Under Maria's skeptical gaze, the old alchemist smoothly changed the subject. “What I wanted to show you is this.”

He pulled out an object wrapped in a black cloth from a corner and unveiled it.

It was a mirror — a glass mirror, no less. The mirror stood as tall as half a person and was mounted in a metal frame that gleamed golden as if it had been cast from gold.

“This is the aluminum mirror I crafted according to the materials you provided. Honestly, it wasn’t easy to find glass this size. I made this one specifically for you, dear Duchess.”

Though an experimenter at heart, old Rudolf...