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Join the ServerThe two departed the castle and made their way to a secluded spot within the garden, where a charming gazebo stood.
Though Felicia had visited the garden before, this marked her first time stepping into the gazebo.
Inside, a stone table was set between two chairs. Seraphina settled into one, while Felicia took the seat directly opposite her.
“I sometimes come here,” Seraphina asked suddenly, “Do you know why?”
“How would I know that…?” Felicia replied, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
“You’re right, of course,” Seraphina conceded. “When I was little, my mother always loved bringing me here. It’s the best vantage point to see the flowers swaying in the garden breeze.”
“As I grew a little older, past the carefree years and into a routine of strenuous daily training, I’d occasionally come here alone. I’d feel the wind, admire the flowers, and simply relax my mind and body.”
Felicia remained silent, listening intently to Seraphina’s words.
“Do you know why I care so much about you?”
“…Perhaps you should just tell me,” Felicia responded. How could she possibly know why Seraphina held such regard for her? She couldn’t read minds, nor was she a sage who knew the past and future.
“There are many reasons, but two are most important. Firstly, you are incredibly cute. Secondly, you remind me a great deal of someone I knew when I was a child.”
“A child?” Felicia seized upon the crucial detail.
Seraphina nodded, then continued.
“I must have been about eight years old at the time. I was playing at a friend of my father’s house when the combined armies of the Dragon and Demon races swept through the city.”
“In less than three days, the city fell. Only a handful of people managed to escape, and I was one of those fortunate few.”
“In that moment, I thought of nothing but running as far as I could, hoping to avoid capture or death. I don’t know how far I ran, only that as my strength was about to give out, I encountered someone.”
“I can barely recall her face, but her eyes were very much like yours—beautiful eyes, like blue sapphires.”
“If I hadn’t met her, I likely wouldn’t have survived that day.”
Felicia frowned slightly.
‘Could this be a ‘substitute’ trope?’ she wondered.
It was well-known that substitute stories typically featured a ‘white moonlight’ and an unfortunate soul who bore a striking resemblance to them.
Felicia felt certain she was that unfortunate soul.
Typically, if the white moonlight returned, Felicia would have to leave. For her, that wouldn’t be a bad outcome.
However, if the white moonlight didn’t return… it was clear Felicia would have to fill their shoes, and Seraphina might very well take her by force.
Based on Felicia’s understanding of Seraphina, she believed acts like forced intimacy, imprisonment in a basement, or even outright capture were all within Seraphina’s capabilities.
The more she considered it, the more Felicia felt an urgent need to escape. Otherwise, she couldn’t imagine what other ‘games’ might be awaiting her.
“What’s wrong?” Seraphina noticed the slight shift in Felicia’s expression.
“Nothing, nothing at all. Just a bit of a stomach ache,” Felicia lied casually.
Felicia’s lying skills were far from refined and easily discernible, yet Seraphina believed her.
“Have some tea,” Seraphina said, waving her hand. Instantly, two cups filled with hot tea appeared on the previously empty stone table.
“How did you do that? That’s amazing!” Felicia’s eyes widened in wonder, marveling like someone who had never seen the world.
“That’s a storage space,” Seraphina explained. “Anyone with a basic understanding of spatial magic can create their own. It’s very convenient for storing and retrieving things.”
In this world, everyone practiced magic, and most possessed their own storage spaces.
“Come, I’ll teach you.”
Seraphina began to instruct Felicia in foundational spatial magic, and Felicia listened with earnest attention.
Felicia found Seraphina to be an excellent teacher. She could explain the intricacies of spatial magic in the simplest, most understandable terms.
“I did it!” Felicia suddenly felt as if something had manifested within her—her own storage space.
Yet, this was merely a sensation. In reality, her storage space wasn’t physically inside Felicia but existed in another dimension.
This realization once again filled Felicia with awe at the marvels of magic.
Then, she snapped back to reality, glancing at the hot tea in her cup before looking at Seraphina.
“Actually… I don’t really like tea,” Felicia said slowly.
“You don’t? Well then, what would you like? Juice or milk? I’ll get you some milk. Considering your age, you’d be considered a young dragon among our kind.”
“I’ve heard milk helps with growth; it might be beneficial for you too.”
Before Felicia could utter another word, her cup of hot tea was replaced by a bottle of warm milk, clearly freshly heated.
Seraphina, no doubt, had warmed the milk with magic.
Felicia cradled the bottle, sipping the milk slowly as she and Seraphina watched the distant sea of flowers.
“Don’t you have anything to tell me? I’ve bared my heart to you; it’s only fair you share something with me too,” Seraphina said suddenly.
“…What if I told you I’m not from this world, but came here from another? Would you believe me?”
Seraphina offered no reply, merely gazing at Felicia with an expression that suggested she was speaking to an idiot.
Felicia had already anticipated Seraphina’s reaction, silently lamenting inwardly, ‘Just another day where no one believes the truth.’
“Since you’re unwilling to speak, I won’t force you. I believe that one day, you will surely confide in me.”
Felicia didn’t argue, instead pondering in her mind how she might escape this place.
Ever since the suspected ‘substitute’ dialogue, Felicia felt that this was not a place to linger. However, with Seraphina still present, escaping was undeniably impossible.
****
Later, the two had dinner. Felicia then found herself alone in her room, reading a book, awaiting Seraphina’s return.
The moment Seraphina pushed open the door, Felicia, who was standing ready by the entrance, was prepared.
“Welcome back, Mistress…” Felicia’s words were strained, as if she were being forced to speak with a knife at her throat.
In truth, Felicia was indeed being coerced, though not with a literal knife.
‘I truly can’t stand another day in this place!’
“My little maid has done well~” Seraphina stroked Felicia’s head. “So, do you know what a maid is supposed to do at night?”
“Wh-what?” Felicia’s delicate body trembled.
“Why, attend to my bed, of course!” Seraphina replied.
“Att-att-att-attend to your bed?! Wait, wait!”
Before Felicia could fully react, she found herself enveloped in Seraphina’s tight embrace.
Seraphina lowered her head, one hand resting on Felicia’s waist, the other gently lifting her chin. Their eyes met. The next moment, the two girls’ lips pressed together.
It was a long while before Seraphina finally released Felicia, whose cheeks were by then flushed crimson.
“Now, let us begin the main event.”
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