Summer days in the capital were generally dry. Late spring had taken away all the remaining droplets in the air, and a cloudless blue sky stretched out. Unless a storm that had swollen over the sea came, such clear days continued for a whole week.

The summer daytime temperature was high, but thanks to the dryness, it was bearable if one avoided the hot sunlight well. That’s why in the well-maintained streets of the capital, long lines of shade awnings appeared in summer. When a sea breeze blew under the deeply cast shadows, it could even feel quite cool.

But of course, not all streets were kind to pedestrians. Women carried parasols of various colors. Even if very poor, they had to wear at least a wide-brimmed hat woven from straw.

Men also occasionally used colorless parasols that were close to umbrellas. However, the prejudice that a man who couldn’t endure the sun was weak still remained, so many endured until their faces turned tan.

“Won’t Serena be hot too?”

Radilt asked worriedly while feeding sugar cubes to the mare. Since it was difficult to use a parasol while riding a horse, she wore a light, wide-brimmed hat. Of course, she had brought a parasol separately.

“Don’t worry, madam. Serena’s ancestors lived in the deserts of the central continent. She’s very strong against heat, so the weather here is close to spring for her.”

Radilt nodded, saying that was a relief, at Old Peshu’s kind explanation.

“However, she’s weak to cold, so in winter, you need to dress her and reinforce the stable. Also, on cold days, she should only move enough not to sweat. If her body gets wet, she easily catches a cold.”

“I see. I’ll leave her in your care, sir.”

After exchanging greetings with the cat Hati, Radilt mounted Serena.

With the start of summer, Langfiel’s workshop’s start time had been moved slightly earlier. The closing time was also pushed back to work longer, but in exchange, the workshop would close for about a week during the hottest middle part of summer.

During that period, the week of heat wave, other shops also rested for at least three days.

“Let’s go, Serena.”

Hooves clacked on the road. The morning sunlight was still gentle, and the dry air was pleasantly warm. In about an hour, it would heat up enough to burn.

“Hello, Lady Brill.”

A passing neighbor greeted Radilt. As they say humans are creatures of adaptation, now even in this street, the sight of Radilt riding a horse was accepted as an ordinary part of daily life. Envious gazes still fell upon her, but curious onlookers had disappeared. Thanks to this, Radilt also felt somewhat more at ease.

They would still gossip behind her back, but not seeing or hearing it made a difference. Radilt could be satisfied with that much.

‘Mother-in-law is also quiet.’

Just yesterday she had complained about how long she would have to walk on two feet with her aged body. She seemed to be hinting that she wanted Radilt to get a carriage from Pendlore, or at least a couple more horses.

Of course, Radilt pretended not to understand. Ending with just a few such grumblings was a peaceful daily life.

She arrived at Langfiel’s workshop along the now familiar road. After giving an eye greeting to the slightly tilted sign, she led Serena into the stable. Even after entering the workshop, Saldat was still nowhere to be seen.

‘He seems to be coming later and later……’

Two days ago, he had arrived even later than Master Philip and was scolded. Not only was he being lazy, but he was also making mistakes he hadn’t made before. There seemed to be a faint smell of alcohol as well.

‘Why does he hate me so much?’

While changing into work clothes and starting to organize the workshop, Radilt tilted her head curiously. She could understand his antipathy toward someone who had entered using the Count Duston connection. That’s why she had moderately overlooked his rudeness on the first day.

But if one diligently works and begins to gain recognition, if one proves that they have sufficient ability to be there, shouldn’t the initial antipathy disappear? However, the more Radilt tried, the more Saldat bristled with hostility.

It would be understandable if they were in a competitive relationship where only one could remain, but that wasn’t the case.

Master Philip emphasized that we are both craftsmen and merchants, so cooperation outside the workshop is essential, stressing the bond as people from the same workshop. He said that there are many merchants who try to exploit craftsmen, so we must stick together to protect what is ours.

‘Why is that person so prickly?’

