Wei Wei's previous bedroom was next to the lady's chamber, a room originally prepared for esteemed guests. Now that the esteemed guest had become the lady of the house, it was only natural for her to change rooms.
Fortunately, the castle staff hadn't moved her belongings while she was away, so the matter of changing rooms naturally became the priority to resolve.
However, according to noble etiquette, Wei Wei should have moved into the lady's chamber. But Felix, of course, would never agree to that—he insisted that Wei Wei live with him and refused to let them sleep separately.
Wei Wei, too, had no habit of living apart from her husband after marriage. With a wave of her hand, she moved most of her belongings into the lady's chamber for storage, but all her daily necessities were placed in the lord's bedroom. Felix, in turn, moved up from his original room downstairs, and the couple began living together.
The next morning, resisting the temptation to go back to sleep, Wei Wei got up early to prepare for boiling sugar.
The harvest season for beets was in mid-to-late October. Beets were a crop that could be stored long-term through winter, and countries in Western and Southern Europe had a long history of cultivating them. Their storage techniques were naturally advanced enough, and the beets Wei Wei had purchased from merchants were specifically stored until the coldest months to be sold. Since vegetables were scarce in the depths of winter, they fetched a higher price.
Thus, the several cartloads of beets Wei Wei had bought had cost quite a few gold coins. Originally, she hadn't planned to use these beets for sugar—she had bought them mainly to make natural dye for cosmetics like rouge and lipstick.
Among the plants she had cultivated herself were also sugar beets, which had a decent yield. However, since she hadn't planted many, the harvest wasn't particularly large.
Of course, her beets were of the sugar beet variety, with large, fleshy roots and high sugar content, quite different from the vegetable beets commonly grown in this era. If they were to be used for sugar extraction, her variety was far more suitable. She had originally planned to extract sugar from them in the spring to promote beet cultivation in Sardinson County—after all, wheat was a staple crop, and using it for sugar production wasn't a sustainable long-term solution.
But now that she had acquired more beets and had no shortage of raw materials, she no longer needed to trouble herself with retrieving the stored beets—she could simply use the newly purchased ones.
The process of extracting sugar from beets was straightforward. Wei Wei went to the room previously used for making malt sugar. Since sugar production had been paused, the room had been left unused. Upon learning that the lady of the house intended to use it, the servants had cleaned it overnight. By the time Wei Wei arrived, the large cauldrons inside had been scrubbed clean, firewood was neatly stacked by the stoves, and several slaves who had previously been responsible for boiling sugar stood by, awaiting her instructions.
Wei Wei glanced at the older slaves and saw that they were dressed warmly enough. Though their faces weren't particularly rosy, they looked healthy, indicating they were doing well. Satisfied, she didn't pay them further attention.
The slaves, however, were deeply grateful to their new mistress. Originally, the task of boiling sugar shouldn't have fallen to elderly slaves like them. Everyone who knew about the process believed it was a job requiring secrecy and thus should be assigned to more loyal and physically capable individuals. But Wei Wei had overruled their objections, arguing that boiling sugar didn't require much physical strength and was suitable for older slaves. Moreover, these elderly slaves had spent their entire lives in Sardinson Castle—their lives and livelihoods belonged entirely to the Count, so their loyalty was beyond question. Having lived to this age, they also knew what should and shouldn't be said. With a single warning, they would never divulge any information about their masters, making them far more reliable than servants who might be bribed.
This job was much better than the work assigned to other slaves. Working indoors by the stoves, they stayed warm throughout the day, and with ample food provided, the elderly slaves—who would have struggled to survive the harsh winter—had all made it through this year.
Although sugar production had been halted for some time, the castle's favorable treatment of them hadn't been withdrawn. Recently, the elderly slaves had been assigned light work, and they all appeared to be in good condition.
The method of extracting sugar from beets was quite simple—even easier than making malt sugar. The process involved washing and shredding the beets, boiling them in water until they disintegrated, then straining the beet broth through cheesecloth to remove the pulp. The remaining liquid, now a sugary beet juice, was poured back into the cauldron and simmered over low heat until it reduced into a thick syrup—beet sugar.
