Now it was Merlin’s turn to be at a loss for words.
It didn’t seem entirely correct, but she couldn’t find any way to refute it.
“You hate me, don’t you? So why are you so angry?”
After holding it in for a while, Merlinia could only lift her eyes, looking a little wronged.
She softly uttered the words, her voice as light as a feather brushing past.
Mary gazed at the blue-haired, gradient-tipped, exquisitely doll-like Elven Princess before her. The pity and helplessness in her eyes deepened once again.
She let out a gentle sigh.
“A few days ago, I truly am sorry. I shouldn’t have believed only the rumors.”
Even when they reached the sparsely populated laboratory building, Mary still held Merlin’s hand, step by step heading toward their destination.
“If I really hated you, I wouldn’t have stepped in for you just now. If I only wanted to deliver materials, I could have just waited for you in the lab. On the contrary, I want to make up for the mistakes I’ve made. I want to do my best to look after you, but honestly, I can’t stand seeing your current state.”
“But I’ve always been like this.”
“That’s exactly why I suggested you find a strong-willed maid. After turning back into the Elven Princess, maybe because of the effects of the ‘Tears of the Spring’, your personality is even softer than before—honestly, you’re as soft as a slime now. Just watching you, I worry you might get eaten up one day!”
“H-How could that happen!”
Merlinia couldn’t take it anymore, her fair cheeks instantly flushed red, even the pointed tips of her elven ears tinged with pink.
She was a tough guy, after all!
“Maybe your appearance is part of the reason too. The same gestures and answers are completely different now.”
Get…get eaten up?
“That’s why Her Highness Ophelia can’t let go and insists on staying by your side every day, isn’t it? If you want to be independent, you need to be more reliable first. Otherwise, just honestly accept other people’s care—don’t try to have it both ways.”
Mary led Merlin through the corridor, into Merlin’s laboratory, locked the door, and carefully took out the required medicinal ingredients one by one.
“Besides, you braved life and death alone to gather herbs in the labyrinth, just to keep your promise to Her Highness Lucia. How could I possibly hate you? But…I still hope you won’t do such reckless things again.”
Mary sighed.
“If something happens to you now, it would be disastrous for both sides. That’s why Her Highness Ophelia is overprotective of you—it’s not without reason. Right now, in our eyes, you look like a baby: soft, beautiful, with no idea of female common sense, and frankly, a bit clueless.”
Seeing the worry and seriousness in Mary’s eyes, all of Merlinia’s rebuttals got stuck in her throat.
She quietly lowered her head.
“I understand.”
She didn’t talk back anymore, she couldn’t win.
“As for the maid, please consider it again. But to find one suitable for you in the Imperial Capital might be hard. You’ll probably have to return to the Elven Forest.”
The Elven Forest… the homeland of the Elven Princess, a place Merlin had never visited.
Someday, she would have to go back. Ophelia had already told Merlin she’d take her back at the latest during the Festival of Radiance.
She’d even promised Merlin that everyone back home would definitely welcome her.
It was a little exciting to think about.
As Merlin walked to the experiment table, about to put on her familiar white robe, Mary was a step ahead. She gently took the robe, unfolded it expertly, and draped it over Merlin’s slender shoulders.
A warm feeling of being taken care of quietly spread in her heart.
Merlin suddenly felt that having such a thoughtful and attentive maid at her side might not be a bad thing after all.
Merlin collected herself and soon became immersed in her work, handling the materials methodically.
Mary sat properly not far from Merlin, watching her.
As an experienced maid, Mary understood the importance of distance. This was close enough to protect the other if anything unexpected happened, but not so close as to make her feel uncomfortable.
When it was time to work, she seemed reliable indeed, as long as she didn’t show those ever-changing facial expressions.
At times like this, she really did resemble the stereotypical image of the cool, beautiful, otherworldly Elven Princess, radiating an untouchable focus and beauty.
“Other than moonlight grass, the rest of the herbs are quite common.”
“I’ll teach you all how to make the candies and incense.”
“Is that really okay? Isn’t this a precious recipe?”
“It’s fine, it’s not like you’d use it for anything bad.”
“I promise you, we definitely won’t.”
Mary made a face as if she was about to swear an oath.
“It doesn’t have to be so serious. Just use it well.”
Merlin shook her head.
Anyway, to Merlin, it wasn’t anything particularly valuable.
It was just something she’d made during sleepless nights, after the painful incident in the slums.
This recipe didn’t carry any beautiful memories.
The crucial step in the blending process was finally complete.
Merlinia let out a long breath, her tightly drawn shoulders relaxing a bit, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Mary immediately stepped forward, taking a clean, soft white handkerchief from her chest and gently wiping the moisture from Merlin’s brow.
Merlin instinctively shrank her neck at first, but then quieted down, like a cat being stroked, letting Mary gently fuss over her.
How adorable, Mary’s heart almost melted at the sight of such meekness and acceptance.
Taking care of such a lovely and beautiful girl really was satisfying, almost fulfilling.
It was like feeding a small animal—after spending time and food, what did the feeder really get?
Perhaps, just seeing the other’s peaceful, comfortable appearance was enough to heal one’s heart. Mary certainly felt that way now.
But…
Mary’s movements didn’t stop, but her gaze settled deeply on Merlin’s defenseless face.
She really was cute…truly…indescribably beautiful.
Elves were naturally beautiful, and this one was a princess.
Perhaps, having lived as a boy for so long, her guard was low.
She’d never considered that someone might do anything untoward to her.
This part would have to trouble Her Highness Ophelia.
Her years of living as a commoner probably played a role too?
Even though they were both girls, when Merlin was touched by Mary earlier, she’d only instinctively shrunk her neck, and didn’t resist any further.
It was an unconscious move from Mary, but thinking about it, it was rather rude to do that to a princess.
If she were a more sensitive princess, Mary might have been punished.
Now, Mary understood why Her Highness Ophelia worried about her daughter so much.
Honestly, it made you anxious just to look away—her wariness as a girl was far too low. She really needed a more assertive maid by her side.
The old Merlin hadn’t been assertive, and now as Merlinia, she was even less so.
Mary gazed at the petite blue-haired elven girl, no matter how she looked, she couldn’t imagine how this girl could have ever come into conflict with the equally gentle Mashina.
Even if Her Highness Lucia hadn’t instructed her to gather information, she would have been curious anyway.