Hans came to get me the next morning and I was led to a big salon with sofas and chairs neatly arranged, making it look like the lobbies of famous five-star hotels. The grandmother was sitting on one of the chairs and sipping what looked like tea. She seemed completely cured. The color had returned to her cheeks and her eyes were full of life as she looked at me. I breathed a sigh.

"Rayce, come dear child." She beckoned to me as soon as she saw me.

I smiled and greeted her. And slowly sat in the chair that the butler had pulled for me. He then poured a cup of tea for me as well.

"My, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Angeline von Kaerius. You can call me Grandma Angeline."

I smiled and nodded. "Sure, Grandma Angeline."

Now, she looked like a rich noble lady with delicate features that strongly resembled Amelia. You could instantly tell that she came from a noble background by looking at her gestures and how she conducted herself.

"Rayce, I would like to thank you for healing me. Even though you had no obligation to do so."

"Our family will forever hold a place for you."

I bowed to her and said,

"You don't need to thank me. In the first place, the potion was made to help people. I am happy that I was able to help someone so soon."

She smiled and nodded as if she expected that.

"How old are you by the way? You look really young for someone who could make such advanced potions."

"I'm 21," I said taking a sip of the scented tea whose aroma was slowly spreading in the room.

"Ah. Was your master a grand alchemist?"

"Haha. You could say that. I was taught various things and I started my journey after he passed on. I'm just learning the rest of the things as time goes on." I lied.

"Oh, my condolences for your master. I'm sure he is looking at you fondly from beyond." She smiled kindly.

"I hear you are leaving for Astrya. Have you made any plans for what you're going to do there?"

"I don't have a concrete plan yet except being able to travel and see the world. But I think I will be staying in Astrya for a while."

"Oh, in that case, you should meet our relatives while staying there. Amelia's mother is originally from Astrya and her maternal family still lives there." She said with a smile.

"Ahaha, is that so."

"By the way, many noble children get married at your age. It is indeed a great age to get married." She said mischievously.

(Master, it's a trap!)

"Have you found anyone?"

"Haha. Not yet, no. I'm still young so I want to travel a little and see the world first."

"I see. Let's put that off for another time then." She said thoughtfully.

"By the way, how is Amelia? She can be a little forceful but she is a very kind child."

"Haha. She seems like a really good girl."

"Hmm, is that so," She said as if she expected a different reply.

At that moment, Marquis Henry burst into the room with a loud bang as the door was almost taken off its hinges. I almost spilled the tea.

"Mother, what are you doing here? I told you to rest."

"Sigh. Stop making a ruckus inside the mansion. You're not a child anymore. And, I am completely fine as you can see. The potion worked wonders."

"That....cannot be disputed but still, you need to rest for at least a day."

"Oh, stop being a worrywart!"

He saw us drinking tea and his eyes darted from his mother to me as if he suspected something.

"By the way, what were you talking about?" He asked cautiously.

"Oh, I was just thanking Rayce and asking if he was betrothed to anyone." She said with a glint in her eyes.

As soon as he heard that, his face went pale.

"R-Rayce, I need to talk to you about something. Please come with me. Right now!"

He grabbed my hand and almost dragged me out of the room.

I bowed to Grandma Angeline before he was able to lead me out and I was soon in his study.

He was panting as if he had run in a marathon while he slowly sat on the sofa. He beckoned for me to sit on the opposite one.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Forget about what my mother talked about. I mean immediately." He said staring daggers at me.

"Ah-haha. Of course."

He seemed to calm down after hearing my reply.

"Anyway, I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Do you have any plans to sell the potion?"

"Well, I was eventually going to sell the diluted potion in Astrya."

"I'll take it!" He said almost jumping out of his seat.

"I'm sure Amelia told you we are a merchant family."

"Yes, she did mention it."

"We deal with all kinds of products which include potions as well. But recently all the potions being sold are below C rank. It is due to the Kosoto Empire monopolizing all the good Alchemists." He said the last part almost gritting his teeth.

"They are probably preparing for war. No, they definitely are." He said after some thought.

"So, I'd like to propose that you allow us to sell the potions you make. We will, of course, take the lowest percentage of the profit. Even 1 percent would be enough."

"Hmm...I was indeed looking for a place to sell the potions I make, without attracting attention. But, I wouldn't be comfortable doing business with that margin. Let's make it 30-70. You can procure the herbs for me from time to time and I'll provide the potions."

"You're willing to share 30 percent with us?" He said looking surprised.

"Yes, that margin is comfortable for me. And I don't have any connections to sell the potions in the first place. So, the help would be really appreciated."

"I see. Alright then. Let's shake on it." He forwarded his hand.

I shook his hand and he smiled.

It looked almost genuine until he heard a knock on the door and saw Amelia peering in.

He quickly withdrew his hand and glared at me and then looked at her.

"Oh, Amelia. What could you want from your father?" He asked hopefully.