The beets were brought in from the storeroom. Since this was just a trial run, only a small quantity was used. Following Wei Wei's instructions, the slaves washed, shredded, and boiled the beets with practiced efficiency. Given that the process was similar to making malt sugar, the experienced slaves managed the task without burning the mixture, even though it was their first time making beet sugar.
While they worked, Wei Wei, feeling somewhat superfluous in the room, decided to step away and visit the alchemy laboratory.
She had heard that the alchemist Roger Raymond had barely left the tower in the months they were away. Food was delivered to him by servants, and any supplies he needed were procured upon request, leaving the alchemist free to lose himself in his experiments without a care in the world.
However, the servant accompanying Wei Wei hinted discreetly that they suspected the alchemist was conducting dangerous experiments.
"There have been several explosions from inside. We're worried the tower might collapse one day."
The servant in question was the one responsible for Raymond's daily needs. He informed Wei Wei that while the explosions hadn't destroyed the tower, they had damaged some equipment. Replacing those items had cost the castle a considerable sum, as they had to be specially ordered from other cities.
Yet, aside from contributing some alchemical equipment and helping Wei Wei develop alcohol and perfume—achievements widely attributed to Wei Wei herself—the alchemist had shown no tangible benefit to Sardinson Castle.
As a result, many privately regarded him as a freeloader and couldn't understand why the Count and Countess continued to support him so generously.
Wei Wei merely smiled without comment.
"You're here."
The master alchemist, who had spent long hours in his laboratory, looked even more disheveled than when Wei Wei had first met him. Yet, he was in high spirits. His long beard had noticeably shortened, with visible signs of singeing at the ends—apparently, he had no intention of trimming or grooming it, leaving it as it was.
"It's been a while, Master Raymond." Wei Wei greeted him from a safe distance. Though she understood his dedication to his experiments, his poor personal hygiene made her reluctant to get too close.
Raymond didn't seem to mind her reaction. Instead, he eagerly showed her his latest experimental results.
"I believe I've finally discovered the method for transmuting gold!"
Thirteenth-century alchemists pursued two main goals: creating an elixir of immortality and finding a way to transmute base metals into precious ones—especially gold. Collectively, they referred to the legendary substance capable of achieving these feats as the "Philosopher's Stone."
Raymond's original research had focused on transmutation—the conversion of base metals into gold, a goal shared by most alchemists. Of course, no one has succeeded yet (though modern science has achieved it, the cost is prohibitively high, defeating the original purpose of gaining wealth).
Naturally, Wei Wei didn't believe Raymond had stumbled upon a method that wouldn't be realized until modern laboratories. Still, she observed his experiment.
His so-called method involved mixing mercury with gold powder, heating and cooling it, then applying the mixture to a base metal (like iron or copper) before heating it again. The result was a shiny, gold-like metal.
Holding the "gold," Raymond exclaimed in excitement, "Isn't this incredible?"
Wei Wei had to disappoint him. "I believe this is called gilding—or gold plating—not actual gold."
Though she wasn't sure whether other alchemists of the time had mastered this technique, in China, records of gilding dated back to the *Zhouyi Cantong Qi* by the Eastern Han alchemist Wei Boyang in the 2nd or 3rd century—about a thousand years earlier than now.
"If you've ever noticed, many containers used by cosmetics and gemstone merchants are gilded, using a process similar to your experiment."
Raymond looked stunned. "I thought those were made of real gold!"
"They do contain real gold—but only as a thin outer layer." She pointed at the "gold" in his hand. "Just like this, if you scrape off the surface, the base metal underneath will show."
Then, she eyed the alchemist suspiciously. "You must have realized this already. With your skills, you couldn't have missed the truth."
Caught, Raymond dropped his act. "Alright, I was just teasing you."
When he first achieved this result, he had been thrilled—until he realized, as Wei Wei had guessed, that it wasn't true transmutation but merely a superficial illusion.
Still, he had wanted to show his patron this rare success—definitely not to trick her into increasing his research stipend.
