Volume 6, Chapter 45 – Coincidence Can Also Be Called Misfortune

“Me!”

Milu first stubbornly looked up into Anastasia’s eyes, her expression as if she wanted to say something. But Anastasia’s gaze was sterner than hers. Her imposing manner was no match for Anastasia. Her gaze gradually softened until she completely lowered her head, whispering in a volume almost inaudible.

“The springboard was too fragile…”

“It’s a problem of your recklessness; what does it have to do with Princess Liti’s magic? If you had followed Princess Liti’s order and lowered your head when facing the Frenzied Fang Bird instead of choosing to intercept it, the problem just now wouldn’t have occurred. I should have taught you that warriors should always listen to the orders of magic casters in battle. Magic casters stand at the rear of the battlefield with a comprehensive view, knowing much more information than you at the forefront. Have you forgotten everything I said?”

“Sister Anna, Milu also wanted to end this battle quickly. Leaving that Frenzied Rat alone is too troublesome.”

Seeing Anastasia’s voice becoming increasingly stern, Liti, with her light purple long hair tied in twin tails, hurriedly stepped forward to mediate. Although Tilulu at the side also wanted to say something, her timid personality made her afraid to face Anastasia in parent mode. Once a consistently gentle person got angry, even the most ill-tempered person would feel fear.

Anastasia, with raised eyebrows, turned to Liti and said seriously.

“Princess Liti, it is because I am here today that you and Her Highness Tilulu were not injured; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable. If Euphimilu were the only one fighting here, her judgment would indeed be correct. But now she forms a team with you. What matters in a team is not individual strength, but the ability to collaborate fully. From the moment she heard your command but disobeyed, it was already her fault. This team could have done better, but because of her recklessness, it lost the results it should have obtained.”

“B-But even if Milu had listened to my order just now, we definitely couldn’t have eliminated all these monsters… The battle was so intense there was no chance to use magic potions.”

As she spoke, Liti tried her best to widen her purple-red eyes. Combined with the few mud spots on her dress and slightly rapid breathing, both her cuteness and the persuasiveness of her words deepened significantly, as if she really would run out of stamina before long.

“Ugh…”

Anastasia hesitated to speak, the sternness in her eyes gradually relaxing. She took off her hood, revealing the golden long hair underneath, and sighed earnestly.

“Sigh, after all, you are still young; I cannot demand too much. Just, Euphimilu, although your master is Her Highness, the person beside you who truly needs your protection is Princess Liti. Do not make similar mistakes in the future. Royal swordsmanship focuses more on protecting the master than defending against enemies. Wait until you reach my level before acting on your own judgment. Otherwise, listening to the orders of someone who can overlook the whole situation is far safer than acting recklessly yourself.”

“Yes…”

What Anastasia said was correct. Milu finally folded the wings by her ears and lowered her head to admit her mistake. Her behavior had disrupted their formation; this was an indisputable fact.

Milu’s admission of fault completely dissipated Anastasia’s anger. She shook her head and muttered to herself.

“I also have a responsibility. If I had established Princess Liti as the captain earlier, this wouldn’t have happened… It’s just that there are always situations on the battlefield so chaotic that orders can’t be heard clearly. Without enough tacit understanding, one definitely won’t be able to react. Should I focus training on mutual coordination in the future…”

“Ah, I have a solution for this.” Fia, who hadn’t been able to get a word in, finally found an opportunity. Like a mother protecting her daughter, she pulled the listless Milu behind her to hide, then showed everyone her right hand wearing the cat ring. “Just inscribe [Communication] magic into the ring, and the problem of poor communication can be solved.”

“But [Communication] magic is easily interfered with by other magic. Just an ordinary fireball explosion will make [Communication] ineffective.”

“Leave it to me to try. Like the Stone-Shooting Staff.”

Fia patted her tender chest and smiled brightly at Anastasia. Anastasia couldn’t help but stare blankly at this smile for a moment, until Claire’s voice sounded with doubt.

“More importantly, is the ring on Little Fia’s hand a pair with Anastasia’s? I didn’t see it on the way here. Ah, it was just now…”

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Claire, with her silver hair spread out, seemed to realize something. She half-covered her slightly open mouth with her right hand, her clear eyes full of surprise.

Like being struck by lightning, Anastasia’s body jolted. She hurriedly hid her hand behind her back, and Fia’s expression stiffened as well.

Discovered so quickly!

