Ophelia’s gaze passed through the gaps in the leaves, first landing gently on the small figure rolling nearby, then shifting toward the distant, piercingly blue sky.
“If there is still a chance, who would want to give up? Giving up is very painful.”
Mahina kept her head lowered, her hands tightly twisting the hem of her skirt.
“Yes…”
Ophelia withdrew her gaze, a hint of helplessness in her tone.
“Merlin is a stubborn child. I don’t want to use forceful means that would make her resent me.”
“Mhm…”
Suddenly, Ophelia’s tone shifted, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
“For now, this is fine. But — if she truly ends up hating you, I will not allow it.”
Ophelia turned sideways. Those eyes, usually as gentle as water, were now as cold as ice, piercing through Mahina’s soul.
“If you continue to make Merlin sad, you can forget about ever seeing her again. I will even take her back to the Elven Forest by force if I must. Even if my daughter hates me for it.”
That look made Mahina feel as though she were suffocating. She shook her head frantically, her voice trembling.
“I won’t! I… I won’t make her sad anymore.”
“Easy to say. What if your very existence is what makes her sad?”
Mahina opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Finally, she could only lower her head, squeezing a raspy reply from the depths of her throat.
“Yes…”
Seeing the girl looking as if she were about to break, the severity in Ophelia’s eyes faded slightly. She sighed, her tone softening.
“However, the current Merlin is just a baby. You had better not bring up complicated topics with her. Although her past memories remain perfectly intact, her mind has indeed regressed to that of an infant.”
Mahina lowered her head and bit her lip, a bitter smile playing on her face.
Ophelia continued, “I am warning you. Whether Merlin has lost her capacity for love or her mind has regressed to a child’s, now is not the time to discuss those matters with her.”
Mahina whispered, “I’ll be satisfied as long as I can see Merlin smile. It’s enough just to be able to talk to her… even if she scolds me.”
“Hmph…”
There was a hint of regret in Ophelia’s voice.
“Hmm… I’ve done a general check. Little Merlin becoming a baby was indeed her final wish. Merlin traded her love for power, and subsequently, under the influence of various circumstances, she became a baby who understands nothing of romance.”
“Is that so…”
Ophelia sighed.
“In any case, go ahead. Didn’t you want to see her? But remember, do not speak of heavy topics with the baby, and do not mention romance. She cannot understand it right now.”
Ophelia stood up and began walking toward the teaching area of the Magic Department.
“I have a class to attend. Go and talk to little Merlin. I trust you won’t scare her.”
“Thank you.”
On the lawn, little Merlin, who had been dazing off, seemed to notice her mother’s departure.
She didn’t act spoiled or cry. Instead, she clumsily scrambled up from the grass and waved her short little hand with all her might.
After walking a few paces, Ophelia seemed to sense something and looked back. She smiled tenderly and waved back in response.
Not until the small figure sat back down on the grass and the line of sight between mother and daughter was completely blocked by the trees did Mahina slowly straighten her back.
Now, it was just her.
Mahina took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She took stiff, halting steps toward the center of the lawn.
One step, two steps.
The distance closed.
Little Merlin seemed to notice a strange presence approaching. She turned her head, and her clear, large eyes met Mahina’s gaze.
Little Merlin turned and ran.
With unsteady steps, she dove straight into the arms of Mary, who was sitting quietly nearby.
She grabbed Mary’s collar tightly, pressing her tiny body against her, keeping her back to Mahina.
Mary didn’t look at the awkward Mahina. She simply reached out habitually, gently stroking little Merlin’s deep blue hair over and over, while her other hand lightly patted her back to soothe her.
‘As expected… little Merlin doesn’t like me either.’
Mahina decided to speak to Mary first.
“Mary, why are you here?”
While comforting the little ball in her arms, Mary replied calmly, “Because Lady Lucia said she hoped I could look after little Merlin and not worry too much about her. So, I stay with little Merlin during the day. This way, Lady Ophelia won’t be too exhausted, and I can help look after her while she’s in class.”
“I see. Thank you for your hard work.”
Mary gave a soft smile.
“It’s no trouble at all. Little Merlin is the most well-behaved and quietest baby I’ve ever seen. Except for a few somewhat crude habits…”
Mary handed several pieces of chocolate to Mahina.
Mahina smiled bitterly in her heart once again.
At that moment, a bitter taste spread across the tip of her tongue, more intense than ever before.
It was only today that she learned Merlin liked to eat chocolate. Thinking back to when they lived together, Merlin had always found ways to satisfy her, yet Mahina never knew what Merlin actually liked.
Even if it was just half a piece of bread, Merlin would give the soft part to her.
Merlin always remembered what Mahina liked and disliked.
Because back then, Merlin had always put her first.
A crisp snapping sound was exceptionally clear on the quiet lawn.
A rich, sweet aroma of cocoa diffused through the air.
Little Merlin, who had been huddled in Mary’s arms, twitched her pointed ears slightly.
Mahina stepped a little closer.
Little Merlin hesitated for a moment before slowly peeking half her head out from Mary’s arms. Her blue eyes stared intently at the small dark brown square in Mahina’s hand.
Mahina held her breath, carefully took another step forward, and knelt down. She held the chocolate to little Merlin’s mouth.
“For… for you.”
Little Merlin looked at Mahina, then at the chocolate.
Finally, the temptation of the sweet treat overcame her instinctive resistance. She opened her small mouth and took the piece of chocolate in one go.
The moment the sweetness melted in her mouth, little Merlin’s eyes curved into two crescents. Two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks as she revealed a pure, blissful smile.
“Delicious,” she mumbled indistinctly.
Just seeing this smile—seeing the smile of her beloved Merlin, even if she had temporarily become a baby—Mahina suddenly realized something.
Watching her smile because of a piece of chocolate she had fed her, Mahina realized she still had the right to make Merlin smile.
Even if only by a little… Mahina could not stop her tears from flowing.
“Ugh…”
The emotions she had suppressed for so long finally burst.
Mahina covered her mouth as tears fell like broken strings of pearls. Scalding drops rolled down her cheeks.
The tears gradually blurred her exquisite makeup, revealing the pale face of someone who hadn’t rested well in days.