Soap? She picked up a piece and sniffed it.
"Indeed, it's hard to imagine it was just a sticky paste before being crafted. Your Highness even added perfume to infuse it with fragrance." Mei instinctively glanced at the price tag on the paper. Twenty-five silver wolves per bar was considered luxury, but compared to the more expensive perfume, this price was clearly set too low. "Are you sure it's perfume? During my performances in the Royal Capital, Noble Lords once gifted me three bottles—each thumb-sized yet priced at over five golden dragons. A large bar of soap like this should have at least half a bottle's worth, right?" "Really?" Carter was taken aback. "Perfume is actually this expensive?" "Of course," Mei shot him a glare. "It's one of the most prized products of the Royal Capital Alchemy Association. Apart from crystal glass, perfume is their best-selling item. I heard that only about a thousand bottles reach the market each year, excluding those presented to the royal family. Only upper-class Nobles and wealthy merchants can afford such luxuries. If it weren't for a gift, I wouldn't have spent several theater performances 'fees on a single bottle." "But I don't see Your Highness using any rare materials when crafting perfume... He mentioned sugarcane, right?" Carter added, noticing Mei's puzzled expression. "Sugarcane is sweet cane, a crop from the fjords that grows like a stick and tastes like sweet water when chewed." "Currently, only the castle's backyard is planted. Next time, I'll ask Your Highness if I can bring one back." Once again, Your Royal Highness... Ever since Mei arrived in the town, Roland Wimbledon's name has been the most frequently mentioned. Both Irene and Carter invariably mention him when discussing the town's transformations. It seems Your Highness knows everything, and all these novel developments were his creations.
Could there truly be such a polymath in this world? She doubted it. Even the wisest minds require time to absorb new knowledge. In both the capital and the Changge Fortress, the esteemed scholars were invariably elderly men with silver hair. The western folk even say: 'The longer the beard, the greater the wisdom.' Prince himself was barely twenty—how could he possibly know so much?
Though he thought this, Mei's face remained as radiant as ever. "No need. If it could be used to make perfume, it would undoubtedly be a highly prized crop. Especially perfume formulas—any alchemy workshop would sell them at astronomical prices. Never ask Your Highness about it, and even if you see it, never mention it." "Alright," Carter replied, pulling out a handkerchief and wrapping the four soaps inside.
"Are you buying this much?" "The maximum limit is two pieces per person. We'll pretend to buy separately and give you both after we leave—don't argue right now," Knight cut off Mei's words. "I can apply to Your Highness if I run out, but if these sell out, who knows when new stock will arrive. Keep these four—you'll have plenty of time." Mei's eyes burned with intensity as she stared at Knight's serious expression. "A long time?" She pursed her lips, fell silent, and watched him carefully wrap the soap.
Since you're here, why not check out the other items?" he said with a smile, picking up the cloth bag.
...
Back at the 'home' in Border Town, the window revealed a dim, yellowish light.
The fading sunset filtered through the window, painting the furnishings inside the room with a warm orange-red hue.
After staying here to perform in subsequent plays, May also secured a room identical to Irene's. Though modest in size, it was fully equipped with all necessary amenities.
She placed the novelty items she had bought from the convenience store on the table, along with four bars of soap and a bottle of wine.
This bottle of liquor differs from the common wheat wine and grape wine found in taverns, as it is nearly colorless and transparent, indistinguishable from water. The product description states that this is referred to as baijiu (Chinese liquor), which has a higher alcohol concentration and should not be consumed excessively.
Baijiu, she smiled. The name really fits the appearance.
After removing the wooden stopper, Mei poured herself a glass. As she raised the cup, a pungent odor hit her nose, making her frown. Yet as the smell faded, a delicate aroma of wine wafted into her nostrils—sweet and mellow, distinctly different from the cheaply diluted liquor found in taverns.
Since acting demands total immersion and intense focus, she rarely frequents bars. Only after a play's success would she join in the theater's celebratory drinks. While the tipsy state wasn't entirely unpleasant, having witnessed countless actors lose composure when drunk, she always kept her drinking within limits that preserved her mental clarity.
Yet now, Mei felt an overwhelming urge to get drunk. Otherwise, she wouldn't have bought that expensive bottle of baijiu despite Carter's warnings. Other actors said that when drunk, one could block out distractions and worries, revealing the true answer deep within. She wanted to give it a try.
Mei closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and poured the wine from the cup into her mouth. Instantly, a burning sensation exploded in her throat, and the unswallowed wine gushed out. Her violent coughing caused her to choke up with tears.
Damn, is this really alcohol?
When the burning sensation completely subsided, she bit her lip and tried again—this time, she dared only to swallow in small bites. After the initial heat, a rich, mellow flavor emerged, blending the two tastes. It wasn't particularly delicious, but it gave her a peculiar sensation.
Just over thirty minutes later, Mei felt a wave of dizziness surge through her.
She pulled a fist-sized iron box from her pocket. When she opened the lid, a gleaming mirror stood before her. Unlike ordinary bronze or silver mirrors, this one had a flawless surface that reflected her with crystal clarity—evidently a valuable piece. Through the mirror, Mei could see her flushed cheeks and her eyes, now vacant and lost in thought.
This was the gift Chief Knight had given her at their parting. She had intended to refuse, but he turned and walked away without even giving her a chance to push him back. As he strode off, he turned to wave goodbye. To be honest, Carter Lannis was the epitome of perfection when he stayed silent, but if he weren't such a chatterbox, she probably wouldn't have been able to hold him back.
So, should she settle down here? Far from the bustling city, she chose to start anew in this remote town, with only a handful of crew members aware of her true identity... The fear of the unknown made it hard for her to make up her mind.
May unrolled the letter that had been on the table for days—delivered to her by Your Royal Highness through Irene, addressed to Perro, the fortress's manager. The letter revealed that the fortress theater had declared itself missing, and Perro himself had requested her return to continue performing.
Your Royal Highness has made no secret of this decision, having entrusted the choice to himself.
Mei drank the remaining wine in the cup in one gulp, and her vision gradually became blurred.
She wobbled to her desk, spread out a sheet of paper, and began writing her reply.
Amidst a whirl of overlapping thoughts, she glimpsed the Fortress Theatre, Ailin, and Filing Hilt, then the town square where cheers erupted, and finally those third-rate actors who were utterly enthralled... But all faded away, leaving only Carter Lannis' image in her mind—his lips curling into a smile as he extended an invitation to her.
"Hello, Miss May. May I have a drink with you?"