Gardenia’s Heart

After delivering that single, grand statement without pause, the girl who had introduced herself as Gardenia began to embrace Lily, who returned the gesture as if silently acknowledging a job well done.

Indifferent to the surprised stares, Lily simply stroked the girl’s head, adjusting her position on her lap to make her comfortable. Everyone in the room noticed how she held the woman as if she were something invaluable.

Abelia and Alice wore expressions of astonishment at the girl’s beauty. Nia’s stunning purple hair was unlike anything they had ever seen, and the black dress she wore appeared even more enchanting than those worn in the capital.

Cleomel instinctively brought a hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp. She recalled Lily mentioning she was married, but she hadn’t expected that, like herself and Selene, the silver-haired girl would also be drawn to women.

Oliver, on the other hand, bore an expression of solemn respect. He could never mistake this girl for someone ordinary—not only because she had saved his life but because he vividly remembered how she had brutally slaughtered the monsters in the castle.

None of the four asked where or how the girl had appeared. Believing it wiser not to press with questions, they were simply glad to have finally met the wife of the silver-haired girl.

However, one person at the table had an entirely different reaction.

It would be impossible to blame her for it. Years of training in monster-infested zones, where one could trust only oneself, had honed Selene’s instincts to their absolute limit. In situations where even a second of hesitation could spell death, it was unimaginable that her body wouldn’t react to such a presence.

Before Selene even realized it, her hand was already on the brush at her waist. The stardust weapon emitted a faint blue glow, instinctively imbued with mana by her alarmed mind.

But for the first time in her life, Selene’s razor-sharp instincts almost became the cause of her death.

The moment she made that move, her heart skipped a beat as those crimson eyes fixed on her.

No one— not even the silver-haired woman holding Nia on her lap—noticed the piercing gaze that seemed to drill into Selene’s very soul, striking at the core of her existence as if to ask: What are you trying to do?

Releasing the brush and closing her eyes, Selene struggled to seek clemency. Her hair, once neatly tied in twin tails, now shook as her body recoiled. If her trembling legs had obeyed her, she would have thrown herself to the floor and begged for her life.

Her teeth chattered, and a cold sensation spread through her stomach.

Selene knew she was the only one who truly understood the meaning behind that being’s words.

It wasn’t a joke—whether they lived or died didn’t matter to her in the slightest.

That entity wasn’t on humanity’s side; she was on Lily’s side. They were not special—neither those in the room nor the residents of Caligo.

This was no exaggeration. Selene’s trembling body was proof of that knowledge.

Their lives had only been spared because it was Lily’s wish and Selene fully grasped the implication of those words.

If Lily were to change her mind and desire their deaths, every head in that hall would be at her feet, and the city would be in ruins before the next dawn.

Selene couldn’t see that being as human, nor could she think of any race to which that existence might belong. The thought itself was nonsensical. Trying to categorize her as a member of any race felt blasphemous.

She was nothing less than a primordial force, an incarnation of nature in its most chaotic form—a living warning that the unknown was always lurking, ready to devour those who crossed its path.

How had Velmont dared to stand before such a being and remain on his feet?

Selene couldn’t even begin to formulate an answer to that question.

The rabbit ears lowered as if trying to hide. Selene hadn’t witnessed the battle and didn’t know the aura a demon exuded. Yet, if it was truly the figure before her who had defeated the creatures her mentors from the tower called the most dangerous and hideous in the world, she couldn’t even summon the courage to lift her head.

However, completely unaware of Selene, who was sweating cold and keeping her eyes tightly shut, the family observed Lily and Gardenia’s interaction with curiosity.

”So, what do you want to try now?” Lily whispered softly into Nia’s ear.

”The salad!” Nia replied cheerfully.

Using Lily’s lap as her inseparable seat, Nia rested comfortably against her wife’s chest, happily receiving bites of food.

When the small spoon filled with leafy greens dressed in a sweet-and-sour sauce reached her mouth, her joyful expression seemed to light up the room.

”Lily, Lily! You have to try this too; it’s so good!”

Taking the spoon from Lily’s hand, Nia carefully scooped some salad and brought it directly to her wife’s lips.

”It’s good, right?” Nia asked with a bright smile as Lily’s surprised expression confirmed it.

”Indeed, it’s delicious! But... this taste—Alice, are these tomatoes?” Lily asked the dark blue-haired girl, who nearly jumped out of her seat at being suddenly addressed.

