Ellie Miller brought two stalks of "Magical Plants" into the Alchemy House.
The first floor of the Alchemy House only had a massive crafting table.
The passages to the basement and second floor were blocked by a black barrier.
On the crafting table, there was an old copper crucible, a stone mortar, a bellows for heating under the crucible, and a long-handled copper spoon for adding water as the base.
Ellie Miller casually inserted the two "Magical Plants" into the mortar, thus solving the problem of potency loss.
This was a small "bug" in the Alchemy House, as the potency of "Magical Plants" placed in the mortar would be preserved.
However, the mortar wasn't big, and it could only hold another two or three more Magical Plants before it was full. Clearly, exploiting this "bug" wasn't a long-term solution.
In Kostanyn, Ellie Miller didn't dare stay too long in the Alchemy House. Just as she was stepping out of it, the door to the living room was smashed open with a "bang," almost causing her heart to leap out of her chest.
Artor Coldcrest's blue eyes coldly swept around the small living room. Then, his black boots trod over the soft handmade carpet.
The duke's dark hair was stuck to his cold, white forehead with sweat. The man, fresh from exercise, exuded an aura of aggression.
Ellie Miller instinctively took a step back, regaining her composure before cautiously asking, "What do you want?"
Artor Coldcrest advanced step by step. Ellie Miller retreated step by step until her back hit the wall.
The Duke of Coldcrest raised a hand and leaned it against the wall, trapping Ellie Miller between himself and the wall. "I told you, don't cause trouble under my nose."
The tall, handsome man slightly lowered his head, "Is it that you didn't remember, or that you don't understand, hmm?"
Ellie Miller reached out her hand, pressed it against the duke's chest, and gave a forceful push, "I don't know what you're talking about, oh."
The duke stood motionless, with an expressionless face, as he backhandedly caught Ellie Miller's wrist.
His icy blue eyes lingered on the pale, slender wrist for a moment before he tossed it aside.
"This is the last time. Don't let me catch you again." Leaving that sentence behind, the Duke of Coldcrest turned and left.
Ellie Miller was a bit flustered, unsure if it was just an illusion—could this man really detect her entering the Alchemy House?!
...
The next day.
Ellie Miller stretched lazily by the window after getting up early.
Today's maid was a bit odd, following closely behind her without taking a step away, making her feel a bit uneasy.
The knights were training on the green field.
Knight Balk's face was nothing short of "tragic," with palm prints and nail scratches. Have you ever seen a cat-scratched board? That's exactly how his face looked now.
Yet he could still manage to stare expressionlessly at the knights training.
From a distance, Ellie Miller admired Mrs. Burton's handiwork, feeling extremely—refreshed.
Ellie Miller silently made a "Radiance Seal" over her chest, thanking the God of The Radiance for appearing. o(*￣︶￣*)o
She then watched as Artor Coldcrest emerged from the castle and boarded a carriage, with a team of knights breaking off from their training to escort the carriage away.
Seizing the opportunity, Ellie Miller directly slipped into the Alchemy House, receiving an extremely grim piece of news before she could even rejoice.
Due to no sales of alchemy potions, today's reputation still remained a hideous "0." Therefore, her Rear Garden had, once again, decreased in yield!
Today's harvest was only a single "Fire Bell."
At this rate, tomorrow's Rear Garden might not even produce a single "Magical Plant."
The situation was utterly dire.
No reputation = no materials for making potions = no alchemy potions = the Alchemy House could very well be rendered useless?!
Assessing the total 'assets' on hand:
A Water Flower;
A Terra Root;
A Fire Bell.
And that's it!
That's it!!!
Counting on these three "Magical Plants" to earn a bit of reputation?
If the wrong potion is chosen and it doesn't sell… wouldn't that result in a total loss?!
Wouldn't the Alchemy House, this super golden cheat, be ruined?!
With that thought, she broke out in a cold sweat.
After leaving the Alchemy House, Ellie Miller paced anxiously inside the room.
What should I do??
What kind of potion should I make? To whom should I sell it to maximize reputation?
As she worried, the door was carefully knocked on by a maid. Ellie Miller scratched her head irritably, convinced that the maid's spy-like behavior was definitely linked to a certain Duke!