"Hmph, I was looking for Rayce and I heard from Grandma that you almost dragged him to your office." She said menacingly.

"Ah-haha, I didn't drag him. He came voluntarily. Voluntarily, I say. Didn't you, Rayce?" He glared at me as if one wrong answer might end my existence.

"Y-yeah."

"I see," She narrowed her eyes as she glared at her nervous father.

"By the way, why were you looking for him?" Marquis Henry asked nervously.

"I thought I'd show him around the capital."

"I see. I see. That's a great idea. Of course, the maid and the butler and ten knights will accompany you. Along with four cars."

"Dad!!!"

"Wh-what. Isn't that the minimum when the daughter of a Marquis goes outside?"

"I want to go alone with him."

The color drained from his face.

"Absolutely not!"

"Isn't he the one who saved me when the knights were useless?"

"W-Well....if you put it like that," He gave me a death glare.

"Fine, fine. But I expect you to be back by evening before Althea appears in the sky. No later than that."

"Okay!" She said darting inside the room.

She came and grabbed me on my wrist and almost dragged me out.

I bowed to the Marquis and I could see his pale face and his eyes fixated on our hands as if all the joy had drained out of him.

(Like father, like daughter.)

(Sigh)

We soon came out to the courtyard with Amelia almost pushing me out of the mansion.

"Shall we go out into the city then?" Amelia asked excitedly.

"S-sure."

We both got in a car parked in front of the mansion as if it was waiting for us. The car took us till the gates and after that, Amelia signaled to the driver and the car drove back towards the mansion. She told me she wanted to walk and we leisurely strolled out of the noble district and were soon near the market.

The left side of the capital was made for nobles and you could see only mansions here with one bigger than the last. I heard the king lived on the far left side. I wondered what his castle would look like if a merchant family had such a large estate.

The south side was for official buildings and the rest of the city was a mix of living quarters and markets.

We walked around the market and the tall buildings gave me nostalgia, though they were shorter than skyscrapers. I could see people on balconies and the roofs talking and enjoying the sunlight.

As we passed by various stalls, occasionally buying something to nibble on, the day soon became warmer. Amelia led me to a stand where they were making crushed ice. A crude machine was installed on the ice stand and by supplying magic, the motor ran and shredded the ice. Many people were lined up, mostly children and teenagers.

We soon got one for each of us and resumed our journey through the streets of Glaecia. Amelia was wearing normal clothes so as not to get recognized but I could feel occasional eyes on her with people being mesmerized by her beauty.

(Master, three people have been following us since the mansion.)

(Yeah, I figured. They're probably guards.)

I had my suspicion that the Marquis had ordered them to follow us. His pale face floated inside my head.

There were all kinds of people on the streets. Adventurers, bargaining for weapons from weapons shop owners, normal people, buying provisions, and even people in mage robes, who were buying items from what looked like magic shops.

The streets were quite lively even though it was only the afternoon. People with big canvases were making portraits trying to entice people passing by. Circus acts were being performed on the sidewalks and even children running around laughing. It reminded me of the small regional cities on Earth. There were even bikes lined up on the sides of the road and big burly people sitting on them, talking among themselves.

Amelia noticed me looking at them and explained that the bikes were available to buy for rich adventurers. If you had money, you could basically buy anything. Though it is only sold in the capital.

She also told me that it should become available for normal people soon. The bikes were sold by the Kaerius family as well and it seems a new version is in development, that will consume less energy to run. And then normal people would also be able to afford them.

After such small conversations and roaming around aimlessly for a while, we soon reached a beautiful three-story restaurant. Small banners mentioning the names of the dishes served were plastered all over the front wall of the building.

"This restaurant is very famous here. And the chef has been specifically vetted by the royal family." Amelia explained.

"Shall we go in then?" I smiled and asked.

"Sure!"

She led the way inside and we were soon sitting on the terrace with a view of the people passing by on the road below.

A waiter came to get our orders and talked about dishes I had never heard before so I let Amelia take care of our orders.

We soon had juicy steaks and fruit juices served.

"Have you ever been to Astrya?" Amelia asked while taking a bite of the steak.

"No, this will be my first."

"Really!!! You're going to love it there. The city is even bigger than three of Glaecia sized cities combined. They are really famous for magical tools and they have the most powerful magic tower on the continent."

"Most of the magic tools around had either been assembled there or they had a part in the production."

She talked on and on about Astrya and I could surmise that it was a very advanced city. Much more advanced than Glaecia.

We soon finished and made our way back. She talked about her academy life and how people from all over the continent came to study at Astrya academy of magical science. It seems even royals came to study there. And that it was a very famous academy headed by genius mages and swordsmen. It seems most of the mages joined the towers of Astrya and the swordsmen went back to their countries gaining knighthood.

Soon, the gate that led inside the estate became visible.

Marquis Henry was waiting behind the gate nervously pacing on the road leading up to the gate. He saw us and the color seemed to come back to his face and he smiled and welcomed us as if he hadn't seen us for years.