chapter 8
"Pine fruit, pine fruit, pine... Found it!"
[Pine Fruit]
A small fruit that grows on pine trees and is used as an ingredient in certain antidotes.
When its juice is extracted and applied to the skin, it brightens and smooths the complexion...
"If it's used not only for detoxification but also for skincare, then it can definitely be added to soap."
Hystia curled the corners of her lips and immediately resumed acting like an eight-year-old child.
"Mom, Mom."
"Just a moment. Mommy is in the middle of a conversation."
"Isn't this the thing the old lady next door used all the time?"
"Tia, I told you not to interrupt when adults are talking—"
Anna had been about to scold Hystia, but the moment she saw the pine fruit described in the book Hystia was pointing at, she fell silent.
"...Pine fruit. That's right, we had this! Jerome! What do you think about using this fruit instead of medicinal herbs?"
Jerome carefully reread the description.
"An antidote ingredient... and it's already being used for skincare. Yes, I think it's possible."
A bright smile appeared on his face. Anna grew excited as well and immediately rushed out of the office, determined to obtain some pine fruit.
Jerome continued reading the entry and muttered quietly,
"...Is this a coincidence too?"
He turned his gaze toward Hystia.
She flinched and awkwardly began whistling.
"Wow, tying ribbons is so fun..."
She folded scraps of wrapping paper however she pleased, trying her best to look like a normal eight-year-old.
Even so, Jerome couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Young Lady."
"Y-Yes?"
His unusually low voice made her tense up.
"As soon as we finish making pine fruit soap, we plan to have people use it."
"...And?"
"How is it that every time we need guidance, you always give exactly the right advice?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Jerome smiled faintly at her feigned ignorance.
"I heard from the lord and lady. You're the one who suggested redesigning the scented soap packaging, aren't you? And this packaging design was your idea as well."
Did my parents really tell him all that?
No... they're probably just doting parents.
Hystia had never stepped forward directly. She only offered hints and suggestions so others could arrive at conclusions themselves.
Until now, nobody had ever found her behavior strange or suspicious.
"Young Lady, one or two times can be dismissed as coincidence. But after three times, it stops being a coincidence."
Until now, at least.
"Tia doesn't understand difficult words."
"...It seems you still don't trust me."
Jerome bent down regretfully to meet her eye level.
Hystia subtly shuffled backward.
"I'll back off for now. But if we meet again next time, I'd like us to have an honest conversation."
"..."
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone else."
Jerome smiled knowingly.
"Jerome! I brought some pine fruit!"
"Ah, it seems the Lady has returned. I'll see you again next time."
Jerome left the room.
Hystia hurried to the window and watched him speaking with Anna outside.
"...What should I do?"
For the first time since her regression, she had met someone who suspected her.
"Hahaha! I told you our daughter is a blessing! Where else could there be such a smart and beautiful daughter?"
"Ohoho! Tia, if there's anything you want, just tell Mommy! I'll buy it all for you!"
The reason Hystia was currently being showered with affection by her parents was simple.
The pine fruit soap she had hinted at three weeks ago had shown outstanding results in clinical testing.
People suffering from cosmetic poisoning were given pine fruit soap, and within a week, their rashes disappeared.
Not only that, but even people without side effects experienced brighter skin tones and reductions in various skin troubles after using it.
In short, it had become a massive hit product capable of attracting both people suffering from cosmetic toxicity and those simply interested in skincare.
"This won't do! We need to tell the Duke about the effects of pine fruit right away!"
"Exactly! If pine fruit is added to the treatment, it will definitely show clear results."
There was only one small disappointment.
It couldn't restore the health of people who had been poisoned by cosmetics for too long.
After all, soap was soap—it wasn't medicine.
Still, having discovered pine fruit's effectiveness, Anna and her husband hurried out of the office to get to work.
"They'll probably start production soon."
The scented soap hadn't officially launched yet.
But now that clinical testing had confirmed the pine fruit soap's effects, multiple fragrances had been prepared, and the new packaging was ready.
It wouldn't be long before the products hit the market.
Hehehe... Finally!
Hystia stared greedily at the final samples laid out before her.
"Now I'm rich!"
Mwahahaha!
She couldn't stop laughing like an idiot.
But who could blame her?
She knew exactly how much profit these products would generate!
Without realizing it, Hystia began doing a strange little dance in place, wiggling her hips.
"My precious babies...!"
As she celebrated while admiring the various new products—
"Ahem!"
Jerome was suddenly standing in the doorway.
Hystia froze solid.
Her face gradually turned red.
"...I didn't see anything."
