The Perfect Ingredient
The Rostan Marquis family home was every bit as impressive as its reputation suggested. A massive mansion so grand it could pass for a castle welcomed us.
Though the family had no separate estates, they'd wielded enormous influence around Kegen through extensive trade.
That was then, however. By this generation, they'd squandered nearly all the foundations laid by their ancestors. It was a stark reminder of the current Marquis Rostan's incompetence.
"The Marquis's obsession with beauty borders on madness. I've only ever seen one person more fixated than him."
"Oh? And who might that be?"
"That's a secret... Ah, here comes someone."
After notifying the guards at the entrance that the Snow Witch had arrived, a man emerged from inside. Dressed in impeccable butler attire with a monocle over his left eye, he bowed before us.
"Your sudden arrival without notice startled the master a bit. Please, come inside."
"Sorry for coming so abruptly. But with all the materials ready, there was no reason to delay."
"Not at all. The master will be pleased if the deal closes quickly. The materials are already prepared. But this person is...?"
The butler turned his gaze to me. It was only natural to be wary of an unannounced guest.
As rehearsed with the witch beforehand, I revealed my identity.
"Her disciple."
"Oh ho. So even the Snow Witch has taken a disciple. If I may be so bold, you don't quite fit the image I had in mind..."
"That's crossing the line."
Surprisingly firm, the witch scolded the butler. He bowed his head and led us inside.
"My apologies. Old age makes me prone to slips of the tongue. This way, please."
We followed the butler through a lavish garden. It was beautiful, sure, but felt hollow somehow—like cost-cutting efforts were evident in every corner. A declining fortune made visible in such details.
Seeing this, I could understand why Marquis Rostan was so desperate to crush the Benellia family. In politics, one's rise often comes at a rival's fall. Eliminating competition not only proved your own strength but let you absorb their power.
The Marquis was doing his part to rebuild the family, in his own way. Of course, since he'd ruined it himself, it was the least he could do.
"This way."
The witch and I were shown to the parlor, a staple in every noble house. It was opulently decorated, befitting a great noble's residence.
The monster taxidermy lining the walls was a tad creepy, but those with such tastes might rate it highly.
Not me, though.
After a short wait, the parlor door opened again. In came a maid in proper, traditional attire.
The maids back in Coolong County wore short outfits that were easy on the eyes. Here, though, they all had long, flowing skirts. The black-and-white ensemble could have fit right into 19th-century England.
Their looks were underwhelming, however. Some appeared over forty, suggesting the Marquis wasn't much for feminine charms.
"Tea is served. The master will be with you shortly."
I couldn't help but admire her skillful pour. I should train our castle maids in this too. Too much focus on bedroom arts wasn't ideal.
As I sipped the tea, Marquis Rostan appeared, looking much the same as at the slave market.
"Ahem! It's been a while, Witch."
"Indeed. I trust you've been well?"
The Snow Witch set down her teacup with elegant poise. Oddly, the room's atmosphere seemed to tilt in her favor. She treated the Marquis almost like a subordinate, though her words remained impeccably polite.
"Always comfortable, as ever. Good fortune has come my way lately—I'm grinning ear to ear. But who might this be...?"
"My disciple."
The Marquis nodded without suspicion at her words.
"I hear the items are ready."
The witch cut straight to business. Seemingly accustomed to such dealings, the Marquis nodded smoothly.
"They're being held separately."
"They meet my conditions without flaw, I presume?"
"Precisely. The male is a virgin, the female untouched. We've verified it ourselves. Their mana density is ideal, and as noble stock, they've been well-fed. You'll approve immediately upon inspection."
"Excellent. As expected of you, Marquis."
"Haha! You're too kind. Shall we view them now?"
The Marquis rose almost immediately. We followed him up through the mansion to a room at the end of the third-floor corridor.
The door was sealed with a heavy padlock to prevent escape.
"Right this way."
The Marquis personally unlocked it and swung the door open, revealing the interior.
The room was surprisingly ordinary. It felt like guest quarters for honored visitors. The antique furniture, table, chairs, mirror, and decorations all screamed luxury.
A board game sat on the table to stave off boredom. The Marquis had a thoughtful side, unexpectedly.
"Eek!"
The young man and woman inside startled at our sight. It was Lienna Benellia and Braun Benellia, dressed comfortably.
"What do you think, Witch!? These are the two!"
At the Marquis's words, the Snow Witch approached them with swift steps. Her gliding movement was ghostly—eerie, almost.
Or like a dementor flitting about?
A kiss from her might steal your soul; the thought made my head spin.
The witch reached for the elder sister, Lienna. No swift or sharp motion, yet Lienna couldn't resist. The witch snatched her hand and brought it toward her face beneath the robe.
"Ow!"
Lienna yelped briefly. The witch had bitten her finger. She released it promptly.
"Fine blood indeed."
Tasting it to check quality?
I had no idea how it worked, but it was unsettling.
"Perfect material. Let's begin production at once."
"Uahaha! I knew you'd be satisfied! This way, then! The workshop is ready. Hey, you two! Follow us!"
"I'll handle them."
The witch produced a small pouch from within her robe and sprinkled its yellow powder over the siblings. Their eyes glazed over upon inhalation.
"Oh ho. What's that?"
"Hypnotic powder. More precisely, hallucinogenic, but it can be used this way depending on the method."
"Most useful."
The Marquis eyed the powder greedily, but the witch shut him down curtly.
"Not something just anyone without alchemy knowledge can handle easily."
"Tch. I see."
"To the workshop. Lead on."
We headed to the workshop the Marquis had prepared, located in the mansion's basement.
The damp, musty air reeked of a place fit for a dungeon. A madman brewing wine from virgin blood wouldn't seem out of place here.
"Perfect."
The Snow Witch, true to form, preferred such spots. The workshop brimmed with tools for potion-making, including a massive cauldron. It was professionally equipped.
"Witch, how long for production?"
"With materials ready, under an hour. Let's start now."
She unpacked her prepared ingredients from the robe, including the compound fly eyes I'd procured.
"First, melt the eternal snow from the snow mountains."
She added a vial of pristine snow to the cauldron. She had a habit of narrating her process aloud. A fine explainer.
"Melt the water solely with lava flower petals. Three will suffice."
She tossed in blood-red petals.
"Heat for about ten minutes. Bluish flames just before turning fully blue."
As she extended her hand toward the cauldron, flames ignited beneath it. The Marquis smiled, impressed.
"Impressive skill. With your talents, Witch, you might even brew the legendary elixir."
"Flattery. Even for me, the alchemist's ultimate dream remains just that—a dream."
Marquis Rostan and the Snow Witch traded compliments. I felt like mere garnish.
The Benellia siblings beside me stood entranced, so I quietly awaited the golden apple's creation.
"When do the healthy blood go in?"
The Marquis eyed the pair.
"Blood is the very last step. The final ingredient to complete the potion."
Thus, she methodically used up the gathered materials. The cauldron's liquid shifted from red to blue, then green.
"Good. Final step. Now, add healthy blood. The healthier, the better the effect."
"Uahaha! Completion at last! With this potion, can I be reborn as a perfect beauty?"
"Of course. Reborn, truly."
The witch smiled sweetly. In the next instant, her hand swept gently toward the Marquis.
"Guh!"
His body crumpled. Beaming at his shocked face, the witch said,
"Didn't I mention before? The older the blood, the better. For the perfect potion, Marquis Rostan, yours seems most suitable."