Chapter 48: She seems to be… distancing herself.

Enis stood before the door of the snowy mountain cabin, the howling cold wind making her ears ache.

‘Compared to the injuries I once suffered, this is nothing.’

One week had passed since her last visit to the Second Princess. During this time, Enis continued to study Witch Pharmacy, refining her recipes and challenging herself to create magic stabilizing potions of even higher purity.

After three soft knocks, the door opened. Sybil stood at the entrance, and after confirming the visitor was Enis, she offered an elegant bow.

On the bed behind her, a young girl leaned against the headboard. Her body was still weak, but her eyes held a bit more spirit compared to the last time they met.

“Miss Enis, good day.”

“Good day, Your Highness.”

Enis bowed to the Princess. “How has your body been lately?”

“Thanks to you, I can stay awake for a short while every day at noon. The potion you brewed is very effective.”

“You overpraise me.”

Enis took a glass bottle from her robe. Inside the light purple solution, mana flowed wildly.

“The purity has increased again, I see.”

As a fellow witch, Rubia saw through it at a glance.

“Allow me.”

Sybil stepped forward to take the potion. She carefully diluted it with water and helped the Princess drink.

Once she had taken it, the light in Rubia’s eyes brightened further, and a hint of color returned to her cheeks.

“How do you feel?” Enis asked tentatively.

“My body feels light, and a lot of the fatigue has vanished.” Rubia looked at her hands, checking them repeatedly. “Thank you. My body has healed a bit more.”

“It is only my duty.”

“Enis.”

Rubia suddenly said her name without any titles or honorifics. “I told you last time—I need you as my personal alchemist. Have you considered it?”

The moment those words were spoken, the room fell silent.

Enis did not respond immediately. She knew exactly what that sentence implied.

A personal alchemist—it sounded like an honor, but in reality, it was a form of binding.

Once she accepted, her whereabouts, her results, and even her life or death would be tightly linked to the Princess’s faction.

‘This wasn’t escaping a cage; it was just swapping for a more exquisite lock.’

She subconsciously looked to her side, only then remembering that Shirley had not come with her this time.

“I only need your opinion. I will explain things to Miss Shirley,” Rubia paused, “if you agree.”

“I…”

Just as Enis was hesitating, another familiar voice sounded from outside the door. “Regarding the personnel transfer and division of authority, I will represent the family and complete all procedures with Your Highness.”

The voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

The tone was heavy with bureaucratic formality, an almost strictly business-like attitude.

The newcomer was Shirley. She looked at Rubia with a firm gaze. “There is no need to worry about my thoughts. If Enis agrees, I will agree as well.”

Enis froze for a moment. She had originally thought that the highly controlling Shirley would at least hesitate, or try to bargain for something—even if it was just a symbolic protest.

But she didn’t. She stood there as if she were truly just fulfilling a duty.

Rubia narrowed her eyes slightly, glanced at Shirley, and then looked back at Enis. “You can refuse,” the Princess said. “I will not force you.”

Those words were sincere.

Enis could feel that Rubia wanted her, but did not intend to use imprisonment to get her.

Enis opened her mouth, but found herself unable to speak for a moment.

What surfaced in her mind wasn’t the safety Rubia promised, the resources, or the possibility of escaping her family. Instead, it was the image of Shirley’s back as she stood in front of her during that blizzard on the snowy mountain.

‘Strange. Why would I think of her?’

After pushing those strange thoughts out of her mind, Enis pressed her hand against her rising chest and softly spoke.

“…I accept.”

She needed a powerful protective umbrella.

It wasn’t to oppose Shirley—and there was no need to oppose her.

The fact that Shirley was standing here meant she was also part of the Princess’s faction.

In the political arena, they had only one common enemy—the true head of the Frenst family, that old geezer.

Rubia nodded, the corners of her mouth turning up in a satisfied smile.

“Then, from now on, you are a member of my faction. Within the royal family, the potions you brew can only serve me. Without my permission, they cannot be given to any other member of the royalty.”

“Everything shall be as you command, Princess Rubia.”

As Enis bowed respectfully, she stole a glance at Shirley from the corner of her eye.

This time, Shirley had already turned around and was discussing something with Sybil.

Her back was straight and her movements were crisp, without a trace of lingering emotion.

It was as if the decision just made had nothing to do with her.

‘How strange. Why has Shirley… suddenly become so cold?’

A simple magic contract was quickly drawn up.

After the two said their goodbyes to the Princess, they headed toward the teleportation array together.

The air suddenly grew quiet. Enis and Shirley walked in silence, without saying a word.

Enis wanted to say something to Shirley, but she didn’t know what.

If she asked, “Why didn’t you object?”, it would sound like an accusation.

If she asked, “Do you just not care?”, it would seem like she was being oversensitive.

Ultimately, Shirley was the one to speak first.

“Do not worry about my thoughts. I am also a member of Princess Rubia’s faction.”

She continued, “Do you remember what I told you before? I want us to interact with each other in a brand-new relationship.”

“And isn’t equality the most fundamental part of that?”

Her tone was calm, without any emotional fluctuations.

However, Enis felt as if something had lightly knocked against her chest.

“You look…” Enis hesitated. “…like you have something on your mind.”

Shirley remained silent. She glanced at Enis, then withdrew her gaze.

“I’d like to make a simple guess. Are you thinking about the head of the family?”

Judging by the timeline in the book, that old man would be returning in a few days.

“It doesn’t matter. I will find a way to explain things to Father.”

The conversation came to an abrupt halt as they continued toward the teleportation array.

They teleported and entered the tunnel.

Darkness enveloped them. Neither could see the other; they could only tell by the sound of breathing that they were still walking side by side.

Right then, Shirley suddenly spoke.

“Is all of this… what you really want?”

Enis’s footsteps stopped.

The girl’s brow furrowed slightly because she heard a different emotion hidden within Shirley’s calm words.

She was testing her.

If she gave an affirmative answer, the distance between them would surely grow further and further apart.

‘It’s a good thing, isn’t it?’

That was Enis’s first reaction, but as she thought deeper, her heart grew increasingly conflicted.

Finally, she gave an answer that surprised even herself.