HMC 20

Chapter 20

“A New Target, A New Dilemma”

“Are all magicians a little weird?”

Phillippe whispered to Liamson like a ventriloquist.

“Who knows? We’ve only ever seen Lady Rosedale.”

Liamson smiled politely and whispered back.

In front of them, Rosedale had paused her herb inspection to chat with a random bird that had flown in.

Since her arrival, the Magic Research Division had witnessed several odd behaviors:

• Rosedale talked to animals like it was normal.

• She napped in trees instead of on sofas.

• She tilted her head at things everyone else understood.

• She patted people like they were puppies—including Liamson, a man over 40.

“Still… I’m really glad she came,” said Phillippe, smiling despite dirt on her face.

“We used to be called the most useless division—just wasting imperial funds.”

“It’s true,” Liamson agreed quietly.

“But being the ‘useless division’ was also the only reason there were so many commoners here… or a woman like me.”

“Hey now, Phillippe…”

“It’s okay. I’ve heard worse. Some people still say I’m overstepping by trying to do ‘big work’ in the imperial palace.”

Phillippe brushed off Liamson’s concerned look and smiled.

“That’s why I love that the only magician in the world is a woman. I’m just happy she showed up.”

To Phillippe, Rosedale was like a small stone tossed into a rotting river—stirring the water, making it flow again.

And it wasn’t just Phillippe who felt that way.

Rosedale’s magic rekindled the passion in the team. Their eyes lit up like when they’d first fallen in love with magic.

“Even proud Lord Todd follows her around like a puppy,” Phillippe laughed.

He still talked rudely, but every time Rosedale used magic, he scooted close, trying to act casual. Rosedale, however, treated him just like anyone else.

“She never looks down on us—even though we can’t use magic. She works hard right beside us. I really like her.”

Liamson smiled gently too. As the team leader, he’d always felt guilty—like he hadn’t done enough. But Rosedale’s presence changed that.

“You’re right,” he nodded. “She’s a miracle.”

They watched as Rosedale whispered something to a bird sitting on her shoulder.

“She is a bit odd though.”

Unaware she was being watched, Rosedale suddenly flinched.

“WHAT?!”

A few minutes earlier…

Rosedale was happily admiring new herb sprouts in her garden when—

“Peep!”

She turned to see a small pink wren on the ground.

“Oh? Lord Eros?”

It was the same kind of bird Eros had used as a messenger before.

“Peep!”
“You’re not Eros himself?”

“Peep!”

“Oh… he just sent a message through you this time.”

Rosedale checked to make sure no one was nearby—her identity as a divine messenger had to stay secret.

She lifted the bird onto her shoulder and whispered:

“So, what’s the message? A mission?”

“Peep peep peep!”

“A mission? What kind?”

Her red eyes sparkled with curiosity.

The bird pointed its head and gaze at a specific area—switching its focus between Phillippe and Liamson talking nearby and Todd, who was awkwardly kicking dirt nearby.

“Them? Why?”

“Peep peep peep!”

“Wait… Todd likes Liamson?”

“Peep?!”

The bird slapped its forehead with its fluffy wing and sighed.

“Peep peep peep peeeeeep.”

“Ah—wait. Todd… likes Phillippe?! What?! Really?!”

“PEEP!”

The bird puffed out its chest and flapped its wings like: “YES!”

“No way…”

Rosedale stared at Todd and Phillippe with a stunned expression.

In all the books she read, love meant wanting to give, share, and speak kindly. But Todd was the opposite:

• He pulled Phillippe’s hair.

• He called her names like “commoner.”

• He bragged about his future wealth and mocked her clothes.

Phillippe usually ignored him. But when she snapped back, Todd blushed and ran off.

“That’s love?!”

Rosedale shook her head, baffled.

“Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand?”

“Peep?! Peep peep!”

The bird flapped angrily. But Rosedale still looked doubtful.

“So the mission is… to shoot Phillippe with a golden arrow?”

“Peep!”

Hmm…
Phillippe was kind. She even gave Rosedale cookies. Was it really okay to match her with Todd?

And how could she trust this when Lukas himself had shown no reaction to the arrow?

She frowned, thinking hard.

“Why does Eros want them matched up?”

The bird chirped Eros’s explanation:

• Todd is immature, but will grow through Phillippe.

• Phillippe will find emotional rest through Todd.

• Together, they’ll become better people—and spread their happiness to others.

“…Really?”

The bird puffed its cheeks as if saying “YES!” again.

Rosedale sighed.

“Fine. Tell Eros I’ll watch for now—and maybe do it soon.”

“Peep!”

The bird fluttered excitedly and circled her head.

“Okay okay… Wait! One more thing!”

She stopped the bird before it flew away.

“Have you ever heard of someone getting hit by a golden arrow… but not falling in love with the first person they saw?”

“Peep?”

She wiped the sweat forming on her forehead.

“You know, like… what happened with Lukas…”

The bird tilted its head in confusion.

“So you’ve never heard of that? Could you… ask Eros? Just don’t say I asked.”

“Peep?”

Now the bird tilted its head even further, acting like it didn’t understand.

“Don’t pretend you don’t get it.”

“Peep peep?”

“You’re dumb. And ugly.”

“PEEEEEP!!”

The bird angrily slapped her cheek with its wing.

It didn’t hurt at all—but Rosedale’s eyes lit up like fire.

“Did you just HIT me?”

“…Peep. Peep…”

The bird, now deflated, dropped to the ground and bowed.

Rosedale glared at it, breathing through her bangs to calm down.

“You can understand me. You’re just being lazy, right?”

“Peep?”

It tilted its head again, sweating nervously.

Whether it was laziness or something else, Rosedale knew it probably wouldn’t help her.

She sighed and waved it away.

“Fine. Thanks. Just go.”

“Peep!”

The bird took off like it was escaping.

Rosedale watched it fly into the distance until it was just a dot, her face heavy with unease.

“Sigh… What do I do now?”