“Lady Ysera used time magic to trace back what happened in the secret realm, so our clansmen already know the cause of everything.” Alwen paused, speaking with a bit of hesitation. “But Lady Ysera herself stayed inside for a long time after that. When she came out, she beat up all the Elders, including the clan leader.”
“In all these years, it was my first time seeing Lady Ysera so angry.”
“Why?”
“If the clan leader and the others hadn't agreed to Elder Landir's proposal, you wouldn't have stayed alone in the secret realm for so many years. Before Lady Ysera left, she explicitly said you shouldn't have to bear unnecessary responsibilities.” Alwen lowered her head and said, “It must have been very lonely for you, Saintess, staying in the secret realm all by yourself.”
Flora did not answer, only asking in a small voice, “Is Mother okay?”
“Yes! Lady Ysera and Lord Cross are extremely strong. They just have things they must do.” Alwen nodded, paused for a moment, and continued, “Saintess, please come back with me... everyone in the clan is looking for you.”
Flora shook her head gently. “Tell everyone in the clan that I am doing very well right now.”
“But...”
Flora pursed her lips, then finally looked up and continued with a smile, “Right now, I have my own companions, and I can protect myself. Please tell Mother that I miss them very much, and they must come find me once they're done with their work.”
Alwen fell silent for a moment. Her emerald-green eyes lingered on Flora's face for a long time before shifting to Chen Mian beside her.
“Saintess... you've changed,” she said softly with a smile on her face. “Before, you were always so quiet, always giving off a sense of... loneliness. But now, there is light in your eyes.”
Flora was slightly stunned and did not answer.
“I understand. I will bring the news back to the clan and pass your words along to Lady Ysera.” She pulled a pale green, leaf-shaped crystal from her robes and handed it to Flora. “This is Lady Ysera's locating crystal. She said that if you are living happily out here, I should give it to you.”
Flora took the crystal and gripped it in her palm. She stared down at it for a long while before looking up. “Thank you.”
Alwen took a deep breath, bowed slightly to Flora, and then smiled in Chen Mian's direction. “Please take good care of our Saintess. If she suffers any grievances, Lady Ysera and Lord Cross will definitely beat you up.”
Alwen had lived for a very long time. Naturally, she could read something in the way Flora looked at Chen Mian.
Chen Mian nodded, not saying much.
Seeing Chen Mian's response, Alwen waved to them and walked into the crowd. “Have a safe journey, Saintess... and the Saintess's companion.”
Her pale blonde hair bobbed a few times in the crowd before disappearing from sight.
Flora stood in place, clutching the pale green crystal in her hand, falling silent for a long time.
“Mr. Chen Mian.”
“Yes?”
“Am I being too selfish?”
“How are you being selfish?”
“Mother is looking for me, and my clansmen are waiting for me to return, yet I...” She lowered her head, looking at the crystal in her palm. “Yet I say that I'm doing very well right now and don't want to go back.”
Chen Mian turned to face her. “Flora.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to go back?”
Flora looked up, meeting his gaze. Her lively eyes, reflecting the orange-red glow of the distant furnace, were bright and resolute.
She shook her head.
“Then don't go back. Whenever you feel like going back for a visit, we'll go with you,” Chen Mian said. “For now, the apartment is your home.”
Flora's eyes grew slightly red, but she blinked, forcing back the sting of tears as the corners of her mouth curled upward. “Mm!”
She carefully tucked the crystal into the inner pocket of her coat.
“Let's go,” Chen Mian said, turning to continue walking.
“Where to?”
“Loviki is probably about to grow mold from boredom.”
Flora let out a soft laugh and jogged to catch up.
The two of them walked back along the coastline. The crowd was getting denser, and Flora followed closely behind Chen Mian.
Suddenly, she felt her wrist being grabbed. Just as she was about to pull away, she realized the hand holding her belonged to Chen Mian. “Keep up. Don't get lost.”
“Mm!” Flora felt as if the noisy chatter around her had suddenly quieted down, and the chaotic thoughts in her mind seemed to vanish.
Her heart beat rapidly, yet she felt incredibly safe. Guided by his hand, she simply walked forward through the crowd. She didn't need to look around cautiously, nor did she have to worry about getting separated.
Even the crisp chill of the northern night could not disperse the warmth on her wrist.
Just like that, the two of them wove through the crowd, crossed the canal, passed the row of stone houses still illuminated by ice crystal lamps, and walked back to the entrance of the inn.
Many adventurers had already returned to the inn, sitting in the lobby, drinking and chatting.
“Where is Loviki?” Flora asked, taking off her scarf and looking around.
“She should be back in her room,” Chen Mian said as he headed up the stairs, Flora jogging to keep pace.
The moment Chen Mian pushed open the room door, Flora froze.
The room looked completely different.
The bedsheets had been changed to a clean white, and a few frost-pistil flowers were placed on the pillows.
A few small ice crystal lamps were lit on the windowsill, their pale blue light swaying gently in the night.
On the nightstand sat a round pastry smoothly coated with cream, with "Happy Birthday, Flora" written on it in iceberry jam.
Beside it stood three hot drinks.
“Happy Birthday, Flora,” Loviki said, sitting at the table with her arms crossed, a smile playing on her lips. “Even though this guy made the cake, I was the one who decorated the room. Well? Pretty, isn't it?”
Flora stood in the middle of the room, taking in everything.
The emotions she had just suppressed began to surge back uncontrollably, making her eyes turn red.
Her voice choked up. “When did you two...”
“This morning, before you woke up. Actually, this guy had already made a pastry yesterday—Chen Mian called it a cake—but we figured it would taste better made fresh today, so he made a new one,” Loviki said with a smile.
“The decorating was done just now,” Loviki added, a hint of pride in her voice.
Flora turned to look at the two of them, and her tears finally spilled over.
“Thank you,” she said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, though she couldn't seem to wipe them away fast enough. “Thank you both so much...”
Loviki walked over and gently pushed her down to sit on the edge of the bed. “Don't cry. If you keep crying, the cake won't taste good anymore.”
“I'm not crying,” Flora sniffled, though tears were still streaming down her face.
“Alright, alright, you're not crying!” Loviki pulled Flora over to sit on a chair. “There's still one very important thing left to do.”
“What is it?”
“Light the candles and make a wish. Chen Mian suggested it. Who knows which kingdom he learned that from,” Loviki said with a smile.
Chen Mian also pulled up a chair to sit at the table and lit the candles on the cake.
“How do I make a wish?” Flora asked, a smile on her face despite her red-rimmed eyes.
“Just like this. Close your eyes and silently make a wish in your heart facing the cake.”
“Mm!” Flora closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them. “And then?”
“Blow out the candles.”
“Mm!”
【Flora's Inner Thoughts: I hope we can stay together forever—with Mr. Chen Mian and Loviki. And I hope Mom and Dad can come see me soon.】
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