"So, did my son promise you that you would become a high-level alchemist?"

Inside the living room, Ardhis sat on the center sofa, sipping his coffee.

On the sofa to his right sat Tharvis. Unlike his shabby, disheveled appearance before, he now looked clean and well-kept. His usually pale face had gained some color.

His matted hair was neatly combed back. Hearing the question, he nodded nervously and replied, "Yes, Viscount Clay. I met Young Master Merlin about sixteen days ago. Coincidentally, I was selling a potion I had made, but the potion shops around rejected it."

He scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile. "However, Young Master Merlin noticed me and approached me. He offered four silver coins for the flawed potion I had made and praised my talent. Then he gave me the opportunity to become a great alchemist by following him. At the time, I declined because I needed to think it over."

Thinking back on that moment, it still felt like a dream. For someone like him, such an opportunity seemed impossible.

Yet, that impossibility had become reality.

"So, the guard was telling the truth, huh?" Ardhis gave a small nod. "Can you tell me how you came to have the ability to concoct potions?"

Tharvis straightened up and explained politely, "My grandmother said my grandfather used to be an alchemist, but he died when I was a child. He left behind a scroll with the proper way to make potions. I followed it and was able to create them."

"So that's how it is…" Ardhis nodded in understanding. "Then, how exactly do you make your potions?"

Considering how expensive alchemist equipment was, it seemed impossible for Tharvis to have afforded it.

"That…" Tharvis let out a dry laugh. "I just use a stove and a pot to boil water."

Ardhis: "..."

The cup in his hand wavered slightly at the words. Luckily, he reacted quickly and prevented it from spilling. With a look of pure astonishment and confusion, he asked again, "What? Can you say that again?"

"I said I use a stove and a pot to boil water," Tharvis repeated calmly.

Ardhis took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

'Stove and pot to boil water? Is this kid joking?' he wondered.

At first, he thought he must have misheard. It was impossible to make potions with just a stove and a pot—even high-level alchemists couldn't do it.

Yet the boy insisted. If not for the seriousness in his eyes, Ardhis would have sworn it was a joke.

While he was trying to compose himself, Livia and Catrine appeared, each carrying a plate of treats.

"What's wrong, my dear? Why are you so quiet?" Livia asked curiously, placing her plate on the table.

Catrine followed suit, then sat on the sofa opposite Tharvis.

"It's nothing," Ardhis said, shaking his head with a smile. "Has the boy returned yet? What took him so long?"

"I'm not sure either," Livia replied with a small smile, sitting down next to Catrine. "Just let him have his fun. After all, Linda leaves tomorrow—she must be sad and want to spend a little last time with him."

Hearing that reasonable explanation, Ardhis could only remain silent, nodding slowly.

"By the way…" Livia turned to Tharvis, who lowered his head shyly. "Your name is Tharvis, right? Can you tell me how you met my son?"

When Tharvis had arrived earlier, she hadn't asked immediately. He had looked too pitiful—his clothes were tattered and dirty, and his skin was grimy.

So she had a maid take him to clean up and eat first, before asking about his connection to her son.

Tharvis didn't hesitate to recount the story to Livia. As she listened, she couldn't hide her surprise.

"You made potions with just a pot and a stove?" she asked, blinking in astonishment.

"Yes, that's right," Tharvis replied, glancing at Ardhis and Livia with a hint of skepticism. "Is that… strange?"

To him, it was completely ordinary. After all, didn't other alchemists make potions the same way?

Ardhis and Livia exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.

Pots and stoves were meant for boiling water—there was no way they could be used to brew potions.

Livia forced a smile, about to speak, when she heard footsteps approaching from the front.

They turned their heads and saw two people approaching—Merlin and Linda.

"Big Brother!" Catrine's eyes lit up with joy. She leapt off the sofa and ran toward him, arms wide open.

Merlin smiled and opened his arms as well, and they embraced as if they hadn't seen each other for ages.

"Brother, you took so long to come back! I was so tired of waiting for you!" Catrine protested, puffing out her cheeks.

Earlier that afternoon, she had woken from her nap planning to see her brother, only to find that Merlin wasn't in the mansion.

She searched the house but couldn't find him. When she asked her mother, she learned that Merlin had gone out with Linda, which clearly annoyed her.

"Pfft!" Merlin chuckled, pinching her soft, round cheeks.

"Sorry, my dear little sister. Master leaves tomorrow, so I wanted to spend a little more time with him while I could."

Catrine's anger melted away, but she wasn't giving up just yet. Raising her pinky, she demanded excitedly, "Then tomorrow you have to take me to play too, okay? I want to go wherever Aunt Linda goes!"

Merlin was momentarily dumbfounded—he hadn't expected such a bold request. But without overthinking, he hooked his pinky with hers.

"Alright, I promise. Don't worry—I'll take you tomorrow."

"Yay!" Catrine cheered, hugging him back tightly.

Watching the two, Linda felt a sour twinge in her chest.

If it had been her before, she would have felt nothing—after all, it was natural for a sister to adore her brother.

But now… she felt anger and even… jealousy.

Merlin was hers—she alone could claim him as her mate. She wouldn't let even Catrine take him.

Suppressing her thoughts, she turned forward and met Ardhis and Livia, who smiled at her.

"How was your walk with Merlin? Did it go well?"

Linda nodded as she approached them. "Yes, everything went perfectly. Your son treated me and didn't let me spend a single coin. He's very romantic, you know?"

Ardhis and Livia exchanged surprised glances, then looked at Merlin, who hung his head in shame.

"By the way…" Linda said, turning to Tharvis. "Are you the Tharvis my disciple mentioned?"

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