Chapter 57: The Rose’s Heartfelt Wishes (3)

Merlin buried her blushing little face deep into the petals that emitted a faint blue light.

The deep blue roses complemented her hair, which was as azure as the night sky, making it seem as if she had become a part of the stars themselves.

From time to time, she let out one or two silly giggles from behind the bouquet. Her eyes, visible just above the petals, curved into crescent moons, brimming with happiness and sweetness.

The scene was as beautiful as a painting.

The surrounding students stopped one after another to watch.

“Are those… Starry Sky Roses? That’s such a huge bouquet…”

“Starry Sky Roses are currently in high demand but short supply… How many are in that bunch? Thirty? Or maybe fifty?”

“Not only that, look at the quality of those flowers… Those are definitely not the ordinary ones you can buy at a flower shop.”

At this moment, the priceless bouquet lay in the arms of the Elf Princess, serving as an adornment to her beauty.

“Who sent them? Just who was it?”

“Look at Merlin… Her face is so red, and she’s smiling so sweetly. It definitely isn’t just a normal friend, right?”

“Could it be that rumored… sweetheart?”

Everyone watched Merlin, who usually carried an air of detachment, acting like a young girl in the middle of a passionate romance. She unconsciously radiated a pink aura under the setting sun.

That kind of gap moe was simply incredibly cute.

“So beautiful… As expected, an Elf Princess and fresh flowers are the perfect match.”

“I’m so jealous… I want to be given flowers like that too…”

Li’s little scheme was clearly a massive success.

Although the flowers were sent to make their Elf Princess happy, being able to do a bit of advertising was even better.

Nothing stimulated sales more than a beautiful Elf Princess holding a bouquet.

Merlin, however, remained completely oblivious.

Under the gaze of the entire school, she unconsciously released a dazzling charm.

However, as time passed, the weight of reality began to set in.

“Ugh… so heavy…”

Merlin’s face crumpled behind the flowers.

While it looked aesthetic, a physical bouquet of fresh flowers with stems full of water was quite heavy.

Merlin felt her wrists go sore, and even her toes began to ache slightly.

‘I want to get back to the dorm and put these flowers down quickly.’

With that thought in mind, Merlin reached a fork in the road and decisively abandoned the flat but crowded main path. Instead, she turned into a secluded trail that led to the dormitory area.

This was the back of the academy buildings. Dense ivy blocked the setting sun, causing the light to dim instantly, while the surrounding noise was walled off by heavy stone.

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief and adjusted her grip on the flowers, preparing to rush back to the dormitory in one go.

“Whew… once I pass through here, I’ll—”

Her footsteps suddenly stopped.

At the end of the narrow path stood a person.

The figure leaned against the moss-covered stone wall, long black-blue hair falling over her shoulders. Her eyes shimmered with a heart-stopping light in the dim surroundings.

It was Mahina.

Her gaze passed over the Starry Sky Roses, which radiated a blinding light of happiness, and pierced straight toward Merlin’s face—a face that hadn’t yet had time to hide its smile.

***

Originally, Mahina had just finished a day of high-intensity magic training and was heading back to the dormitory with a tired body.

Sweat soaked her inner lining, and the overexertion of her mana made her temples throb with pain.

Mahina hadn’t intended to pay attention to the surrounding commotion, but the noisy discussions contained a few piercing keywords that hooked her attention like fishing hooks.

“Elf Princess,” “Starry Sky Rose,” and “Sweetheart.”

Mahina stopped. Through the gaps in the crowd, she saw the figure surrounded by the sunset and flowers.

The person she had once sworn to spend her life with, but whom she now hated to the bone.

Merlin was smiling so happily. That defenseless smile of total reliance on someone was something that used to belong only to Mahina.

And now, she held the Starry Sky Roses that once belonged to the two of them.

A huge bouquet of Starry Sky Roses that felt almost like a mockery.

‘How dare you show that kind of smile in front of so many people? And while holding Starry Sky Roses?’

“I heard a sweetheart sent them…”

“It must be. Otherwise, who would send such expensive flowers…”

The whispers of the passersby accurately stabbed into Mahina’s already battered heart.

Mahina’s fatigue vanished, replaced by a rage that threatened to burn away her reason. Beneath that anger, a surge of bitterness and sharp pain welled up.

‘You sold our memories and promises for money, and now you’re flaunting the same flowers given to you by someone else?’

‘No… what is there even to say?’

‘Hasn’t she already betrayed me?’

‘Hmph… just go. Ignore her.’

Yet, as if possessed, Mahina watched Merlin duck into that small path…

***

Merlin looked at the figure leaning against the wall. Her cheerful mood, which had been buoyed by her childhood friend, cooled instantly as if doused with ice water.

Merlin didn’t quite understand. Why was Mahina here?

Today was supposed to be a happy day. Why was she here to pick a fight again?

Mahina stood at the only exit of the path.

In this oppressive atmosphere, it was difficult for Merlin to ignore her and keep moving forward.

Mahina didn’t look at Merlin’s face. Her pinkish-blue eyes were fixed intensely on the massive bouquet of Starry Sky Roses in Merlin’s arms.

There was no warmth in her pupils, only a fathomless chill.

“It seems the Starry Sky Roses that are so popular lately are indeed your handiwork.”

Mahina spoke coldly and with a sarcastic tone.

Merlin frowned and tightened her hug on the bouquet, as if trying to protect the flowers from the girl’s biting words.

“Since I’m the one who researched them, how I handle them is my choice.”

Merlin didn’t give her a friendly look, snapping back with a stiff tone.

‘So it really is like that.’

The oaths they once made over the Starry Sky Roses were, in Merlin’s eyes, nothing more than bargaining chips that could be liquidated.

“Hmph… I see.”

Mahina let out a cold laugh. She slowly straightened her body and pushed away from the wall.

“Whatever you do with them is your right. After all, they’re things that can be traded for cold, hard cash. It has nothing to do with me anymore.”

“Right. It has nothing to do with you anymore.”

Merlin took a deep breath, not wanting to engage in another meaningless argument.

“Please move aside. I’m going back. See you at the exam.”

After saying that, Merlin held the roses close and tried to squeeze past Mahina.

“Indeed… it’s none of my business, hmph. If I win this time, I’ll make you leave this academy. Go play with your roses and your sweetheart then.”

Merlin remained silent for a moment. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t want to get Li and John involved with her.

They were already strangers now. Would it really be a good thing for Mahina to know that their old companions were nearby?

“Do whatever you want. I’ll set the same conditions. See you at the exam, pfft.”