“Yawn…”
Sylvie woke from her nap, covering her mouth as she yawned, then stretched out a big, lazy stretch.
Her still unformed, youthful frame was nearly flat and smooth, forming a sharp contrast to the mature witch Floria sitting silently beside her.
“Little Sylvie’s awake? We’re almost at the capital city~”
Sofia, sitting upright with a smile full of warmth, was the first to speak.
She looked as approachable as ever, but Sylvie always sensed a hint of regret hidden in her expression, as if she was silently complaining, “Why did you wake up so early?”
So Sylvie didn’t immediately reply, instead instinctively noticing that Floria’s face looked a bit off.
At that moment, Floria appeared as if a great weight had been lifted, leaning back softly against the carriage seat, breathing heavily, her displeased expression tinged with embarrassment.
Strange… why was Miss Floria acting so unusually just after Sylvie woke up?
Could it be… because Sylvie had been resting her head on Miss Floria during her nap, maybe pressing down on her and making her uncomfortable?
Sylvie’s innocent mind was puzzled, and upon realizing this, she felt a bit embarrassed and blamed herself silently.
The carriage continued along the clean, wide road.
Outside the window, people and carriages were noticeably more numerous than before, mostly well-dressed and elegant individuals.
Not far ahead, the massive silver city walls and the burly guards clad in heavy iron armor standing at the city gates were sights Sylvie had never seen before.
“Wow… such big gates… and walls…!”
Little Sylvie couldn’t help but hold her face in awe and let out a genuine exclamation.
The carriage slowly stopped at the city gate, several fully armed guards blocking the way, sternly declaring that a check was needed.
But after Sofia stepped forward and exchanged a few words, the guards’ attitudes changed one after another, their expressions and tones becoming respectful, allowing the large, luxurious carriage to pass straight through.
Sylvie, who had never seen anything like this, looked at Sofia in surprise once more.
“Aunt… uh, Sister Sofia, you’re amazing—those big armored guys seem to really listen to you…”
“Hehe, of course. I have a certain status as a knight here in the capital. You could say I’m quite an influential figure~”
Sofia smiled kindly and waved her hand lightly as she explained, clearly enjoying Sylvie’s admiring gaze.
“Oh, really…”
Hearing such a vague explanation, Sylvie’s curiosity only deepened.
Why would such a powerful sister like Sofia have any connection with Miss Floria, who lived in the kingdom’s remote borderlands?
What had happened between them before?
She really wanted to know… the story behind Miss Floria’s past…
Although they had arrived at the capital safely, Floria’s expression was far from cheerful.
Quite the opposite, actually.
Sylvie noticed Floria’s sullen face, her cheeks flushed and puffed out, her head propped up by one hand, eyes unfocused and vacant, radiating a fragile and pitiable air.
Her upper garment was somewhat disheveled.
Sylvie’s sharp eyes even spotted faint, still-damp tear stains on Floria’s cheeks, red-rimmed eyes, and her ruby-like pupils glazed over with a faint, hazy moisture.
Those big, watery eyes looked as if they might spill crystal-clear tears any moment.
Sylvie also saw Floria’s eyebrows knitting slightly, her expression complex and hard to read—was it humiliation, sorrow, or frustration?
Her tender lips bore fresh red marks from biting, making them look smoother and more alluring than usual.
But leaving all that aside… just looking at Miss Floria’s expression made Sylvie feel that she looked truly wronged—
How could this be? Could it be that this capital city was a place that stirred painful memories for Miss Floria, triggering her sorrow?
Watching Floria like this, Sylvie couldn’t help but wonder quietly.
If that were the case, shouldn’t she try to comfort her now and help her shift her mood?
“Um… Miss Floria…”
“Hm?”
“I…”
Sylvie clenched her small fist, locking eyes with Floria’s reddened gaze, suddenly feeling a wave of nervousness.
At this close distance, she vaguely smelled an unfamiliar fragrance on Floria.
It was a strange scent she had never noticed on her in the years they had lived together.
…Wait, she thought she’d smelled something similar near Aunt Sofia before.
How odd…
Hmm… thinking about it, could this scent really be coming from Miss Floria?
Sylvie doubted herself.
Judging by their positions… it was probably just the scent drifting from Aunt Sofia, passing by Floria, causing her to misjudge…
Yes, yes, that must be it.
“I… um…”
Sylvie was about to speak, but hesitated.
What should she say? Or rather, how could she say something that would stop Miss Floria from feeling so sad?
Maybe she could change the subject and distract Miss Floria’s attention?
That way, she wouldn’t be immersed in the capital’s painful memories, avoiding that tearful expression.
…Although Miss Floria’s rare look of grievance was admittedly quite captivating—in other words, so cute it made one want to tease her even more.
Still, Sylvie was a good, obedient girl, so that strange, rebellious thought only flickered briefly in her mind before being firmly rejected and buried deep in her mental trash bin.
“Miss Floria, I want to know about your past…”
Clang!—
The carriage made a sharp turn, whether drifting or skidding, bringing a strong force of inertia.
