Volume 8, Chapter 52 – The Fluttering Queen’s Heart

Inside the magic testing ground, separated from the Twilight Palace’s library by only a single wall, a ceremony to imbue a soul into a physical body was underway. Ancient stone sarcophagi, guarded by massive stone pillars arranged like a megalithic formation, stood at the center of the venue. Above the two-meter-long stone sarcophagus hung a silvery star chart like the Milky Way. The vast, heart-stopping magical power rippled layer upon layer like ocean waves, causing the girls’ skirts and hair to sway gently.

Inside the sarcophagus lay a black-haired girl immersed in a transparent medicinal solution. Within the sarcophagus, a translucent soul was slowly descending, indicating it was only one step away from the final union of soul and body.

This black-haired girl wasn’t Fia, but Afla. Although it wasn’t something to boast about, Fia had become quite proficient at creating bodies for people. In her spare time, she could even grant a healthy body free of chronic illness to nobles who sought her help. Of course, Fia wasn’t saving people just because she had nothing better to do; there were some things she wanted to understand.

Thanks to this, she had first named this ritual “The Elf Princess’s Blessing”—although embarrassing, it was still much better than “Dofilia’s Favor” suggested by the scholars of the Elf Tower. According to the World Tree Continent’s standard naming convention, high-level magic was generally named by using the inventor’s name as a prefix, followed by a nice name based on the magic’s type. For example, Fia had previously learned a magic called “[Lament of Calamity],” which was developed by a certain Venex in the past. Outsiders then named it according to the standard convention to commemorate the outstanding contribution of this magic caster.

It was worth mentioning that not all high-level magic could be named using this standard convention. Only magic whose incantations or usage methods were actively contributed could be named this way. Some people hoarded their knowledge, unwilling to share the magic they invented. If such magic was accidentally discovered by later generations, it would be named by the public using a generic name that best suited its characteristics. For example, [Spatial Rift]—no one knows who discovered it anymore.

Fia wanted more unfortunate people to be saved, so she shared this magic with the many scholars of the Elf Tower. Unfortunately, due to insufficient magic power and the inability of others to borrow [Particle Repair] to create perfect bodies like Fia could, even in the foreseeable future, no one would be able to use this miraculous magic, which resembled resurrection magic.

Getting back to the point, while helping people create healthy bodies, Fia discovered that “The Elf Princess’s Blessing” wasn’t suitable for everyone. For example, those who died of old age—their wear and tear wasn’t just on their bodies, but also on their souls. So even if Fia created a young body for them, they couldn’t be reborn like Lucitine.

Although Afla had forgotten how she died, judging by her very young body, it certainly wasn’t death from old age.

Thinking this, Fia, who was infusing magic power into the stone pillars, looked towards the sarcophagus. Afla inside was lying peacefully. Just by looking at her appearance, Afla seemed to be around twenty years old. Her black hair spread out in the transparent medicinal solution. Although her smooth body wasn’t perfect, it was still quite attractive. She had probably been a pampered young lady from some noble family in her past life.

“What are you doing?”

“Hm?”

Hearing a third person’s voice, Fia curiously turned around. Apart from Afla lying in the sarcophagus, there should only be herself and Nola in the magic testing ground.

What came into view was Ruth, who, like Lucitine, had pink hair and pink eyes. However, Ruth wasn’t a translucent ghostly form. Visually speaking, Ruth was no different from a real person. She had healthy, rosy skin like a living person, appearing delicate and cute. But in reality, as long as Ruth didn’t want to be touched, others couldn’t reach her; their hands would just pass through her body.

Fia shrugged at Ruth, who was curiously looking at the sarcophagus.

“Preparing for Afla’s punishment.”

“You’re going to kill her?”

Ruth’s voice showed neither dislike nor liking. Fia deliberately answered.

“What do you think?”

“If it were just her offending you, I might plead for leniency, saying the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. But she wanted to teach you a lesson even after Mother emphasized you were the queen—she deserves to die.”

