This is not a bloodbath—just two schemers taking petty revenge on a disobedient pet.
With this mindset, Flora maintained an utterly calm demeanor, silently watching these two villains each harboring their own agendas.
Her judgment was soon rewarded.
Seeing her unruffled expression, Lisette and Moria exchanged glances.
The one presiding over the banquet chose to yield first.
“Since Your Highness is in the mood to dance, I shouldn’t spoil it. Enjoy yourselves. But Flora, after the banquet, you’ll owe me a night’s worth of dancing as compensation.”
After saying this, she flashed Flora a smile that made her very uncomfortable, then turned toward the corner of the hall where Flora had originally been resting, calling Elka and Tatasimi over as she went.
She didn’t even let her own sister, Emia, go—gathering everyone around that tea table.
Flora understood that this gathering of ladies for tea signaled that Moria was in high spirits.
Judging by this, the woman had likely achieved all she set out to do tonight—perhaps even more than she’d planned.
So, Flora felt indifferent about whatever might happen next.
Moreover, she had reason to believe that Moria was more than happy to see her and Lisette interacting closely.
One couldn’t help but wonder what benefits this might bring the young lady of the duke’s family, having her mingle with a member of the royal family.
“Flora, you’re the first person I’ve danced with besides my dance tutors, you know.”
Lisette’s words drew Flora’s attention away from Moria and back to the small, troublesome girl before her—one a whole head shorter, yet far more difficult to handle.
Her Highness had already dismissed her attendant Liz, and no one else was nearby.
Amid the lively banquet, they now found themselves in a bubble of relative solitude.
“It’s an honor,” Flora replied with a conventional answer, trying to play it safe.
But Lisette pursed her lips and complained, “Are you that reluctant?”
“Sigh…”
Flora couldn’t help but sigh.
She hated conversing with schemers—especially someone like Lisette, who so obviously had motives yet feigned innocence.
The young girl’s manner reminded Flora of her first encounter with Linko; that maid had left her with the same kind of impression Lisette now gave her.
“All right, since I find you so interesting, cheer up and dance properly with me. I’m a beginner at this, so you’ll have to lead me.”
Flora wanted to say she wasn’t much better, but with a command from the princess, she had no choice but to comply.
Helplessly, they took their places on the dance floor, waiting for the music to begin.
Only now did Flora realize: when Linko had mentioned someone at the banquet would ask her to dance, she was referring to Princess Lisette.
It also indirectly proved that Moria wanted her to interact with the little princess.
The more she thought about it, the more she wondered what schemes might be at play behind the scenes, and the more she tried to discern Moria’s intentions.
“When you’re dancing with me, don’t let your mind wander to anyone else, okay? This is my first time, after all. Who would want their partner thinking of someone else during such a moment?”
“Eh…”
Flora blinked in confusion.
Was this kid making an indecent joke?
Wasn’t she afraid someone might overhear and misunderstand…?
Wait!
Something about the atmosphere felt off.
“Your eyes are lovely, Flora—like the sky itself. But as beautiful as they are, I can’t see any passion in them.Feigning nervousness and excitement, just to protect yourself—hiding behind this performance? When you’re with me, could you relax a little?”
Lisette’s tone was playful, but the danger she exuded was fundamentally different from Moria’s, though similar in its own way.
Flora swallowed nervously and said in a low voice, “I don’t understand what Your Highness means.”
“Are you only at ease when you can read my mind as we talk? Fine…”
As she spoke, Lisette glanced at Moria—still chatting happily at the tea table—then naturally placed her hand on Flora’s shoulder, lowering her voice as well.
“The music is about to start. Since you’re not willing, we can have a proper conversation once you’ve entered the palace.”
She reached out and casually pinched Flora’s chin.
When Flora remained stiff as a board, Lisette rose onto her tiptoes and leaned in closer.
“Is Flora-sis so still because she finds me too cute, and wants a closer look? We could get even closer, you know.”
“Your Highness, I really can’t handle such nicknames.”
Flora quickly leaned back to put some distance between herself and Lisette, but the princess’s smile only grew wider.
“But if I want you to handle it, then you must.”
Flora could find no retort to that.
She opened her mouth, then chose to accept it—logic told her there was no point in getting hung up over this.
Yet Lisette’s next words were like a depth charge, giving her no chance to stay calm.
“How about this—if you don’t like ‘Flora-sis,’ then how about ‘Flora-brother’?”
“……”
“‘Flora’ means ‘flower,’ and ‘Emerald’ is the surname Yaar gave you. So, is ‘Flora’ also a name she chose for you?”
“Though I don’t know what poor Mr. Fros went through, to be abandoned by one’s parents like that is just too sad.”
“Your Highness, you…”
Flora no longer knew what to say.
It was as if Lisette already had all the answers, and was simply observing her reaction to confirm them.
And she was right—Lisette had indeed confirmed her guesses from Flora’s response.
But she didn’t pursue the topic further, merely smiled.
“Don’t overthink it. I have no elder sisters, so calling someone ‘sis’ probably doesn’t sound very natural. But I have many brothers, so maybe you’d prefer ‘brother’ instead.”
At that moment, the music began.
Being short, Lisette naturally took the role of the lady partner, and led Flora into the dance.
Contrary to her modest claims, the princess was no novice—Flora barely needed to think as she was guided into a harmonious and graceful waltz.
“It’s not right for me to always say things that make you uncomfortable.”
How about this: I’ll ask you some normal questions.
That should make it easier for you to answer.
“Don’t avoid my eyes—only through genuine conversation can we understand each other better… Flora-sis, can you tell me how you feel right now?”
So young, and yet worthy of her royal title.
