Chapter 65
The back garden of the Sylhezen Castle’s Sios annex.
Moo.
Grind, grind.
That was the sound that could enchant the palates of nobles.
Moooo.
Rumble, rumble.
And that was the sound that could capture the hearts of children.
Thump, thump, thump.
A blindfolded cow obediently walked in circles, turning the press.
In what was now officially my workshop — right here in Sios — I was extracting policosanol.
Yes, lifting curses was important… but with the upcoming “Demonic Realm Victory Commemoration Subjugation Festival”, showcasing a variety of foods was equally important.
This policosanol would be the foundation of goodwill, to be generously shared with Theodore’s first-ever friends.
In the original story, Theodore never interacted with anyone.
But that would not be the case now.
Five years old. He would be attending his first social event — the Demonic Realm Victory Commemoration Subjugation Festival.
The most prestigious families of the Empire would gather there. And they didn’t just hunt monsters.
With the Emperor and countless nobles gathering, did you think they would just hunt and go their separate ways?
Absolutely not!
The friendships made here could last a lifetime. Those bonds would later carry over to the Academy — and childhood friends from the Academy stayed together until death.
That’s how it was for Alfred, too. If I managed to turn Alfred into Theodore’s best friend, I could ask for nothing more.
And when you’re trying to make friends, shouldn’t you at least have a few candies in your pocket?
So that when your friend is feeling sad — pop, here’s one.
When playing together — pop, another.
When reading a book — pop, straight into the mouth.
That’s how friendships are forged — with sugar and sentiment.
Besides, this world didn’t even have candy.
Hah!
I had to hurry — for Theodore’s future popularity.
And to make candy, we needed the most divine of ingredients — sugar.
Sugar, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. A disaccharide formed by a glycosidic bond between glucose (α-D-glucopyranose) and fructose (β-D-fructofuranose).
A sweet crystalline powder refined from the juices or sap of sugarcane, sugar beets, sugar maple, or sweet corn.
Unlike salt, sugar had only an upper intake limit — no lower limit. Meaning, like caffeine, it was purely a pleasure substance — humans could survive without ever eating it.
However —
Sugar was as addictive as drugs like cocaine, or perhaps even more so. And far more satisfying.
Thanks to Theodore’s golden retriever sniffing out locations, we found countless fields growing sugarcane.
While reading books on local vegetation, I discovered that the Caricas Territory, being adjacent to the Demonic Realm, had a climate unlike any normal region. The south was scorching like the tropics, while the north was bitterly cold like the arctic.
Perhaps that was why the flora varied so widely. There were coniferous forests like fir and metasequoia, as well as tropical trees like palm and banana.
I started humming unconsciously.
Sophia, the palace engineer Aden, and Lucio — who was watching with a face that said, “What on earth is she making now?” — all gazed at the sight before them.
Slosh.
The first cup was finally filled. That one was for Theodore.
Slosh.
The second cup went to Gerald, who was helping me craft Theodore’s “curse tale.”
Carrying both cups, I first handed one to Gerald.
Respect your elders.
“This must be the witch’s brew, hmm?”
Gerald joked like an old man. I shook my head and handed the other to Theodore.
“Is this perhaps the sword crafted from the sticks of my future friends?”
“Yes. Drink up, Prince Maramara.”
Nearby, Theodore’s golden retriever — sprawled on the ground chewing sugarcane — looked on with envy.
“Hmph, Myo-myo would love this too.”
“Myo-myo shouldn’t drink this — it’s bad for her health.”
Ever since Theodore recovered and reunited with his friend, he had been clinging to him like a sticker.
“Hnnngh… I’ve been working so hard on the story that I can’t lift my arms anymore…”
Theodore pouted, dropping his pen onto the picture book filled with wobbly drawings. He was clearly demanding, Feed me.
He’d been at peak clinginess lately.
But only at times like this.
In reality, he was eating well, training hard at the drill yard, and studying diligently — all so he could grow up quickly and gain access to the secret library tower that only Jed and I used.
Fine. This stepmother will indulge you.
I helped him drink without spilling. After one sip, his red eyes turned into candy-shaped hearts.
Then, impatient, he slapped my hand away, grabbed the cup himself, and gulped it down.
“Wahaha! I, Theodore, demand one more cup!”
Gerald chimed in at once.
“I’ll have another as well!”
These people…
With a sigh, I stood and answered them politely.
“The first cup was a courtesy. From the second onward, those who want more may fetch it themselves. Everyone is working!”
I turned away and resumed my task.
Even the servants, after one sip, wore blissful faces as if they had tasted heaven.
“Now, pour these into molds and let them cool.”
We would first present sugar cubes, then later process the concentrate into powdered sugar.
“And Aden — this juice is acidic, so you’ll need to add lime to filter out impurities. Lime causes proteins, fats, and other residues to settle. Then boil the sap and run it through the evaporator; it’ll gradually thicken until crystals form. Sophia.”
Sophia followed my instructions and pulled out a round wooden disc with a long string running through it — a spinner.
I poured the extracted syrup into the symmetrical glass bottles and spun the string — whoooosh, whoooosh.