“I thought you’d ask me not to kill her.” Not expecting Ruth to be on her side, Fia looked back at Afla inside the sarcophagus. “Are all undead so heartless? She’s one of the Thirteen Attendants after all, having served your mother for many years. To kill her just like that, and moreover entrust it to an outsider, isn’t that a bit too cruel?”

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“That’s the nature of the undead. We’re not bound by family ties like the living. Apart from the loyalty we hold for Mother, our feelings in other aspects are quite thin. And more importantly than anything else, Afla offended Mother’s dignity. Among the undead, who value dignity as much as life itself, this is a major taboo.”

Having said this, Ruth cast another meaningful glance at Fia’s back, her tone becoming much more sincere.

“Although you’re very strong, and even captured Mother’s heart without my knowing, I still have to remind you: don’t be too reckless. Even if Mother falls for you, she was still born in the kingdom of the dead. Being an undead, there are things that absolutely cannot be offended. That would be seen as touching her dignity. If handled improperly, it’s not impossible for Mother to break with you. When I spent time with Mother before, I vaguely sensed her forbidden zones. She’s like me; she won’t allow anyone to harm the kingdom of the dead she depends on for survival. If Fia shows any intention of disrupting the peace of the kingdom of the dead, not just me, but Mother will also turn her blade against you. That’s the bottom line.”

“Isn’t that basically saying nothing?”

Fia looked speechless. Ruth’s words were like telling her, “Although we have a good relationship, if you intend to harm my family, our relationship will end.” That was simply common sense.

“I’m just kindly reminding you—you don’t actually plan to kill Afla, do you?”

Ruth could feel the vast magical power within the sarcophagus. If Fia wanted to kill Afla, she wouldn’t go through all this trouble.

“You’ll know soon enough.”

With the final infusion of magic power, Afla’s descending soul finally overlapped with the naked body in the sarcophagus. Accompanied by a dazzling surge of magic, the magical fluctuations that had rippled like water waves through the testing ground finally ceased. Fia led Ruth back to Nola’s side, leaned close to Nola’s ear, and whispered.

“Nola, could you go call Anastasia for me?”

“Okay, but what do you need Anastasia for?”

“Well…” At that moment, Fia realized something interesting. She stepped aside slightly, her gaze wandering with great interest between Nola and Ruth. “Punishment, and then Anastasia added in. Doesn’t Nola find this familiar?”

Nola blinked in confusion, then, along with Ruth, her eyes suddenly flew wide open. Especially Ruth, who angrily raised her fist.

Fia calmly blocked the punch with her right palm and, tilting her head, made a request to Nola, whose expression had stiffened and who had instinctively clamped her tail between her legs.

“Alright, alright, just consider it helping out your cute fiancée.”

“Hmph.”

Verbally refusing Fia, Nola nevertheless bowed to Ruth before turning and leaving the hall.

Meanwhile, Fia, still blocking Ruth’s fist with her right hand, didn’t forget to tease her. She looked surprised.

“Ruth, is this how you plan to treat your mother from now on? If Lucitine finds out, she’ll definitely be angry, you know.”

“Don’t think you’ve won just like this. I won’t agree to you and Mother being together.”

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“That’s not for little Ruth to decide~”

For some reason, Fia found teasing Ruth quite enjoyable. To describe it specifically, it was as pleasant as taking your enemy’s wife and not only holding her in your arms but also enjoying the enemy’s angry reaction. Ruth’s gritted-teeth, furious expression was like a delicious dish you could eat several big bowls of rice with.

Just then, a series of coughs suddenly came from the sarcophagus. Familiar with the process, Fia knew this was the sound of Afla choking on the liquid after waking up. Ignoring Ruth, whose eyes were wide as if watching something rare, she quickly walked into the stone formation and pulled the flailing Afla up from the water.

“ Cough! Uh… cough! “

“Afla? How can an undead choke on water?”

