“Should I say long time no see?”
In the afternoon, Merlin looked at Lucia, who was lying leisurely on the grassy slope. She sat down beside Lucia, her legs together.
“I remember it all. It’s just… back then, it wasn’t that long, I suppose. As for the Little Merlin Form thing… I couldn’t really control it.”
Lucia looked lazy.
“Although I kinda like Little Merlin Form too, small and cute… Even if that’s still me, it’s so embarrassing I could die!”
“Enough…”
Lucia lazily crossed her legs, not caring if anyone saw her—not that anyone dared to look. She plucked a stalk of dog’s tail grass and waved it around as she asked casually.
“When are you going back to class?”
Merlin answered slowly.
“I’m not. After the Star Moon Festival events end, I’ll go back.”
“Did love come back?”
Recently, people kept asking her that question, and Merlin was getting annoyed.
“Anyway, it’s not urgent. Life goes on as usual.”
“How does it feel being back as Adult Merlin?”
Merlin looked up, watching the distant floating clouds, and pondered for a moment.
“Not bad, I suppose. At least I’m allowed to move around alone. If I were still in Little Merlin Form, even on campus, Mother would probably have Orino follow me around.”
“That’s pretty good…”
Her words hung in the air, and the atmosphere seemed to freeze for a moment. The two fell silent again.
Only the rustling of leaves remained.
If she were still in Little Merlin Form, she could coax her or play around. Lucia, who was never good at socializing, didn’t know what to say. If it were Little Merlin Form, she could still tease her or play games. But now that she was Adult Merlin, that sense of distance had returned.
Merlin suddenly remembered something.
“Ah… right. You said earlier, ‘I’ll definitely win,’ but in the end, you still lost, didn’t you?”
Lucia was taken aback. If Merlin hadn’t brought it up, she would have almost forgotten.
“That…”
She tossed away the dog’s tail grass in her hand, folded her arms behind her head, and her tone became a bit indifferent.
“At the time, it was half comfort. I couldn’t guarantee you’d win anyway. Besides, even with those dirty tricks in the exam, you still didn’t beat Mahina, did you?”
Naturally, she was referring to the time Merlin blew up the mountain, causing a landslide during the exam.
“That’s true.”
“Even back then, I had gradually started to feel something was off. The Post Office is an institution directly under the Royal Family, so investigating personnel changes and work traces is simple. Although the other side hid well, Mary also handled everything for me, since I couldn’t leave the house.”
“Mm-hmm? I suggest you don’t underestimate her. As the second daughter of a Baron’s house, with no backing, no power, and no influence, she still managed to become my personal maid. It would be a lie to say she has no skill or ability.”
“Mary…?”
Lucia turned slightly, fiddling with the deepening blue strands at the ends of Merlin’s hair.
“She just never does anything out of line. Plus, you were so cute and soft. No matter what she did, she was just protecting you twenty-four seven.”
“Then never mind. Let Mary take good care of you. I have a maid now—a Great Fairy sent from the Elven Forest.”
Lucia burst out laughing. She wiped her tears and continued.
“A Great Fairy who’s been held back for tens of thousands of years. But that was a long time ago.”
Lucia waved her hand, steering the conversation back on track.
“I see… Well, I never thought fairies would come either. This Academy once had…”
“You’re getting off track. That’s why I said you would definitely win back then. Since you couldn’t win within the game, there were always moves outside. Even if she won, by making things public, there was no way Mahina could propose too outrageous terms.”
Lucia chuckled.
“You won in public opinion—isn’t that still winning? Besides, you even got your mother’s permission.”
Merlin was slightly stunned, not quite processing it.
“Mother’s permission?”
Lucia’s smile faded, and her expression turned serious. She nodded heavily.
“After you woke up and returned to normal, Ophelia gradually regained her composure. At first, her murderous aura was so thick it was suffocating. No one dared to approach her. I even had to pass notes just to greet her.”
That manic Lucia was actually afraid of Mother?
“Merlin, don’t underestimate your mother. She’s only gentle in front of you. Whether in skill or status, Her Highness Ophelia is among the highest. Besides, when you were unconscious, she was nearly frantic. She was really worried about you.”
Merlin lowered her head, looking at her fingers, and replied softly.
“Mm… I was really afraid she might level the Capital with lightning. Even if the Empire has a theoretically equally powerful expert, they couldn’t stop the Elven Royal Family. But since you’re fine, and the exchange was your own choice, Her Highness Ophelia decided to let it go.”
Lucia paused for a moment.
“But Mahina couldn’t. That’s why she helped with my plan back then. Both the Crystal Core and your past relationship were made public. Since the Core could be disclosed, it must have been with Her Highness Ophelia’s approval.”
“Plan?”
Lucia rubbed Merlin’s head.
“When you go back, make sure to apologize properly to your mother. She was really out of her mind with worry. As for Mahina, she only showed some mercy in the end because of the Elven race’s affairs.”
Merlin knew that her past with Mahina had been exposed to everyone, and Mahina’s situation was now delicate.
But back then, as Little Merlin, she hadn’t thought deeply about how it was all done. Only today did Lucia connect the dots.
“Merlin, what do you think of Mahina now?”
“What do I think… I don’t want to see her. I hate her. Originally… between happiness and pain, the proportion of pain kept growing. And now, I’ve even forgotten what happiness felt like. All that’s left is pain.”
“Whatever you want.”
“Even if I regain ‘love,’ I don’t have to choose her. Why would I choose someone who hurts me?”
Merlin clearly didn’t want to talk about Mahina anymore. She stood up from the grass.
“If this is just small talk, I’m heading back.”
“Mm… I’m pretty free anyway, just chatting. But I still recommend you look into Mahina’s current situation. Not out of pity, but because you’re the person involved—you should know.”
Lucia looked at the sky above the Academy.
Merlin recalled Mahina’s smile directed at Little Merlin. Now, it felt as calm as still water in her heart.
“After all, that perfect Mahina has been shattered.”
This was fine. If you don’t love, you won’t get hurt.
Merlin patted the weeds off her skirt, preparing to leave.
“If it weren’t for Ophelia saying that losing ‘love’ long-term might affect you in other ways, I’d actually think it’s fine not having a heart to love. Because love is all fake.”
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