Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 1.24

“This is the color-changing rock. Its characteristic is that when held to the sun like this, the surface appears whitish.”

When Maderick held the fist-sized rock up to the sun, a white outline emerged around its edges. He handed the rock to Mariadoll, who was peering at it from beside him.

Between its rough texture and its color, it was no different from the stones scattered around the area. If she had to say anything, it felt somewhat heavier.

“Would you come to my workshop? I’ve laid out the color-changed stones.”

Maderick normally makes swords.

He used to use iron from the local mine, but after it was abandoned, he continued his blacksmithing by purchasing materials from merchants.

His skills are considerable – some knights specifically request him to make their swords.

The workshop he led them to wasn’t particularly spacious and was quite cluttered.

Perhaps because both men were well-built, it would be cramped with just four people.

On the workbench in the middle of the workshop were stones of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. In front of each was a small dish containing the stone ground into powder.

Mariadoll picked some up with her middle finger, rubbing it against her thumb to check its color development. The smooth powder seemed like it would dissolve well in either water or oil.

“Clemence, my bag please.”

“Understood. Maderick, could I have some water?”

“There’s some I drew this morning in the water pitcher – will this do?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Clemence was moving about cheerfully, probably because he was interested in the rocks.

He’d been stealing glances at them, so he must have been quite curious, though he seemed to be restraining himself from touching them out of consideration for Jerf.

Mariadoll took out small dishes from her bag.

There were twelve in total, and she began placing each colored powder into two dishes. This created six colors across twelve dishes.

Clemence poured water into half of them, and transferred oil from a bottle he’d brought into the remaining dishes.

They used twelve brushes to prevent the colors from mixing, carefully blending each to achieve even coloration. Partway through, Jerf joined in too, looking bewildered as he said, “This might be my first time holding a paintbrush.”

“They mix quite nicely. It seems oil works as well as water.”

“Yeah. If anything, I think oil might be better.”

As for Clemence, he was already completely absorbed.

“My children also enjoy scribbling on wood scraps. Though it’s more like smearing than actual drawing.”

Feeling someone’s gaze, she turned to find two girls about five years old peeking in. They had identical faces.

“Hey, you two go over there.”

“Okaaay~”

Even their voices were the same.

“Were those the children who found the rocks in the abandoned mine? They seem quite young.”

“No, no, it was my thirteen-year-old eldest son. He and the neighborhood troublemakers got it into their heads that they might still find iron if they dug there. Well, it’s not uncommon around here. I suppose it’s the kind of romance every boy tries at least once.”

Judging by his laughter, such talk frequently circulated among the children, who would sneak into the abandoned mine only to get scolded by their parents.

Abandoned mines without human maintenance could collapse, and their interiors were maze-like and complex. Yet children treated them as playgrounds, so it must be genuinely worrying.

“I can understand the children’s feelings, but it might be better to block it with wood before any accidents happen.”

Jerf crossed his arms, his mouth forming a frown.

Though the bedrock was relatively hard, mines are dangerous places. Sometimes toxic gases can emerge.

While Jerf and Maderick discussed what to do about the abandoned mine, Mariadoll spread out a canvas.

She drew a horizontal line across the canvas with paint heavily saturated with red watercolor.

(Hmm, not bad)

Next, she drew similarly with the oil-dissolved version, and this too looked good.

Clemence, as if unable to wait any longer, picked up an orange paintbrush.

“Maderick, can you create colors between this orange and red too?”

“I can. But since the heat control is difficult, the color turns out slightly different each time.”

“I see.”

If they were to be used for painting, those subtle differences could become problematic.

As Mariadoll pondered this, Maderick pointed to the red stone.

“This color can be reproduced consistently. When you put the stone in the fire, it turns red after a while. It remains unchanged for about ten minutes, then begins shifting to orange and yellow after that time passes. So, creating exactly the same colors other than red might be difficult.”

Though this is just from an amateur’s perspective, he added while scratching his head.

(I’ve heard the swords Maderick makes are highly regarded among knights. The timing for striking iron should be guided by the color of the heated metal. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t be a complete amateur.)

And most importantly, this red is good.

Mariadoll looked at the line she had drawn first.

