Chapter 111: The Price of Curiosity

Inside the Astria family’s villa.

Within a sprawling room, Luluti lay on her bed, her small feet dangling, her gaze fixed absently on the patterns adorning the ceiling. She spent most of her time in this languid pose.

“Ah… I’m so bored.”

When would this monotonous life finally end?

“Hey, what are you doing over there? Why aren’t you saying anything?” Luluti tilted her head, calling out loudly to Yalin, who was nearby.

“Could you wait a moment? I’m currently checking the Young Lady’s homework.”

Yalin, translating the notebook filled with intricate spell formations, found himself nodding repeatedly.

‘The child has truly come into her own!’

Having taken a day off to return home previously, he had assigned a bit more homework than usual. He had expected Luluti to either make a complete mess of it or simply abandon it altogether. To his surprise, however, the completed assignments she handed in were quite diligently done.

‘It seems she truly put in a considerable effort.’

“Most of it is correct. Truly worthy of the Young Lady.”

“Hmph, that’s only natural. Anyone can learn these simple things if they just apply themselves.” Luluti pursed her lips, speaking with an air of nonchalance.

Yet, the faint dark circles beneath her eyes betrayed the truth: the reality was far less effortless than her words suggested.

“What, has the Young Lady finally taken an interest in magic?”

“Hmph, who’d want to learn such antiquated rubbish?” Luluti’s tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction, but beneath it lay a deeper current of resignation. “Still, I am the heir of the Astria family. I can’t continue to be so willful. I must shoulder my responsibilities.”

“Is that so? Well then, there’s no time to waste. Let us begin our studies at once. I shall assign the Young Lady even more homework…” Yalin said with a beaming smile, but before he could finish, Luluti abruptly flung a pillow directly at his face.

“Get lost! I don’t want to study anymore.”

The velvet pillow, embroidered with gold trim, was as soft as a cloud in the sky. When it struck his face, he felt not a hint of pain, only comfort. A pleasant fragrance wafted towards him, and Yalin took a deep breath.

‘Ah, the scent of money.’

‘How enviable…’

Silently, he removed the pillow from his face, patted it smooth, and placed it beside the bed. Yalin, observing her gritted teeth and her posture of defiant indolence, couldn’t help but offer a wry smile.

“Didn’t the Young Lady decide to become the family heir? What happened to no longer being willful?”

“That’s for later. It’s not time yet, understand?” Luluti glared fiercely at Yalin.

“Besides, you, you scoundrel, must have thought my homework was a complete mess, and you were planning to go over it, weren’t you?”

‘Hmm… I certainly did have that intention.’

“See? Since there’s nothing to explain, today’s lesson is canceled. Understood?”

“Alright then.” Yalin shrugged. After all, he was merely an employee; the Young Lady’s word was law. “Since you don’t wish to study, what does the Young Lady intend to do instead?”

‘Hmm…’

Luluti abruptly sat up on the bed, swinging her two fair, delicate legs as she pondered for a moment.

“I don’t know. Is there anything interesting to do?”

Yalin shook his head, earning a dismissive glare from Luluti.

“So useless… Oh, right, aren’t you an alchemist? Why don’t you show me a trick or two?”

“Young Lady, even the most skilled alchemist requires materials.”

“Oh, right. My room doesn’t have much besides gold.”

“Is… is that so…” Yalin’s mouth twitched.

‘Why could she utter such chilling words with such ease?’

‘This damned capitalist…’

“Oh, right, I just remembered. I forgot to take out the materials I bought yesterday.” Yalin rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a small blue stone, which he placed on the table.

“What’s this? A gem?” Luluti picked up the stone, examining it with curiosity.

“Doesn’t look like one. It’s rather ugly, completely incomparable to the ones in my collection.”

“It’s not a gem, but a special material found deep within the sea. It can be used as a catalyst.”

“A catalyst? Never mind that, is this thing expensive?”

“It’s quite expensive. While easy to collect, it’s not easily preserved, and transporting it from the seaside to Ailanmia takes considerable effort.” Yalin cleared his throat a few times, adopting a serious tone. “This little stone is quite interesting. Its melting point is very low, so with just a little heat, it immediately undergoes a marvelous chemical reaction.”

“Really?” Luluti’s interest was instantly piqued. “What kind of reaction happens?”

“If the Young Lady is interested, you could try it yourself.”

“Huh? I don’t have a lighter.” Luluti shot Yalin an annoyed glance. “Aren’t you some kind of magician? Can’t you just conjure a flame?”

“Young Lady, I don’t use magic.”

“Oh, right, I remember now. You really are useless, aren’t you…” Luluti said, sounding disappointed.

“While I can’t use magic, doesn’t the Young Lady know how?”

“Huh?” Luluti gave him a strange look, shaking her head repeatedly. “Forget it. I’ve never used magic before.”

“Basic fire magic is arguably the simplest of all spells. If the Young Lady understood the previous assignments, you should be able to cast it quite easily.” Yalin said with a small smile.

Luluti skeptically twitched her two fluffy little ears, but ultimately, she decided to give it a try. Recalling what she had learned, Luluti closed her eyes and focused her mind. As she silently chanted the incantation, she began to construct a magical circuit with her mana. She felt a subtle, invisible power flowing through her body, eventually gathering at her fingertip. A scorching sensation bloomed on her skin. Luluti opened her eyes to find a small flame flickering on her index finger.

“I succeeded?” Luluti blinked, staring at the constantly dancing flame.

‘So this is magic? It’s quite astonishing.’

‘It doesn’t seem as bothersome as I imagined.’

“Congratulations, Young Lady. Now, quickly place the flame next to the stone. And just so you know, its price is one hundred Riel.”

“Why are you suddenly mentioning the price here?” Luluti retorted, then moved the flame from her fingertip to the blue stone. The moment it touched the flame, the stone’s surface instantly frothed with a faint white foam. Immediately after, gas began to dissipate, and a layer of blue mist instantly appeared in the air.

“Ohh!” Luluti’s eyes widened. It was her first time witnessing such a wondrous sight. The stone consumed itself rapidly, vanishing in mere seconds, and the blue mist in the air dispersed along with it.

“Huh? That’s all?” Luluti felt a little bewildered; she hadn’t had a chance to properly observe it.

“Yes, it volatilizes very quickly. It burned away in an instant.”

“Do you have any more?”

“None left. And just to reiterate, this stone cost one hundred Riel, which is equivalent to three days of my wages.”

Luluti angrily slammed her hand on the table. “Are you never going to stop? I’ll give you ten times the money, now just shut up!”