Under Ophelia’s urging, Merlin, who had just recently started at the academy, was forced to move.
There was absolutely no way he could return to the boys’ dormitory, so Merlin rested in the new dorm room arranged by the Headmaster.
The dawn light was soft and gentle, just beginning to scatter over the earth, when Ophelia quietly appeared in front of Merlin’s door. She lifted her hand and rapped her knuckles lightly on the wooden door.
The door creaked open, and a sleepy face peeked out. Blue, gradient hair stuck up every which way, as if a storm had swept through a bird’s nest.
“Mom, you’re still not home?”
After yesterday’s events, Merlin had begun to call Ophelia “Mom” naturally.
Before this, he had always just called her “Ophelia,” and occasionally, “Mother.”
When Ophelia first took him in, he was already grown and still had memories from his previous life. Suddenly calling an adult woman “Mom” was a bit embarrassing.
Ophelia would respond to Merlin no matter how he addressed her.
But Merlin already understood—even if Ophelia wasn’t his biological mother, she was still family, bound by blood.
They were related by blood, of the same race.
Now, speaking up didn’t feel nearly as awkward.
“Merlinia, why is your hair such a mess?”
Ophelia frowned slightly, her voice openly filled with concern.
“I just woke up.”
Ophelia reached out with a hand as fair and slender as her daughter’s, her fingertips gently weaving through Merlin’s unruly blue locks, trying to smooth out the stubborn strands.
Merlin lifted her eyes, a hint of pleading in her gaze.
“Just call me Merlin… It feels weird to suddenly change the name I’ve always used.”
But Ophelia’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“Alright, but you have to call me Ophie.”
Merlin almost immediately refused.
“No.”
Ophelia raised an eyebrow.
“Why not?”
“Just… no…”
“Between mother and daughter, you both need to use nicknames to make it fair, don’t you think?”
Merlin tried to reason, but her voice was weak, lacking confidence.
“Mother and daughter… but I’ve always called you Ophelia…”
…It was still hard to get used to.
Ophelia’s voice became soft and coaxing, as if comforting a child.
“The past is the past, the present is the present. After learning about elven customs, are you still going to sound so distant?”
“I got it… Ophie.”
Ophelia smiled with satisfaction, her eyes curling like a crescent moon.
“Mhm, good girl. If you’re not used to it, you can call me Mom too.”
You could have just said that earlier… How embarrassing.
Merlin muttered inwardly, feeling her cheeks heat up, a blend of shyness and warmth spreading through her chest.
To change the topic, Merlin asked again,
“Mom, why are you still here?”
“You’re only asking now?”
Ophelia looked at Merlin, who half a month ago was the same height as her, but was now a whole head shorter.
“Merlinia, I need to protect you.”
Her pale violet eyes flickered with complex emotions.
There was concern, but also helplessness.
“You just had an accident not long ago, and you want to send me home? How could I possibly be at ease?”
“I’m sorry…”
Merlin lowered her head, staring at her toes.
Ophelia looked at her child, so honest in admitting her mistakes.
Did her personality really get softer after turning into a girl?
Ophelia’s fingertip lifted Merlin’s chin, forcing her gaze to meet her own.
“I already said I’m not mad. I just hope you won’t do dangerous things again in the future. Just because you were lucky once doesn’t mean you’ll always be lucky. I heard yesterday wasn’t the first time you snuck in?”
“…It wasn’t.”
“Forget it, let’s not talk about this. I’ll let you off for now.”
Ophelia glanced at Merlin’s upper body.
Then, her just-relaxed brows arched up again, and her gentle tone instantly turned stern.
“Why did you open the door without anything on underneath? Even if this is the girls’ dormitory, you should have some sense of caution, don’t you think?”
“I just felt uncomfortable sleeping in them last night.”
“You need to get used to it.”
They’d barely met for a few minutes, and Ophelia had already nagged Merlin three times.
Hair, the labyrinth, clothes.
She hadn’t been like this before—it was hard to get used to.
Ophelia gave Merlin a gentle push, her touch soft but firm, allowing no room for refusal.
“Alright, let’s go inside first.”
When Merlin closed the door, she muttered in a long, drawn-out whisper, full of girlish pouting.
“So naggy…”
Ophelia’s eyes narrowed slightly, her tone not sounding the least bit reproachful, but rather tinged with an almost imperceptible smile.
“So I’m already annoying? Is this your rebellious phase?”
“Because you never used to act like this.”
When Merlin and Ophelia lived together in the little house, Merlin knew Ophelia saw her sneaking out at night for a snack, but Ophelia always pretended not to notice.
They’d always had a kind of unspoken understanding. Aside from class time and meal time, Ophelia had pretty much let Merlin grow wild.
“The past is the past, the present is the present.”
Ophelia took Merlin’s hand and sat her down on the messy bed.
“Raising elves and raising humans, raising a son and raising a daughter—they’re not the same. And besides, you’re a princess now, so I need to change my approach.”
“There’s no need to change…”
“I must change. I’ll stay at the school for a while and teach you properly.”
Ophelia glanced around at the bedroom, which had been neat when Merlin moved in the day before but was already looking a bit messy after just one night.
“Maybe I should get you a maid like Mahina has.”
“That’s not necessary…”
Merlin’s voice was clearly resistant.
She glanced up, peeking at Ophelia’s expression timidly, like a startled fawn.
She wasn’t used to having her private space disturbed; right now, the only person she could accept was Ophelia.
Ophelia didn’t argue immediately, just gazed at Merlin, then around the room, as if deep in thought.
“But the way you’re living now doesn’t seem very ladylike. Having someone take care of you would be good, but it’s hard to find an elf your age in Zereon.”
But the seriousness didn’t leave Ophelia’s eyes.
“That’s why I said no need.”
“I suppose…”
Ophelia murmured, almost as if to herself.
“Maidservants should really grow up with you from childhood. If I suddenly assign you one now, you’ll have a hard time adjusting.”
“That’s not it… I just can’t get used to having someone around all the time.”
Ophelia’s tone gradually filled with a sense of regret.
“Isn’t that the same? If I’d found you earlier, you would have been used to it by now. It’s because you grew up running wild that you’re like this! From now on, I’ll educate you strictly and turn you into a proper elven lady, one that won’t lose to that Mahina!”
“It was already a blessing for you to even take me in…”
“But that’s what makes it troublesome now. No maid, no knowledge of elves, girls, or royal etiquette. You reject this, refuse that… If you’d been taught from a young age, things wouldn’t be this complicated.”
“It’s not troublesome…”
“Oh? Then put on a dress and let me see? You’ll have to wear one sooner or later.”