot water."
"I feel a bit guilty for cheating like this while others are working hard."
"The Royal Capital residence doesn't have a hot water system, does it?"
"Grandchester Castle is special. We can get both cold and hot water just by turning on the tap. The head maid keeps telling us, 'You shouldn't get used to this convenience, or you won't be able to work anywhere else.'"
Maria mimicked the head maid's voice as she poured hot water into the bowl.
"I'm getting too used to the convenience of Maiden's Tower."
"Hehe. The head maid might be exasperated with you."
"But it's strange. While Grandchester Castle is indeed special, the technology for plumbing and hot water systems has been available for over a hundred years. I've confirmed that there are materials on it at the Academy. So why hasn't it spread?"
"I, with my limited knowledge, don't understand why such a convenient system hasn't become widespread. Sir Rihito might know the answer."
"Rihito probably knows, but if I ask him, the conversation might get long."
"He is quite the talker, isn't he?"
After thoroughly washing her face with Maria's help, Maria began to wipe Sara's neck, behind her ears, and her arms and legs with a towel dampened with hot water.
"I hope Rihito can come back soon. I feel sorry for him for getting caught up in the affairs of the Grandchester family."
"However, if the young princess has a high fever, Sir Rihito would have headed to the palace even if Miss Sara stopped him. Lady Amelia probably accompanied him as well, since they are both healers."
"That might be true."
After finishing the cleaning, Maria began preparing Sara's change of clothes.
"I understand you have no plans to go out today, is that correct?"
"That's right. Sara will be studying in the mansion, while Sophia has a meeting with members of the merchant guild at the Grandchester estate."
"Then, will Miss Sara be the golem today?"
"No, I plan to have the golem relay what Sophia hears, and give instructions if necessary."
It seems that Sara has acquired a remote work environment using the golem and Magi network.
"In that case, I'll prepare a dress for indoor use. Since it's gotten chilly, let's use thicker underwear and socks as well."
Maria quickly prepared the underwear and dress, lightly applying a fire iron to warm them.
A fire iron is a tool similar to a modern iron, originally used to smooth out wrinkles in clothes.
However, Maria was using the fire iron to warm the clothes so that Sara wouldn't feel cold when she changed.
"I know it's cold, but please change your clothes."
"The fireplace is on, so it's not that cold."
Sara energetically tossed aside her one-piece nightgown and pulled on the loose cotton underwear over her head.
Maria promptly adjusted Sara's underwear and skillfully tied the strings at the back.
Next, she dressed her in the wool skirt and tied it, then put on a short tunic made of the same material over it.
"This has a different vibe from Lucas's design."
"This was designed by a woman from the village. Apparently, someone expressed that 'Lucas's designs are all flashy dresses for going out, and there are no dresses for relaxing comfortably at home.' Lucas, feeling offended by that comment, reportedly threw an unused sketchbook at her and said, 'Then you design it!'"
"That's quite intense, isn't it?"
"According to the women from the village, the two have been childhood friends for a long time, and such fights are more like 'playful banter'."
"Haha, so Lucas has someone like that too."
Maria moved behind Sara, wrapping a soft corset around the overlapping parts of the skirt and tunic, and tied the ribbon at the back.
"Milady, is it not too tight?"
"It's fine. This is definitely warm."
"We can add more petticoats, but that would make it difficult to sit, so I think this is sufficient."
Sara stood in front of the mirror, raised and lowered her hands, and then spun around.
"It feels good to wear. I also like the simple design."
"I thought Miss Sara would prefer this kind of design."
"It's perfect!"
After changing, it was time for breakfast.
At Grandchester Castle, breakfast was often taken together with many people, but at the Royal Capital residence, it is normal to have breakfast in one's own room unless invited.
When Maria rang a small bell, the maids waiting outside pushed in a cart loaded with breakfast.
"Is there no summons from grandfather or uncle?"
Sara asked the maid while setting the breakfast on the table.
"His Excellency Marquis Grandchester and Sir Robert are still resting."
"Oh, are they not feeling well?"
"It seems both of them returned late at night."
"I see. Then it would be better for them to rest a bit longer. What about Uncle Edward and his wife?"
"That couple always takes their time in the morning."
"The social season has many evening parties, but they are usually slow-paced."
Sara, realizing there wouldn't be a call for her anytime soon, quickly finished her breakfast and began working on a teddy bear-shaped golem to present to Princess Mathilda.
For the time being, she created a slightly smaller and softer-looking teddy bear than Musashi, but she was troubled about what to do with the golem unit.
'I feel like this shouldn't be connected to Magi's terminals. The royal family would probably be interested in golem technology, and it would be quite problematic if they discover the existence of the backend system. If ordered by the king, even if it's a toy presented to Princess Mathilda... No, precisely because it's royal property, I feel like they would boldly have experts from the academy analyze it.'
Sara realized that if traces of the newly created teddy bear communicating with the outside world were found, the Grandchester family wouldn't get off easy.
However, unlike Musashi, the teddy bear without a vessel for a soul needed to have a golem unit embedded in it.
Sara's mind was filled with images of bad adults taking stuffed animals away from crying little girls.
'Oh no, that's so sad. I wonder if a mechanism could be realized where the magic circle disappears if taken out without permission from the owner (Mathilda). When I want to restart it, should I just bring it to the Sophia Merchant Guild? Still, to what extent can the secrets of the magic stone and the magic circle be concealed?'
Feeling that she was just going in circles by herself, Sara decided to consult an expert (Alicia) and Magi's opinion.
