Chapter 812
Chapter 812
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 812
Chapter Title: The Ideal Paradise (5)
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In Gehenna's arcade shopping district, Malkuth Gallery traded luxury items of enormous value every day—jewels, artworks, accessories, clothing, and more.
Witches were generally affluent, and those residing in the upscale Renomund Town never hesitated to toss gold coins to keep up with the latest trends.
Among them, the most sensational buzz lately came from the Merigold Perfumery.
It was the niche perfumes custom-blended by the Perfume Witch, Amelia Merigold.
Essential oils extracted by steaming natural ingredients with mana beast vapors.
Combined with the genius perfumer Merigold's skill, these were the one-of-a-kind perfume in the entire world.
For trend-savvy witches, no luxury was ever too exclusive.
Even as lights went out in all the surrounding shops, the Merigold Perfumery alone glowed with a soft golden hue.
Years of reservations had filled up in a flash, so Amelia threw herself into blending until late tonight.
“......”
Amelia dabbed a bit of perfume on the corner of a handkerchief and gave it a gentle wave.
She held her breath for a moment, then savored the lingering scent along its trail.
“...Today's a wrap.”
Perfect.
Amelia, a perfectionist strict even with herself, wasn't saying this just to head home early.
She'd objectively concluded no better match was possible.
Just a year ago, at the harvest festival, Amelia had caused a massive scandal.
She'd been stripped of her baronetcy and hit with a fortune in fines.
That was why Amelia—who'd never enjoyed perfumery outside research—had taken on years of bookings.
But contrary to the worried looks around her, Amelia wasn't fazed.
No, she actually welcomed it.
No matter the path, she'd reconciled with Siu.
She'd become lovers with the one she'd dreamed of for so long.
After over a century lost to magic research, crafting perfumes now felt like the recharge Sophia had suggested—and she embraced it positively.
The tedious repetition of extracting essential oils wasn't a burden for her, either.
Amelia brimmed with persistence, thriving on the quiet satisfaction of small tasks.
If she weren't a witch, she'd probably tinker with miniatures as a hobby.
Her one gripe? Not getting 24/7 clingy time with Siu every day of the year.
Amelia neatly arranged the essential oils on the perfumery shelf, locked up, and stepped into the street.
Crisp winter air turned her breath to mist.
Today was a Siu-free day.
She figured she'd crash at the cabin for once.
Buildings left untouched too long had a way of growing forlorn.
“......?”
When she reached the gulpin tree woods from her apprentice days, Amelia paused, puzzled.
Orange light flickered through the cabin's lattice windows.
Smoke curled lazily from the chimney.
But her puzzled, sluggish steps soon turned light and fluttering, like a feather in the breeze.
It had to be Siu.
He'd been slated to spend the day with the Tiferet Duke, but he'd swung by the cabin early with some free time.
Amelia scurried over and flung the door wide.
“Siu?”
She tilted her head toward the first-floor kitchen at the sounds coming from there.
A sweet aroma wafted over.
Apricot jam simmering.
A scent with zero connection to Siu, so Amelia tensed a little.
The intruder stepped forward before she could even search.
“Oh my, Amelia, you're back?”
“......”
Lush, fluffy golden hair. Eyes like brilliant jade.
Hugging a bowl and whisking away, the one greeting her was none other than her master.
Malika Merigold.
“Master?”
Amelia's already doe-wide eyes widened impossibly further.
Her delicate eyelids twitched.
“I'm in the middle of dessert—want to lend a hand?”
Her master shot her a playful wink.
A smile more impish than in her memories,
yet somehow less poised in places.
2.
Austria's signature dessert: Sachertorte.
Sponge cake baked with dark couverture, slathered in tart apricot jam, then glazed with bittersweet chocolate.
Paired with moist whipped cream to finish.
Surprisingly not overly sweet—fine even without coffee.
Among her master's pastry specialties, it was the one that always earned Amelia's rave reviews.
“Mind whipping the meringue a bit more? I've got to simmer this jam.”
Dazed,
yet it felt natural as Amelia took the bowl and whisk, stirring steadily.
Hard work that magic could shortcut, but her master's baking code banned spells from the tools.
