Productivity, Kisses, and Extremely Questionable Potions
Lucien woke up to warmth.
This was unusual.
Usually, he woke up to paperwork, stress, or Gamma silently judging his life choices.
Today, however, Venelana was still asleep beside him, silver hair spread across the pillow, expression peaceful and completely unbothered by the world.
Lucien smiled softly.
He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Venelana stirred.
One eye opened.
"…You're awake," she murmured.
"Good morning, love," Lucien replied calmly.
She smiled lazily, then pulled him down just enough to kiss him properly.
"Good morning," she said again, much more awake now.
Lucien accepted this as a perfectly reasonable way to start the day.
Breakfast and Bad Ideas (The Productive Kind)
After freshening up, they joined the others for breakfast.
Everything was normal.
Too normal.
Lucien stirred his tea slowly, eyes unfocused.
Venelana noticed immediately.
"You're planning something."
Lucien blinked.
"…Is it that obvious?"
"Yes."
"I was thinking about Cleansweep."
Gamma looked up.
"You want to bankrupt them."
"No," Lucien said calmly. "I want to improve them."
Everyone relaxed slightly.
Then tensed again.
Lucien closed his eyes.
System Interface.
The familiar translucent screen appeared.
[Shop → Knowledge → Crafting → Broom Engineering]
Without hesitation, Lucien purchased the complete knowledge set on broom construction.
A moment later—
His brain hurt.
A lot.
"…Okay," he muttered. "Worth it."
By the time the headache faded, he knew everything.
Wood balance.
Charm layering.
Speed enchantments.
Stability runes.
Safety failsafes.
Lucien stood up.
"Nagini," he said, "I need materials."
She nodded immediately.
"Send me the list."
Lucien did.
It was long.
Very long.
Nagini read it once… then twice.
"…You're building a monster," she said calmly.
"Yes."
Two Weeks of Trial, Error, and Mild Explosions
For the next two weeks, Lucien vanished into the workshop.
Trial one: snapped in half.
Trial three: caught fire.
Trial six: tried to fly without a rider.
Trial nine: bit him.
By trial fifteen, things improved.
By trial twenty-three—
Lucien stood in the open field behind the mansion, holding a sleek broom with dark polish and refined runic carvings.
He mounted it.
"Test flight," he said calmly.
Everyone watched.
Lucien kicked off.
The broom shot forward like it had been personally offended by gravity.
Wind screamed past his ears.
The broom responded instantly.
Sharp turns.
Perfect balance.
No vibration.
Lucien slowed, landed, and examined it.
"…Faster than the Nimbus 2001," he concluded.
"And better quality."
Venelana crossed her arms proudly.
"Of course it is."
Lucien placed the broom carefully aside.
"Production later," he decided.
The Potion He Definitely Wasn't Selling Publicly
That afternoon, Lucien did something worse.
He opened the system store again.
[Potion → Restricted → Black Tier]
Lucien purchased a formula.
Berserker Potion
Effect:
Mana output ×2
Side Effect: Permanent loss of ¼ of total magic
Lucien stared at the description.
"…This is illegal in at least twelve countries."
Nagini appeared beside him.
"You're not putting that in Runcandel."
"No," Lucien said calmly. "Absolutely not."
He brewed it carefully, precisely, without mistakes.
The potion shimmered darkly.
Lucien corked it.
"This isn't for regular sale," he said.
"It's for Knockturn Alley."
Nagini nodded slowly.
"You're thinking Borgin."
"Yes."
Lucien leaned back.
"I own twenty percent. I'll sell a limited amount every year. Controlled distribution."
Nagini smiled faintly.
"Responsible," she said.
Lucien snorted.
"Debatable."
He sealed the potion away.
That night, Lucien stood by the window, watching the sunset.
A better broom rested safely in storage.
A dangerous potion waited quietly.
Plans moved forward.
Venelana wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"You're thinking too hard again."
Lucien relaxed slightly.
"…Probably."
She smiled.
Tomorrow would be just as busy.
And somehow—
That was comforting.