Chapter 10

Chapter 10

She wouldn’t be in danger because she was inside the palace anyway. Ellie also told her that she could do whatever she wanted.

It was unrefined logic that only a child would believe, but Siervian didn’t realize this and quickly left her bed.

‘I’ll go to the back garden.’

As she walked out of the room carefully, the other parts of the palace were silent, like there really was no other person there.

No matter how little the work should be, shouldn’t there be someone who’s staying here? It was strange.

Was Ellie in charge of all the work in the afternoon?

It looked as though she was used to kitchen work, but Siervian didn’t know if Ellie had prepared dinner herself.

Suddenly, it occurred to her that there was too much work for just one maid to do. Didn’t her father say that he’d send in more maids soon?

But… Let’s focus on what’s in front for now.

Perhaps it’s because she became younger, but she was now afraid of the dark.

Siervian walked out quickly and came out to the bright moonlight’s illumination, and the garden looked shabbier at night.

She hurried and went to the back garden where she could see a little bit of light. Apart from the kitchen, it was a good path towards another palace.

“There’s nothing here…”

She was scared, so she talked to herself, but Siervian stayed vigilant.

She thought there might be something hidden in the garden, but it was a thought in vain. It was vacant apart from the weeds that sprouted from the ground.

‘When Sarah disappeared, did the future change?’

If that’s the case, then she was glad. She still didn’t understand why the high-quality food was purposely thrown out.

‘What do I do now?’

As she considered her thoughts, Siervian passed through the small wooden door out the back garden. She didn’t know the path exactly, but she somewhat knew which direction to go.

Since she came out like this, she was motivated to find medicine for Ellie’s sibling.

‘I wish I had some Cassia.’

Cassia flowers bloomed in places where mana was overflowing, so they were rarely found in the wild. Inside the palace, however, there was a patch that held more than wild grass.

There were also many Cassia flowers in the garden of the Magic Tower. They used the flowers for their own purposes, so they let them bloom there.

‘I think it’s this way.’

With the baseless confidence unique to a stray child, Siervian marched forward. Her legs were suddenly energized as she thought that she could do something to help Ellie.

When she went over one door like that, it suddenly felt like her surroundings became bright.

“Wow…”

Around her were lilac flowers that bloomed like stars.

The small purple flowers fluttered and shook, the heavily adorned branches bowing down due to the weight of its blossoms.

The moon was bright today, giving the illusion that the flowers were glowing softly.

It was amazing. It was like she was in a different world.

Behind the desolate vacant lot of the Princess’ Palace, there was a huge garden filled with lilacs. It really looked like another world even though she crossed just one door.

As she admired the flowers in full bloom, Siervian quickly felt better and forgot her fear.

“Pwetty.”

She liked flowers very much. It was a shame that she couldn’t reveal this in her previous life. She had a bad memory with flowers, so from then on, she kept her admiration for flowers to herself.

‘I didn’t know lilacs were this pretty.’

But now that she saw them, Siervian could focus on only the beauty of the flowers.

“What the. You.”

Until someone called out to her.

Siervian was instantly startled, and she backed away. The reason she didn’t run away was because the voice that called out to her was also young. Why was there a child wandering around the palace?

“Who are you…”

She hesitated before asking back, her voice filled with fear that she had forgotten for a moment when she was looking at the lilacs.

Then, she could hear a rustling sound from beyond the lilac branches.

‘Who is it?’

The child’s curiosity was aroused. She carefully approached the lilac branch, which cascaded down like a curtain, even though she wanted to turn back and run to a safe place. When she gently pushed the branches away, the fragrance of the blossoms brushed by her.

And here, she saw a familiar face.

‘Why is he here?’

No, it was a face that was younger than the face she knew.

‘Lord of the Magic Tower, Karmen.’

The bright moonlight’s rays touched his platinum hair, and his silver eyes that were looking straight at Siervian startled her.

She clearly remembered his cold gaze.

’…Please move away.’

Karmen was a child from the slums who became an apprentice at the Magic Tower because of his strong resonance with mana.

Perhaps it was because of his background that he couldn’t see through the false accusations towards Siervian with the food waste case.

’Execute the death penalty.’

It wasn’t long before his silver eyes and her eyes met, and she flinched away. The last thing he said in her previous life came to mind.

“I asked who you are, you.”

The brusque voice came out once again.

Siervian was terribly frightened once more, so she tried to turn around and run away. It was a quick flash of blind fear that urged her to escape.