Under Wei Wei's skeptical gaze, the alchemist smoothly changed the subject. "I wanted to show you this."
From a corner, he retrieved an object wrapped in black cloth. Uncovering it revealed a mirror—a glass mirror, half a person's height, set in a golden metal frame that looked as though it were made of solid gold.
"This is an aluminum mirror I made based on your notes. To be honest, glass of this size isn't easy to come by. I made this especially for you, dear Countess."
Though obsessed with experiments, Raymond wasn't entirely oblivious to interpersonal relations. He knew that pleasing Wei Wei was key to securing more resources, so he always prioritized her assignments—though their inherent interest also played a role.
Aluminum mirrors weren't developed until the 1970s. The manufacturing process involved evaporating aluminum in a vacuum and allowing the vapor to condense onto glass, forming a thin reflective layer. While seemingly simple, achieving the vacuum had been a challenge for Raymond. Fortunately, Wei Wei's detailed notes spared him much trial and error.
Compared to aluminum mirrors, mercury mirrors were technically simpler to produce in this era. However, mercury was toxic—Wei Wei wanted nothing to do with it and didn't want others exposed to it either. If mirrors were to be mass-produced, the workers involved would face significant health risks.
Thus, she abandoned mercury mirrors in favor of silver and aluminum mirrors. Silver mirrors required a series of chemical reactions and costly silver, whereas aluminum mirrors were cheaper, easier to produce, more durable, and more reflective.
Wei Wei accepted the mirror. The retro-styled, ornate mirror was heavy, its frame made of metal (likely not solid gold, given Raymond's budget) with intricate engravings. He must have commissioned the frame separately before refining it himself.
Holding it up to the light, she inspected the mirror's clarity. Though minor imperfections from imperfect glass cleaning were visible near the edges, they were barely noticeable and didn't detract from its overall beauty.
This was undoubtedly a treasure that would make women of this era swoon.
"Thank you," she said sincerely. "I love it."
"I'm glad you like it." Raymond rubbed his hands together. "I've compiled the detailed production notes—you can take them now. So, what's our next project?"
His enthusiasm wasn't unfounded. Since arriving in Sardinson, Raymond had come to see this foreign young woman as a treasure trove. She continually presented him with fascinating research topics. Though her overly detailed notes left little room for surprise during experiments, they broadened his horizons, revealing a world beyond alchemy and immortality—one far more vibrant and diverse.
There was also the matter of their contract: any research funded by Wei Wei and completed by him entitled him to 1% of the profits from commercialized results. For independent research with profitable potential, his share rose to 10%.
This profit-sharing arrangement was valid only during his lifetime—an irresistible incentive for the perpetually impoverished alchemist.
Since the perfumes and alcohol had been primarily Wei Wei's work, he hadn't earned any share. Now, with the mirror completed, he was eager for her to take the notes and begin production—only then would his cut of the profits materialize.
Though 1% seemed small, considering the exorbitant prices mirrors could command and the era's lack of profit-sharing norms (where a one-time bonus would have sufficed), this steady, long-term income was immensely appealing.
Wei Wei handed the mirror to a servant, whose trembling hands betrayed his fear of damaging it.
She took Raymond's notes and, after a moment's thought, proposed a new project: "Are you interested in mechanical engineering?"
Raymond: "...?"
Leaving the tower, Wei Wei instructed the servant to deliver the mirror to her bedroom and handed the notes to Butler Barton, whom she happened to meet, asking him to place them in the study. Then, she returned to check on the sugar production.
The servant carrying the mirror, now gleaming even brighter in the sunlight, drew curious glances along the way. Feeling smug, he deliberately angled the mirror to let onlookers catch glimpses of their reflections, parading it to the master bedroom.
Once the mirror was safely inside, he was immediately surrounded by others eager to learn about it. Soon, everyone would know that the Countess possessed an extraordinarily clear mirror—crafted by the "freeloading" Raymond, who was, in fact, a highly skilled alchemist.