The same color as the dissolved version was drawn in a straight horizontal line across the canvas fabric. If it didn’t discolor over time, this could be usable, she thought as she lightly traced the dried paint with her finger.

“Clemence, once we’ve painted with all the colors, let’s put them in the sun. I want to see what happens as time passes.”

“Okay, got it. Wow, this blue is nice. I want to use it right now.”

The color he was slathering onto the canvas resembled a clear, bright blue summer sky.

“Even if we can’t make the same color consistently, I want this blue.”

“Then if we determine it can be used as paint, let’s ask Maderick if he’ll sell it to us.”

“No need for money. I can just have my son fetch some whenever.”

“That won’t do. If it might become a product, we’ll pay properly.”

“Maderick, do as Mariadoll wishes. By the way, could the blue be sold as a product too?”

“If the color changes subtly each time, there might be limited demand.”

To sell something as a product, you need to prepare a certain quantity with consistent quality.

Even if it could be sold as paint, it would likely start with the red color.

“That’s right, Maderick, can you make white?”

“White, you say?”

“Yes. There was no white among the rocks you prepared for us. What color does the rock become after the longest heating?”

“This one,” Maderick said, picking up the purple rock. The beautiful violet stone looked almost like a gem.

“What happens if you heat this further?”

“It turns pitch black. Like charcoal.”

“And if you heat that even more?”

“Huh? Even more? I’ve never tried that.”

Most people would think that once something burns black, that’s the end.

But Mariadoll was different.

“Then, could you try it for us? If it doesn’t change after being heated for the same duration as when it turned black, I’ll give up.”

“Well, I don’t mind doing that, but if we start now, it won’t be ready until tomorrow evening.”

“Could I ask you to do this? I’m sorry it will require an all-nighter, but we’ll pay. How much would it be?”

“Even if you ask how much…”

Maderick looked troubled as he glanced at Jerf.

There was a status difference between nobles and commoners – if ordered, commoners had to work without pay. Of course, if they were paying he wouldn’t refuse, but he didn’t know the market rate.

“How about three large silver coins?”

That was half a month’s food expenses for Maderick’s family of five.

“No, no, Lord Jerf, that’s too much.”

“Then upgrade today and tomorrow’s ingredients for us.”

“You’re already giving us plenty that way too.”

“Then, take care of maintaining my sword.”

Jerf handed over the sword at his waist – one made by Maderick’s master.

“Understood. Then I’ll finish both the rock and sword by tomorrow evening. Also, if I start heating the rock now, I can’t leave the workshop, so I’ll have my son deliver tonight’s ingredients. I apologize for the lack of propriety, but please overlook it.”

“Well, he’s enough of a troublemaker to go to the abandoned mine. But helping his parents means he’s good at heart.”

“Yes, recently he’s started showing interest in my work too.”

Maderick laughed happily, heh heh.

He looked proud as a father.

“…I’m jealous.”

“Huh? Haha, to hear such words from Lord Jerf. Lady Mariadoll, it seems Lord Jerf wants to become a father soon.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Though he normally brushed off such topics lightly, his tone was stiff.

When she looked up in surprise, his usually gentle face had tightened.

“Lord Jerf?”

“Ah, my apologies. It’s nothing. Well, Maderick, sorry to trouble you with this.”

When Jerf spoke with his usual smile, Maderick nodded.

Just as they were about to leave, a small hand went up.

“Mariadoll, I want to see the rock change color. And that ‘white’ you want is probably that ‘white,’ right? I could help determine that too.”

“That may be true, but it would be imposing on Maderick.”

“I don’t mind. Kid, you’ll be sleeping in this1.23 shed with just one blanket – is that okay?”

“Yeah, I promise I won’t be a bother.”

As Clemence tugged at Mariadoll’s skirt saying “Please?”, Mariadoll let out a wry smile.

Jerf shrugged, leaving the decision to Mariadoll.

“…Alright then. But you must behave well.”

“Okay. Maderick, while I wait, can I paint with the leftover paints?”

“Sure. If you’d like, you could play with my daughters too. They’d be delighted, and it would help my wife.”

(I see, so that’s part of the purpose too.)

Watching Clemence happily pull canvases from his bag, Mariadoll couldn’t help but smile wryly.