“You know, Teacher has never asked you for anything in her life, but this time, I really have no choice but to trouble you.”
“Hmm… Miss Fu, just say it. As long as it’s for Teacher Floria, I’m willing to do anything!”
“Shh—”
Contrary to Sylvie’s expectations, Floria’s face did not show any happiness upon hearing this.
Instead, she raised her index finger to her lips, making a mysterious shushing gesture.
“Keep your voice down. Don’t say such strange things…”
“Huh?”
Sylvie tilted her head in confusion.
“Close your bedroom door tightly, then come over here, come to my side.”
Floria beckoned, calling Sylvie over.
“Te-Teacher… hmm?!”
Sylvie, who had just stepped closer, suddenly found herself gently cupped on both cheeks by Floria’s skilled hands.
The warm palms carried a intoxicating fragrance that filled Sylvie’s nostrils uncontrollably.
She blankly lifted her gaze.
The rosy glow of sunset had unknowingly spread across Floria’s cheeks, and in the dimly lit room, she looked tender and gentle, alluring like flowing water.
Her delicate, ruby-red eyes flickered and shimmered, veiled in a misty haze that made her appear heartbreakingly beautiful, gazing straight at Sylvie in a way that made her heart tremble.
After silently staring at Sylvie for several seconds, Floria finally spoke softly:
“Little Sylvie, you don’t need to promise to ‘do anything no matter what.’ Teacher doesn’t want to put such a heavy burden on you—so promise me, please don’t say those heavy words again, okay?”
“Uh… I…”
Under Floria’s loving gaze, Sylvie couldn’t help but nod gently.
“That’s better, good girl.”
Floria smiled like a blooming flower, though a trace of worry still lingered in her expression.
“Though I don’t want to burden you, at this point, the only person Teacher can wholeheartedly entrust, trust, and rely on is you, Little Sylvie. Teacher is someone who would do anything for you.”
“Miss Fu…”
Sylvie murmured, stunned, feeling a slight sting at her nose but her heart was filled with sweetness.
Floria’s tone, expression, and demeanor were peaceful, steady, and loving—beautiful and enchanting—making it impossible not to want to obey her voice.
As she stared straight into Floria’s eyes, Sylvie’s hand inexplicably began to move on its own, slipping secretly between her thighs and clenching tightly.
“Miss Fu, whatever you need me to do… just say it. If it’s within my ability… I’ll definitely—!”
Sylvie’s voice was hurried and earnest.
“Good girl, Teacher thanks you in advance.”
Floria chuckled softly, then indulgently ruffled Sylvie’s little head.
She really was as easy to coax as always~
In fact, since retiring and living in seclusion, Floria’s only two hobbies, besides using Mushrooms to brew all sorts of strange potions, were endlessly pulling out those verbal tricks she once used to control the fate of heroines, just to tease her beloved Sylvie from time to time.
Every time she teasingly toyed with Sylvie until the girl’s face blushed red and she was too shy to meet Floria’s eyes, that expression was exactly the one Floria enjoyed most and found most satisfying.
Unfortunately, as Sylvie grew older and understood more, her threshold for teasing also gradually rose.
What once could stir her heart with a few ambiguous words now required more physical contact—and even then, her reactions were increasingly hard to satisfy Floria.
Sigh…
Floria sighed lightly in her heart.
The child has grown up, her wings have hardened…
“…Actually, it’s like this—the villa here was Teacher’s home before.”
Snapping out of her reverie, Floria pondered for a moment, then decided to be upfront with Sylvie about part of the truth.
After all, this was something nearly out in the open.
Even if she didn’t confess now, Sylvie would sooner or later guess most of it herself.
“Huh?”
Sylvie’s pupils dilated, revealing surprise.
Not because of the content itself, but because Floria was taking the initiative to talk about her past.
In the past, Floria never mentioned anything about her history, which had unwittingly formed an unspoken rule that Sylvie, despite her curiosity, dared not ask further.
“Teacher was actually a Holy Knight back then~”
Floria continued softly, a nostalgic expression appearing on her face.
“I knew it… really?”
Sylvie nodded secretly to herself—she had already vaguely guessed this.
Seeing Floria pause, Sylvie mustered courage and asked curiously:
“Then, Teacher, what happened afterward that made you move all the way out to the frontier?”
“Well… hmm…”
Floria smiled faintly.
“What happened later… it’s a long story.
“Teacher’s past… is actually very complicated, too complicated to explain in a few words.
“And, Teacher isn’t ready yet… to recall and tell Little Sylvie everything from back then.