Seizing control of the tempo, she shifted their conversation into harmless small talk—nothing that could make Flora too uneasy.
But Flora was well used to handling such tactics, and as soon as she began to dance, she regained her composure.
She also recalled her strategy for surviving the banquet: speak less, make fewer mistakes.
Loose lips sink ships.
“What kind of feeling does Your Highness wish to know about?”
“There you go again, so cautious. I know being close to those in power is dangerous, but I’m just a toothless little tiger at most, right? Do you really have to be this guarded, even when I call you ‘sis’?”
Lisette pouted, but Flora remained unmoved.
In her heart, Lisette lamented the sorry state of someone trained under that dead woman, who had probably faced far worse than her own feigned innocence.
With a sigh, Lisette dropped the act, biting her lip and showing her truest self.
“Fine, have it your way.”
“If Your Highness gives me a clear directive, I will answer.”
Seeing signs of frustration, Flora reluctantly encouraged the princess to continue interrogating her.
“You need orders for even this sort of question? What exactly has that dead woman Moria done to you…”
Lisette was clearly annoyed, but after another spin to the music, she composed herself.
“Well, there are a lot of things I could ask, but I’ll enjoy whatever answer you give. For example, what’s it like to be a baron, my teacher, the church’s Saintess, or Yaar’s ‘little sister?’ You can talk about any of that.”
She then suddenly changed tack, her tone turning playful as if struck by a good idea.
“Or, you could just tell me how it feels to dance with me. Compared to Moria, who do you think is better?”
To a mind-reader, any lapse in caution could expose secrets that must never see the light of day.
But as a slave in a cage, Flora knew there was little she could truly hide from Lisette.
“If Your Highness wishes to know, you can just read my mind. I won’t hide anything.”
“But I want to hear you say it. That’s an order. Understood?”
That reply left Flora at a loss—she found Lisette more and more baffling.
Just now, it wasn’t really a question about dancing.
Rather, Lisette was bluntly asking her to choose sides—a demand that deeply unsettled her.
Seeing her unease, Lisette added, “Don’t overthink it. This is my way of respecting you. If you won’t say it aloud, I won’t read your mind to get the answer—I wouldn’t want to undermine the trust between us.”
“Is that so…”
Flora still hesitated, but Lisette didn’t press her.
Leading Flora in another spin, she said with little enthusiasm: “Miss Meifei had a wonderful chat with you. Whatever she knows, I know too. With all I’ve said, are you willing to answer my question now?”
Those words wiped the calm from Flora’s face; her grip tightened involuntarily.
Lisette curled her lips, gesturing for her not to overreact, and continued with a smile: “Whatever I set my mind to, no one here can stop me. But I’m truly curious how you’ve become like this… Sigh, mind your posture—at least try to have more composure. You did have the guts to propose to me, after all.”
“Your Highness, could you please stop bringing up the proposal? It was just a misunderstanding…”
“But I’m taking it seriously.”
Flora’s face fell completely as she looked at Lisette’s triumphant smile, feeling more helpless than ever.
“Then how about you describe what it felt like to propose to me? I’m really curious~ With all those eyes on you, suddenly realizing you’d done something so outrageous—how did that feel?”
Are all the noblewomen in this world cursed with some peculiar sense of humor?
Flora couldn’t help but think in despair.
Sensing Flora’s interesting reactions, Lisette only grew happier.
“But you really are easy on the eyes. Yaar’s taste is certainly reassuring. Since she treats you as a sister, I can take your ‘slip-up’ seriously. Consider that a little favor from me.”
There was no way for Flora to fight back against such teasing.
After all, she knew she was at fault here.
Fortunately, the princess was merciful and didn’t intend to torment her further.
Though both were elite among nobles, Lisette was wholly unlike Moria—she possessed a purity befitting her age.
That was the foundation of Flora’s budding affection and trust in her.
With the tiresome chatter over, Lisette—so often confined to the palace—simply focused on enjoying the dance with Flora.
Sensing her earnestness, Flora wanted to say: if only Her Highness had approached her in this simple and genuine way, without the nobles’ cunning tricks, gaining her trust would have been so much easier.
No one understood better than she herself how much she detested Moria’s manipulations.
That’s why she so quickly developed a near-devotional reliance on Aurora.
Wasn’t it just because that girl had shown her the purest of friendships, without any scheming or calculation?
As the music neared its end, Flora realized that it wasn’t the music that made time seem to slow—it was something else, some foreign presence affecting her perception.
“Flora, what’s wrong?”
The girl dancing with her had barely voiced her concern before Flora swiftly scooped her up in her arms.
Flora instantly understood what that odd feeling was.
The scent of death.
“What are you trying to do to Her Highness?!”
Before Loka Le’s voice could fully materialize from the shadows, a cold flash shot from her hand straight at Flora.
The skill of the palace guard was not to be underestimated.
Even though Elka and the others reacted with lightning speed, the sword light, deflected by magic, still stabbed into Flora’s right leg, spraying a mist of blood.
But Flora didn’t stop.
Driven by instinct, she hurried off the central stage, clutching Lisette tightly in her arms.
Only then did the onlookers realize she wasn’t threatening the princess—but shielding her from some deadly danger.
“Quick—Barriers!”
Elka barely finished speaking when—
BOOM——
A thunderous explosion rocked the entire city of Dolon.
The next morning, the Imperial Morning Post quickly published breaking news.
At the noble youth banquet convened by Moria Delan, an unexplained explosion had occurred, leaving more than a dozen noble guests seriously injured.
Dolon, the city where adventurers gathered, instantly became the empire’s focal point.
Rumors of the demon race stirring up trouble at the banquet spread like wildfire in the wake of the disaster.
For a time, the entire empire was in an uproar.
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