Chapter 378 The Legend Of The Amazing Beauty
When Edward and his group arrived at the Grandchester mansion in the royal capital, the servants were shocked. Edward, the future head of the family, looked suddenly younger, which surprised everyone.
Although the well-trained servants tried to stay calm, once inside the bright mansion lit by magic lamps, they couldn't help but glance at Edward.
To be more precise, the Young Marquis Edward was being watched secretly. However, when it became clear that some of Chloe's Lady-in-Waiting and maids also looked younger, they were quickly surrounded by their colleagues who had remained at the royal capital mansion. The others wanted to know why they appeared so youthful.
However, since they had a magic contract with the main family, they couldn't discuss this with outsiders without permission. Some senior staff threatened them, but they had to give in due to the magical rules. Creating a magic contract requires a powerful magician and is very expensive. Only the main family could make so many people sign these contracts. Revealing secrets would be seen as disloyalty to the Grandchester family, and they risked being fired without a reference if they weren't careful.
However, that doesn't mean they would easily back down. The clearly younger-looking servants were being watched by their peers, and their personal belongings brought back from the Grandchester estate were secretly checked. As a result, a certain rumor began to spread among the servants.
'It seems the secret to their youth is with the Sophia Merchant Guild.'
The rejuvenated lady-in-waiting and maids were all using cosmetics from the Sophia Merchant Guild. Amelia wanted to monitor women with various skin types, so she had Sara pass samples to them. These samples were counseling cosmetics that slightly differed in content for each person.
Since there was no instruction to keep the cosmetics manufacturer a secret, the news spread quickly among the estate. When the servants found out that Sophia, staying in the annex, was the guildmaster of the merchant guild and sold 20-year-old liquor, they started to see her as a "wonderful beauty."
Sophia looked like she was in her late teens to early twenties, but in conversations with Marquis Grandchester and Edward, she gave off an air of cunning. Also, since she was sending many letters to noble families under her name, it was clear that she was not as young as she appeared.
Of course, the servants of the Grandchester family, who saw Rebecca up close, understood that some people maintained their youthful appearance through friendship with fairies. However, because such examples were close at hand, they were well aware that receiving the blessings of fairies required a lot of magical power.
Still, it was very unusual for someone with such strong magical abilities to exist, even among high-ranking nobles. People were surprised that Rebecca, a viscount's daughter, had such power. However, the Orson family was actually quite old and respected in Avalon, with many royal ancestors. This background made it more likely for their children to have strong magic.
And there was a misunderstanding among the servants. They noticed that Sara and Sophia looked very similar and assumed Sophia was related to Sara's mother. They did not know that Adelia, Sophia's mother, came from a former royal family in another country. Because of this, the servants thought Sophia was just a commoner and believed she could not receive the blessings of fairies, which are hard to obtain even for nobles.
'Could it be that Lady Sophia's cosmetics have a secret to youth?'
'Perhaps the herbal tea she drinks has amazing medicinal effects.'
'I heard that the Sophia Merchant Guild has a dedicated alchemist and pharmacist in the Grandchester territory. They must be creating a youth potion through alchemy.'
Speculations led to more speculations, and various rumors about Sophia spread throughout the mansion. Additionally, the fact that Edward and Chloe, who had returned from the Grandchester territory, were now treating Sara much more favorably added fuel to the rumors.
'Is Miss Sara's change in treatment thanks to Lady Sophia's support?'
'The Sophia Merchant Guild must be providing significant benefits to the Grandchester family.'
The rumors about Sophia are partly true but not entirely accurate, which is making her seem more like a goddess. She often goes out with merchant guild employees and her guards, except when she is meeting Edward or Chloe. Because she usually eats out, the servants have limited opportunities to interact with her.
Additionally, some of Edward's close aides have become younger, but this is not because of Sara's magic treatment. Instead, it is due to a new magic potion created by Amelia. After Rihito discussed magic analysis, Amelia, the pharmacist, went to the lab with Rihito and Alicia. In just a few hours, she created a new potion that helps regenerate skin, using a magic recovery potion made from liquefied magical power.
Sara's magic treatment involves analyzing the condition of the skin and then quickly repairing it. However, Amelia's magic potion tries to approach it like a "healing" potion, aiming to "repair the skin condition" of the user. In other words, it's a potion specifically for the skin.