“So, when Sylvie grows a little older, and when Teacher is mentally prepared, I’ll patiently tell you at the right time, okay?
“For now, Little Sylvie, try to hold back your curiosity. We have other things to do.”
“Uh… okay.”
Sylvie obediently nodded.
Floria smiled warmly.
That solved the question for now.
“Alright, Little Sylvie, go feel behind that wardrobe. There should be a protruding Magic Rune Stone button on the wall. When you find it, press it.”
Floria instructed.
Sylvie got up and obediently did as told, soon feeling a slight bulge behind the wardrobe.
With a crisp “click” as she pressed the rune stone, a translucent Virtual Doorframe suddenly appeared on the wall.
“Huh? This is—”
Sylvie’s whole body stiffened like a startled kitten, shocked by the strange phenomenon.
“Don’t be afraid. This is a secret room Teacher designed in the room.”
Floria quickly reassured her.
“Teacher’s secret room…?”
Sylvie blinked in confusion, feeling as if she had just glimpsed a hidden side of Floria.
“Yes, it’s specially made to store some confidential things, or as a safe place to hide in case of danger.”
Floria waved her hand as she explained, then called Sylvie closer.
“Next, Sylvie, can you help me up and get me into the secret room?”
“Uh, of course—”
Sylvie helped Floria move toward the secret room’s entrance.
Floria stopped at the doorway, a mischievous smile curling at the corners of her lips.
“Sylvie, once we go in, no matter what happens or what you see inside, when we come out, I want you to forget it all, as if nothing ever happened. Don’t let anyone know—especially Aunt Sophia, understand?”
Hearing Floria’s serious tone, Sylvie quickly nodded emphatically.
“Alright, help me inside.”
Floria suppressed a laugh in her heart.
Little Sylvie probably hasn’t seen so many Senior Magic Potions and scrolls before, right?
Since we’re already in the capital, today I’ll just take her to see the world.
The gates to a new world, open wide—!
The two passed through the wall transformed into a mechanism, entering a dim little room next to the bedroom.
Floria casually lit the Magic Crystal Lamp, illuminating the space.
“Look carefully! This is Teacher’s… uh…”
“…Hmm?”
Sylvie blinked her big watery eyes in confusion.
“Wh-why is it empty…!”
The small door of the secret room slowly closed behind them.
“Teacher’s secret room… is so big—”
Sylvie still marveled cluelessly.
But Floria was already close to tears.
“No… how is this possible… all my savings over the years…!”
Suppressing her grief as she looked around, Floria suddenly recalled the Lightning-element Ring Sophia had used on her in the carriage earlier.
Sophia’s exact words had been:
【This ring was a little toy your sister used back then. I just took it out from your house and reused it.】
Magical items like the Ring naturally had been stored in Floria’s secret treasure vault inside the secret room.
Damn it… so that’s what it means?
Floria suddenly understood and gasped through clenched teeth.
Those things were precious resources she had hoarded for years because she couldn’t bear to use them after buying!
And even her Piggy Bank, where she kept her saved gold coins… had originally been stored here too!
Money, oh money… that was a huge pile of money!
Frugal Floria now felt such pain in her chest that her eyelids twitched, nearly fainting on the spot.
Damn Sophia… I… I… will never forgive you ahhhhh—!
Her face was a mixture of grief and anger as she clenched her tiny pink fists.
But in the midst of her inner wails, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of one last inconspicuous small box in the corner that Sophia had not yet “ransacked.”
Floria’s spirit instantly lifted, her eyes shining brightly again:
There’s still hope!
She couldn’t help but step toward the corner—only to stagger on her first step, her body swaying wildly, almost collapsing.
But quick-eyed Sylvie caught her from behind, wrapping her arms around Floria’s waist.
“Uh, thank you, Little Sylvie.”
Floria gasped, her heart still racing, then felt grateful to have such a caring little protector.
“N-no problem.”
Sylvie’s voice behind her sounded a little shy.
Floria furrowed her brow slightly—she sensed something strange in Sylvie’s embrace.
“…Can you let go now, Sylvie? Please don’t hold my waist so tight—”
“A-ah… sorry, Miss Fu!”
Sylvie released her waist and switched to holding her arm instead.
Floria immediately felt the subtle sensation disappear.
Wait… her magic source seemed to have recovered a little?
Not an illusion… it really did—
Though just a tiny bit…
Sensing the subtle change within, Floria forgot all about the treasure box and turned her head in surprise and delight toward Sylvie’s still innocent face.
Could it be…?
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