Everyone stared. Gerald and Theodore — who had been rushing for refills — stopped in their tracks.
I kept spinning, then finally stopped and revealed the crystallized sugar extracted from the syrup.
“Aden, can you make it like this? This is how sugar is refined.”
Admiration, wonder, and curiosity filled Aden’s face — then suddenly turned stormy.
“I can do it.”
“Nope. Jed — you have other duties with me. Division of labor, based on comparative advantage. Efficiency. I’ll give you a week. Aden, Sophia. Can you manage?”
Gerald tried to step in, but I cut him off quickly. Time was short for lifting the curse. Aden’s face turned pale.
“It will be tight, My Lady.”
But Sophia nodded firmly, lips pressed in determination. Meanwhile, the servants sipping sugarcane drinks let out collective sighs — “Hoo…”
“Two weeks.”
“Pardon?”
“No more. That’s all I can give. I’m counting on you.”
I patted Aden and Sophia on the shoulders.
Once sugar was complete, we’d have to make candy. So really, I was giving them an extra week for that.
No need to despair.
Once the sugar’s done, I’ll teach them how to make candy.
The age of conquering palates with chemistry was dawning soon.
(Next section)
My heart pounded.
I hadn’t slept well.
Trying to prepare the biggest annual festival in the Beatria Empire — the Demonic Realm Victory Commemoration Subjugation Ceremony — in such a short time was madness.
Before the male nobles and knights departed for the Demonic Realm, the Imperial Palace would host a grand farewell banquet.
It was tradition — a morale boost before warriors set off with full bellies and joyful spirits. Come dawn, they would follow the former Emperor Julius across the Terrion River and into war.
While the men crossed the river to hunt in triumph, the women and children would gather in large designated tents to pray for their safe return.
In the past Demonic War, those tents had served as rear support camps, where noblewomen and children would treat the injured and prepare supplies.
Which meant — I would have to meet countless noblewomen and their children inside those tents.
And since Sylhezen Castle was branded a cursed fortress, I would be Theodore’s shield against their judgment.
To capture the hearts of noble ladies and win allies — to earn even the simplest trust and favor — etiquette lessons could no longer be delayed.
The Owens never taught Sinclair any such refinement.
No matter how far I dug through her memories, the only etiquette she knew was barely enough to get through her wedding ceremony without disgrace.
I never imagined I’d have to cram-learn proper court manners like this.
Gerald and the demon never left the remote Caricas Territory in the original story.
The demon was practically imprisoned in Sylhezen, killing his stepmother at ten, Gerald at sixteen, then vanishing beyond the Terrion River into the Demonic Realm.
For them to appear at public events meant the original storyline was already changing.
Which meant —
Our future might just have a green light.
So, I wanted the world to see Theodore exactly as he was now — positive, kind, shining bright — without prejudice or preconception.
And for that, I — who had never once attended a proper ball — could not afford to become an embarrassment at his side.
As Theodore’s mother, and Gerald’s wife — I would be graceful. I would be magnificent.
At last, the parlor door opened.
She entered — far more elegant than her novel description — like a lily of the valley in full bloom.
Countess Grace Marguerite.
She was a Professor of Healing Arts at the Academy — and had even earned her noble title through merit. Her lineage was impeccable.
Her etiquette — taught directly by her grandmother, Princess Dorimia — made her one of the most influential figures in high society.
“It is an honor, Your Grace.”
Her smile arched gracefully like a goddess from a painting. My prepared greeting melted like mist.
Hands clasped in prayer, lips curled inward, I stared in awe.
Marguerite’s ebony hair was arranged high with volume, fastened with diamond stars. Her pale face and red lips shone like a flower in bloom — but her broad forehead and calm brown eyes gave her the air of a dignified scholar.
“It is a pleasure. I am Sinclair von Zeyer. Thank you for coming all this way.”
“It is I who should thank you. Not just anyone is allowed into Sylhezen Castle, after all.”
She glanced around the hall.
Despite being a parlor, the stone-gray walls were decorated with various spears and bows. Beyond the light blue windows, the Terrion River shimmered quietly.
“They say it’s built from mana stone — but it doesn’t look much different.”
“True beauty often hides in simplicity.”
Sylhezen Castle was famed for never falling under demonic attack — even its windows would not shatter easily. It was the Empire’s greatest stronghold in conquering the Demonic Realm.
But in the original story, it became the impenetrable demon fortress that helped annihilate the Empire.
In war or crisis — it was the safest place of all.
That was Sylhezen’s charm.
“Would you follow me?”
I led her toward the table where refreshments were prepared.
She walked with both hands folded gracefully near her abdomen. With every step, sunlight rippled across her skirt like shattered glass.
Like a swan gliding across still water.
A maid came to pull out her chair. Marguerite nodded slightly to her and sat.
Then her gaze drifted toward the three-tier serving tray. Her brown eyes glittered.
But that was all.
I didn’t expect a round of applause like a seal show, but… that was rather lukewarm.
Haaah. So food alone isn’t enough to tempt noble ladies?
Suddenly, I feared all the delights I had prepared would turn to dust.