She didn't know how much he'd witnessed, but embarrassment flooded over her.
As she awkwardly hid behind the sofa, Jerome burst out laughing.
"Young Lady, don't worry. There's nobody here except me."
"So you did see everything!"
"Ah, there you are."
Before she knew it, Jerome had already walked over to the sofa.
Hystia glared at him.
But seeing his cheerful smile, she could only sigh.
"Mom and Dad went out."
"I know. That's why I came."
His meaningful answer made her tilt her head in confusion.
Then Jerome helped the crouching Hystia onto the sofa and handed her something.
"It's chocolate. Would you like some?"
"W-What? Chocolate?!"
Hystia swallowed hard as she stared at the sweet-smelling treat.
"...This is expensive. Where did you get it?"
"The lord gave me a bonus for helping develop the new products. I bought this for you, so please have some."
Her eyes narrowed sharply.
He bought chocolate that's almost as expensive as cake just for me?
No way.
He's definitely plotting something.
"Go on. I went to some trouble to get it."
Jerome held the chocolate out toward her.
Hystia eyed him suspiciously.
Hmph. Does he think I'll fall for such an obvious trick? Not a chance. My body may be eight years old, but mentally I'm over thirty.
So I definitely won't be swayed—
Gulp.
Despite her rational mind protesting with all its strength, her mouth watered instinctively and her eyes began to soften.
Seeing Hystia unconsciously opening her mouth while staring at the chocolate, Jerome quickly popped it in.
"Mmm!"
"How is it? Delicious, right? I bought it specially from the neighboring village."
"...It's tasty."
How can something this delicious exist?
Before her regression, Hystia had spent years living in poverty.
Even buying a single slice of cake required careful consideration.
Because of that, she'd always dreamed about expensive desserts.
Even after regressing, she had avoided such luxuries because of her family's financial situation.
And now—
The chocolate she tasted for the first time was pure bliss.
"Ah, it's gone."
As she lamented the chocolate that had already melted away, Jerome handed her the entire box.
Her eyes sparkled.
"You can have all of it."
"Really? You're giving it all to me?"
"Of course. I told you I bought it for you."
"...Thank you!"
Jerome is actually a good person!
The Hystia who had once been wary of him had completely surrendered to chocolate.
As she popped another piece into her mouth and happily kicked her feet, Jerome finally spoke.
"Young Lady, what should I develop next?"
"...Develop?"
"Yes. I have a feeling you'd have some excellent ideas."
The sweetness vanished from her mouth.
Instead, a bitter taste spread through her.
Swallowing the chocolate, Hystia stared at him nervously.
"...Shouldn't you figure that out yourself? Why are you asking me?"
"Because I believe you possess an extraordinary gift."
"An extraordinary... what?"
Despite her baffled expression, Jerome continued seriously.
"Everyone else says things simply worked out by luck. But everything began with you, didn't it?"
Hystia inwardly flinched.
"The scented soap. The pine fruit. The new packaging design. Even discovering the toxic ingredients in the cosmetics. I heard all of it started because of you."
His expression showed not suspicion but certainty.
After a moment's thought, Hystia sighed.
"What are you trying to say?"
"You attract gold. Everything that passes through those little hands gains tremendous value."
"Haha... Isn't that a bit much?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Even when she acted like a clueless child, Jerome remained serious.
"They say true geniuses stand out from an early age. It seems the others haven't realized how brilliant you are yet."
So Jerome didn't see her as a lucky child blessed with fortune.
He saw her as the genius behind everything.
As expected of the Father of Soap.
There was a reason he would one day become famous throughout the Empire and invent countless innovative cosmetics.
He had remarkable insight.
But all I've really done is repeat things the future Jerome already created...
"Even the smallest thing is fine. If you ever think of a good idea, or if there's something you can't tell the other adults, tell me."
"...Don't you think I'm strange?"
"What do you mean?"
"Normally people would think it's just a child saying things without understanding..."
To be honest, it would be a lie to say she wasn't tempted.
Jerome was openly extending a hand to her.
But first, she needed to know his true intentions.
So she deliberately acted like a child again.
Jerome knelt on one knee before her, bringing himself to eye level.
"What does age have to do with anything? You possess an extraordinary gift and can make full use of it. Frankly, I find it stranger that people refuse to acknowledge you simply because you're young."
His words pierced straight through her heart.
All the days she'd spent desperately trying not to appear abnormal flashed through her mind.
Maybe... I've wanted someone to recognize me all along.
Confronted with a desire she hadn't even realized she carried, Hystia let out a hollow laugh.