After dinner, Flora returned to her room.
The door closed, she stood at the doorway, looking at the familiar room, and let out a soft breath. Finally back. She felt like so much had happened in the past few days.
She walked to the bed, sat down, then leaned back and fell onto the bed.
The mattress was soft, comfortable enough that she wanted to just lie there without moving. Although she was lying on the bed “powerlessly,” her mind kept turning over things.
Ilya said it would take a week or two to prepare her identity. She could use this time to think things through. First, think about what to bring.
She definitely needed to bring a few sets of clothes—nothing too flashy, just ordinary ones. Something like what she wore in Qinglan Town: low-key, unremarkable, not drawing attention.
She didn’t want to go back as a student only to be surrounded by a crowd of students, leaving her with little peace and quiet each day.
Then… and books. The academy had plenty of books, but she could bring some of her favorites. What else?
Flora turned over and stared at the ceiling. Daily necessities? She could bring them. Even though they had those there, she was used to her own. Money? Ilya would give it to her. No need to worry…
Suddenly, the door was knocked.
knock, knock, knock.
Flora was startled. She sat up and looked at the door.
“Your Highness!”
A voice came from outside. It was Lena.
“It’s me!”
Flora heard the voice and couldn’t help but smile.
She stood up and walked to the door. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, she suddenly remembered something and looked down at herself.
Her dress was a bit wrinkled, and her hair was a little messy. But she couldn’t bother with that. She pulled the door open directly.
Lena stood at the door, both hands behind her back, a smile on her face, her eyes seemingly glowing.
“Your Highness!”
She called again.
Flora looked at her.
“What’s wrong?”
She asked.
“It’s so late. Is something the matter?”
Lena nodded, then shook her head, then nodded again.
Flora was amused by her.
‘What does that mean? Yes and no?’
“Is there something or not?”
Flora’s voice carried an uncontrollable laugh.
“There is something!”
Lena finished, then hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Um… Your Highness, can I come in and talk?”
“Sure, come in.”
Flora stepped aside to let her in.
Lena walked in, stood in the room, looked around left and right, still with her hands behind her back.
Flora closed the door, walked back, and looked at her.
“Go ahead.”
Lena took a deep breath, then spoke.
“Your Highness, I heard… you’re going to the Human Academy?”
Flora was surprised.
“Who told you that?”
“Her Majesty told me.”
Lena said.
“I went to ask Her Majesty about some things earlier, and she also told me.”
Flora nodded.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Lena looked at her, eyes growing brighter.
“Well…”
She said.
“Your Highness, could you… take me along?”
Flora froze.
“What?”
“Take me along!”
Lena said, her voice a little urgent.
“I can go take care of you there! Help you cook, do your laundry, run errands! It’s inconvenient for you to go alone!”
Flora looked at her, her mind racing.
“No.”
She said.
Lena’s smile froze.
“Why?”
“Because I want to go alone. And if you come with me, what if we get discovered?”
“I can disguise myself!”
Lena said.
“Just like you went to the human side this time—disguise as a human!”
Flora shook her head.
“It’s different. You’ve always lived in the castle. There’s a lot you don’t know. I’m afraid you might slip up.”
“Then teach me!”
Lena took a step forward.
“I can learn! I won’t mess up!”
Flora still shook her head.
“It’s too risky. If we’re discovered, it’s not just your problem—I’ll be in trouble too.”
After Flora said that, Lena became completely flustered.
“But Your Highness!”
She stepped forward, step after step, almost pressing against Flora.
“But we haven’t spent much time together in so long! Ever since you came back from Qinglan Town, you’ve been busy with this and that, barely talking to me!”
Lena’s eyes glistened.
“I’m worried about you going so far away alone for so long!”
Her voice dropped.
“I just… I just want to stay by Your Highness’s side longer.”
Flora looked at her, her heart stirring. But she still shook her head.
“No.”
Lena still refused to give up.
“Then tell me, Your Highness, what are you worried about? I can change!”
Flora looked at her earnest face and suddenly felt a headache.
“There are a lot of things to worry about.”
She said.
“After you go, how will you get along with humans? Will you still call me ‘Your Highness’? What if someone overhears?”
“Then I won’t call you that!”
Lena immediately said.
“I… I’ll call you by your name! Call you Flora! Is that okay?”
Flora was taken aback.
‘Lena calling me Flora?’
It wasn’t that bad. Lena herself was also startled, then blushed. But she didn’t back down, continuing.
