I Knew This Would Happen!

On my first attempt, I went through countless trials and errors while making cosmetics.

I failed around thirty times before finally producing a finished product.

"As you know, slime mucus is acidic, so it must be completely purified of impurities and neutralized."

I slowly began mixing the ingredients, explaining the process to Kyle.

"Then mix in Silverleaf Tree sap to establish the moisture base, and camellia oil for the oil base."

"Oh……. You know quite a lot about this, Young Master."

"The important thing here is to emulsify it so the water and oil don't separate. That slime mucus also serves as a natural emulsifier."

I kindled a low heat with a Sun Ring beneath the beaker.

I gripped a glass rod and began stirring rapidly in one direction.

The ingredients mixed inside the beaker, taking on a lustrous hue.

Kyle's mouth fell open like an idiot as he watched.

I could practically see what he was thinking: He knew how to use a sword, but how did he know how to do this?

"Keep the temperature precisely at 60 degrees. If it deviates by even one degree, the viscosity will disappear."

I brought over the finely ground pearl powder and carefully sifted it over the mixture through a fine mesh.

The fine powder sank in at once without clumping.

It all came down to precisely timing the addition and stirring of the ingredients.

"Now, to prevent oxidation, we'll need something that serves as a natural preservative―"

"We'll need Dew Herb seed oil!"

As expected of the original creator.

"Experts really are different. You're right. I'll add two drops of Dew Herb seed oil here."

"Repurposing the viscosity of slime mucus as the skin's protective barrier... Now that I think about it, that's an incredible idea! As the heat cools, the mucus also transforms into a thick consistency. How do you know all this, Young Master?"

"Well, I'm a noble, so I happened to make it by chance."

"Are you a genius? Shouldn't you be pursuing this path even now?"

At some point, Kyle's eyes began to shine keenly. It was as if the inspiration of a genius had been stirred.

He peered intently into the beaker before opening his mouth.

"Young Master. The mixture is perfect, but there's one thing that's bothering me. What if we add just a small amount of Snow Magnolia essential oil?"

"Snow Magnolia?"

I knew that, but I tilted my head slightly anyway.

"Isn't that an herb used to treat burns and patients with high fevers?"

"That is true, but Snow Magnolia can soothe the heat in the skin. Its distinctive, fresh fragrance will also completely mask the fishy smell of the pearl powder. It will make the cream spread much more smoothly as well."

He was absolutely right.

Without highly concentrated Snow Magnolia essential oil, Pearl Cream was useless. The smell simply wouldn't go away.

"Good. Let's go with your idea. But we can't add it right now."

I withdrew the low heat I had kindled beneath the beaker.

"If we pour it in at 60 degrees, the fragrance might evaporate."

"The formulation won't take shape until the heat cools."

"You know your stuff."

The heat inside the beaker began to subside slowly.

I stirred with the glass rod at a steady pace so the cream wouldn't clump.

The thin mixture gradually changed into a thick consistency.

"Now. Add it."

At my signal, Kyle added a single drop of Snow Magnolia essential oil.

Soon, the contents set into a perfectly smooth cream.

A subtle pearlescent sheen. It was clearly a success even to the naked eye.

A pure yet enchanting fragrance spread through the room.

"……You're insane."

"It's too early to celebrate. We need to test it first."

I scooped up a small dab with my fingertip and spread it over my face.

I was about to look in the mirror, but there was no need.

"Oh……."

Kyle's dazed expression told me everything.

When I looked in the mirror afterward, the result was just as successful.

To exaggerate a little, my skin looked ten years younger.

"Young Master. What if we stop producing antidotes for a while and switch to cream? This is guaranteed to be a huge hit!"

"No. There's no need for that."

Mass-producing Pearl Cream would actually be counterproductive.

Efficacy was important, but to stimulate the nobles' vanity, I needed to make them conscious of its scarcity.

