“It wasn't manufactured to perfection, yes. However, pills are meant to be consumed. It doesn't matter if they're pretty or ugly. If the medications are still doing their job, everything will be fine," Maria stated.

“Really?” Isla beamed. Her worry turned into a feeling of hope.

“Yes, really. This Concentration Pill's effectiveness is up to 60% of a regular one. Congratulations, you have successfully created your first pill."

“Oh. That's grea’ Isla heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that she had not fully wasted any medicinal materials.

In fact, what Maria said was not completely correct. She judged Isla's performance based on her own criteria and concluded that Isla had done well enough to pass. However, medications prepared by inexperienced pill alchemists were ineffective almost all of the time. If Maria had been aware of that fact, her assessment of Isla's work would have been different.

In truth, Barbara, a new fourth-grade pill alchemist, barely succeeded on her first try at making pills, and the effectiveness of her pills was only half that of the regular ones.

“That's it for today. You can go back to the Lemna Yard now and read some books." Maria smiled.

“Yes, miss. Thank you!" Isla exclaimed excitedly.

Their conversation was interrupted when they heard some noises outside the door.

“This is my studio. Get out of the way! I want to go inside!"

It was Barbara's voice.

Grover replied disinterestedly, "I'm sorry. Whoever owns this studio, I have no idea. I'm only following Miss Jenkins's order to drive away anyone who tries to go inside.”

"You..." Barbara was surprised by the Jenkins family guard's undying devotion to Maria.

Doris had just informed her that Maria was cleaning her studio. And, of course, she would want to see that for herself. The sight of Maria scrubbing the floors would certainly give her an inflated sense of superiority over the other woman.

"Grover, Let her in." Grover immediately complied with Maria's order, stood aside, and gestured for Barbara to enter.

Deciding she did not want to argue with him any longer, Barbara entered the studio.

"Well..."

Barbara had anticipated seeing Maria drenched with sweat. Instead, what greeted her was Maria sitting on her chair, looking snug and at ease. There was not even a single stain of dirt on her clothes.

Next to her, a skinny girl who Looked Like a servant was clutching a black pill. Her eyes sparkled with delight, despite the grime all over her body.

Barbara scowled at the scene in front of her, surprised and confused at the same time.

"Is that a pill?"

Barbara looked at Maria with suspicion. Did she take advantage of cleaning the studio to secretly use the left over medicinal materials to make the pill? She couldn't possibly want to be a pill alchemist, could she?

Barbara squinted her eyes suspiciously at Maria. Unlike the other ignorant members of the clan that had been fooled, Barbara knew that Maria's talent was not the first grade, but the rare ninth grade which hadn't been seen in a century.

With Maria's horrifying talent, she could easily shift her position in the Jenkins family if she became a pill alchemist.