Volume 5 - CH 2.2

6-7 minutes

Chapter 5-2 : Suspicious Guest (part 2)

Noticing the three of us giggling after seeing his bald head, Prince Ferik glanced up at us.

「What’s the matter?」(Ferik)

「N… Nothing…」(Sarasa)

「Is that so?」(Ferik)

We held our stomachs as hard as we could, trying not to burst into laughter.

Howeverー

「Oops.」(Ferik)

ーwhen the three of us took a seat on the sofa, Prince Felik dropped his hat from his lap.

When he bowed forward, trying to reach his hat on the floor, we could see his bald head even clearer.

「Pfff… Pwahahaha!」(Iris)

「Hey, Iris! Pfftt…!!」(Kate)

Iris-san couldn’t hold it anymore and burst into laughter.

However, Kate-san and I didn’t have the right to blame her because the two of us were barely able to hold our laughter.

It was definitely Prince Ferik’s fault for having such an odd hairstyle!

Realizing what she has done, Iris-san immediately kneeled and bowed her head deeply. She knew that laughing at the royal family members can be punished.

Kate-san and I could only watch her with pale faces.

「Y, Your Highness, please forgive me! I didn’t mean to laugh at you! If you want to punish me, please punish me alone. I’m the only one to blame. The Lotze Family has nothing to do withー」(Iris)

「ーBwahahaha! Aaah~ Finally someone burst into laughter!」(Ferik)

「…Eh?」(Iris)

When Iris-san tried to apologize, Prince Ferik suddenly laughed. He then took his hat and put it next to him.

The three of us looked at each other with confused faces. We couldn’t tell if this person was mad or not.

「Hahaha…! Please don’t worry about it. I can understand. Even I, myself, found that my head is funny. You can laugh more if you want.」(Ferik)

「N, No… I wouldn’t dare to laugh at you again…」(Iris)

While laughing, Prince Ferik waved his hand at iris-san, who was still confused, telling her that it was fine.

Now that I learned we wouldn’t get punished, I thought Kate-san and I should apologize as well even though we didn’t burst into laughter.

「Your Highness, please forgive us too for giggling.」(Sarasa)

「We didn’t mean to make fun of your hair.」(Kate)

「It’s alright. At least you guys tried not to laugh, unlike Nord. He laughed like a maniac as soon as I took my hat off in front of him.」(Ferik)

「Nord…? Do you mean Nordrad Evans?」(Sarasa)

「Yes. The reason why I came to your store is that he recommended it to me. He said that you’re a talented alchemist, Miss Sarasa Feed.」(Ferik)

「I see.」(Sarasa)

I never thought that Nord-san was an acquaintance of a royal family member…

「You are Miss Iris Lotze, right? It’s hard to talk with you if you’re kneeling on the floor like that. You can sit down on the sofa.」(Ferik)

「Ah, thank you, Your Highness.」(Iris)

Iris-san slowly stood up and took a seat next to me.

After confirming that we were relaxed and were able to talk without any pressure, Prince Ferik continued talking.

「Miss Sarasa, you may have guessed the reason why I came here.」(Ferik)

「Umm… Is it because you want me to do something about your balー I mean… your head that doesn’t have much hair?」(Sarasa)

I was about to say “bald” but then I thought of the words to describe his head that didn’t hurt his feelings.

「Hahaha! You can just say bald. I don’t mind! But, you’re right. Miss Sarasa, I want you to make a potion that can grow hair permanently. Can you do it for me?」(Ferik)

「If that’s what you want, I think I can help you.」(Sarasa)

There’s a potion called “Hair Growth Agent” in the Encyclopedia of Alchemy volume 5.

As the name suggests, it’s a potion to grow hair, and since it’s listed in volume 5, it’s possible for me to make it.

Actually, the main ingredient to make this potion can be collected in this season. Strangely enough, it’s very good timing to collect them.

We were looking for the perfect materials to collect in winter a while ago, and I think we should start with this one.

The material is called “Misanon Root”. They can be harvested in any season, but only those that are harvested in winter can be used as the main ingredient to make Hair Growth Agents.

In other words, it’s the perfect season for people who need Hair Growth Agents. It’s not strange at all if someone came to my store to order them. Unless… this one is from the royal family. Moreover, he seems to be a prince…

「Your Highness, may I ask something?」(Sarasa)

「Of course.」(Ferik)

「I know that Nord-san recommended my store to you but… Wouldn’t it be better if you just order a Hair Growth Agent in an alchemist store in the royal capital? I’m sure there are many alchemists who can make them there. You don’t have to go all the way from the royal capital to this remote village just to order a Hair Growth Agent, right?」(Sarasa)

「So you say, I could have just stayed in the royal capital and ordered it from an alchemist store there? For example, your master’s shop?」(Ferik)

「Eh? Do you know my master?」(Sarasa)

「Ophelia Millis, isn’t it? Most of the people in the royal capital know her.」(Ferik)

I know that Master is an amazing person. It’s not strange that royal family members know her.

As a matter of course, Master is way better at alchemy than me. There’s a world of difference between our skills.

I think Prince Ferik should have just come to Master’s store and ordered it from her instead of traveling all the way to this village and ordering it from me.

Master helped me a lot when I wanted to rescue Iris-san and the others from the cave, so if she told me to get her some Misanon Roots to make a Hair Growth Agent, I would gladly do that.

I wonder why Prince Ferik chose me instead of Master…

Master sometimes declines the orders from nobles she hates, but I don’t think Prince Ferik chose me because she declined his request.

Prince Ferik doesn’t seem like a bad person who deserved to be hated after all.

Does he have another reason why he didn’t order a Hair Growth Agent from Master or any other alchemists in the royal capital…?