“Wait, Miss Flora, don’t go this way.”
Without giving herself a second thought, Linko made a quick decision and pulled Flora back, trying to lead her in the opposite direction.
“What’s wrong?”
Flora, still lost in her own thoughts, was caught off guard by the sudden action and didn’t let Linko successfully pull her away.
She instinctively glanced around to make sure no one suspicious—possibly arranged by Moria—was trying to stop them from moving forward.
Seeing nothing, she openly displayed her confusion on her face as she looked at the maid.
“There’s something up ahead. It’s not convenient to say. Let’s go first.”
Linko urged anxiously, which only piqued Flora’s interest.
She looked toward the direction she originally wanted to go and quickly noticed a cute little blonde girl watching her.
【Could it really be that she’s nervous because of her?】
There were many pedestrians on the street, and the small girl, about 1.5 meters tall, was dressed plainly and unremarkable.
She wore a pale yellow dress and had two little braids—playful and adorable—with no hint of danger whatsoever.
“Hmm?”
Flora’s calm only increased, and that was all she said.
Seeing this, Linko hurried to add another sentence.
“It’s rare to have free time. Shouldn’t we go find that lady?”
That earned her a blank, ‘Are you serious?’ look from Flora.
“Is it really that urgent? That’s not like you. No, it seems I have to chat with this cute little sister who makes you so nervous. She can’t be one of the spoiled daughters from the Derlan family, right?”
The only tricky people that this maid would be allowed to approach were probably from the Derlan household.
Since Moria let her out, there must be some purpose behind it, and this girl could very well be that purpose.
Running away now might only lead to another encounter later—better to face it head-on.
Linko was at a loss to explain the girl’s identity.
Flora’s rebuttal left her speechless—of course, under these circumstances, how could they be looking for Meifei?
With Flora’s intelligence, she wouldn’t be surprised by the Rusted Gold Trading Company switching sides; after all, under noble power struggles, the trading company was quite powerless.
From start to finish, Flora only ever asked for help from Meifei personally.
Flora hadn’t lost faith in this ally and naturally wouldn’t do anything to harm her.
It was Linko who was flustered.
Realizing this, she adjusted her composure, regaining calm before approaching the girl.
“This is more like it. Honestly, I don’t even remember who told me that a proper attitude is needed at work,” Flora teased casually, and Linko didn’t take it too seriously, treating it more as a reminder.
【List Vonn Camia, the only daughter among the Emperor’s five children, the youngest but already confirmed as heir apparent.
I was fortunate to meet her once early on.
Her appearance here means the young lady’s activities have caught the royal family’s attention.
Judging by this, she will be the one attending the royal banquet.
If her meeting with Miss Flora is deliberately arranged, then my lord, it’s very likely your daughter is planning something quite bold.】
Linko’s expression grew serious.
Setting Moria’s plans aside for now, she focused on the purpose of contact between the princess and Flora—and what might come afterward.
As far as she knew, List possessed a certain talent that could influence the mind.
The exact effect was unclear, but it definitely allowed “mind reading.”
Before facing her, she at least had to ensure her mental defenses were always active.
If she was on the same side as Moria and heard any harmful thoughts, the entire mission would collapse.
As for Flora, Linko was curious how much information the princess could extract from a girl she couldn’t even investigate thoroughly herself.
While lost in such thoughts, the shy little girl had already approached them.
“Um, ladies, have you seen a brown-haired cat-eared lady? I’m looking for her.”
With such an innocent and harmless demeanor, even Linko—who had grown used to the false posturing of nobles—was moved.
She couldn’t imagine what kind of mistake she might have made if she hadn’t seen the princess’s regal presence firsthand.
Flora, however, was excited.
Opportunities to interact with people outside the villa were rare, so she immediately beamed a bright smile and eagerly offered help.
“Little sister, you won’t get an answer by asking like that. You have to say how tall that lady is, what she’s wearing—things like that.”
So naturally slipping into the role of a friendly noble young lady out for a stroll, Linko watched from the side in disbelief.
Why did it feel like someone who always refused to act noble actually enjoyed it quite a bit?
But she soon noticed Flora’s expression change in an instant—and List had done nothing except make eye contact with Flora.
【Is this the signal to act?】
Linko was stunned and instinctively gripped Flora’s hand tightly.
Flora just frowned and shot her a glance.
【Did Moria order you not to talk to anyone? No wonder you’re so tense. Well, I can understand now.】
As the girl’s voice echoed directly into Flora’s mind, she felt like putting on a mask of suffering.
“Oh really? I want to ask if you know Meifei Furand, an employee of Rusted Gold Trading Company who works with Fros Camille, former healer of the Emerald Heart Squad? I’m looking for her. I heard she really likes the fish balls sold on this street.”
She immediately regretted not being a more obedient child.
At least if she had listened to Linko’s warning, who was acting as if under siege.
In this world, caught in the scheming whirlpool of nobles, she was at best a mere loli.
Even with a wild imagination, no good person would speak like this.
This was basically opening a box of trouble.
【Are you Moria’s special arrangement to disgust me with a show here? Otherwise, how could we have bumped into you just after leaving?】
She wanted to complain like that.
But in the end, she chose to play dumb.
“Huh?”
Ignoring the direct question planted in her mind, Flora maintained her fake but perfectly timed smile, causing the girl to frown and formally speak.
“It’s Meifei from Rusted Gold Trading Company. She took me out to play, saying she’d buy me fish balls, but then suddenly disappeared. Do you know her?”
“Sorry…”
Flora apologized naturally, feeling as if Moria had possessed her—sending a chill through her entire body.
“It’s okay! Then I’ll just wait here.”
The girl said this and turned away, but Flora quickly called out to her.
“Wait, tell me your name. Maybe I can help you find her.”
Linko narrowed her eyes, convinced that the two had just exchanged some interaction she couldn’t grasp.
But before she could think further, List gave her a look.
That noble warning alone made Linko immediately stop overthinking.
“Lili, everyone calls me that. And you, sister?”
“Flora.”
There was no getting around that name.
Flora didn’t feel uncomfortable, though, and after saying it, she looked seriously at the girl.
“If I find Miss Meifei, I’ll tell her you’re looking for her.”
“Mm, I’ll tell her too. So… goodbye?”
Sensing the deeper meaning in Lili’s words, Flora’s face hardened as she reached out her hand.
“This is a promise—handshake.”
“Okay.”
Flora understood then that her suspicion was correct.
This unfamiliar girl wasn’t Moria’s agent but someone she could use—and someone who even made Linko nervous.
Meifei must already be firmly under her control.
Whether this seemingly harmless devil was poison or poison to cure poison didn’t matter.
The sheer boldness to contact her so directly was proof of the girl’s status and power—second only to Moria.
Following that logic, who else could she be?
【The princess? Looks like I really have become the dazzling star you talked about, Moria. Knowing your nature, you probably didn’t tell her I’m Fros.
Is she the one you specially allowed me to meet? You’d better hope you don’t mess this up—she’s clearly done a lot of investigation on me first.】
Flora curled her lips into a smile at List Vonn Camia, then took Linko’s hand and walked past her.
For this outing to yield such a gain, no matter Moria’s plans, at least Flora felt a bit lighter.
The remaining time would be spent enjoying a brief moment of freedom.
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