When this potion is taken, it boosts the person's healing ability, slowly repairing the skin to an ideal state. It doesn't change dramatically in a short time like magic, but over a few days, it can achieve effects close to Sara's magic, as proven by Edward's aides.
Of course, since it's a magic potion, one needs to mix magic into the potion to complete it. However, Rihito solved this by analyzing the magic and writing it down as a magic circle, then activating that magic circle with a magic stone.
Sara is excited to finish the magic potion, but Amelia cautioned her, saying, "We don't know the side effects of these potions. Selling them won't be easy." Since Amelia is responsible for ensuring quality, it seems difficult to sell the potion. Sara agrees that safety is important and plans to add more monitors in the future.
At first, they intended to recruit monitors at the royal capital mansion to test it, but because a fever spread, Amelia and Rihito quickly lost their free time. As a result, they could only produce a small amount of the magic potion, and only a few men, like Edward, managed to regain the youthful firmness of their skin.
An unexpected effect of the potion was discovered: it helped to restore the skin of those who used it, making "old scars gradually disappear." One of Edward's aides, a former knight with a large scar on his face, took the potion before traveling to the royal capital. During the journey, his scar completely disappeared.
"Improving the condition of the skin means that the scalp's condition will also improve." Another aide who was a monitor had been worried about losing hair on the top of his head after passing a certain age. However, by the time this person arrived in the royal capital, fine baby hair had started to grow in the areas he was concerned about.
When Sara received this report, she immediately realized that if this information got out, it would be a big problem. She ordered all the monitors to keep it a secret. However, Sara thought it would be hard to hide the changes for long, as they were obvious to anyone who knew them.
'Amelia... has talent that rivals Alicia. It wouldn't be surprising if a war broke out over this potion.'
Putting aside the fact that her own magic cheat was the cause, Sara let out a deep sigh.
Of course, to create this special potion for skin, expensive materials and tools are needed. These include magical power, intricate magic circles, magic stones, and rare herbs. Because of this, the potion will be very costly, making it affordable only for nobles.
During the dress meeting with Chloe and the others, Marquis Grandchester, Edward, Chloe, and Sara had a private strategy meeting about skin rejuvenation.
"Sara, this is clearly too much. My aides are standing out in the mansion."
"Uncle, you are also standing out. I just had them become monitors for the potion..."
Sara couldn't hide her confusion at Edward's remark.
"Of course, it's not good if the baldness goes away. Father and grandfather have thick hair, so they might not care, but I think His Majesty the King would want that potion."
"Hey, Chloe, isn't it a top secret that His Majesty the King wears a wig?"
"Everyone knows, but they just don't say it, Sara."
"Isn't the reddish-brown hair a royal trait? I wonder how they prepare the hair for the wig."
"I heard they take it from the hair box every time they brush it."
"That's kind of sad. And could it be that the prince isn't growing his hair long for the future?"
"Isn't it his trait from his grandfather?"
"When you look at the portrait, Prince Andrew looks just like the young His Majesty the King. Doesn't that mean the future is going to be tough?"
"Sara, make sure the medicine is ready by then!"
"If Chloe is going to be the queen, I'll think about it."
As the girls giggled, the adults couldn't laugh.
"You all, that's disrespectful. And Chloe, do you really intend to aim for being a princess?"
"Of course, Father."
"Neither your grandfather nor I intended to marry you into the royal family..."
"That's true. Chloe. Grandchester isn't weak enough to use its children as pawns in political marriages. Your father and I wanted you to marry someone you love, but you're choosing to marry into the royal family?"
"The person I love is a prince, so it can't be helped."
"Haha! That can't be helped. But you will need to receive proper and strict education."
"I understand, Grandfather."
"Then that's good. Discuss your future with your father."
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Chloe... you don't have to make things hard for yourself."
Edward sighed as he looked at Chloe. For a noble family, joining with the royal family could be a good move. Prince Andrew, being the Crown Prince's eldest son, is likely to become king one day. However, this alliance could lead to more conflicts with other families.
"Sara, can't we offer this potion to the royal family to improve the Grandchester family's position?"
"I think that's a bad idea, Grandfather. It's just been made, and we don't know the side effects yet. If His Majesty's health gets worse because of it, our whole family could be executed for treason. Well, I guess before that happens, I would either treat His Majesty the King or go to war with Avalon."
"That's a big problem. Let's not do it."