Although Anastasia had said Claire’s observation skills were keen, and Fia felt she couldn’t hide it for long, she didn’t expect Claire’s observation skills to reach the level of seeing it at a glance.

“Eh? Ring? Sister has enlightened? But why isn’t it me? Damn it, even if it’s Sister Anna, I’m going to be jealous! I’m going to make a fuss!”

“What about me…”

Liti ran behind Anastasia, trying to check the ring Anastasia was hiding. Tilulu looked up at Fia with an expression like she was about to cry. In addition, Fia felt Milu behind her also casting a strange gaze, like thorns on her back.

“Tilulu, quickly cry for Sister to see. Maybe Sister will agree to coax you.”

Hey, you guys, don’t fan the flames! You just want to join in while I agree to Tilulu!

If this continued, Tilulu might really start tearing up, and she had to explain to Claire too. Fia hurriedly took out a large string of paper bags from her spatial backpack and coughed loudly twice.

“These are gifts I bought for everyone. I haven’t bought decent gifts for everyone for a long time. I picked some out when passing a jewelry store yesterday. Everyone can choose colors according to their preferences.”

“Oh oh, also cat-shaped rings, but different colors from the ring on Sister Anna’s hand?”

Liti unceremoniously picked up a paper bag and opened it. Inside was a cat ring carved from a blue cat’s eye stone, more valuable than the silver ring.

“Looks expensive. If everyone has one, I’ll forgive Sister. No, wait, Sister and Sister Anna’s rings are exactly the same! I want one like Sister Anna’s too!”

“The merchant didn’t sell them. Blame Liti for choosing a step too late. I’ll make it up to Liti when the merchant makes them in the future.”

“Guuu… I feel like Sister is perfunctory with me.”

Liti puffed out her cheeks, her face full of unhappiness. Fia couldn’t help poking Liti’s cheek, and Liti instantly deflated—of course, Fia hadn’t forgotten to secretly observe Claire’s reaction. But before she could look a few more times, she felt someone gently tugging at the corner of her clothes. It was Tilulu, holding a gift box, with fear on her cute face.

“Lord Fia, do… do I have a share too?”

“Ah, no problem. This is a gift for everyone.”

Not giving one to Tilulu would be too pitiful.

Almost instantly, the worry in Tilulu’s purple eyes disappeared, and her whole body radiated joy. Even the white tiger ears on top of her head twitched.

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“Thank you, Lord Fia!”

I feel like if no one were here, Tilulu would be so happy she’d rub her cheek against my hand and wrap her tail around me.

Speaking of which, because of the previous accident, the distance between me and Tilulu seems a bit estranged. Maybe I should find a chance to restore normalcy.

“Mine.”

With an emotionless tone, Milu stuffed the emerald cat ring in her hand into Fia’s hand.

“Does Milu not like it?”

The answer was a head shake. Milu extended her right hand to Fia, explaining with a serious face.

“I want Master to put it on for me.”

“This…”

How can I put a ring on Milu in front of Claire?

No, precisely because it’s Milu, putting it on is fine? After all, Milu is a child; Claire shouldn’t think Milu and I will develop a romantic relationship.

However, before Fia could decide, Liti forcibly inserted herself between Fia and Milu with great fanfare. She rudely took Milu’s cat ring from Fia’s hand and half-forced it onto Milu.

“Done. I put it on for you. Thank me properly.”

“You.”

Seeming to choke on bread, Milu glared at Liti as if wanting to say something, but said nothing.

Liti crossed her arms triumphantly and raised her chin.

“The one who should have a ring put on by Sister most should be Sister Claire. No jumping the queue. After Sister Claire, it’s me.”

The second half is the main point, right!

However, Liti’s words liberated Fia. Ignoring the bickering between Liti and Milu, she took a step forward, holding the ring originally belonging to Claire in her hand—Claire hadn’t taken a paper bag from Fia like the others, so this ring naturally fell into Fia’s hands.

As if realizing what Fia was going to do, Claire covered her mouth and snickered.

“Giving it to me? I already have a ring put on by Little Fia.”

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“There’s still a difference… A gift is a gift; the engagement ring is another matter.”

“Then where does Little Fia want to put it on me?”

Although she said this, Claire had already smilingly extended her right hand to Fia. Her left middle finger already had a ring. According to elf etiquette, if she wanted to wear another ring, she could only wear it on the middle finger of her right hand.

Although her companions were watching from the side, putting a ring on Claire personally was quite embarrassing. But she had even kissed Claire in front of Mother Yulisha. Comparing the two, just putting on a ring was nothing, probably.