However, a brilliant status window suddenly emerged near Karmen, which drew Siervian’s attention.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Occupation: Magic Tower Apprentice (Lv.80)

Favorability: 80,984

Mood: Excited

Thoughts: What? An angel? How cute! I’ve never seen anyone like her. Am I dreaming?

What’s wrong with Karmen’s window?

“This is my hideout. Tell me who you are.”

Still, his tone was very blunt, and his eyes were glaring at Siervian.

However, even in the dark, it could be seen that his face was slightly red.

‘Excited? Not angry?’

He did a double take reflexively, wondering that perhaps she saw it wrong.

There were only them both here, and there was still a curtain of lilacs between them.

But, people don’t usually say flowers were angels… right?

“What, can’t you talk?”

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: I don’t know what to do. No, maybe that old man is teasing me with illusory magic?

Then… It was undeniable that Karmen’s gaze was on her this whole time. Under these unexpected circumstances, Siervian stuttered.

“I’m Seruvian.”

“Seruvian?”

“Umm, no, Seruvian, Siieruvian.”

“…Siervian?”

“Yeah!”

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Favorability: +100

Favorability: +100

Karmen repeated her name several times as if to memorize it by heart.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: Ah… Even the way you talk is so pretty. Who the hell are you? Are you a mage like me?

There were so many things that Siervian still couldn’t process that she was frozen in place.

Then, as Karmen was still staring at her, he suddenly took off the robe he was wearing then threw it to the ground.

“Sit down.”

At the rough action, Siervian was frozen stiff again like a little deer, flinching slightly.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: Damn… were you surprised? Why are you so jumpy?

Karmen, who was used to being pushed around by other children, raised a hand to push back his hair as though he was annoyed. Then, he stepped back and spat out again.

“Sit down.”

Karmen pointed to the robe he just threw insincerely.

“Here?”

[ Favorability: +100 ]

“Yeah.”

The robe that mages wore were something they were very proud of.

“…Really?”

[ Favorability: +100 ]

“Yes!!”

When he was asked the same thing twice, Karmen answered a little louder, but Siervian didn’t flinch anymore because the favorability rose every time she spoke.

[ Favorability: +100 ]

Now, even when her lips were closed, it still rose.

Siervian struggled, looking down at the robe that had patterns of the tower clearly engraved. She was bewildered.

He threw it haphazardly, but the robe was spread out on the ground wide enough for someone to sit on it.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: Ah, why aren’t you sitting down? You’d look so pretty. Should I go get a soft cushion or something? Maybe I should go somewhere and bring it back here.

Karmen began to think these things out of the blue when Siervian was just staring at the robe on the ground.

After much consideration, Siervian moved cautiously towards the Robe. Then, after she settled down, she realized that Karmen would know where the Magic Tower’s garden was.

“Well, I guess you’re allowed in my hideout now.”

“Okay…”

[ Favorability: +100 ]

As she looked around, still admiring the view, she went inside the ‘hideout’.

‘Beautiful.’

Sitting here, she could see that the lilac trees were gathered in a circle, their flower curtains so thick that wouldn’t see outside.

Bright moonlight poured in through the gaps in the blossoms, and the scent of the lilacs was carried through the air.

It was like a secret place that the lilacs were hiding from view.

‘It’s so pretty. Why didn’t I know there’s a place like this until now?’

Siervian thought this place had the most beautiful scenery she had ever seen.

She wanted to thank Karmen for giving up his seat, still in awe of the view. However, as soon as she met his gaze, a blunt remark came up.

“What are you looking at?”

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Favorability: +100

Mood: Very, very excited

Thoughts: So pretty… How can you be so cute? I hope you keep looking around.

Once again, Siervian was speechless at the disconnect between Carmen’s thoughts and words.

“Do you, well, are you learning magic? Are you a noble?”

She never learned any magic. Siervian was also an Imperial family member rather than an aristocrat, so she answered lightly.

“Nope.”

[ Favorability: +100 ]

“Well, I guess you’re not a mage.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

[ Favorability: +100 ]

Karmen understood at once that she wasn’t a mage apprentice, but he assumed she was a noble because the clothes she was wearing were finely made.

“…”

Karmen, who had platinum hair that was brighter than snow, was famous, and he was known to have a cold, reserved personality.

“Why aren’t you asking my name? Aren’t you curious?”

“…What’s your na-me?”

[ Favorability: +100 ]

“Call me Karmen.”

He definitely should have been that way.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: Ah, right. The old man said that people would like me because of where I’m from. Damn it… Like the old man told me, I shouldn’t have talked too much.