"But Sara, it's going to be hard to keep this effectiveness a secret. If I show up in high society, people will definitely start asking questions, and if the servants who were tested run into acquaintances, they'll be questioned too."
"That's true, Uncle..."
"--Oh, Father. Even if they are questioned, the servants can't talk because of the magic restrictions."
"It's true that they can't communicate. However, this suggests that the Grandchester family might be hiding something. If that is the case, both the Grandchester family and the Sophia Merchant Guild will be investigated."
"We'll just have to accept that. There's no way to avoid it now."
"I guess we can only show our youthful faces in high society and make it seem like the Grandchester family and the Sophia Merchant Guild have something good going on."
"If we're too obvious about it, we might make enemies."
"This face has such a strong impact. It's hard to suddenly act like it's not a big deal now."
"Should I change it back, Uncle?"
"No way. I like it the way it is."
In the end, it was only a matter of time before the Sophia Merchant Guild would start investigating. On the day of the Jasmine Dress tea party, Edward was scheduled to attend the royal palace.
"If His Majesty the King asks about the rejuvenation, how should I respond..."
"You should honestly say it's a combination of light and water magic, Grandfather."
Then, Marquis Grandchester asked Sara with a serious expression.
"If His Majesty commands you to perform the rejuvenation, what will you do?"
"Of course, I will come to perform it."
"Are you planning to reveal your abilities?"
"I'm thinking of transforming into an old woman. Just say I'm a foreign magician connected to the Sophia Merchant Guild. If I bring Sophia along, His Majesty the King will notice our resemblance."
"That's quite a rough method. I think they will question your identity."
"I'll just say I'm from a remote mountain in Florence. They must have already looked into Sophia, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"I believe Robert created Sophia's identity, but it seems he manipulated the records afterward."
"I've made some adjustments in Genoa and Florence too, so there shouldn't be any suspicion. They won't catch on easily."
"That's quite thorough."
Marquis Grandchester had a look of disbelief on his face as he leaned heavily against the back of the sofa.
"By the way, Uncle, when you are asked about skin rejuvenation, please only answer His Majesty the King or Her Majesty the Queen after dismissing everyone else."
"The moment we ask for people to leave, others will start to gossip that we have secrets."
"More people will probably doubt the products from the Sophia Merchant Guild than the magic treatments."
"Are you planning to use His Majesty to promote the Sophia Merchant Guild?"
"Of course not! I don't know what those people are imagining. I'm just really looking forward to whether the topic of the next day will be the new Jasmine dress or rumors about the Sophia Merchant Guild's products."
Sara tilted her head slightly and wore a cute smile. Her eyes were completely clear, looking like the innocent smile of a pure child.
"Your fake smile is really scary. I wonder how many adults will be fooled by it."
"That sounds bad. I'm just smiling, aren't I, Grandfather? Anyway, if you can't hide it, then just be open about it. But remember to make it feel special for only a select few."
"But that might cause conflict."
"Before that happens, we need to find a way to supply the magic potion steadily."
"--Sara's plans are always such a headache."
Since Edward started to complain, Sara took out a 1 Dal copper coin from her space storage for the first time in a while and flicked it with her finger, hitting Edward right on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
"Honestly, when I made Uncle's skin younger, I should have expected this. If you have complaints, I can just revert it. Besides, you're deep in debt, so you need to work properly. Your actions will make the nobles spend money at the Sophia Merchant Guild, you know?"
"That hurts! I'll work properly, so can you reduce my debt a bit?"
"If you pay for Chloe's dress and accessories at cost, then that's fine."
"--Father, absolutely not!"
"I'm fine either way, so please discuss it as a family, you two. It's bad for my skin, so I'm going to sleep now. Oh, once I leave the room, the anti-eavesdropping magic will turn off, so be careful about what you say."
With that, Sara went back to her room. Tomorrow was a day when she had to be active as Sophia, so she went to bed earlier than usual.
'First, I should rest and regain my energy. After all, tomorrow I have to go to the Commerce Guild in the royal capital and the Duke Arbal's house.'
It seemed she was tired from the costume fitting during the day, and as soon as she lay down and closed her eyes, Sara fell into a deep sleep. The fairies who came to check on her smiled gently as they watched Sara sleeping peacefully, showering her sleeping face with sparkling golden particles.
"Good night, Sara. Sweet dreams."
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