“Hey, Professor Monet, tell me… what do you think Her Highness is doing right now?”
Carris Manor, Alchemy Laboratory.
Floxi sat on the edge of the examination bed, rolling up one sleeve to reveal her fair, smooth forearm—it was currently connected to various magical instruments.
“Luwei? She’s probably still sleeping in.”
As she spoke, Monet pushed open the laboratory window.
The morning sunlight spilled into the lab.
Floxi suddenly felt it was a bit glaring…
She narrowed her eyes, and the image of Luwei couldn’t help but surface in her mind…
Dressed in her nightgown, lying lightly on the large bed, breathing steadily, and occasionally letting out cute purrs… just like a sleepy kitten.
If Her Highness hadn’t gone on a business trip…
At this hour, I would be guarding her bedside, quietly admiring her serene sleeping face, right?
“The Phase 1 clinical trial results are looking quite good…”
“Once Her Highness Luwei returns, we can begin preparations for the mass production of this ‘Giant Strength Potion’.”
Monet’s mutterings from the side pulled Floxi back to reality.
“Professor Monet~~”
Floxi blinked at her.
“I contributed too, right… could you, perhaps, put in a good word for me in front of Her Highness?”
Upon hearing this request, Monet suddenly appeared a bit hesitant.
“That, that shouldn’t be a problem…”
“However, I must be the first author on the paper!”
“This is the one thing I cannot compromise on; I really need this achievement!”
Hearing this, the corner of Floxi’s eye twitched, and she said with some resignation,
“How could I ever compete with you on that?”
“I just wanted to… hear Her Highness’s praise, that’s all.”
A glimmer of anticipation flashed in her eyes.
***
Monet and Floxi were the only two researchers in this laboratory.
The latter treated Monet as a teacher without any hesitation, coming to the laboratory whenever she had free time to help out and ask academic questions.
As a professor at the Avalon National Magic Academy, Monet was naturally quite happy to answer questions for such a diligent Alchemy Apprentice.
Plus, with Luwei away on business for the past week, Floxi had nowhere else to go besides the Magic Academy, so she had been running to the lab every single day.
Over time, their relationship grew quite close…
“By the way, Floxi.”
“Today is your birthday, isn’t it?”
Monet asked somewhat nonchalantly,
But judging by her expression, she had likely kept it in mind for a long time.
“Happy birthday~~”
“It’s a real shame, though, that Her Highness Luwei isn’t here.”
Monet tapped her cheek, seemingly deep in thought.
“Otherwise, she would have been very happy to organize a coming-of-age ceremony for you.”
As she spoke, Monet was struck by the idea of celebrating Floxi’s birthday…
“I’m fine, really!”
Floxi waved her hand.
“Just hearing you say happy birthday already makes me very happy.”
***
After leaving the laboratory, Floxi began to wander aimlessly around Carris Manor.
She arrived at the training ground.
Sabella spotted Floxi from a distance and wanted to invite her to practice swordsmanship.
But she was politely declined by a smiling Floxi.
There was no other reason—
Her Highness Luwei did not want to see her spending her time on swordsmanship or magic… things that “improve personal strength.”
And as it turned out…
Her Highness’s decision was right once again.
The teachers at the Magic Academy praised her as a once-in-a-century alchemical prodigy.
The reason was simple—in all alchemy courses, Floxi’s grades were ahead of every other student in the academy by a landslide.
Looking back at the practical combat magic classes she had taken previously… one could only say her performance was mediocre; both in theory and practice, her grades were at best above average.
Spending time on swordsmanship and magic was a total waste of her talent for alchemy!
Floxi realized this quickly… was this also within Her Highness Luwei’s expectations?
Her Highness was always like this; she would say the most hurtful things, but everything she said and did was always out of consideration for the other person…
For the remainder of the time, as if deliberately tracing Luwei’s footsteps,
After leaving the training ground, Floxi headed straight to the library.
From being practically deserted a month ago, to now—
It had almost become a landmark for all the nobility in the Kares Territory.
No matter whose child it was, if they wanted to show off their diligence and love for learning, they would come to this prestigious library to take a stroll.
“It’s all because of Her Highness…”
Floxi felt a stir in her heart.
It was rumored outside that Her Highness Luwei was a shallow vase of a noblewoman who didn’t study.
Yet, she could sit in this library for an entire afternoon.
In contrast, these little nobles who prided themselves on their intellect crowded into this library, but their hearts were not at all on seeking knowledge; instead, they treated it as some kind of social gathering.
When Floxi returned to her quarters, it was already quite late.
During the days Luwei was away, she always felt a sense of emptiness, as if life had lost its luster.
But when Floxi actually walked along Luwei’s footsteps, wandering around Carris Manor again and again…
She discovered,
Her heart felt even emptier.
Floxi had never felt this way before… but she could vaguely sense,
That she only needed to catch a glimpse of Her Highness Luwei from afar, or just talk to her, or be scolded by her…
And all the discomfort in her heart would vanish.
Like an antidote, or perhaps even more like a poison…
Floxi clutched her own chest, She didn’t know when it started, but she had become someone who could no longer live without Her Highness…
***
Returning home and pushing open the door to the small servant’s room, Floxi suddenly noticed a faint light.
The tip of her nose caught the scent of burning candle wax, along with a faint, sweet smell…
What is this…?
[HAPPY BIRTHDAY!]
In the center of the table sat a cake covered in frosting and a card with delicate handwriting.
[Sorry~ You came back too late. I still have experimental results to verify tonight, so I can’t keep you company. Prof. Monet]
Floxi didn’t know what was wrong with her…
When she saw the light in the room, she even had a faint hallucination.
Although this was very unfair to Professor Monet, what had flashed through Floxi’s mind,
Was indeed the silhouette of a certain silver-haired girl…
Looking at the cake with a candle on the table, a feeling of gratitude washed over Floxi.
She made a simple wish and blew out the candle on the cake…
As the warm orange candlelight vanished, the room suddenly plunged into darkness.
But for some reason, In this darkness, something was glowing.
“What is this…?”
Floxi stared intently…
She was surprised to find that it was the Family Seal that Luwei had left with her before leaving.
This was a very important magical tool.
Not only was it a symbol of being an important member of the family, but it also held essential communication functions.
With this seal, Floxi was able to have the authority to handle affairs of the Carris Family while Luwei was away.
But why…
Was this seal glowing?
A faint doubt rose in her heart, and Floxi couldn’t help but reach out and grip the Family Seal in her hand…
The next moment,
She sensed a massive flow of mana.
The seal seemed to be trying to communicate with her, conveying a message—
[To, The Honorable Her Highness Luwei]
[Your father, on August 6th of the New Era 74, has unfortunately passed away in the glorious cause of resisting the Demon Race…]
[Please accept our condolences. The Federation will always remember and mourn every true hero!]