Luxury goods were not about selling a lot. The key was selling them at a high price.

"We'll limit the quantity to fewer than 50 a week. I won't sell them at the regular price. We'll put them up at the merchant guild every week for a secret auction. Once the empress and noble ladies start competing over their pride, a single bottle of cosmetics will be worth as much as a territory's monthly tax revenue."

Nobles went wild over scarcity.

If others envied them, they would scrape together money they didn't have and throw it around.

"With both efficacy and scarcity, if we promote it properly, it'll be a massive hit."

"Oh. What kind of promotion do you mean?"

"As it happens, I have the perfect person for the job."

The one woman who single-handedly led the trends of the Imperial Capital.

I had already obtained her consent, so all that remained was to make money.

"Kyle."

"Yes, Young Master."

"It's only a matter of time before we start making money."

The Ashen Forest expedition required astronomical sums of money just for its preparations.

This one cosmetic would serve as a very substantial source of funds.

I finished bottling the cream from the beaker into a glass bottle.

At a glance, it was fair to call it a finished product.

Knock, knock-

It was the knock I had been waiting for.

"Come in."

Celin poked her head through the open doorway. She was dressed in a neat dress.

She sniffed as she came in, apparently unfamiliar with the smell of medicinal herbs.

"Did you call me, Big Brother?"

"Yeah. Come here."

I held out the glass bottle containing the Mermaid's Tears I had just finished making.

Unfulfilled regret is closer to a wish.

Celin would never know what feelings I had in handing it to her.

"Your big brother made this for you."

Celin blinked at me in bewilderment.

"What is it? Is it something you drink?"

"Drink it? It's a cosmetic. Dab a little on your face and spread it around."

Though puzzled, Celin obediently accepted the bottle.

Her sidelong glances carried a hint of suspicion.

It was understandable. Her big brother, who only ever handled swords, had suddenly given her cosmetics.

'You'll see the difference right away.'

Pop!

The moment Celin opened the lid, the fragrance of Snow Magnolia spread through the room.

Her wary eyes softened.

"……."

After quietly smelling the fragrance, Celin dabbed a little cream with her fingertip. She began patting it onto both cheeks.

It seeped in like melting snow the moment it touched her skin, which was astonishing even though I knew what to expect.

"Gasp-"

Kyle's eyes, nose, and mouth had all expanded as he stared at Celin. He wasn't acting; he was simply too shocked to speak.

It was a perfectly understandable reaction.

She was a goddess to begin with, and with such excellent cosmetics, her face practically radiated light.

……Damian would have a heart attack if he saw her.

"Here, take a look."

I held the hand mirror I had used moments ago in front of Celin's eyes.

Celin's body stiffened like a stone statue as she stared into the mirror.

Celin's skin had always been firm and supple, but there had been a few tiny blemishes.

Now, even those were gone. A subtle pearlescent sheen suffused her skin, sending a clear, radiant glow across her cheeks.

"Oh, Big Brother."

"Yeah."

"Is this really my skin……?"

"Yeah, it is.

As though unable to believe it, Celin kept rubbing her cheeks. An irrepressible smile spread across her lips.

"I'll treasure this and use it for the rest of my life!"

Celin jumped up and down where she stood, her face shining with delight.

She must have been delighted by the hand mirror reflecting her face.

"Why save it? I'll make more when it's gone, so use it liberally."

Even if she used it liberally, it wouldn't damage her skin.

That was what made it a sustainable source of funds.

I smiled contentedly and patted her little head.

Celin didn't avoid my touch. Instead, she leaned into my hand even more, like a puppy.

"For the record, I made this myself."

"Really?"

"Yeah. If you don't believe me, you can ask him."

"The Young Master made it himself. I was right beside him, and you have no idea how surprised I was.

Celin stared at me with wide eyes. Then she slipped into my arms and wrapped both arms around me.

Still hugging me, she rubbed her face back and forth against my chest, nuzzling me.

