Chapter 64: Put away unrealistic fantasies (4k)

“That’s really wonderful.”

After receiving this promise from Flora, Aurora didn’t press further.

It was as if she chose to believe everything Flora said, accepting so easily that Fros was truly a good person, who used those custom-made glass instruments to make a real remedy for frostbite, rather than the counterfeit medicine rumored by outsiders.

Yet while Aurora could accept it just like that, Flora worried whether deep down Aurora thought she was merely offering a kind lie for comfort.

But before Flora could speak, as if she had seen through her thoughts, Aurora was the first to say: “Teacher Flora, who doesn’t like me lying, surely wouldn’t lie to me either.”

“This…”

Flora was at a loss for words.

Seeing this, Aurora squeezed her hand tightly and smiled: “I understand. What was said at the banquet was just polite talk, you must have your reasons. I also know not to ask questions I shouldn’t; though it might be a bit unfair to him, there’s one thing I believe in.”

After seeing the bracelet and collar on Flora, she understood that the seemingly dazzling star of the banquet had no real freedom, and so she treated Flora with this natural gentleness.

Aurora paused, trying hard not to sound insincere with her next words.

She looked earnestly at Flora and said: “As long as the real remedy is still circulating normally as it should, Mr. Fros should be happy.”

It felt too unreal…

How could there be someone like this?

In such a wretched world, how could there be someone like this.

For a moment, Flora didn’t know how to respond; she could only gaze at Aurora’s kind smile, falling into a dazed state that she shouldn’t have been capable of anymore.

What a surreal feeling.

Aurora…

Isn’t that name’s meaning “aurora,” the northern lights?

Could it be that fate delivered this light, capable of illuminating her path, to her in this way?

Flora struggled to break away from this thought.

If it were a trap, she would be doomed.

Being stared at so blankly by Flora, Aurora thought she was just talking nonsense and quickly said: “After all… after all, Miss Meifei said he was the earnest, responsible, and kind sort, heh heh…”

Because of those words, Flora managed to regain a little composure.

To be praised to her face by such a girl, and to learn how Meifei saw her—she couldn’t remain calm, and a flush crept up her face despite herself.

“Eh, Teacher Flora, are you feeling unwell? Your face is so red…”

Aurora was a very clever girl.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have thought of sneaking into the banquet disguised as a classmate’s maid.

A girl capable of such a bold act naturally garnered Flora’s affection, and she was about eighty percent sure Aurora was only pretending to play dumb with those words.

“If you keep teasing me like this, I’ll get angry.”

She couldn’t help but retort.

And then, realizing what she had said, her eyes widened.

Had the shackles of her identity disappeared?

Aurora looked at her strangely, failing to understand the cause of her reactions.

“What are you talking about, Teacher Flora? How am I teasing you? Unless…”

She pursed her lips, then flashed a meaningful smile.

“You and Mr. Fros are more than just teacher and student, aren’t you～”.

That was as far as Aurora imagined.

Flora opened her mouth, and upon realizing she still couldn’t say “I am Fros,” she knew the magic that bound her identity had not been lifted—there was just a subtle loophole.

This was a pleasing discovery; such a breakthrough was a great harvest for tonight.

“It’s nothing.”

With her mood much lighter, Flora replied with a smile.

Still, she had no intention of letting Aurora help her probe that loophole to break the binding spell.

That was too dangerous; if Moria discovered it, more torment was the least of her worries—if Aurora was implicated, that would be a disaster.

To Flora, this girl was an unexpected bond—she couldn’t rely on her too much.

Besides, Flora knew very well that Aurora was different from helpers like Lin and Meifei.

It would be hard to gain direct help from Aurora, and deep down, Flora preferred to regard Aurora as her spiritual comfort.

Just knowing that, even when everyone else—unaware of the truth—believed Fros to be a quack because of Moria and the others’ slander, there was still someone like Aurora willing to trust her without really knowing her.

That alone gave Flora the strength to keep resisting.

