Chapter 23

"Are you alright...!?"

Leaning forward and holding his waist, Oscar was addressed by Amelia. The sudden situation had caused her to unconsciously revert to formal speech.

"Please don't worry."

Oscar showed his palm to Amelia.

"More importantly, Lady Amelia, you've reverted to formal speech."

While Amelia exclaimed, "Huh! Really!" Oscar stretched his waist with a determined voice, "Hunnu!!"

With a crack and a pop, a sound that one would rather not hear from one's body echoed in the air.

"Forgive me for showing such an unseemly sight."

While rotating his waist, Oscar spoke as if nothing had happened.

"Is your back not feeling well?"

"Indeed, I'm embarrassed. Recently, I've been doing a lot of desk work, so it seems to have stiffened up. In the past, it was no big deal, but I suppose age does catch up with one."

With a carefree laugh, Oscar showed a relaxed smile. However, Amelia didn't miss the fact that his right hand was gently rubbing his waist.

"Wait a moment."

Amelia's demeanor suddenly changed from the innocent girl she had been a moment ago. She took on a look reminiscent of a lady and ran off.

"Milady Amelia?"

Ignoring Oscar's call, Amelia returned to the grassland and sat down.

"Let's see... about this much Lamu leaf, and this much Languri flower... a bit more Bumeil grass might be good..."

Rustling and rustling, Amelia moved around the grassland, squatting down and muttering to herself as she collected plants.

Her actions were decisive, as if she had a clear goal in mind.

"This... could it be..."

Realizing a possibility, Oscar decided to remain silent and observe.

After a while, Amelia returned with her hands full of herbs and flowers.

"Can I put these on the desk? They might get dirty..."

"It's fine."

"Thank you!"

After arranging the plants by type, Amelia opened her bag from home with a snap.

"I'm glad I brought this just in case."

As she spoke, Amelia began to lay out various items on the desk.

A mortar, a pestle, small spoons, and so on...

None of these were proper, store-bought items; they were all handmade, combining wood and stone or repurposing kitchenware.

Oscar guessed they were tools for concocting something.

"Let's see... first, I'll roughly grind the Lamu leaves..."

From that point on, Amelia's actions were completely unfamiliar to Oscar.

Watching her, it seemed she was crushing the herbs, extracting nectar from the flowers, and mixing the results together, then combining them with more flower nectar...

Oscar had no idea what chemical reactions were taking place or what she was creating.

However, from the skillful way Amelia worked, it was clear that she possessed extensive knowledge and experience.

Oscar couldn't take his eyes off Amelia's focused gaze and the intensity with which she moved her hands.