"Duchess, the wives of the Order of Knights are here to visit and are waiting for you in the small living room on the south side of the second floor."
With the war over and the celebration banquet held, it was now time to console the bereaved families of knights who died or were injured in the war. This was also the duty of a Duchess. However, in her memory, Artor Coldcrest had never allowed her predecessor to handle these matters.
It was like one trouble after another! The major crisis at the Alchemy House hadn't been resolved, and now it seemed she was being targeted by the mad Duke again! What should she do?!
Seeing the somewhat dazed Ellie Miller walk into the parlor, the waiting ladies quickly stood up and curtsied, "Good afternoon, Madam."
Unlike the spirited visitors of the previous day, today's ladies were filled with gloom, with even their exquisite makeup unable to hide their sadness. Ellie Miller instinctively glanced at the tops of their heads.
[Edward... will he seek death during the time I'm away?]
[Why attack Lord Cullen's territory?]
[If it weren't for the Order of Knights taking over a large portion of Lord Cullen's territory, the Radiant Curia wouldn't have refused to treat Edward...]
[If not, Edward wouldn't be harboring such death wishes? What to do? Without Edward, I don't want to live either.]
[Thankfully, we don't have any children...]
The Radiant Curia monopolized the medical resources of the Kingdom of Clark. Even the Alchemists' Guild wasn't allowed to sell any healing magic potions within the kingdom.
A flash of inspiration struck Ellie Miller's mind.
The opportunity she desperately needed might be right now.
"May I ask," Ellie Miller decided quickly, walking up to the lady, "Would you like to take a stroll with me in the garden?"
All eyes focused on the pair.
[Ah! Why would "The Mad Lady" approach Joanna?]
[Poor Joanna... it's said her husband, Edward Martin, the Great Knight Commander, might die.]
The ladies around Joanna were filled with large "bubbles" overhead.
"Duchess, perhaps I should accompany you," the kind lady bravely suggested to Ellie Miller.
Ellie Miller looked into Joanna's lifeless eyes and said, "There's a peculiar flower in the rear garden. While other flowers bloom, this one withers. But when you think it's about to die, it blooms the most beautiful flowers from its stalks.
I found it very interesting and named it 'Hope.' Madam, would you like to see 'Hope' with me?"
After hearing this, Joanna stood up as if possessed, "Madam, I would like to see such a miraculous flower with you."
Ellie Miller politely refused the other ladies from following, bringing only Joanna to the rear garden. On the way, she casually asked, "Did the Holy Court refuse to treat the injured knights this time?"
Joanna's posture slightly trembled, "Yes, Madam."
[I know Edward is loyal to His Grace, but... as his wife, it's hard not to blame the Duke's recklessness.]
[The kingdom has so many noble territories; why insist on attacking the Cullen Family's lands?]
[It's known... that the Cullen Family's 'miss' with a unique status might be chosen as the candidate for the next Holy Daughter of The Radiance by the Radiant Curia.]
[Could... could the Duke be planning to wage war against the Radiant Curia?]
Ellie Miller unobtrusively withdrew her gaze, secretly astounded at the vast information she inadvertently acquired.
Maybe Artor Coldcrest was eager to 'drag' her back for some hidden agenda.
But for now, none of that mattered.
Ellie Miller halted in front of a sea of white flowers, "This is it."
These flowers were truly peculiar, the multitude of tiny white blossoms bloomed on yellow-green branches, with all the leaves yellowed and withered, falling to the soil as fertilizer.
"Yesterday, the maids told me it's called 'Phoenix,' but I think such a resilient life deserves the name 'Hope' more. What do you think, Joanna?"
Joanna crouched down, gently lifting a stem brimming with little white flowers.
"It's beautiful, very pleasant. I want to take a stem back with me as a gift for my husband, if that's alright, Madam?"
Ellie Miller also bent down, her hair cascading down, shielding the whispered conversation between the two ladies.
"If I said I have a magical potion that might heal your husband, would you need it?"
Joanna: "???"
Ellie Miller earnestly said, "If you wish to grasp 'Hope,' come find me at Kostanyn tomorrow."