Meanwhile, her master stirred the bubbling jam in a small pot, spatula keeping it from scorching.
“Amelia, got any lemon? I spaced and forgot to grab some.”
“Right here.”
Malika casually requested lemon for the jam.
Amelia fetched the one she'd stashed for tea.
This was, without question,
a reunion after an absurdly, unbelievably long time.
Her master, whom she'd missed with every fiber of her being.
But it all flowed so seamlessly.
Like her master had just popped out briefly and returned, no awkwardness—as if they'd never been apart.
Was it because they shared a mother-daughter bond?
Even so, by the time they'd finished the Sachertorte together and sat across from each other at the kitchen table,
Amelia was still reeling.
Her master had departed on an unavoidable journey after passing succession.
Leaving just a note saying it was one-way.
At first, Amelia had missed her and nursed resentment, but time brought forgiveness.
Details fuzzy now, but circumstances must've left no choice.
All that lingered was the desperate ache to see her again.
“Dig in? Switched from cocoa to coffee now? You've grown so much.”
“...How are you back?”
“Sorry, Amelia. Can't say.”
Truth was, it didn't matter.
The real question came next.
“Are we sticking together from here on out?”
A fork appeared abruptly before her.
Malika answered with a warm smile, nudging her along.
“I'll explain everything. First, ahh~.”
Amelia puffed her cheeks, flustered.
“Master, I'm not your apprentice anymore.”
“Fair point. But I really want to. You're still my little Amelia, you know.”
“Not little!”
A quick back-and-forth.
But Amelia ultimately took the bite her master fed her.
Fluffy sponge melting on the tongue, tart apricot jam mingling with bittersweet chocolate.
Whipped cream smoothing out any potential dryness.
Delicious.
The exact taste her master always made—the one she'd thought gone forever.
Only now did she realize this was no blissful dream or fantasy.
Emotions crashed through her like a bursting dam.
“Ugh... Uuugh...”
Amelia's slim shoulders shook.
Her vision misted over.
One tear sparked an unstoppable stream rolling down her cheeks.
“Master... I missed you... Missed you so much...”
Her master enveloped her in a hug.
The faint, pure gardenia scent stirred Amelia's heart just as familiarly.
“Mmph, me thoo, missed you sho much...”
“There, there... I missed you terribly too. Shocked when I left out of nowhere, huh? Sorry, Amelia. I'm so sorry...”
They shared tear-soaked reunion joy until the coffee went cold.
3.
“Oh dear, look at you. Still my little crybaby, aren't you?”
“...No teasing.”
Amelia nestled in her master's arms like an infant.
Rubbing puffy red eyes, clinging tight lest she vanish at a moment's release.
How desperately she'd yearned for this.
Nights sharing a bed, chatting till exhaustion lulled them to sleep.
“Tell me how you've been since I left?”
Under her master's tender stroking hand, Amelia recounted her days.
Nothing to worry her with facts, so she stuck to the happiest highlights.
Her magic research grind after master's departure.
Ventures into the modern world.
Making a ton of friends.
Good times, joyful moments—only those.
“Wow, really? That's incredible!”
“Good for you.”
“Such wonderful news.”
Her master praised her delightedly, never once bored.
Amelia recalled the note's final plea and spoke up.
Probably the line to shock her most.
“And... I've got someone I love now.”
“Really? For real?”
“Yes.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“Well, a daughter this pretty with no beau? The world's broken. Right?”
“Master, keep it up and I'm not talking anymore.”
“Heehee, cheeks like wild strawberries? Adorable.”
Predictably, her master bubbled with pajama-party glee,
half-tease, half-celebration spilling out.
Amelia beamed with pride and bashfulness.
“Anyway... who snagged our cute Amelia? Mind if I meet him?”
Of course not.
She ached to brag.
Show her master how amazing, kind, perfect her dearest lover was.
And vice versa—boast to Siu what a warm, caring soul her master was.
“Absolutely, Master. Lunch together tomorrow, no question.”
“Yes, yes.”
That night, Amelia drifted into deep slumber cradled in her master's arms, lullaby soothing her.
Praying if it was a dream, it would last forever unbroken.