HMC 29

Chapter 29

“The Garden Party, The Vanishing Fairy, and a Dream”

Under the bright blue sky with not a cloud in sight, roses had begun blooming in a beautiful garden.

A tea party of noble ladies was in full swing.

“Did everyone hear the news?”

The young Lady of the Lindgren Marquis family asked, her still-chubby cheeks turning pink.

“You mean about Lady Rosedale?”

The daughter of Count Brillia asked while sipping her tea, and Lady Lindgren’s eyes went wide.

“Huh? How did you know?”

“Well, everyone in Iberia is talking about her these days.”

“I heard too! She’s a woman, right?”

“Yeah! And I heard she usually wears trousers like men. Do you think that’s true?”

The ladies, who had been calmly drinking tea and chatting, suddenly began to sparkle with curiosity.

“Did you hear about the magic medicine she made? My brother, who’s in the Imperial Knights, used it, and a wound full of pus healed in just half a day!”

“They say they gave it first to those injured during the war, and even internal injuries healed in just three days!”

“Starting tomorrow, they’re giving it out to regular citizens too—especially the poor ones first.”

“Oh, and! I heard they’re going to replace all the streetlights with magic ones. They won’t go out like candles and will be so bright that even midnight will look like noon.”

Lady Lindgren added proudly.

“Everyone knows my fourth brother works in the Magic Research Division, right?”

“Oh right, Sir Todd works there, doesn’t he?”

“Yes! My brother is one of the elite members and very favored by Lady Rosedale.”

She grinned proudly.

Until recently, she hadn’t understood why her brother worked in such a “dirty” department. He had always been scolded by the family for it.
But suddenly, he had become their biggest source of pride.

“My brother said the Magic Division will be super busy soon, and they’ll be posting job openings.”

“Really? I bet a lot of noble applicants will apply this time because of Lady Rosedale.”

“Probably! Not that it matters to us, though.”

In the Empire, noble women weren’t allowed to work or earn money.

Their “job” was to marry into a good family, have heirs, and manage household affairs.

They were expected to be under the protection of their fathers, then their husbands.

“But my brother said this time might be different.”

Lady Lindgren lowered her voice like she was sharing a secret.

“Not only will they ignore status, but they won’t consider gender either. That means noblewomen can join the Magic Division too!”

“Really?”

“Then could I join? I’d love to see that mage up close!”

“Me too!”

Whispers and murmurs filled the garden.

Their curiosity and admiration for Rosedale had made these usually polite girls giggly like children.

Many older nobles still disliked Rosedale—afraid of the Emperor’s favor toward her, or uncomfortable with her being the only mage in the world.
But young nobles admired her—women looked up to her, and even the men supported this new wave of change.

Of course, not everyone felt the same.

“…Honestly, I find someone like Lady Rosedale a bit uncomfortable.”

The daughter of Count Petter spoke carefully.

“Pants that show your legs? I’d be embarrassed to see her in person.”

“My mother said she must not have been raised properly to act that way. I sort of agree.”

“Yeah… I think the praise she gets is a little overhyped.”

“Not everyone has to think the same way.”

Clink.

The daughter of Count Brillia, who had been quiet, suddenly placed her teacup down—loudly.

It was something she would never normally do.

“If I may add something,” she said coolly, “I’d say jealousy and envy are rather ugly.”

“What did you just say?”

“Are you saying we’re jealous and trying to slander her?”

“Well, I didn’t name anyone. But if the shoe fits, maybe you’re feeling a bit guilty?”

The girls who had been badmouthing Rosedale went pale and couldn’t say another word.

Other girls giggled at the scene.

Brillia elegantly dabbed her lips with a napkin and stood.

“I’ll take my leave since I seem to be the ‘troublemaker.’ Lady Lindgren, sorry for ruining your tea party.”

“Ruin it? Not at all. It was fun.”

Like her brother Todd, Lady Lindgren smiled playfully and waved a hand.

As someone with a brother in the Magic Division, she didn’t enjoy hearing Rosedale insulted either.

Brillia smiled sweetly at the girls who had supported her and turned to leave.

