Prologue

Chapter 0: Prologue

Transmutation Art.

The art of combining substances to create new ones.

It is a prestigious power that has been passed down since ancient times, and it is said that there was always at least one among those who built civilizations.

It was historically considered a great existence.

“Look, Otoo-sama!”

“Oh, wonderful, Aria. Are you now able to perform transmutation on your own?”

I was born into a prestigious family of Transmutation Masters.

I had both the talent as a Transmutation Master and a privileged environment, and expectations were high for me.

Things were going smoothly.

Until my childhood.

However, life is dramatic, and you never know what will happen.

Reality is not just what you see.

One day, a woman who claimed to be my mother appeared.

She was a commoner.

At first, my father denied the relationship, but it was revealed to be true after examination.

It turned out that she was my father’s lover and they had a relationship before.

The other person was a commoner.

There was a social status difference between nobles and commoners, and it was unacceptable.

So my father hid it.

He cunningly deceived my mother’s memory with medicine so as not to be found out.

From that day on, my life changed dramatically.

As soon as it was known that I was the child of his lover, people’s gaze around me turned cold.

“Otoo-sama, look at this! I made it.”

“… “

My father’s change in attitude was obvious.

He treated me as if I were not there and stopped talking to me.

Even the servants treated me badly.

No, the worst was my mother.

She wasn’t my real mother, but the person I thought was my mother.

We weren’t very close in the first place, but now it’s decisive.

Then my little sister was born.

Everyone favored my sister.

I was left alone and often locked myself in the study.

A single piece of paper fluttered.

“The court… Transmutation Master?”

It was a coincidence.

Transmutation Master working in the palace, and my family had been producing excellent Transmutation Masters to work at the palace for generations.

“If I could work at the palace too… then, we used to do.”

I couldn’t help but think about it.

As a child, I had faint hopes and had no choice but to hold on to them.

From then on, I studied Transmutation Art on my own.

I achieved some results, only to have them taken away by my younger sister and felt frustrated.

Still, I believed that someday, the day would come when I would be recognized.

Several years went by, and as an adult, I took the test to become a court-appointed Transmutation Master.

Although I was delayed behind my sister due to my parents’ disagreement, I was well-prepared and confident.

And I passed the test.

I finally made it here.

To the place where I aimed to become a court-appointed Transmutation Master.

However, the reaction of those around me did not change even though I achieved the results.

Rather, I received even worse treatment because of standing out.

I was kicked out of the mansion and had to live and work alone.

Feeling lonely.

But at the bottom of my heart, I still believed that someday I would be rewarded.

The world is not fair.

Even if you have talent, work hard, and achieve results, you may not be happy.

Knowing that, will the day come when I can laugh about it?