”Y-Yes! Aunt Selene said we could be a bit more indulgent with tonight’s dinner, so I used some fruits and vegetables she had in her pantry.”

Upon hearing that, Lily’s excitement surged as memories of tasting such things while living with her father resurfaced.

Gently stroking Nia’s purple hair, Lily resumed feeding her wife a few more spoonfuls before returning the spoon to Nia’s hand, switching roles once again.

”Lady Lily, if we may ask—what do you intend to do now?” Abelia inquired hesitantly, not wanting to interrupt the duo’s joyful moment.

”We’ll be leaving the Mist Territory in a few days to find a place to build our home,” Lily replied after finishing her bite.

Although the situation in Caligo had taken longer than expected, now that there were no more obstacles to crossing the connection bridge—even if it meant avoiding the toll—she knew no one would dare try to stop her.

”The capital won’t be your destination, will it?” Abelia asked, her grip tightening around Cleomel’s hand.

”I have no intention of going near the capital, at least not for now.”

Though there was a specific noble she intended to confront someday, Lily concluded it was better to increase her power before approaching the mage tower.

”My wife and I are looking for labyrinths to explore and conquer. It would help if you knew where we could find more.” Lily’s gaze shifted among the family before her, signaling that it was time to return to one of their primary objectives: labyrinth exploration.

”Wait a moment, Lady Lily... does that mean the Stardust Spring Labyrinth—” Oliver’s words faltered as Lily finished the sentence for him.

”We conquered it.”

Hearing this, none of them could maintain their composure. They knew Lily well enough to understand there was no lie in her words.

”Did you... reach the Guardian’s floor?” Oliver’s voice trembled. The boy, who hadn’t even managed to get past the second floor without losing a companion, stared in shock at the duo who had conquered the labyrinth on their first attempt. ”But if Lady Lily conquered the labyrinth... why aren’t you famous yet?”

Conquering an unconquered labyrinth was a monumental feat. Had Lily returned with the artifacts always found in the Guardian’s hall, even with the city taking a share of the profits, she would have become as wealthy as a minor noble family. Moreover, the fame from such an achievement would have ensured her a comfortable life—perhaps even immediate acceptance into the mage tower for her accomplishments.

”I simply didn’t turn in anything I received from the Guardian’s hall. That’s all.”

Everyone swallowed hard at those words. From combatants like Cleomel and Oliver to even Abelia and Alice, they all knew that withholding artifacts found in labyrinths was a serious crime against the capital.

Was it ignorance or sheer confidence that allowed these two girls to reveal such a thing so indifferently while continuing to enjoy their meal? No one knew—nor did they dare to question it.

”Is there anything specific Lady Lily is searching for?” Cleomel asked, resting her free hand on her chin. ”A particular type of monster or artifact?”

Lily’s gaze drifted to Nia. Her wife, still joyfully eating the food fed to her, nodded in agreement as if silently conveying that Lily could share whatever she deemed necessary. Nia’s trust in her was absolute.

”I won’t go into details, but have you ever heard of a book found inside a labyrinth?” Lily’s voice lowered as she intertwined her fingers with Nia’s.

According to Nox’s information, if Nia didn’t consume the remaining volumes of the Book of Truth, her mind would eventually become unstable, endangering her life. Even if this was a distant threat, Lily wanted to act early to prevent it, making the acquisition of the next volume a top priority.

”I believe all known labyrinths around the capital have already been explored and conquered, but I’ve never heard any reports about a book,” Oliver said thoughtfully. ”When I return to the palace, I’ll search the archives and spoils for any records of such a discovery.”

Nodding in gratitude for Oliver’s help, Lily acknowledged that finding information about unexplored labyrinths and their treasures was indeed challenging.

”Lady Lily, this is merely speculation on my part. In the months leading up to our journey, I noticed several carriages filled with weapons being sent to the border of the Elven Kingdom,” Abelia rejoined the conversation, her expression thoughtful.

”Weapons?” Lily asked, struggling to find a connection between Abelia’s statement and their current discussion.

”They’ve never purchased such a large quantity of weapons from the capital’s blacksmiths before. The elves value peace. They wouldn’t suddenly start a war against the dwarves or dragons.” Oliver remarked. ”Our mother mentioned it because we all found it very strange. If they’re acquiring so many weapons, our best guess is that they’ve encountered a labyrinth that’s extremely difficult to conquer and are trying to overcome it by obtaining better armaments.”

Lily had heard of the elves, but much like the dragons, she hadn’t learned enough to fully understand their way of life or the land they inhabited.

