Once she heard the explanation, Dorothea looked even more puzzled. “You mean to say...that this homunculus is your gift for Miss Charlotte?”
“Exactly!” Allen proudly gestured to the small figure in the green culture solution. It looked like a young girl of about ten years in age. Its eyes were closed firmly, fast asleep. Though it looked realistic, it wasn’t actually a human. It was a homunculus, a human-shaped creature made with only the most advanced skills of magic and alchemy. To bring it to life, Allen just had to instill in it something similar to a soul, and the doll would become animate, able to take care of easy chores around the house. “I made it to help out Charlotte. She’s caring by nature, so I thought she’d get accustomed to a child-shaped homunculus more easily.”
“I think that’s fine, but...hmmm.” Even compared to Allen’s previous creations, this homunculus turned out to be an exceptional work, but Dorothea stared closely at the figure with a frown.
“What is it?” Allen said, knitting his brows. “Think it’ll move smoothly? Or did you notice something, as a dark elf?” Dorothea may have been a hopeless misfit, but she was an elf, after all. Her feedback was bound to be useful. He waited for her answer expectantly, but he was startled by her critique.
“Well, it’s nothin’ to do with me bein’ an elf; I think anyone would notice...in general?” Dorothea said hesitantly. “This homunculus...it looks a bit like Miss Charlotte, doesn’t it?”
Allen was dumbfounded. “Huh?” At first, he couldn’t understand what she meant. He froze for a few seconds, then turned to stare at the homunculus floating in the glass chamber. Studying its childlike face, he had to admit that it looked exactly like Charlotte, except for its white hair. If someone told him that this was how she’d looked as a child, he might have believed it. Allen gulped. “It...does...doesn’t it...?” he croaked.
“Oh, you weren’t aware of it, were you?” Dorothea asked with a nod, as if a light bulb went on in her head. “Thought that’s how it went,” she added quickly. “I mean, homunculi do turn out in line with the creator’s vision, after all. If you make one thinkin’ of the person it’s meant for, no wonder you end up with somethin’ like this. Well well, glad to see you’re a lovey-dovey couple! I’d love to hear all about it in good time!” Dorothea squealed in delight, whipping out a notepad. If Allen recalled correctly, she had been in the process of writing a romance novel when they last met.
“Hey...Dorothea,” Allen murmured, covering his face with both hands.
“What’s up, Master Allen?”
“Suppose a man offered his girlfriend a homunculus that looks exactly like her on her birthday... What would you think?”
“Ohh, lemme think. In all honesty...” Dorothea mulled over it in a suggestive pause. Then she asserted with a deadpan expression, “It’d be super cringey.”
“I knew it!!!” He shrieked and threw his clipboard on the floor. Almost at the same time, a crow cawed to the sky outside, which was dyed in orange by the setting sun.
It was less than six hours to Charlotte’s birthday.
♢
“Well well, hope I’m not intrudin’—thanks for havin’ me over,” Dorothea said.
“You’re very welcome here. You came back right in time,” Charlotte replied with a warm smile, pouring wine into Dorothea’s glass.
Everyone was gathered around the living room table, which was brimming with all kinds of colorful dishes. Though Charlotte’s birthday was tomorrow, she had put in a lot of effort for dinner since Natalia and Eluka had joined them.
The two had helped out with the cooking too. But they didn’t touch the food. Instead, they whispered to Charlotte with solemn faces.
“When did my bro meet a dark elf?” Eluka asked under her breath. “You never see them anywhere, you know. Even Papa would have a hard time trying to meet one.”
“It’s actually my first time seeing one in the flesh too...” Natalia murmured. “So this is the dark elf, known as the ‘guardian of wisdom.’”
“Uh, yeah...” Allen muttered, his mind elsewhere. He couldn’t be bothered to explain the full story of how the dark elf came attached to his purchase of the old mansion. Besides, he was still racking his brains for Charlotte’s present, which made him even more taciturn. Argh... What am I going to do?! I can’t show anyone the homunculus... What should I give her?!
He couldn’t bring himself to get rid of the homunculus, so it was still floating in the tank in the laboratory. But there was no way he could offer that as a gift. Charlotte would probably be happy with any present, but the other girls would be completely put off. His reputation was already hanging by a thread in Natalia’s eyes—he couldn’t risk his position even further.
Apparently oblivious to Allen’s internal struggles, Dorothea said, “By the way,” and snapped her fingers. A book with a ribbon tied around it fell from thin air. She held it out to Charlotte with a big grin. “Miss Charlotte, I heard your birthday’s comin’ up on the morrow. Here’s a little somethin’ from me. It’s my latest romance novel.”
“Ooh! I can have it?!” Charlotte exclaimed, practically jumping up in excitement. Her face broke into a smile as she hugged the book close. “I found lots of books written by you in the storage room, so I’ve been reading them bit by bit. They’re so romantic, it makes my heart race... I’m so happy to have your new one!”
“Why, you’re the one I want to thank. I’m much obliged to you, Miss Charlotte, and Master Allen for this new novel here.”
“Oh, wh-what do you mean by that?”
“The protagonists in that book are modeled after you two, y’see. Oh yes, I spun you the sweetest yarn, as sugary as candy floss!” Dorothea beamed from ear to ear and gave a thumbs-up.
“R-Really?!” Charlotte gave a little shriek.
“Huh...?” Allen couldn’t let that remark pass and half-rose from his seat. Just as he leaned over to try to check the contents of the book, the door slammed open, and Gosetsu and Roo stormed in.
“We shall not be left behind when it comes to gift-giving!” Gosetsu announced.
“I’ve got something too!” Roo chirruped.