"Master, your Alana is a Grandmaster Alchemist. With a Luck stat of fifty-five, my brewing almost never fails. The cooldown between batches is also very short. Every ten minutes I can comfortably produce four bottles of Super Health Potions. Honestly, this pace isn’t even fast for ."
Alana lifted her chin slightly as she spoke, her lips forming a faint pout that carried a trace of playful pride. She looked almost offended that Marcus seed surprised by her efficiency, as though his disbelief had underestimated her abilities.
Marcus laughed softly.
"Well, as long as it isn’t tiring for you. Just don’t push yourself too hard."
Watching her mild sulking expression stirred an unexpected warmth in his chest. There was sothing irresistibly charming about her confidence mixed with gentle innocence. Every small reaction she showed felt genuine and alive, and he found himself growing more fond of her with each passing mont.
"Master, would you like chrysanthemum tea or rose tea? I can prepare so for you."
"Either one is fine."
Marcus blinked in surprise. He had not expected Alana to be skilled in tea preparation as well, but judging from her calm confidence, she clearly knew what she was doing.
"Then chrysanthemum tea, if that pleases you, Master."
Marcus settled beneath the vine-covered pergola while Alana stepped into the garden and carefully selected several freshly blooming chrysanthemums. She handled each flower with delicate precision, as if greeting old friends rather than harvesting ingredients.
Her movents during preparation were elegant and unhurried. Every motion flowed seamlessly into the next, graceful enough to resemble a carefully choreographed dance. Even simple actions like rinsing the cups or pouring water carried a quiet rhythm that was oddly srizing.
It was obvious she had devoted serious study to the traditional art of tea making.
"Master, please taste."
After a sequence of ticulous steps, she placed a cup before him. Inside rested a clear golden-yellow tea, the liquid glowing softly in the sunlight. A faint warmth rose from the surface, yet no obvious fragrance escaped.
"Beautiful," Marcus said sincerely.
He was not speaking only about the tea.
Alana’s many talents continued to astonish him. Watching her work felt less like observing a servant and more like witnessing an artist at her craft. The atmosphere she created made even an ordinary afternoon feel refined and peaceful.
The tea itself looked comparable to the most luxurious beverages available in the ga world, yet this cup carried sothing far more valuable: the quiet care and affection of the woman who had prepared it. No amount of money could replicate that.
"Excellent."
Marcus lifted the cup carefully, almost reluctant to disturb the flawless surface of the liquid.
Seeing his appreciation, Alana’s eyes softened with happiness, and she began explaining in a gentle voice.
"Master, these three blossoms are early chrysanthemums from the beginning of September. They were picked at the mont of their first bloom. While they do not possess strong cooling properties, the earliest flowers contain the purest fragrance and the most delicate flavor."
She gestured lightly toward the cup.
"I used a slow, gentle brewing thod. The temperature remains moderate so the blossoms continue to unfold inside the water. This allows their essence to release gradually, making the tea smooth rather than sharp. The most special part is that the aroma remains sealed within the liquid itself. You can only experience it when you drink."
"Is that so?" Marcus said, genuinely intrigued. Today had turned into an unexpected lesson.
He leaned closer, expecting to sll sothing from the rising steam, yet there was nothing at all. The tea gave off no scent, only a clean freshness reminiscent of cool mountain air.
"There really isn’t any fragrance," he said in amazent, half wondering if it was tea at all.
Alana lifted her own cup with a gentle smile.
"Cheers, Master."
"Cheers."
Following her lead, Marcus took a careful sip.
The instant the tea touched his tongue, fragrance exploded across his senses.
A rich chrysanthemum aroma blossod suddenly, vivid yet perfectly restrained. It refreshed without overwhelming, balanced so precisely that even the slightest change would have ruined the harmony. The warmth spread down his throat, leaving behind a clean sweetness that lingered comfortably.
It was flawless.
’So fragrant’, he thought, montarily speechless.
Before he realized it, he had finished the entire cup in one breath.
A pleasant warmth spread through his body, clearing his mind and lifting his mood. Marcus let out a satisfied laugh, unable to hide his delight. Alana truly seed capable of anything she set her mind to.
Seeing his reaction filled her with quiet joy. She watched him with tender eyes as she refilled his cup.
"Master."
For Alana, being acknowledged by the man she loved was worth more than any praise or reward.
Marcus accepted the tea, drifting through his thoughts.
It was truly better to have loving companions than mindless NPC’s alone.
Surrounded by blooming flowers, gentle breeze brushing past the pergola, and Alana seated beside him like a celestial beauty descended into the mortal world, the sentint felt entirely true.
"Alana, this place feels wonderful because of you. You’ve turned it into sothing special."
The mansion interior had already been spotless, but the courtyard now resembled a living garden paradise. Flowers swayed gently, butterflies drifted lazily through the air, and the fragrance of blossoms filled every corner.
Alana smiled shyly.
"I’ve always loved growing flowers and herbs. With such a beautiful ho, it only felt natural to decorate it with blossoms. It’s just a pity there isn’t a proper place to cultivate dicinal herbs, and I don’t have suitable seeds right now."
Her expression dimd slightly as mories surfaced.
She thought of the hidden valley where she had once lived with her grandfather, Silas Vance. The herb garden she had carefully nurtured there had been her greatest pride, filled with rare and precious plants gathered over many years. All of it had been destroyed by the hateful Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirit.
The mory still hurt.
Marcus noticed the faint shadow crossing her face and spoke imdiately.
"That’s easy. We’ll buy land from the Dragon Dynasty right now and build you your own herb garden."
His tone carried eager determination, as if granting her wish was the most obvious thing in the world.
Alana shook her head gently.
"Master, ordinary land purchased from the Dragon Dynasty can only support interdiate-grade herbs at best. High-grade dicinal plants require special soil rich in spiritual energy. Such locations are extrely rare."
She sighed softly. Cultivating superior herbs was never simple. Without proper spiritual soil, even the best seeds would wither.
"There’s a system chanic like that too?" Marcus muttered, surprised.
Instead of discouraging him, the revelation only ignited his motivation.
"Don’t worry, Alana. I’ll definitely find the perfect land for you."
She looked at him with unwavering trust.
"I believe you will, Master."
Since the day he rescued her from the Vixen Clan’s territory, she had never doubted him. In her eyes, there was nothing he could not achieve.
"Oh, and Master," she added gently, "if you encounter herbs during your travels, please help collect their seeds. With enough seeds, I can cultivate them myself."
"Herb seeds?"
Marcus frowned slightly in confusion. His Herb Gathering skill had already reached the Advanced level, yet he had never once obtained seeds during harvesting.
He suddenly realized there were still many systems within this world he had yet to fully understand.
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