Aurora couldn’t make sense of all these expressions flickering across Flora’s face, but she didn’t force herself to guess.

“Teacher Flora, you’re really strange. On one hand, you tell me not to be so restrained, and on the other, you dislike me being too familiar, huh…”

She simply understood it as Flora complaining that she was holding her hand too tightly, and let out a dissatisfied little humph.

Without giving Flora chance to explain, she let go of Flora’s hand and continued expectantly: “Can you tell me more about Mr. Fros? Nothing too specific—just like what Miss Meifei said, just your opinion of him.”

Aurora had fully taken the lead in their conversation.

Flora didn’t mind; she just followed Aurora’s pace, which was fine by her.

But when it came to evaluating her past self, Flora found herself short of any positive descriptions.

“He’s an idiot—a slow, blockheaded fool, hopelessly so. If I describe him like this, do you believe me?”

After thinking for a while, Flora still chose not to lie, just as Aurora had wished, and gave this rather unsatisfactory answer.

Yet Aurora’s response was quite serious.

She nodded solemnly, not particularly surprised, as if it was exactly the answer she’d expected.

This left Flora bit bewildered.

“Looks like Teacher Flora really does have an unusual relationship with him, to use those words… Have you ever tried dating him?”

If Flora had a teacup in her hand, she would have sprayed tea all over the table by now.

What was this girl’s mind full of?

“Kidding! Don’t look at me like that—do you think I’m stupid? So hurtful… I have my reasons, and anyway, if I could find Mr. Fros, if it were possible, I actually wanted to…”

At this, Aurora’s face froze, as if remembering something unpleasant.

Her face dimmed for a moment before she forced a laugh and switched topics.

“But now it seems impossible anyway—saying something like that would be too frivolous. What I mean is, I can tell you two have a very deep connection—definitely not just teacher and student. If I go on it would be rude, so I’ll stop here. Your turn to ask me something.”

“I have nothing to say.”

Flora put on a frosty face, clearly showing her displeasure, and Aurora’s expression instantly crumpled as she pleaded.

“Come on, forgive me, Teacher Flora, Flora-sis～I was just saying whatever came to mind.”

She spoke so smoothly, it was hard for Flora not to believe she usually treated other friends this familiarly.

Flora raised her chin and gave her a contemptuous look.

This, in turn, made Aurora bristle; she balled her fists, abandoning her pleading posture.

“Really, can you blame me? It’s perfectly reasonable for me to think that. Who else would call someone a hopeless idiot like you just did! Don’t you realize how pretty you are? A beautiful girl calling some guy an idiot…”

“Have you been reading too many romance novels?”

“You’re awful!”

Flora’s comment succeeded in making Aurora’s face flush bright red.

It seemed “you’re awful” and “so hurt” were Aurora’s favorite phrases—there was an odd sort of cuteness about it, and Flora couldn’t help but want to laugh, but Aurora quickly continued: “So you really are a long-lived race, right? Of course a long-lived old master wouldn’t get us short-lived girls’ romance, haha… So what if I read romance novels? I’m an adult now; a bit of fantasy isn’t so bad! As a senior, can’t you let me have some imagination?”

Why was she dragging in racial discrimination now?

What did being a senior have to do with “imagination”?

Adding another label of “mischievous” to Aurora, Flora promptly cut off the topic of romance.

She felt that if she kept talking, her mind would get warped.

Still, she understood why Aurora would ask such things—to probe the relationship between her and Fros.

Her father was dead, and she was the daughter of a crystal workshop.

In this world, such an identity was rather delicate.

She’d most likely have to find a son-in-law to take over the family business, but Miss Aurora didn’t have an obvious favorite.

So, with all this in mind, she seemed to be aiming at that seemingly ideal young man who could make medicine.

If she’d met Aurora a bit earlier, maybe her present self…

Flora stopped herself.

Never mind what the true reason was, guessing at the motives of the girl before her—even if she was almost certainly right—was still pretty lousy.