After connecting the space to Maiden's Tower and descending the stairs that lead to the library, she was welcomed by small golems carrying books and materials.
"Are there only golems today?"
"The maids at Grandchester Castle have been working in the main mansion since yesterday, where there is a shortage of staff. It seems that many of the servants in the main mansion have developed heat fever. The other servants are in the tower, but the library can be managed more efficiently by us golems alone during the day."
"I see. But the heat fever just won't die down anytime soon."
"According to the trend of patient numbers being compiled by the Pharmacist Guild, the peak of heat fever has passed, but even so, compared to this time last year, the number of patients is nearly double. Considering that, it wouldn't be surprising if a second or third wave comes."
"So that means there are a lot of cases, huh? How about the special medicine?"
"Sir Rihito has established a pharmaceutical team that spans both the Pharmacist Guild and the Alchemist Guild, and they are continuously creating medicine in shifts. Since Mr. Alexander's family used to be a medicine wholesaler, they are prioritizing us with materials."
"I've heard about that. I felt a little down when I was told, 'We're fine without the help of the Sophia Merchant Guild.'"
At that moment.
From the top of the stairs, Alicia's soft alto voice could be heard.
"I'm sure Mr. Alexander wants to impress Amelia."
"Good morning, Alicia. By the way, when are those 2 actually going to get together?"
"I totally understand that feeling. When you're watching from the sidelines, you can't help but want to meddle."
"It's so obvious that they like each other, right?"
"Yeah. I definitely think so."
Alicia the Alchemist girl agreed with Sara.
"I think it won't happen unless Amelia confesses. Mr. Alexander is a serious guy, so he probably thinks something like, 'I can't do anything inappropriate like a master making a move on his disciple.'"
"It's true that he's sincere, but he really lacks flexibility."
"But, Amelia has been spending a lot of time with my grandpa lately, so she seems to have mixed feelings about it."
"Haha. Rihito is a deceptive character"
"I'm sure grandpa wouldn't want to hear that from Sara. But in Mr. Alexander's case, the problem might not be that grandpa looks young and handsome, but that he might be a better pharmacist to be her master."
"He has lived longer than the professors at the academy, so he's sure he has more experience."
"That's true, but men's hearts are complicated"
"I see"
When the two of them sat on the sofa in the library, Thomashiina brought them drinks.
"Today I made ginger tea. Add honey to taste."
"Thank you, Thomashiina"
"You're welcome"
While Sara and Alicia are drinking ginger tea, the golems are hard at work.
It seems they are preparing for class.
"By the way, Sara, what kind of consultation do you have this time?"
"How did you know I had a consultation?"
"It's pretty obvious"
"Before that, I have something to tell Alicia"
"I already know about grandpa and Amelia. I got a message through the golems"
"I'm sorry. If I called you too easily, I wouldn't be able to go back..."
"Don't worry about it. Even if Sara didn't call, grandpa was planning to go to the Royal Capital soon anyway"
"Is that so?"
"A letter arrived from the Royal Capital's Alchemist Guild, Pharmacist Guild, and Commerce Guild, all together"
"Huh!? That's quite a quick response. We talked about the special medicine just a few days ago"
"I guess they were in a hurry. It had a 'urgent' wax seal from the Commerce Guild"
The Commerce Guild distinguishes the urgency of messages by the color of the wax seal.
Among those, the black seal meaning 'urgent' is used to inform about wars, rebellions, and large-scale disasters, and it is stipulated that the fastest horse and rider must run at full speed from the relay point.
It seems that such an urgent message has arrived at Maiden's Tower.
"I see they believe me. That's good."
"You thought they wouldn't believe you?"
"About half and half. I don't think many people would believe me if some girl suddenly showed up and said it was a cure for heat fever. Maybe it's the effect of the name Paracelsus."
"Hmm. For a pharmacist or alchemist who has seen so many people die every year, a cure for heat fever is a long-cherished wish. Any decent pharmacist or alchemist would check, even if they were skeptical."
"Do you want to make it by hand or have a competitive spirit?"
"Of course, there is. I'm sure they'll check the publicly released recipe out of frustration, and they'll definitely try making it themselves. It's only a matter of time before a new special medicine comes out using that released recipe."
"Is Rihito okay with that...?"
"For grandpa, it's like homework from decades ago. If it helps the patient in front of him, it's like he's saying to use it however he wants."
"Rihito isn't suited for being a merchant."
"Haha. That might be true. But I'm actually glad that grandpa isn't cut out to be a merchant. People like that are necessary, right?"
"Yeah. I'm really grateful."
Sara, having finished the ginger tea left in her cup, felt her body warm up.
"By the way, the message from the Royal Capital arrived yesterday, and grandpa wrote his acceptance reply 'in person' right there. So how does Sara plan to explain that he's already at the palace the next day? He got there before the swift horse did."
"...I messed up."
"I thought so. It'll be found out soon enough. You should either start thinking of excuses now or prepare for the public disclosure of the travel route."
"What should I do? This is a problem."
"From your reaction, it seems you want to discuss something else. I've been thinking about it ever since we talked."
"Of course, I'm also keenly looking for solutions on that front."
Alicia proudly puffed out her chest and smiled slyly.
"Would you like to hear the solution I and Grandpa came up with together?"
"Please tell me, Ms. Aristos!"
"Hehe. Using Sara's magic as inspiration, I came up with a magical tool that opens a gate between 2 fixed coordinates."
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