The screech of wheels against the ground came from below.
Sylvie’s sentence was abruptly cut off halfway by the sudden maneuver.
Fortunately, she grabbed the carriage window frame tightly at the first moment, preventing herself from being flung forward onto Floria.
Floria, affected by the strong inertia, swayed wildly and even briefly bumped into Sofia’s arms.
Yet her expression remained calm and composed, without any unnecessary reaction.
Such steady calmness made Sylvie think silently, “Miss Floria is truly Miss Floria—”
After the turn, the carriage smoothly entered the bustling east side street within the capital city gates.
Everywhere she looked were rows of finely decorated and beautiful buildings, ranging from four or five stories to over ten stories tall—structures Sylvie had never seen before.
Besides that, lively marketplaces, shops, busy commercial streets full of people, and even other races walking the streets beyond Humans, all passed by the carriage window.
“Wow…”
Sylvie’s excitement was beyond words, completely forgetting the question she had intended to ask Floria moments ago.
She leaned on the window, eagerly looking around, wishing the carriage would slow down by at least ten times.
“Those pointed ears—that’s an Elf! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a real live Elf—”
“That huge storefront, what is it used for—hey, is that the Adventurers’ Guild?”
“Such tall buildings… won’t they collapse? How do people even get up there…”
Listening to her excited chatter, Sofia smiled knowingly, casting a casual glance at Sylvie’s wide-eyed, country-bumpkin-in-the-city expression.
Taking this chance, she quietly leaned toward Floria’s ear and handed her a delicate sky-blue handkerchief from her bosom, breathing a warm, fragrant breath as she whispered softly:
“Sister… please take this moment to properly wipe your drool~”
“You… stop getting so close every time…!”
Floria, flustered, turned and shot a righteous glare at Sofia, who was already used to this whispered teasing, then snatched the handkerchief fiercely.
In the past, it had been completely natural and reasonable for Sofia—ostensibly a junior but actually a servant—to hand her a handkerchief like this.
So at first, Floria hadn’t suspected anything, taking it out of habit.
But just as she was about to unfold the fragrant cloth and use it, a sudden realization hit her.
She hesitated, touching her lips with her fingertips, then put down the handkerchief and bit her teeth to whisper:
“No, I… I don’t have any drool to wipe… didn’t you just suck it all away?”
“I never said it was your drool, Sister~ You have to watch your appearance and not set a bad example for the children~”
Sofia teased playfully.
“Sofia, you—!”
Hearing her flirtatious teasing, Floria instantly turned red with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
“Hmph… pervert! Degenerate! Shameless woman!”
“Why are you so harsh to me, Sister? It really hurts my feelings~”
Sofia made a wronged face, tilting her head cutely as if she didn’t understand, her tone filled with innocence.
But Floria didn’t fall for it at all, instead staring coldly at her.
Seeing this, Sofia’s eyes darted playfully, and she teased further:
“By the way, Sister, even though you say that, you seemed to enjoy it earlier, didn’t you~?”
“What nonsense, there was absolutely… nothing like that!”
“I could tell you were hesitant at first, but your reaction afterwards was pretty enthusiastic, so that means you were secretly looking forward to it, right?”
“You… that was just you forcing me with your strength… I had no choice but to go along… don’t misunderstand!”
Sofia said nothing to this, just kept watching Floria with great interest.
Under her unblinking gaze, Floria felt a bit guilty.
So she angrily turned her head, avoiding Sofia’s strong presence.
She then fixed her gaze back on Sylvie’s small figure nearby—Sylvie was still eagerly looking around at the capital scenery outside the window, completely unaware of what was happening inside the carriage.
But while Floria appeared to be observing little Sylvie, her mind was still swirling with emotions over the recent incident, her heart racing uncontrollably.
What was happening… this fluttering feeling…
Floria couldn’t help but place a hand gently over her high chest, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
Impossible…
I really hate that forced, lewd thing just now!
Absolutely!
Compared to her past image as a proud and excellent villainess, now being so disdainfully treated by Sofia—a junior she once bullied and bossed around so easily—
This was a disgrace! It ruined all the dignity and prestige she had struggled to build up!
Thinking this, Floria slightly turned her head, casting a sidelong glance at the knight lady behind her, who was silently smiling and eyeing her greedily.
She snorted proudly in her heart:
Damn that woman… hmph… A strong man knows when to be flexible! I’ll endure this shame for today—
Let that insignificant pest Sofia be arrogant for a while longer…
Once I return to the Old Mansion in the capital, I’ll easily get some high-grade Magic Potions or Scrolls to lift the curse, recover my body and Magic—
Then, I will make sure to return all the humiliation I’ve suffered these past few days, and make her pay dearly!
Heh heh, just wait, Sofia! I can already clearly see your future, trapped under me, being bullied again!
That is your inescapable fate!
Thinking this, Floria chuckled triumphantly to herself, solemnly clenching her small fist as she steeled her resolve.