Suppressing her shyness with the courage welling up in her chest, Fia chanted in her heart,

I can’t see Liti, I can’t see Liti .

With a serious expression, she held up Claire’s right hand and gently, as if treating a goddess, put the cat ring on Claire.

“She put it on! She put it on! Sister Anna, quickly take out the recording crystal!”

“Be quiet.”

“Will I have this day too when I grow up…”

You little guys, stop jeering from the side.

Pretending not to hear the remarks of the loli group behind her, Fia first looked up at Claire’s smiling, beautiful face, then lowered her head blushing. She spread her five fingers and pressed her palm against Claire’s palm, slightly comparing the size of their hands.

Equally lustrous and slender, but Claire’s hand was indeed a size larger than hers. Although still a girl’s hand, it belonged to a mature girl. The warmth transmitted from the palm made Fia feel as if she could smell the faint fragrance on Claire.

If the occasion weren’t inappropriate, it might have developed into an ambiguous atmosphere next, like interlocking fingers, bodies leaning together under the tree—

However, while Fia was indulging in fancy thoughts, she suddenly felt the surroundings quiet down. Even the noisiest Liti made no sound. Only the splashing sound of rain hitting leaves and sliding into puddles remained. The air was deathly silent and incomparably cold.

Fia and Claire felt doubtful in unison. Their gazes fell on the quiet Liti group. It wasn’t until they realized the four of them were looking behind Claire with faces full of awkwardness and averted eyes that they finally understood something.

Someone might have come over.

Fia tilted her head curiously, looking behind Claire. Then, her hands stiffened slightly, and her expression became embarrassed.

Standing in the rain was a red-haired girl wearing a pure white formal dress, possessing fiery red cat ears and a tail. Holding an oil-paper umbrella, she stared blankly at Fia and Claire’s joined palms, where the cat rings were exceptionally dazzling.

“Ahem.”

Noticing Fia looking at her, Nola hurriedly withdrew her gaze. She turned her face away, her free hand half-covering her mouth. Although it was only for an instant, Fia still caught the gloom filling Nola’s eyes.

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“Sorry, I came at a bad time.”

Without waiting for Fia’s answer, Nola turned and left, stepping through puddles without any hesitation in her steps.

Liti whispered with a look of trouble.

“Messed up… why did she come at this time?”

“I’ll go check—”

Saying this, Fia took a step forward. However, Claire suddenly grabbed her. Although Claire was also watching Nola’s receding figure with worry all over her beautiful face, she still stopped Fia softly.

“Let her have some quiet time alone. Nola has to realize eventually that there is no possibility between her and me. Giving her hope is just adding to her distress… Only by figuring it out herself can she end this feeling.”

In other words, better a short pain than a long one; giving hope is torture instead.

But this is too cruel to Nola.

Seeming to see Fia’s hesitation, Anastasia bowed and suggested with elegant etiquette befitting a maid.

“Your subordinate also thinks Miss Claire’s solution is best for everyone, Your Highness. There is no solution that satisfies both sides in this matter. Miss Claire has never liked Miss Nola. This isn’t a situation where one can agree just out of pity.”

“One must be decisive when it’s time to be decisive. Sister thought so clearly when rejecting me and Tilulu, but when it comes to others, you start worrying. Care more about me and Tilulu too. Like sleeping together at night, everyone sleeping in a big bed, hugging left and right or something isn’t bad either.”

The situation is completely different.

If I were Claire, of course I would make the same reaction as Claire. But I am Claire’s fiancée and Nola’s friend. Caught between two people, of course I would hesitate and sympathize. This isn’t toward a lover, but toward a friend.

“Hugging left and right is no good!” Tilulu pulled Liti’s arm, blushing as she retorted. “Too… too early…”

“Idiot, if you wait, there won’t even be soup left! Rather than unhappy things, continue fighting monsters! Fight monsters! With Sister’s ring, I feel stronger!”

Obviously livening up the atmosphere, Liti deliberately raised her hands high and shouted urgingly. Anastasia and Milu’s group seemed to cooperate, returning to their original positions.

I’ll listen to Claire’s opinion first and not chase after her for now.

There was a suffocating feeling in her chest like being pressed by a stone, which Fia couldn’t relieve even with deep breaths. She glanced in the direction Nola left, trying hard to control herself not to think about Nola. Finally, she focused her attention on searching for monsters.