“I can also help you with many things! Aren’t you going to study? You’ll definitely be busy. I can run errands, gather information, help you—”
“Help expose my identity?”
Flora interrupted her.
Lena stopped.
“I won’t!”
But she immediately added.
“I promise! I’ll be careful!”
She tugged at Flora’s sleeve. Her voice was soft and sweet.
“Please let me come… I really want to go… It’s been so long since I spent time with Your Highness…”
The two stared at each other.
Flora looked at her without speaking.
After a few seconds, Lena stepped forward again and reached out.
“Your Highness…”
She called softly.
Flora looked down at the hand holding her sleeve. That hand was very small and delicate, the fingers white with a hint of red. Lena held on tightly, as if afraid she would run away.
She lifted her head again and looked at Lena’s face. Those eyes seemed to keep sparkling, full of expectation, with a little bit of grievance.
Flora sighed.
“Lena.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know how long going there will take?”
Lena blinked.
“I don’t know.”
“At least a month or two. At most, maybe several months, even longer.”
Flora said.
“Can you bear to leave the castle for that long?”
Lena thought about it.
“I… I think so.”
She said, but her tone wasn’t that certain.
Flora looked at her like that and couldn’t help but smile.
“Have you made up your mind?”
Lena nodded, full of confidence and determination.
“Yes!”
Flora sighed again, waved her hand, and slightly turned her head away. Originally, Lena wanted to act cute and pitiful again, but she was directly stunned.
“Alright.”
“Wh-what?”
“I said yes.”
Flora said.
“I’ll take you. I won’t argue anymore.”
Lena opened her mouth, looking at her, as if she hadn’t reacted. After two seconds, she suddenly jumped up.
“Really?! Your Highness you agreed?!”
“Yeah.”
Flora nodded.
“But…”
She held up three fingers.
“We need a three-point agreement.”
Lena immediately stood straight and nodded vigorously.
“First.”
Flora put down one finger.
“Over there, you can’t call me ‘Your Highness.’ Call me by name. And by then, my alias will be Funai. You should call me that, or Fufu is fine.”
Lena nodded.
“Fufu! Okay, got it!”
Flora looked at her earnest expression, held back a smile, and continued.
“Second. You must not reveal your identity. No matter what happens, you cannot let anyone know you’re from the demon race.”
Lena nodded again.
“I got it!”
“Third.”
Flora put down the third finger.
“You can’t come see me all the time. I need to have my own life. Over there, we’re friends, not mistress and servant. You also need to have your own life, understand? If you have questions about day-to-day stuff, ask later.”
Lena listened, stunned, as if she hadn’t expected Flora to make such a request.
“Then… then how often can I see you?”
Lena’s voice dropped.
“I can’t come see Your Highness often?”
“Yeah.”
Flora thought for a moment.
“It depends, but at least not every day.”
Lena pursed her lips, a little aggrieved. But she still nodded.
“Okay… I’ll remember.”
Flora looked at her like that and softened.
“Alright, remember those three things. If I think of anything else you need to follow, I’ll tell you later.”
“Got it, hehe.”
Suddenly, Lena pounced. Her movements were fast, and she hugged Flora tightly. Flora stumbled back a step, almost losing her balance.
“Lena—!”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Lena buried her face in Flora’s shoulder, her voice muffled.
“Thank you! Thank you! I’ll do my best! I won’t cause you trouble!”
Flora stood there stunned, her hands hanging in the air, not knowing where to put them. Lena hugged tightly, as if afraid she would change her mind.
Flora looked down at her “fluffy” head and suddenly laughed. She raised her hand and gently placed it on Lena’s back.
“Alright.”
She said, her voice soft.
“We’ll go together later. Let go for now.”
But Lena didn’t let go.
Flora spoke again.
“We’ll have plenty of time to hug later. Can we not hug now? I need to rest.”
Lena slowly released her hands, stepped back, and looked at her. Her eyes were a little red, but her face was full of smiles.
“Alright, go to sleep.”
She said.
“It’s late.”
Lena nodded, turned, and walked toward the door. At the door, she suddenly turned around.
“Your Highness… no, Fufu!”
Flora turned to look at her.
“Good night!”
Then she quickly walked out and closed the door.
Flora stood in the room, staring at the door for a while. Then she smiled, shook her head, and walked back to the bed to sit down. Moonlight from outside the window shone in, falling on the floor, white.
She lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Lena was going too. That always-smiling, head-patting, snack-making little maid was going to the academy with her.
She suddenly felt that this trip to the academy might become something different.