That was a kind of harm to Aurora.

Moreover, Flora knew well it was her own inner inferiority and dissatisfaction with her circumstances at work, making her keep thinking “what if.”

Such unrealistic possibilities were best left alone; they’d only destabilize the fragile equilibrium she’d managed to restore.

Just treat the girl before her as a coincidental friend—that was undoubtedly what she should do now, and the most beneficial course.

After a short silence, the door opened and Linko returned, carrying a suitcase, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them.

It was as if she was checking whether anything inappropriate had happened.

The maid was quite worried that someone as appealing as Flora might be gobbled up by someone.

Someone like the suspicious Aurora.

Fortunately, those worries were unnecessary.

“Looks like you two had a nice chat. The gown looks great on you too. Miss Aurora, do you want to find somewhere to stay in Dorun City, or…?”

The efficient head maid of the Deran family immediately started asking the unfamiliar girl she didn’t like about her plans for the future, clearly wanting to see her off as soon as possible.

Flora quickly spoke up, not wanting Linko’s overpowering presence to cause any unnecessary trouble or misunderstanding.

“Prepare the carriage and send her back to the Royal City—that’ll be fine. Or you can put her on Miss Kate’s coach.”

“Royal City?”

Linko frowned, eyeing Aurora with suspicion.

A regular maid wouldn’t choose to settle in the Royal City; Flora’s words meant Aurora was a Royal City native—so which fallen noble family had sold her to Marquis Laman’s house?

Impossible.

Compared to the maid she’d met earlier, Aurora now looked even more stunning and carried herself in a way no maid should.

“You’re not really a maid, are you…”

She quickly worked it out, relying on her own experience and judgment.

In the Royal City, for a young person who’s not a noble to associate with nobility, there was really only one possibility.

“An Imperial Academy student sneaking into the banquet disguised as a maid?!”

“Ah…”

Aurora froze, clearly not expecting Linko to figure it out.

The maid was on the verge of exploding; such a flagrant violation of rules was obviously infuriating.

“The Laman family… what a mess!”

She gritted her teeth, and even Flora shrank back at her furious expression—she’d never seen Linko this angry before.

“How did a student from the Imperial Magic Academy get brought into the banquet—are you trying to trample on royal dignity? Miss Aurora, how can you accept such a punishment?”

Her hawk-like eyes locked onto Aurora, who let out a shriek.

“Wahh, how did you guess who I was so fast? Wait, my disguise magic?! Oh no, I forgot to use it…”

Linko sighed and pressed her hand to her forehead.

“The rumor about the Imperial Academy producing idiots isn’t wrong—all book-smart and no common sense…”

She glanced at the hesitant Flora and let out a long sigh.

“Don’t worry, sending someone like this back is simple—just have Her Highness the Princess give her a ride, not a problem at all.”

“Princess? No! I don’t want her to recognize me; she’ll mock me!”

Clearly, Aurora and Lisette knew each other at the Academy.

Flora looked at her with some sympathy.

With the Princess’s methods, it would be impossible not to discover her identity, and she knew Linko’s personality well—no matter how much Aurora screamed, the head maid wouldn’t change her mind.

Luckily, Linko was merciful.

In the end, Aurora’s “punishment” was decided amidst her pleas—not to see the Princess, but to return to Miss Kate’s side.

Flora finally witnessed just how much weight the Deran family’s head maid’s title carried: the Laman family’s attendants, upon seeing Linko, didn’t dare ask a single question and promptly put Aurora in the carriage.

Not only that, they even brought the embarrassed Miss Kate, who’d been in an awkward position in the banquet hall, and let them both leave Dorun City early.

Such efficiency truly impressed Flora.

With their departure, the lecture in the hall also came to an end.

After Linko helped Flora tidy her gown one last time, they returned to the hall.

With a much steadier mindset, Flora was ready to face the main event of tonight’s banquet.

She just hadn’t expected that what awaited her would be a scene she could never have imagined, even in her wildest dreams.