“Ruby, where did this rose come from?”
“I bought it on the street; there’s a mobile stall selling these flowers. They’ve become quite popular in the Imperial Capital lately.”
Ruby gently adjusted the angle of the petals with her fingers, making them present the most perfect posture.
“Is that so?”
Machina looked at the rose placed in the vase.
After arranging the flower, Ruby remained busy but didn’t forget to add:
“These Starry Sky Roses absorb light during the day and emit starlight like the night sky at night. Noble banquets have been ordering them in large quantities recently. It’s said they look beautiful when arranged in large numbers under dim lighting.”
“I see.”
Machina wouldn’t participate in social activities unless absolutely necessary, and she rejected all invitations from noble ladies. She wasn’t sensitive to such trends, but she recognized this rose.
Ruby noticed Machina’s contemplative look.
She frequently arranged flowers in Machina’s room, so why was her mood a bit low today?
“Do you like this flower, My Lady? I can buy more to decorate the room.”
Machina shook her head, her messy hair hiding her expression.
“No need. I’m not interested in roses sold on the market.”
Ruby blinked, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, she obediently remained silent, performed a bow, and exited the room.
The door closed gently with a faint click.
***
Life had been unexpectedly good lately.
Most importantly, the Starry Sky Roses were selling better than Merlin had imagined.
Even just moving through the Imperial Capital while holding Starry Sky Roses made one a part of the scenery.
They were so popular that Merlin had to use growth-promoting potions to increase production. Even with the increased costs from using potions, she was making a massive profit.
It seemed she wasn’t far from achieving her small goal.
School life was also manageable—studying, preparing for major exams, and doing research in the laboratory.
The subject exams had ended smoothly. Merlin’s performance in both alchemy theory and practicals was practically perfect. Without any surprises, she should be able to maintain her top position.
Merlin had also thought of a new sleep-aid method and formula, planning to give it to Lucia the next time they met.
If she had to mention any dissatisfaction, it would be—
“Princess Merlinlia, could we please ask you to join our Magic Department?”
This wasn’t the first time.
Lately, Merlin had been frequently invited by students from the Magic Department.
“I’m sorry.”
Merlin would give a polite refusal and leave.
Aside from the second-year Magic Department students, magic students from other years had also been inviting Merlin here and there.
It was absolutely exhausting because Merlin couldn’t use magic at all. However, whether she could say that clearly was something Merlin wasn’t sure about.
Reasonably speaking, students who joined the Alchemy Department were defaulted to having no magical talent.
This was because even students with just a tiny bit of magical talent would choose to join the Sword Arts Department.
Even if they only used a negligible amount of mana to strengthen their bodies, they would still be stronger than ordinary swordsmen; at the very least, they could be called Magic Swordsmen.
Because of this, the Alchemy Department was looked down upon, treated as a gold-plating tool for noble children without talent.
Merlinlia was an Elf, and the label of an Elf alone was enough to shatter these stereotypes.
But Merlin really couldn’t use magic. She had tried, but she couldn’t manifest mana.
After the elective course on Elven Culture, this curiosity reached its peak.
The silver-haired young mage bowed with one hand over his chest, his fingertips trembling slightly from nervousness.
The number of invitations must have reached a hundred by now.
“Princess Merlinlia, please reconsider! You are an Elf, and royalty at that. Your innate magical talent should not be wasted.”
The classroom suddenly fell silent. The students of the Alchemy Department collectively gripped the edges of their robes.
Are they worried I’ll abandon them just like that?
As the only Elf in the elective course, Merlin was already eye-catching, not to mention having Magic Department students trying to poach her right in front of the Alchemy students.
Merlinlia’s voice was cold.
“I’m sorry, I cannot go.”
Merlin still chose to refuse tactfully.
It was likely due to the professor’s lecture on the relationship between magic and Elves earlier. Other Magic Department students also joined the fray, their eyes radiating fervor.
Although the Alchemy students said nothing, Princess Merlinlia’s attitude was already very clear.
She wasn’t going.
Therefore, the Alchemy students gained some confidence. Since the Princess said she wouldn’t go, they should support her.
The situation was on the verge of exploding, while even the irrelevant Sword Arts students sat in their seats, watching the drama.
Machina was talking with her friends, neither leaving nor participating, as if this dispute was nothing more than a minor squabble.
Forget it, it’s no big deal.
Anyway, Merlin hadn’t been able to use magic for as long as she could remember. Even after turning into an Elf who was supposed to be good at magic, nothing had changed.
If she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t do it. There was no point in pretending to be something she wasn’t; a lie would eventually be exposed.
Even if she was an Elf, there must be Elves who couldn’t use magic, right?
“Could it be… that she has no mana?”
A faint voice came from the crowd opposite her.
I really should just stay in the Alchemy Department.
Merlin was straightforward.
“Inviting me is useless. I’m sorry, but I don’t have mana. Please leave.”
The Magic Department students all wore expressions of disbelief.
“How is that possible?”
“Even if it’s a rejection, please come up with a more clever excuse.”
“You are an Elf, and royalty to boot. How could there be an Elf in this world who cannot use magic?”
Merlin sighed.
“But I really can’t use magic.”
“How can it be…”
The Magic Department students still looked incredulous.
“Hey, the Princess already said she’s unwilling.”
The Alchemy students also spoke up to support Merlin.
Seeing that it was almost time for the next class, students from both the previous and current classes watched the increasingly tense atmosphere in silence.
“In that case, let’s prove it.”
Machina, who had been sitting quietly, spoke.
She walked up to Merlin, still wearing that gentle smile.
She placed a precise brass machine on Merlin’s desk.
“Whether there is mana or not can be known with one test. It’s better to have fewer pointless arguments, isn’t it?”
It was the truth anyway, so what was the point of struggling?
Merlin placed her finger on the machine. The machine did not react the way most people imagined it would.
It merely puffed out faint blue lights like small fireworks.
Deep blue and sky blue.
Ice attribute and Water attribute.
This was the mana intensity found in most students of the Sword Arts Department.
It existed, but not much. To become a proper mage, it was not enough.
This actually surprised Merlin a bit. This wasn’t the first time she had tested her mana.
There was actually a reaction. Could it really be like what her mother said—that she could use magic after two hundred years?
This was a hurdle she couldn’t get over; it was the starting point of her and Machina’s separation.
And that genius mage who had once dumped her and was now radiant with glory was standing right in front of her, looking at her with those scrutinizing eyes, as if observing a flawed piece of art.
“You are neither stronger than me, nor are you reliable…”
Those were the words she had said back then. If Merlin admitted it here, it would be like a continuation of that night.
It was as if saying that despite several years passing, she still hadn’t made any progress.
Even so, Merlin lowered her head and admitted it.
She looked into Machina’s eyes, which clearly looked as gentle as water, yet were colder than that night.
“I told you, I don’t have the talent to be a mage.”