A Glass of Wine

"Milady, I don't think it's advisable for you to do this."

"Shut up Margret, I know what I'm doing!"

It is a typical day for milady when she considers doing the most outlandish thing imaginable to be 'normal' and that she 'got this' despite the fact that history on similar manners have proven to be the opposite.

I am merely a servant of the Lawrance household, I do not hold the power to rightfully tie Milady down and make her behave like a good girl. I sometimes wish the master would have given me the permission to do so already because of how often these kinds of occurrence happen. I didn't want to bother the master again and tell him his daughter is wreaking havoc once more.

I ended up standing near the wall far away from milady and her shenanigans, and I sighed at the all-too-familiar sight. She's trying to perform alchemy again. On her desk she's tinkering with all the expensive equipment while muttering to herself some chemical formulas.

My goodness, at least do it in your laboratory. You're still in your bedroom and in your pajamas milady…

I couldn't watch any longer as my fear of something wrong about to happen may come true. In fact, I could confidently say something will definitely go wrong.

I began slowly walking over towards the door, and just as my hands were about to reach the handle, I was interrupted by something quite unexpected.

"It's done!" shouts milady.

I tensed up my body as I instinctively looked at the direction of milady. Worried sick, I quickly ran away from the door and over to milady to check and see which place she had gotten an injury this time.

"Milady! Show me your wounds!"

"Oh come on Margret, I didn't get hurt this time. I successfully finished what I was doing without an accident."

"...Without accident… But how…?"

"Please, I'm not that bad at alchemy. I've actually studied pretty hard you know?"

She reassured me with that last reply as she drew a wide confident grin on her face.

"Anyway, What I wanted to make… Was this!"

Her right hand brought about a small shiny item that could be seen in accessory stores. It was a beautifully crafted ring.

"You see here, I was combining and melting down a lot of metals to get the right combination for a perfect material for the ring. I'm not a blacksmith, so I couldn't get the exact shape I wanted, unlike a black smith, I didn't need to use hammers, isn't that cool?"

So Milady had been studying there the past few days to make a ring it seems. For a beginner, this ring was forged excellently, though I admit there were some rough parts around the edges.

"Enough of that… Here, Margret, Happy late birthday!"

"Eh…?"

I was taken back with her last remark that I forgot to breathe for a moment.

"I'm really sorry I couldn't do it yesterday. I was so busy studying that I never had the chance to give it to you. I wanted to give you something grander, something more extravagant, but this is all I can create for now and I wanted to give it to you as soon as possible, sorry. I hope you'll accept this lame gift…"

Milady quickly frowned, saddened by her own lack of knowledge in alchemy, but it was fine. For the past few days, I have indeed observed Milady studying on her own in the mansion library or in her room. But I never would have thought it was all for me.

"That's alright Milady, I shall graciously accept this wonderful gift."

"You will?!"

Milady quickly regains her cheery and easy going mood she was known for. Seeing her bright smile at my acceptance was worth more than money could ever count.

"Yaaay! Happy late Birthday Margret!"

She energetically jumps up and down in her bedroom, still in her pajamas. It truly wasn't the sight you'd expect to see the daughter of a renowned family to be doing. But that doesn't matter right now.

Milady, the daughter who was once known to be a troublemaker among her siblings. Milady, the girl who was once an outcast in the alchemy community for her lack of ability to grasp even the basics.

That same girl who I had spent my entire life spending with had now grown slightly from the girl she was once. I wouldn't forget all the times you had caused me trouble with the family, I wouldn't forget the times you refused to listen to me and my advice.

I could not put aside all those bad memories of us together, your bad deeds still far exceed your good ones.

But just this once,

This one time, the first time ever, I will say it to you deep inside my heart and I truly mean every word of it.

Thank you, Milady. Thank you for making this wonderful gift for me.