He already had the good opportunity of being an apprentice to an outstanding craftsman, and if he just put in the effort, he wouldn’t have to worry about making a living at the very least. Even if he couldn’t enter Blue Runiel Street, it wouldn’t be difficult to set up a decent perfume shop. Even if not his own shop, he could easily find work anywhere, so why.

‘I wish he would change his mind even now.’

She didn’t want things to end on uneasy terms with Saldat. For her own sake as well, she wished for a good conclusion.

However.

“Has that Saldat not shown up today either? Without even contacting us?”

Even long after Philip and the two apprentices entered the workshop, Saldat still hadn’t appeared. Philip wore a bitter expression, though he said it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“……I’m sorry, sir.”

Since it was ultimately due to her influence, Radilt bowed her head to Philip. Philip waved his hand, saying it wasn’t necessary.

“It’s not your fault. If he runs away just because he fell behind a junior who came in late, he would have broken eventually even without you, Radilt. There are surprisingly many geniuses in this wide world.”

It’s a world where many are already born with abundant talent, and they continue to appear.

“How can one move forward if they fear and hate every such wall? Jealousy is fine. If it ignites competitive spirit and leads to effort, nothing could be better. But Saldat.”

Tsk, tsk, tsk, a low tongue sound was heard.

“He thought he’d win if he tore down the wall in front of him. The most foolish thing in the world. But since he was afraid of Count Duston and tucked his tail without harming you…… should I say it’s fortunate?”

Whatever the case, Philip said it wasn’t her fault. Saldat had collapsed on his own. Radilt bowed her head respectfully.

“Should I go look for him?”

Apprentice Slord suggested. Philip shook his head.

“No need. We’ll wait about a week, and if he doesn’t crawl back on his own, that’s the end of it. If he appears after cooling his head and changing his mind, that’s good.”

Philip let out a big sigh, saying he wouldn’t question the wrongdoing in that case. In any case, it couldn’t help but be painful to have an apprentice who had been with him for over a year possibly run away.

“More importantly, Radilt.”

“Yes, sir.”

“As I mentioned before, I’ll test you. You said you learned basic perfume composition under Lushen Sentangs.”

Radilt nodded with a trembling heart.

“Yes. But much time has passed, so both my memory and hands will have dulled.”

“As if they could be duller than an old man’s fingertips.”

Philip gestured for Radilt to follow him. The place he headed was the perfume composition room, where apprentices without sufficient experience couldn’t enter.

“I can’t spare separate time to empty this place for you. But in the morning and afternoon, during the time when the workshop is being organized, you’ll be alone.”

While Philip and the other two apprentices went shopping, while she had to leave early to clean up.

“During that remaining time, you may use the composition room.”

“……!”

Radilt’s eyes widened. Befitting a famous craftsman second to none, Philip’s composition room was equipped with all sorts of precious equipment.

Tubes delicately drawn from high-purity glass, paper made from the stems of Boernen from the cleanest waterside, tweezers and scissors made of pure silver, lamps that could maintain a constant temperature, and countless other items of inestimable value.

That’s why security was also thorough for the largest composition room in this workshop. The walls built with thick stones were difficult to break, and the small windows had thick bars with sturdy wooden shutters interwoven with iron plates. The door was the same. It had double bars with wooden and iron doors layered.

Philip carried the key, and occasionally entrusted it to Ger, who had served the master for a long time.

To think he would open such a composition room to her.

“Ah, but I……”

“In exchange, you must not leave any trace of clumsiness, either in the morning or afternoon. If you handle even one instrument carelessly, I will immediately take back the key.”

“Then…… the key……”

Philip nodded with a hearty laugh.

“Well, if there’s a problem, Count Duston would surely provide ample compensation.”

It was a decision he couldn’t easily make for other apprentices due to compensation issues, but behind Radilt stood Pendlore Duston. A man of wealth who could easily make ten more of those gold-plated composition rooms and still have plenty left.

At those words, Radilt hesitated. She was concerned about the possibility of causing harm to Pendlore. But.

“I will be extremely careful without the slightest mistake.”