Wei Wei's detour to the tower had taken some time. By the time she returned, the beet sugar had been successfully extracted. The resulting sugar resembled malt sugar—a deep brown hue. Beet sugar, like cane sugar, was sucrose and could be further refined into white sugar. In fact, in modern times, about 30% of the world's white sugar is derived from beets.
According to her references, producing one pound of white sugar required roughly six pounds of beets. If processed only into unrefined syrup, the same quantity of beets could yield about three times the volume compared to white sugar.
However, those figures were based on modern sugar beets, selectively bred for high sugar content. The current vegetable beets had much lower sweetness, so the slaves had extracted only one and a half pounds of syrup from six pounds of beets—meaning four pounds of beets yielded one pound of syrup, significantly less than expected.
The finished beet sugar had been poured into pre-made wooden molds designed to hold one pound each. Following Wei Wei's instructions, the slaves cut the syrup into 50 portions before it fully solidified, creating the sugar blocks she wanted.
Wei Wei sampled a piece. Beet sugar was even sweeter than cane sugar, with a clean, honey-like flavor—far superior to malt sugar.
Calculating roughly, producing enough beet sugar for Sardinson's population would require about 3,500 pounds of beets. The five tons (over 10,000 pounds) she had purchased would not only meet this demand but allow for a surplus.
So, should she make just one batch as gifts, or process all of it into sugar for sale?
The answer was obvious.
Wei Wei sought out the butler to inquire whether the serfs had any spare labor.
Butler Barton looked troubled. "Most able-bodied workers are with the road construction team. I'm afraid we can't spare anyone at the moment."
Road construction was a priority and couldn't be delayed. With the farming season approaching, the workforce would soon shrink, so the team was racing to make progress while they could. Even strong women had been recruited to help. There were simply no extra hands for Wei Wei.
After a moment's thought, she asked, "What about the elderly or children? My tasks only involve washing and shredding beets—light work that even older children could handle."
Butler Barton: "What about the children at the church? They should be able to manage, right?"
His reminder brought the young laborers to mind.
Indeed, the children—mostly girls around twelve—were accustomed to household chores. Washing and shredding beets would be well within their capabilities.
If she recalled correctly, those children had been clamoring for work since their time in the capital.
"Then let them help," Wei Wei decided. "For now, assign them half-day shifts, with the other half reserved for their lessons."
Processing that many beets manually would take considerable time.
Butler Barton: "Understood. Should we start today?"
"Yes, this afternoon will do."
The butler acknowledged this and sent someone to notify the children at the church.
Then, he had a question of his own.
"My lady, the young master mentioned you require additional maids. Have you identified any candidates?"
New maids? She hadn't given it much thought.
Previously, viewing herself as a guest, she had only assigned tasks to Qin and Penny, paying little attention to the other maids. Choosing now would be difficult without knowing them well.
However, one candidate came to mind.
"Could Kama become a maid? Even if not a lady's maid, a regular maid would suffice."
Butler Barton took a moment to recall who Kama was.
"She's a slave. If she's to be made a maid, Young Master Felix would first need to pardon her offense."
For other slaves, Wei Wei's word would have sufficed, but Kama's case was different. She had been enslaved as punishment after her husband failed to cure Young Master Eric and fled—a decree issued by the late Count, meaning only the current Count could overturn it.
Wei Wei held the herbalist slave in high regard. With proper training, Kama could become an excellent healer. Having her as a lady's maid would facilitate this training—her current status as a slave complicated matters.
Wei Wei nodded. "I'll discuss it with him. As for the other candidates, I'll leave the selection to you."
Butler Barton: "Do you have any requirements, my lady?"
"Competent, discreet, and preferably literate—but no schemers."
The butler noted these down, silently adding his criteria:
Not too beautiful, no designs on the Count, and no troublemakers.
Young Master Felix, like his father, was devoted to his wife, and Lady Wei Wei struck him as passionate yet uncompromising. He had no intention of allowing anyone to jeopardize their relationship.
Thus, any potential issues would be nipped in the bud. Sardinson Castle would tolerate no maids with ambitions beyond their station.