CHAPTER 40: LOVE POTION

SERENA MAIZONO

2 YEARS AGO

“At last, the love potion has been finally completed! Wuhahahahahahaha!!!”

That was Z’s shout, and it echoes all around the coffee shop. We’re lucky that it’s already night when she finally had this outburst, and there are not many customers around. If people heard her laughing like an evil witch, people would freak out. I’m quite troubled that Z invited me to meet up this late. She previously called me on the phone telling me that she already has the solutions for my problems, and now here she is, presenting a red serum inside a perfume bottle.

“Uh… Z?” I made a troubled look. “Is this why you called me for? A love potion?”

“Yes!” Z pumped her fists excitedly and she stared at me with her sparkling eyes. She presented the love potion right in front of my face. “This is the love potion which is secret alchemy magic from Heaven’s Village! One drop would make the person fall in love with the first person he sees!”

“A love potion, huh…” I forced a smile. “I know that I told you about my problems with Senpai, but I don’t think I could do it to this extent. Besides, any dragonoid who was caught drugging his dragon knight is punishable by death…”

“You see, that’s your problem, Serena.” Z waved her index finger. “You always rely on your charms, even though it’s not really working on him. I’m sick of watching you trying so hard on grabbing somebody’s heart and only failing at the end. I mean, you’re the most beautiful dragonoid. You’re a famous celebrity, a great cook, and a powerful dragon. Men and women are falling heads over heels for you. But what’s the use being the most beautiful dragonoid if you can’t even have your Senpai fall in love with you?”

“T-That’s the most depressing compliment I have ever heard,” I muttered as I made a fake laugh. 

“Why won’t you try it?” Z swayed the love potion in front of my face like a pendulum. “One drop would guarantee that Xenon will fall in love with you for the whole week. The effects are not permanent, so it won’t hurt if you have your precious senpai a free taste~”

I was engulfed in deep thought. Z’s words struck me like an arrow that shattered my heart. She’s all telling the truth. All my achievements, all my powers, all of it are nothing if I fail to grab the heart of my love. I want Senpai to notice me. But using a love potion is a little bit below the belt.

I guess one drop will do. It’s not like Senpai will prosecute me for drugging him or anything.

“Fine.” I grabbed the love potion from her hand. I put it in my pocket and withdrew a similar-looking glass bottle and placed it on her hand. That bottle I gave her is an expensive perfume that looks identical to the love potion. “As agreed, I will replace it with Hanafucielle Lavender Perfume.”

“Thanks, Serena!” Z hopped in joy. “I guarantee you, that love potion is 100% effective!… I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but it’s 100% effective!”

“What?”

“Nothing! You can use it anytime, anywhere, or anywho you want!” Z laughed like a kid. “Anyway, there is one restriction for using that love potion.”

“What is it?” I tilted my head.

Suddenly, Z’s aura became grim. There is black smoke coming out from her back as if she’s about to summon an Archdemon Dragon from her own self. Her crimson eyes became dead and lifeless, but the intent to kill is still there. She’s even smiling creepily like a killer clown.

“Don’t you ever think about using that love potion on Alphonse.” Z said in a creepy voice. 

“Ah-Ahahahaha!” I worry scratched my head. “Of course! Your Alphonse is yours only! I don’t have any slightest plan on using this thing on a person other than Senpai…”

Suddenly, the aura faded, and she transformed into pure sunshine. She clasped her hands and made an innocent smile, which is quite a lot different from the killer smile she gave a few seconds ago. “That’s good then! Thank you for the perfume~”

I just hope this love potion will work perfectly without any problems…

The next morning, I woke up earlier than normal. I prepared an easy and good breakfast for my Senpai, which is his favorite cheesy bacon omelet. I poured out one drop of the love potion and I accompanied it with hot chocolate for easier ingestion.

“Good morning, Senpai! Here’s your breakfast~” I greeted him as soon as Senpai arrived at the dining room.

“Good morning, Serena.” Senpai’s morning smile is so handsome now that he’s no longer drinking like a retarded idiot. “Oh, my favorite! Thanks for cooking it for me!”