An indescribable emotion was conveyed through her actions. An innocent, radiant smile spread across her entire face.

I had wanted to see this expression on Celin's face for a long time.

If I had given it to Celin back then, would she have reacted the same way?

There was no reason to remain bound by the past.

I was here now, and so was Celin.

"Kyle."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Increase the quantity I just mentioned by 30 units. I'll set aside 10 for Celin."

"Ah, yes!"

Ten for Lucia, ten for Celin, and ten for Selena.

I planned to set aside the cosmetics meant for the three of them.

"Well, now that your skin's even softer and springier……"

Celin's shoulder gave a tiny twitch.

She started edging away from me, but my hand had already caught her cheek.

"Nooooo……."

"Oh, this is even more special. Very fresh."

This was why I couldn't stop squeezing Celin's cheeks.

***

Whooosh-

The moment water touched her cheeks, Selena's brow furrowed.

A stinging pain, as if someone had sprinkled salt on them, swept over her.

After roughly wiping off the water, Selena sat in front of the vanity mirror.

Selena calmly took an ointment from the medicine chest.

She took some on her callused fingertips and carefully spread it over her cheeks.

The burning heat seemed to subside a little, but there was no chance her skin would return to its former state.

Forget it.

Selena repeated once more the thought she'd rehearsed dozens of times.

She had endured far worse wounds countless times.

Compared with those, damaged skin and a chapped face were nothing.

A warrior was supposed to take such things in stride.

Knock, knock-

The sound of a knock echoed through the silent room.

"……Celin."

It must be her.

Even though Selena always pushed her away and treated her coldly, she was the sort who always approached with a sunny smile.

That poor illegitimate child.

Selena gave a short sigh and walked toward the door.

Creeeak-

The person who appeared through the open doorway was someone she had never expected.

"I was dying to see you, Sister."

A sly smile curved his eyes. Astin stood in front of the door.

Selena's face twisted strangely.

"What brings you here?"

Her toneless voice was thick with undisguised disgust.

Her gaze passed over Astin's face and settled on the object in his hand. It was a glass bottle with a lustrous pearlescent sheen.

"Your skin's been terribly damaged. You may not care, Sister, but as your younger brother, it pains me to see it."

Astin held out the glass bottle with a smooth motion.

"This is a cosmetic I made myself in the workshop. In just three days, it will restore your dewy skin perfectly. It can be used in place of ointment, too, so please try it at least once."

A clear emotion surfaced in Selena's silver eyes.

-No matter how desperately you struggle, Sister, what will change? Give up and prepare for high society.

He was thrusting cosmetics at a warrior who wielded a sword.

In other words, it implied that her place was not on the battlefield, but in high society.

It was an insult from the legitimate heir aimed at the eldest daughter of a concubine, loaded with that implication.

⸻!

Before she had time to think, Selena's hand shot out.

Shatter-!

A sharp crash echoed through the corridor.

The glass bottle was slammed straight onto the floor.

Soft pearlescent cream spread across the floor amid the shattered fragments.

Astin stared blankly down at the smashed cosmetic bottle.

"Get out."

Without even looking at Astin, Selena pulled on the doorknob.

Clack!

Astin quickly thrust his shoe into the gap, blocking the door.

He faced Selena in silence. Her brows twitched with displeasure.

"……."

"……."

A tense battle of wills between two heirs. That was how Selena interpreted it.

Thus, even if it killed her, Selena refused to be the first to look away from Astin.

In the end, Astin was the first to look away.

He didn't merely avert his gaze; he bent deeply, lowering both hands diagonally before raising them.

Finally, he thrust both hands out toward Selena.

Selena flinched for a moment, then her eyes widened.

There were two more bottles of the exact same cosmetic in Astin's hands.

"I knew this would happen, so I brought plenty of extras!"

"……?"

Selena's silver eyes wavered slightly.

What on earth was this guy doing?