‘As I thought…’
Ophelia looked at the Great Fairy standing before her. She had sent a letter to Philia, asking for a maid to be arranged for Merlin and explaining Merlin’s situation up to this point.
Ophelia studied the Great Fairy, who exuded an incredible sense of presence. Although she hadn’t explicitly stated that she didn’t want an Elf… she hadn’t expected Philia to arrange a Fairy.
Ophelia’s voice carried an innate majesty. “Orino.”
Orino immediately straightened her back, causing the beret on her head to tremble as she answered loudly and clearly, “Yes!”
“What did Philia tell you?”
“The Empress told me to take good care of the Princess.”
As she spoke, Orino caught a glimpse of Little Merlin, who was curiously poking her head out from behind Ophelia. Just as the Empress had described, she was a soft little cub. The stars in Orino’s eyes shone even brighter.
“Orino can take care of both Adult Merlin and Little Merlin! Please don’t worry. We Fairies love children the most; taking care of little ones is in our nature!”
Ophelia nodded to herself. That part was certainly true. Fairies were pure and fond of children. If it was just for childcare, a Great Fairy was indeed the best choice. In fact, in the Elven Forest, Fairies would watch over children at all times, and Great Fairies would even raise them.
However… Ophelia had originally expected someone steady and capable, like Lucia’s maid, Mary. Instead, Orino looked like an oversized child.
Noticing Ophelia’s skeptical gaze, Orino leaned forward, desperate to prove herself.
“And what about the Elves?” ‘Could it be… she didn’t want to arrange an Elf for my side?’
Whatever… she shouldn’t dwell on it. If it truly was jealousy, what could Ophelia even do? She began to worry about her upcoming return home instead. If Philia had this kind of attitude toward Merlin as well, Ophelia began to consider whether she should just return alone.
Ophelia decided not to stress over this unsolvable problem anymore. Since this Fairy had passed through several rounds of selection, her performance shouldn’t be too bad.
“Since it’s come to this, let’s eat first.”
“Understood! Orino will help too!” The Great Fairy raised her hand excitedly, her skirt fluttering with her movements.
Ophelia turned to look at Mahina, who was standing quietly to the side, and gave her a brief glance. Mahina was stunned for a moment after understanding the gesture, then bowed gratefully. “Yes… thank you, Your Highness.”
Ophelia didn’t respond further; she simply carried the baby back. The group walked toward the warm cottage under the moonlight.
She was indeed a Fairy sent by Philia. Though she seemed careless and boisterous at first glance, she became like a different person once she entered work mode. She flew around the cramped kitchen, and in the blink of an eye, the dining table was neatly set. She had even folded the napkins into cute little rabbit shapes.
Even more remarkable was her infectious energy. She was lively and loved to laugh, humming a song as she worked, and she had already made Little Merlin giggle.
“Sorry for the wait—!”
As Orino brought the final pot of richly fragrant stew to the table, she untied her apron and sat down casually at the outermost seat, looking at Ophelia with anticipation.
“Princess Ophelia, did Orino do well?!”
Ophelia took a sip of the thick soup. The flavor was unexpectedly rich and delicious. “Mhm, it’s not bad.”
Having received confirmation, Orino’s face instantly broke into a brilliant smile. Ophelia looked toward Little Merlin and noticed her daughter’s eyes wandering through the air. Perhaps a Great Fairy was the right choice after all.
Ophelia spoke to the empty air. “Fairies of Merlinlia, listen to Orino from now on. Also, watch over Little Merlin. If anything happens, let me know immediately. Understood?”
A slight ripple shimmered in the air. Then, beside Little Merlin, nine translucent little heads emerged from the void. With their wings lowered, they answered weakly in unison, “We understand~”
Little Merlin was feeding herself soup with a spoon, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster as she looked at Ophelia with curiosity.
“The little Fairies are only as big as a palm… why is Orino so big?” She held out her small hand to gesture, looking very confused.
Orino beat the others to the answer, even proudly puffing out her chest. “Because Orino is a Great Fairy!”
‘Was there even a difference between saying that and saying nothing?’ Ophelia shook her head helplessly, picked up a napkin to gently wipe the soup stain from the corner of Little Merlin’s mouth, and explained patiently, “In the Elven Forest, ordinary Elves can summon Fairies. As for Great Fairies… they are usually summoned by the Royal Family, generated naturally, or occasionally, an ordinary Fairy evolves into a Great Fairy. It’s generally one of those ways.”
Little Merlin blinked her big eyes. “Which kind is Orino?”
“Orino appeared naturally!” Orino said muffle-mouthed as she gulped down a large piece of potato. “By the time I came to my senses, I was already lying in a stream in the Elven Forest. Then, the Royal Head Maid picked me up and took me home! Back then, I thought I was a mutated rock.”
The strange metaphor made even Mahina cover her mouth and chuckle.
Ophelia watched the harmonious scene, but her thoughts returned to practical matters. “So… if you leave Merlin or me, how long can you maintain your form?”
“If I leave Princess Merlinlia… it should be one day. If Princess Ophelia provides enough Magic Power, it’s two weeks! Don’t worry… I already bonded with Princess Merlinlia just now. Even if an accident occurs, I’ll be teleported back to Princess Merlinlia’s side! You can also summon me at any time if anything happens.”
That was right… that was why Ophelia had handed the activation over to Merlin just now, even though her own Magic Power far exceeded Merlin’s.