The Double ( or More ?) Life of The Fake Heiress

The door to the private dining room swung open, and the waiter bustled in with plates of food, effectively cutting off Adler’s burgeoning sense of astonishment.

As soon as the waiter left, Adler jumped right back in. “So, what about before…?”

Mirabella casually reached for her fork, speared a piece of meat, and replied nonchalantly, “Oh, all that? Just my own wild guesses, and none of it is actually tested in practice.”

Adler was floored.

Wild guesses, untested, yet they pinpointed the solution to a problem that had stumped their research institute for years… Suddenly, he felt a twinge of regret. Why exactly had he thought meeting this big shot was a good idea? It was a blow to his pride, to say the least.

Adler decided to switch gears. “You’re not from Riverdale, are you?”

Mirabella gave a distracted grunt of acknowledgment, not even bothering to look up. Adler had no choice but to quell his curiosity and focus on his meal.

After a quiet dinner, Adler led Mirabella to his private residence – the address he had previously given her for the courier delivery. His personal lab was set up in the basement of his villa, decked out with a wide array of equipment.

Mirabella took a sweeping glance at the instruments and felt her resolve to learn strengthen. She turned to Adler with a sigh, “I might need more than just your lab.”

Adler blinked in surprise. “Oh?”

“I’ll need to borrow you as well,” Mirabella said bluntly.

Adler was stunned. A’big shot’s words were always dramatic.

Clearing his throat, Adler responded, “Feel free to commandeer my assistance, though my knowledge in pharmacology is quite basic. I’m not too sure about the specifics of the compounds and dosages…”

“No worries. I’ve got that covered. You just handle the equipment.” Mirabella interrupted, placing her collection of ingredients aside. “Do you have paper and a pen?” Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“On it,” Adler said, moving to a desk to retrieve a stack of paper and a pencil from a drawer and handing them to Mirabella.

She pulled up a chair, sat down, and immediately began to jot down data analysis formulas and the required quantities for each substance. Her steps were meticulous, and she wrote without hesitation, as if the information flowed from her mind with absolute familiarity.

The art of ancient potion–making and modern pharmaceuticals were worlds apart. Creating a concoction with the same efficacy as the old ways was a true challenge, one that tested the depth of one’s knowledge.

Adler watched Mirabella scribble formula after formula, and the more he watched, the more indescribable his expression became. As a researcher himself, he understood the precision. and attention to detail in her work. If she hadn’t mentioned her lack of experience with precision instruments, he wouldn’t have been so taken aback. Her clear thought process. seemed to surpass even the senior researchers at the institute!

With a complicated look, Adler glanced at Mirabella. She was just a teenage girl, yet her. intellect was astounding. It was humbling.

Half an hour later, Mirabella finally set the pencil down and massaged her sore wrist. In this moment, she sorely missed her clan’s alchemy chamber, where none of these complex calculations were necessary.

Standing up, she handed the densely written sheets to Adler. “Take a look.”

Adler took the papers, and couldn’t hold back. “Would you consider taking on an apprentice?”

Mirabella just gave him a look.