”Wait—if you had such a strong indication of a labyrinth in the elven territory, why risk coming to the mist instead of going there?” Lily tilted her head in curiosity.

”Elves are extremely territorial,” Abelia explained. ”They don’t mix with other races, whether culturally or in terms of descendants. Unfortunately, this attitude became even more pronounced after the death of one of their two heroes who helped defeat the demon king—their former queen.”

Abelia’s explanation made Lily pause to reflect. She was well aware of the racism that existed between humans and demi-humans. Cases like Selene’s, where children are labeled as bastards simply because one of their parents is a demi-human, were disturbingly common. If the elves harbored similar sentiments toward all other races, it made perfect sense for them to remain so isolated within their territory.

”I’m not sure if this information will be particularly useful to Lady Lily, but the continent of Phaea has been heavily affected by the demon king’s mist to the point where the entire territory of the dragons and dwarves is now within the fog,” Cleomel, who had been silently listening, joined the conversation. ”However, the World Tree located in the great city of the elves prevents the mist from taking over the forest. So if you go there, you’ll still be able to walk under the sun without any problems.”

”World Tree?” Among everything Cleomel had said, that single expression caught Lily’s attention more than anything else.

”Records state that it is the largest and oldest tree in the entire world. They say it’s the only tree imbued with mana, possessing unique properties that no other vegetation has.” Abelia explained, her obsidian eyes meeting Lily’s. ”Lady Lily, you’re aware that various types of sub-species of herbs and mana-infused plants are mixed to produce potions and medicines, correct?”

As a member of a florist family, Lily was well-versed in herb cultivation. In both villages where she grew up, she had planted mana herb sub-species to produce lower-grade potions and simple ointments.

Seeing Lily nod in agreement, Abelia continued. ”Among all potions, advanced healing potions are the only ones we can’t produce in Anthus, so we have to purchase them. They can only be made using the sap from the World Tree. A single advanced healing potion can cost over fifty gold coins.”

“W-What!?” Lily couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. That was the same price as one of her stardust weapons.

”Additionally, the elves monopolize all healing magic and lead the world’s medicinal research,” Cleomel whispered as though revealing a secret, though her eyes gleamed with animosity. ”This is just a rumor I’ve heard, but it seems their nation’s Absolute Magic is powerful enough to regenerate lost limbs and cure incurable diseases.”

”Beyond its cultural significance, the World Tree is essential for the survival of the elves and their financial sustainability. Therefore, they don’t allow any member of another race to enter their territory.” Unable to do anything but smile at seeing her beloved’s joyful expression, Abelia squeezed her hand tighter as her face grew warm, then returned to the conversation.

”Even though Lady Lily is very strong, if you decide to go there, I recommend exercising extreme caution. As a former member of our kingdom’s royal guard, I’m certain their military security policy follows the same principle: eliminate the threat first, ask questions later.”

Cleomel, her face also flushed from the warmth of the hand intertwined with hers under the table, managed to finish the explanation without faltering.

Lily remained silent for a few moments, reflecting on the information. She and Nia still needed to find four more volumes of the Book of Truth. Although Nox had informed her that the other guardians held the books in labyrinths scattered around the world, he hadn’t specified their locations or even how many labyrinths existed.

Because of this, they would need to explore every labyrinth they encountered in search of the guardians and the remaining volumes. Since those listed in the capital were no longer an option, even a speculative lead was worth investigating. Checking the elven kingdom seemed like a reasonable course of action.

”Thank you very much for the information. It looks like going to the elven kingdom will probably be our next course of action.”

Finishing her statement and subtly nodding in gratitude, Lily noticed that Nia, having eaten her fill, was now rubbing against her, eagerly anticipating the resumption of their cuddle sessions.

Unable to hold back a laugh at such an adorable act, Lily bid farewell to the others, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the delicious meal, and stood up.

As Lily and Nia left the dining room and returned to their quarters, the rest of the family prepared to do the same and get some rest.

It was only when everyone rose from their seats that they finally noticed something peculiar — they hadn’t heard the voice of a certain bunny-eared girl for quite a while.

”Aunt Selene must be exhausted. She fell asleep in the chair and didn’t even finish her meal,” Alice remarked, showing sympathy for the woman who was likely drained from the battles.

Gently, Alice picked her up to carry her to her room.

That night, to the fortunate preservation of Selene’s pride and dignity, none of her family members realized that she had actually fainted at some point during the conversation from holding her breath too long, trying not to further provoke the overwhelming presence before her.