As Senpai started to chow down breakfast, I have this smirk on my face. Everything is falling under the plan. He already took his first bite, followed by the second, and the third. I’m pretty sure the potion will take effect at any moment. Just wait, Serena. Any moment now, he will fall in love with you. Just wait.

Suddenly, Senpai stopped eating when he realized that I’ve been staring at him for so long. “Serena? Why is there an evil smile on your face?”

“Ah! It’s nothing! Hahaha!” I faked my laugh. “I’m just practicing the evil smile skills I learned from the celebrity workshop.”

“Oh, is that so?” Senpai mumbled as he chomped the second to the last bite of his breakfast. When the last piece of the omelet was pierced by his fork, he put it in front of his nose and sniffed. “Is it me or this omelet taste funny? I can even smell a lavender scent on it.”

“That doesn’t matter, Senpai~” I tried to charm my knight with an adorable smile and a wink. Suddenly, the chaotic mix of the scent of fried bacon, egg, and lavender made me sneeze, making my snot extend out. “Ah-choo!” It seems like the smell irritates my nose! I immediately wiped the snot on my face with my fingerless gloves as I try to ignore the fact that I just embarrassed myself. “I-I’m sorry about that! A-Anyway, what do you think of me?”

“Huh?” Senpai had this wry and slightly disgusted look on his face. “W-Well, you’re the best kouhai I ever had.” Then he uncaringly put the last piece of the omelet inside his mouth. He also gave out a table napkin for me to wipe my dirty face. 

After that, he put his jacket on and readied his own self to leave.

“S-Senpai…” I muttered.

“Serena, I’m being summoned by the Emperor for a private meeting. I will be back at night. Take care.” Then Senpai left the house in a hurry.

“Y-Yeah. You too.” I muttered.

The love potion… It’s not working!?

My perception of time stopped. I just realized some horrifying things inside my mind. Does the omelet have a lavender scent? Does the love potion smell like that? Or did I mistake the perfume as a love potion? This is bad! This is a complete failure!

I have to tell Z about this! Maybe I have replaced the love potion with the lavender perfume!

Right after Senpai left the house, I hurriedly went out and approached Alphonse’s and Z’s apartment. I knocked vigorously on her door until finally, I was answered by Z as soon as she opened the door. She’s still in pajamas and she seems to be just woken up by my hard knocks on her door. 

“Oh, Serena… what gives you here early in the morning? Did you pour all the love potion and made love with your senpai overnight? Hohoho, you naughty girl!” Z lazily talked to me while yawning.

“No!” I freaked out. “I think I misplaced the perfume with the potion! Do you have the perfume I gave to you!? I think that’s the potion!”

“No way!” Z exclaimed out loud, which makes it clear that her brain is wide awake. “I used the perfume last night, so I’m pretty sure I have that Hanafucielle perfume!”

“But the potion smells like lavender!” I cried. “I put a single drop of it on Senpai’s breakfast, and he said it tastes funny!”

“That’s how the love potion tastes like. It’s a lavender flavor.” Z said.

I want to correct her for interchanging flavor and scent, but that’s not the problem right now. The real problem is that I’m confused about what’s the potion or the perfume, so I have to be sure that I get the two bottles before it causes more trouble.

“Z! Give me back the perfume! Now!” I cried. “I’ll just give you another bottle of the same perfume later! Right now, you have to give that back to me!”

“No way!” Z hollered like a kid. “I told you, mine is the genuine perfume! Yours is the love potion! I’m sure of that!”

“How can you be so sure!?” I asked. 

Z made a long deep sigh.

“Hey, Serena. Calm down.” Z held my shaking shoulders. “I know you’re freaking out. Don’t worry, I know of a solution to figure out which is the perfume or the potion.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled out softly. It made my blood pressure went down, but my mind is still troubled. “So how can we distinguish it?” I asked in a worried tone.

“We’re going to test the potion on your hands,” Z said.

“Whaaaaat!?” My jaws hung. “I won’t drink it!”

“No, not like that. I won’t drink it too.” Z made an evil witch’s smile. It’s not that scary because I’m fully well aware of how evil this witch is. “ Let’s try it on my Master Alphonse~” 

I think we are about to dive ourselves in big trouble.