Lucia was still a bit annoyed that Mia had forced her way along. She wanted to take a few more jabs at Mia, but it was a fact that Mia’s Light Magic was better than her own.
Even with the same Light Magic, different users could alleviate a patient’s pain to varying degrees. Like bandaging: a skilled doctor can wrap it securely and neatly without causing much discomfort. Mia’s healing was the same. If she had just roughly injected Light Magic Power the usual way, for Merlin, who was currently sensitive and fragile, it might have backfired due to Magic Rejection instead.
No wonder the students had come to trust her so much after only a few days. She had a tolerant personality, was cute, and had a great figure. Most importantly, when healing, she would lower her head and gently soothe the students with words, and her skill was impeccable… Although… Mia didn’t come to the Capital with such good intentions, objectively speaking, she had indeed helped the students.
At that moment, Mia slowly, bit by bit, withdrew her hand from Merlin’s bedding. Her movements were extremely slow, afraid even a breeze might let the cold air from outside slip in and chill Merlin’s sweat-soaked body. After tucking the corner of the blanket back securely, Mia sat up straight again. Looking at Merlin’s pale face, she said thoughtfully, “I don’t know why Princess Merlinlia had her first period only at fifteen, but such a violent reaction is indeed because it was too late and the pressure built up. Moreover…”
Mia seemed to think of something. She lowered her head, gently biting her lower lip, brows slightly furrowed, and a hesitant, embarrassed expression appeared on her face.
Merlin was in a period of extreme sensitivity to bodily changes. Seeing Mia’s hesitant manner, she couldn’t help but weakly ask out of curiosity, “What is it…? Is there something else wrong with my body?”
“Well… this…” Mia hesitated, her gaze shifting over Merlin’s face. “Can I say it? About the real cause of Your Highness Princess Merlinlia’s illness.”
Actually, the person Merlin minded most was Mia, but since Mia was the one treating her and checking her, Merlin had no more reservations now. She replied weakly, “Mm… go ahead.”
Mia had a subtle expression. “Actually, it’s not just because this is Your Highness Princess Merlinlia’s first time that it’s so severe. It’s also because two burst at the same time, so the pain is doubled.”
Merlin’s gaze instantly froze, her brain stalling. “Two?”
Mia gently patted Merlin’s head and patiently explained, “Oh, little princess. Girls generally have it once a month. One time means one egg, right?”
Merlin was already dizzy from the pain, so she could only respond simply, “Ohhhh~”
Mia raised a finger and analyzed eloquently, “Your body turned into its little form, and although physiological functions temporarily stopped, the physiological reactions that were about to happen didn’t disappear—they just got stuck in the body. Now that you’ve turned back into Adult Merlin, your body functions have restarted. The one that wasn’t expelled last time, plus the one newly generated this time… so two cycles’ worth accumulated and erupted together today.”
“Ah, this…” Now it was Merlin’s turn to be speechless. She hadn’t expected to become Little Merlin, nor that the choices she made back then would come back to bite her when she returned to Adult Merlin.
Seeing Merlin’s expression of utter despair, as if struck by lightning, Mia couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle, eyes curving. “I’ve already performed a simple treatment. Princess Ophelia has also gone to make a Potion for you. If you get through today, it should be much better, so don’t worry.”
Merlin simply replied, “Alright.”
Seeing Merlin looking a bit drowsy, Mia slowly stood up. “Then Lucia and I will be going now. We have things to do today.”
Things to do—Merlin wasn’t present at the time, but Mahina knew. It was probably the dinner invitation from Empress Helena. Although Lucia had looked reluctant back then, she had ended up agreeing.
And at this moment, Lucia’s expression was also calm. Mahina, who had spent some time with her, could tell that Lucia was very unhappy now. She had heard that mother and daughter hadn’t seen each other in five years, and in the past ten years, they had likely exchanged fewer than ten words. If Mahina’s own family had neglected her for ten years and suddenly invited her to dinner, Mahina would be pretty pissed off too.
Moreover, although Lucia had a terrible reputation, the Royal Family always claimed to be a harmonious family. That day, Helena had publicly invited her daughter. Even though the relationship between the Emperor and Empress had long since deteriorated, they still had to maintain appearances in front of everyone. Even the hot-tempered Lucia had to consider the consequences of refusing, so she was half-forced into agreeing.
Lucia rubbed Merlin’s burning cheeks. “I’m going to take care of some business with Mia. You rest well. I’ll come visit you when I have time. See you tomorrow, Merlin.”
Lucia knew her upcoming meeting with the Empress would not be pleasant, so she was trying hard to control herself from bringing her bad mood to Merlin. That was why she wanted to leave quickly.
It was Mia who suggested leaving, but Lucia went first. When Lucia left the room, Mia followed closely behind and gently closed the door.
With a crisp click, the room returned to just the two of them. Mahina continued to comfort softly, her eyes never leaving Merlin’s. “Rest well. Let your body recover as quickly as possible—that’s the most important thing, okay?”
Even though the unpleasant incident had happened just last night, why was Mahina showing up in front of her as if nothing had happened? If Merlin had been scolded like that by anyone, even Ophelia, she would have at least wanted to avoid seeing that person for several days.
Mahina seemed to see through Merlin’s thoughts and smiled slightly. “Don’t worry about me. I just want to stay by your side, that’s all. As long as you don’t chase me away, I’m fine.”
Mahina’s tone had a charm that could soothe anxiety. She even carefully reached out and gently tucked the blanket around Merlin, making sure warmth enveloped her completely.
“By the way, Merlin.”
“What?”
“Go to sleep.”
Merlin wanted to say something more, but unconsciously she leaned into Mahina’s gentleness.
“Sleep, sleep~”
Mahina said no more. She simply sat by the bedside, still and gentle, keeping quiet vigil. Sunlight streamed through the window, spilling over her black hair and serene profile, as if coating her in a sacred halo.
At least at this moment, the two had returned to how they used to be—that quiet time when they depended on each other for warmth, clinging together.
Gradually… only the sound of Merlin’s breathing, growing even and deep, remained in the room, along with the faint noise of Orino hanging sheets to dry outside the window.