In the dim light, Lucia’s silver-gray eyes were locked onto Merlin.
“Aren’t elves born with magic? Did your mother tell you anything else?”
Born with it… right.
That word was far too dazzling for Merlin.
“Mother said I’ll recover in two hundred years at the latest. I’m just a bit slower than other elves. Actually, during my time as ‘Merlin,’ I didn’t have any magic at all. During today’s test, I actually had a tiny bit… I suppose what Mother said is true.”
“Isn’t that good, then? Your constitution isn’t completely unable to use magic; it just takes a bit more time.”
“It’s too long.”
“Two hundred years isn’t that long for an elf, is it?”
“But I’m graduating in four years!”
Merlin’s voice rose unconsciously. Realizing her loss of composure, she added in a whisper, “Two hundred years… is just too long.”
Lucia watched her in silence.
“You… just what happened between you and Machina? Is it enough to make you this desperate?”
To hide her agitation, Merlin suddenly thrust the bottle of green liquid in her hand toward Lucia. The movement was so fast it was abrupt.
“Try this, Lucia.”
“What is this?”
“Ah…”
Merlin suddenly seemed to remember something. Her hand holding the bottle froze in mid-air, and her cheeks flushed hot.
“What’s wrong?”
Lucia looked at Merlin’s self-contained shock, feeling utterly perplexed.
“I… I’m supposed to use this to massage you. Is that okay? It’s just your shoulders.”
“It doesn’t matter. If you’re going to massage me, hurry up.”
“Is… is it really okay? You are a princess, after all.”
Lucia’s expression suddenly turned serious. She sat up straight, the dim yellow light making her profile look both stern and soft.
“Merlinia. What about you? I’ve reminded you many times—you are a princess now, too.”
“But… but I used to be a boy.”
“But didn’t your mother say your soul was originally a girl’s? Besides—”
Lucia gave a playful smile and pointed at herself.
“If you asked the students at this school who looks more like a boy between the two of us, it’s clearly me, isn’t it? What are you afraid of? Come here. If anything, you’re the one who should be more on guard.”
Merlin stared at her blankly. A few seconds later, her panic slowly faded. She whispered softly.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Lucia had already taken off her coat and unbuttoned the top of her shirt. Her fair shoulders were revealed to Merlin, her skin gleaming under the light.
Merlin climbed onto Lucia’s bed with trepidation.
She unscrewed the cap, and a crisp, slightly sweet herbal scent filled the air. She poured some of the liquid into her palm. As the green liquid warmed against her skin, she began the massage.
“Tsk.”
“Ah… please bear with it. These are the areas damaged by the conflict between the two magical forces.”
“What a pain. Wouldn’t it be better to just make those oral candies like before? Can’t you make something with a stronger effect?”
Merlin shook her head.
“Since you said the medicinal effect has already improved, this level should be just right. It’s better to try other methods.”
To prevent any kind of dependency, Merlin decided to find other ways for Lucia. Even if she could make a medicine with a better sedative effect, she wouldn’t give it to Lucia anymore.
“Fine, then.”
Since it could alleviate her headaches and insomnia, Lucia naturally wouldn’t complain.
Though she had tried methods like massage before, since Merlin was someone who had already broken her common sense, she chose not to grumble further.
“The massage only hurts at the beginning. It will slowly become more comfortable. Please relax.”
“I know.”
Merlin’s small hands began to constantly massage and knead Lucia’s shoulders and back.
Lucia felt the restless magic inside her body stabilize significantly.
Even though she felt better, she still didn’t intend to let Merlin off the hook.
“Merlinia.”
She spoke suddenly, her voice lazy yet carrying a purity like that of a saint.
“I’m very curious about what happened between you and Machina in the past.”
Merlin’s fingers jerked, and her strength instantly went out of control.
“Ouch!”
“Ah! I’m sorry!”
Merlin hurriedly withdrew her hands, then carefully placed them back, rubbing with extremely light pressure.
“…You really are wicked. Here I am racking my brains to treat you, and yet you insist on poking at my sore spots.”
“But didn’t I help save the day for you? Otherwise, I was worried someone would go back to the dorm and cry.”
“Honestly…”
“Don’t worry. I’m just curious. I guarantee on my royal name that I won’t tell anyone.”
The room fell silent, leaving only the slight friction of Merlin’s massage and the occasional sound of wind and birds outside the window.
Perhaps it was because her heartstrings had been tugged by the past today, or perhaps it was because Lucia looked so reliable that Merlin felt she could be trusted.
The pace of Merlin’s hands gradually slowed.
She began to speak.
Merlin’s voice trembled as if she were rummaging through her memories, brushing away thick layers of dust.
This was the first time since that miserable farewell that she had spoken of her buried past to anyone other than her mother.
Even though she hadn’t known Lucia for long, Merlin felt that this temperamental princess was worth trusting.
She began to narrate, starting from those plain, ordinary days when she found a dying girl in a corner of the slums.
How they huddled together in a dilapidated corner, sharing a piece of hard bread and their meager body warmth.
And then, under the blessings of their simple and sincere friends, they exchanged vows.
When she mentioned the word “marriage,” Merlin’s fingers curled unconsciously against the velvet bedspread.
The parting, the waiting, the lack of news, the separation.
And finally, being adopted by Ophelia. Merlin told Lucia everything about her life with Machina before entering the academy in brief detail.
From beginning to end, Lucia did not ask questions, nor did she show any reaction of surprise or pity. Her back remained straight as she listened quietly.
The strength in Merlin’s fingertips occasionally wavered—sometimes too heavy, sometimes light as a feather—but Lucia accepted it all without a single grunt of dissatisfaction.
It wasn’t until the massage ended and the cooling power of the medicine had completely penetrated her muscles that Merlin’s hands finally stopped.
Only then did Lucia slowly sit up straight. With her back to Merlin, she pulled her sliding shirt back into place and unhurriedly fastened the buttons.
“I see…”
Merlin sat quietly on the bed. Touching upon the sorrow of the past made her sentimental.
She sat there with her shoulders slumped slightly, her blue gradient hair falling over her cheeks and hiding her expression.
The sorrow of the past was currently turning into cold seawater, submerging her entire being and making her feel sentimental and fragile.
As expected, no matter how much time passed or how hard she worked, sadness was sadness, and pain was pain, no matter how much she comforted herself.
After Merlin’s massage, Lucia felt the magic circulating through her body become much gentler. Even without taking medicine, her bones didn’t ache as much.
She leaned back comfortably, lying down on her large, soft bed once more, and stretched lazily.
Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly reached out a fair arm and pulled Merlin toward her without a word.
“Eek!”
Merlin was immersed in her own sorrow and was completely off guard. She let out a startled cry as she was pulled down.
Merlin fell into the soft bedding, her nose instantly filled with the cool, pleasant scent that belonged to Lucia.