She was briefly captivated by the sight of newly blooming red roses in the garden.

“They say Lady Rosedale’s eyes are as red as roses…”

A woman who didn’t need marriage to earn the rank of a duke.

A mysterious mage who wore pants instead of corsets and silenced every man who doubted her.

If I worked beside her… maybe I could change too.

“Magic Research Division…”

Before boarding her carriage, Brillia glanced toward the Imperial Palace.

A spark of determination shone in her teal eyes.

She didn’t yet notice the strange, dark red stone in her pocket—glowing ominously.

Meanwhile…

In the flower field, hidden between huge blossoms, tiny thumb-sized fairies huddled together.

“What do we do?”

“What do we do, what do we do?”

Their thin wings fluttered nervously, matching their anxious eyes.

Sigh…

Tiny lips let out giant sighs.

It had all started with the disappearance of one senior fairy.

After her coming-of-age ceremony, everyone had wanted to celebrate her—
but the guest of honor, Rosedale, was nowhere to be found.

She was tall and sparkly—hard to miss—yet they searched the entire Fairy Realm and couldn’t find her.

“She’s big, so why can’t we see her?”

“Why? Why??”

“Did she run away? Did Lady Rosedale run away?!”

The fairies looked pale, whispering “what now, what now” over and over.

Who knew how many days had passed since Rosedale vanished?
This was definitely a crisis in the Fairy Realm.

The only relief was that Elpis hadn’t noticed yet.
He had been too busy in the area with the World Tree to look around.

But that was about to change.

Elpis returns today.

And the first thing he’d do is look for Rosedale.

If she wasn’t there, he’d find out immediately.

When Elpis got angry, black clouds filled the fairy skies.
Sometimes lightning struck out of nowhere, or frost would fall suddenly.

The fairies were trembling in fear when—

“Rosedale.”

They heard Elpis’s voice from afar.

He’s back! The fairies flinched.

“Rosedale.”

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it echoed across the Fairy Realm.

All the fairies who knew the truth held their breath and lowered their heads.

If he looked them in the eyes, they’d have to tell him the truth. So they stalled for time.

“Rosedale! Where is Rosedale?”

Elpis’s voice gradually rose.

By now, she should have shown up.
But there was no sign of her pink hair fluttering in the wind.
Even the other fairies had hidden from him.

Suspicious. His frown deepened.

“Come out. Now.”

“Eek!”

The fairies, startled by his booming command, rushed to gather before him.

Their great and mighty ruler—no fairy could disobey him.

Elpis looked down at them and asked in a low, heavy voice,

“Where is Rosedale?”

“…”

“Answer me. Why can’t I see her?”

“L-Lady Rosedale…”

After exchanging glances nervously, their lips began to tremble—

“She’s gone!”

“She ran away!”

“What do we do?!”

Once it started, the flood couldn’t be stopped.

They poured out all their fear and worry.

And then—BOOM!

Thunder and lightning roared across the sky.

“Waaah!”

Fairies, trees, and every part of nature flinched in fear.

“How dare she…”

Elpis clenched his massive fists, his neck turning red and veins popping on his forehead.

“Find Rosedale.”

“…”

“Right now!”

“…!”

The terrified fairies scattered in all directions.

Watching them fly off, Elpis gritted his teeth.

“…Rosedale…”

His head throbbed. He closed his eyes tightly and put a hand to his brow.

His fingers trembled.

“She can’t leave. She mustn’t leave.”

If she’s not in the Fairy Realm, then…

He had sealed every gate to the human world long ago.
There was no way Rosedale could’ve escaped…

But still—his chest filled with a sharp, terrible feeling.

She must be somewhere here.

Maybe she’s just hiding to mess with him—angry that he stopped her from going to the human world.

Yes, it must be something like that.

He didn’t yet know…
that Rosedale was already by the side of a certain human emperor.

And the sight of Elpis, standing on the Fairy Realm’s lush grass, looked strangely small today.

Back in the Imperial Palace…

In the pitch-dark emperor’s bedroom—black curtains blocking even moonlight—

“Haaah…!”

Lukas suddenly woke up, gasping for breath.