Moonlight spilled through the sparse branches and leaves, enveloping Mahina in a hazy silver veil. She looked as bright as a spring day, yet she exuded a fragile, melancholic beauty.
‘So beautiful…’
Just looking at the corners of her eyes, which seemed ready to overflow with sweetness, one could understand Mahina’s love for Merlin. She would love him even as Little Merlin. At this moment, she was crouching beside Little Merlin, looking at her with a face full of indulgence, as if the child were the center of her world.
Was it a regret? Something that had once been within her reach was now lost.
If… if only… If there hadn’t been a misunderstanding back then, would Mahina and Merlin have lived happily ever after like this? No… there were no “ifs.” Moreover, it was precisely because the two had separated that the Mahina of today, who radiated the aura of Nobility, was forged. Only after the misunderstanding was cleared did the Mahina with a heart burning with passion emerge.
In their original relationship, although Merlin and Mahina loved each other, even an outsider like Li could see that Merlin liked her a bit more. In their relationship, Merlin was the one who gave more.
However, things were reversed now. Seeing Mahina’s love—a love willing to sacrifice everything for Merlin—all the harsh words Li had prepared in her throat were eventually swallowed back down.
It was unforgivable… Li thought so out of pure emotion. What did Little Merlin, who had lost her memories of love, think of all this now?
“Remember to attend our wedding. Please wait patiently for the invitation regarding the specific time.” John, who had been listening from the side, didn’t say much more. He simply walked to the intersection ahead to wait for his fiancée.
“This…”
“Attend it. To some extent, this was Merlin’s wish at the time.”
“Merlin’s wish?” Mahina looked at Little Merlin, who was curiously playing with the Orange Crystal. The crystal reflected a cold light under the moon, mirroring her tranquil pupils.
Having heard a topic related to herself, Little Merlin did not join in. She just quietly continued to play with the crystal. However, one could see that the movements of her hands playing with the crystal had become much more disorganized. It was obvious she was eavesdropping on the conversation, and playing with the crystal was just a pretense.
Mahina’s voice trembled slightly. “What wish?”
Li had intended to say it at the very beginning, but she had unconsciously been lead astray by Mahina’s rhythm. Looking at the current Mahina, Li felt a bit of pity. Even so… even if Li disliked her, she was still the first one. Back then… Li had once stood below the stage, looking enviously at Mahina’s happy expression.
After it ended, Mahina had given her a gentle hug. Merlin, standing beside her, had promised, “For everyone’s weddings in the future, we will all be together forever to bless each other.”
Li looked at Mahina and smiled. “It’s nothing much. He just hoped we could always be together when we grew up, and he even conceptualized some plans, both big and small. The shop we’re running now was also Merlin’s original plan.”
Mahina could no longer say anything. She was the one who chose to leave, the one who took the initiative to discard this fate.
“So, please come. This is better for all of us, and I don’t want to leave any regrets.”
“I understand… thank you.”
Li waved to Little Merlin and walked toward her fiancé, who was waiting for her. “I’m the one who should say thank you. I’ll be going now.”
Mahina asked Little Merlin softly, “Is it true?”
A soft, waxy voice replied, “It was just an idea I decided on my own… I didn’t force you to do it. Besides, you ended up leaving me anyway. It’s not like I’m missing one person… Hmph.”
Mahina spread her arms and hugged Little Merlin tightly.
“I won’t leave… I’ll never leave again… Even if Little Merlin scolds me, hits me, kicks me, or drives me away, I’ll stay by your side with a thick skin. Hehe, I won’t lie to my heart anymore.”
“Fine.” Little Merlin didn’t push Mahina away, nor did she scold her. she just turned her head away while holding the crystal.
Even so, Mahina was very happy. This was the first time she had received Little Merlin’s tacit consent for a hug. It was so warm and soft. The body in her arms emitted a faint milky scent. Mahina greedily drank in this warmth, her heart beating violently in her chest.
Things that were once within reach were now so difficult to even touch. If she turned back into Adult Merlin, would she, who had also lost her emotions, allow Mahina to hug her? Would Little Merlin be as easy to coax as Adult Merlin? She was scared… truly scared. Even if she was prepared to get hurt, being hurt by the person she loved most would still make her heart ache uncontrollably. Despite this, Mahina decided to love.
‘Hehe… soft baby.’
“So, can Little Merlin tell me what other wishes you had back then? I will work hard to fulfill them for you!”
“Ugh…”
Little Merlin squeezed the crystal in her hand. Mahina slowly withdrew her hand, a trace of loneliness flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly refilled with tenderness. It was fine. She hugged Little Merlin tightly again. It wasn’t time yet… For now, she just needed to stay by Little Merlin’s side.
“Pugh, bad Mahina, let me go quickly.” Little Merlin squirmed in her arms, letting out a protesting mumble. Her two soft little hands pressed against Mahina’s chest, pushing outward unceremoniously.
“Okay—” Mahina’s voice was so gentle it could practically drip water. Unlike the playfulness between Little Merlin and her mother in the afternoon, Mahina let her go immediately. After all, the two were not that close yet.
Ophelia looked at Mahina. “The paperwork is done. Come back tomorrow morning to wrap things up.”
Mahina nodded. “I understand.”
Ophelia didn’t say much more and patted Little Merlin’s head. Her long fingers gently brushed through Little Merlin’s blue hair with a soft motion. “Does the baby still remember how to use Magic Power?”
“Yes…”
“Try infusing some Magic Power into the crystal.”
“Okay.”
Just as Merlin’s health hadn’t completely reversed, a portion of the Magic Power he had obtained back then remained. Little Merlin’s palm began to emit a blue light, which then poured into the crystal all at once. After an explosion of light as bright as the sun, a young girl appeared.
Her eyes were a clear water-blue, like a lake after a rain, but there was a hint of mysterious grayish-white deep within her pupils. She had long, orange hair that fell like a waterfall. After reaching her shoulders, it was divided into four fluffy braided pigtails that hung down to her thighs, swaying in the night wind and radiating an overflowing vitality.
The girl wore an outfit of pure white. The collar of her smooth white shirt was slightly open, and her lower body was clad in a white pleated skirt that fluttered with her movements. Her legs were encased in pure white over-the-knee socks, and she wore a pair of white ankle boots with cute buckles. atop her airy bangs, a white beret was tilted playfully.
As soon as she landed, she immediately looked at Little Merlin, whose mouth was wide open in surprise, and Ophelia, who stood behind her with a smile. A large smile, brighter than the summer sun, bloomed on her face, revealing her white teeth. Her voice was crisp and loud, instantly dispelling all the gloom around them.
“Highness Ophelia, Highness Merlinlia, Great Fairy Orino has arrived to report for duty as ordered by the Empress!”