Facing the equally shocked and suspicious Ruth, who had also come to the sarcophagus, Fia explained quite proudly.

“Heh heh, the current Afla is no longer an undead. I’ve turned her into a living person.”

To demonstrate for Ruth, Fia pulled Afla, who was gasping for air while clinging to the sarcophagus edge, and flicked her hard on the forehead. Afla let out a pained yelp, and a red mark immediately appeared on her forehead.

An expression of disbelief instantly appeared on Ruth’s face.

“A living person? Impossible?! Afla, stand up.”

“O… okay…”

Having been soaked in the medicinal solution for a long time, Afla’s body temperature was deviating from normal. She was so cold her voice trembled as she spoke. Nevertheless, out of respect for the Princess of Death, she tremblingly stood up. In this process, Afla finally noticed the changes in herself.

She could feel hot and cold.

Not only that, the feeling of the cold medicinal solution flowing between her toes, and the suction from the bottom felt through her soles as her body swayed, were also extremely clear. For the first time, she felt how rich and vibrant this world was.

The same scene became completely different in her mind. Not only were colors more vivid, but she could also as if feel textures through her vision. The air no longer held the stench she had grown accustomed to, but a fresh scent mixed with the salty tang of the sea breeze. She could even vaguely smell the calming orchid fragrance from Fia, and hear the sound of hot blood roaring and rushing through her once-cold vessels. Her long-silent heart was now pounding powerfully, beat after beat, letting her experience again the sense of reality of being alive.

Various information-laden sensations assailed her brain from all directions, actually making her ignore Ruth’s command and stand frozen for a moment. Gradually, a tear as big as a bean formed at the corner of her eye, her tear ducts working without her conscious awareness.

Fia made a shushing gesture to Ruth. Then the two watched as Afla, stunned, lowered her head to look at her pale fingers, which hurt from the cold. Fingers that would be considered deathly pale by human standards appeared incredibly rosy and healthy in Afla’s eyes. When she was an undead, her skin had been an ugly waxy white, completely bloodless. Now she could see the bluish veins beneath her skin—that alone said a lot.

She strenuously swallowed, couldn’t help but feel she was living in a dream, and then tremblingly reached out her hand, slowly touching the edge of the ancient sarcophagus. Her fingertip fed back the rough texture of the stone. She snatched her hand back as if electrocuted, first looking incredulously at the sarcophagus’s surface, then again slowly, full of hope, reaching out towards its edge.

She’s testing whether that touch just now was a dream.

Fia thought.

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This woman had previously shown an abhorrence for the living, but now that she had become a living person herself, she was filled with emotion. However, in Afla’s current state, staying soaked in ice water would only make her sick. Fia grabbed Afla’s wrist, forcibly pulled her out of the sarcophagus and held her horizontally, then, ignoring Afla’s cries, took a blanket from her storage magic and laid it on the ground, making her stand barefoot on it.

“Alright. I turned you into this as punishment. Becoming a living person, the very thing you most despised—how does it feel?”

“Tu… turned into a living person? I’m alive? No, I should be dead. No, no, but how do you explain this feeling…”

“Fia, how exactly did you manage to turn an undead into a living person… Can this even be considered punishment?”

Seeing Afla’s incoherent state, Ruth was quite shocked, to the point of being speechless. The reason she had left the kingdom of the dead was the same as Lucitine’s initial seeking death—she found the undead world too boring and wanted to understand the world of the living more. Now, seeing Fia turn an undead into a living person before her very eyes, she saw a hopeful future for herself. Her mind went dizzy for a moment, and she thought having Fia as her mother might not be so bad after all.

Ruth quickly looked again at the body that had originally belonged to Afla beside the sarcophagus. That undead shell, having lost the magic power sustaining it, was now just a stark white skeleton, completely unrelatable to the Afla who was now even more beautiful than herself.

“Whether it’s punishment or not, Ruth will know after watching.”

Fia lightly snapped her fingers. Large clusters of [Fairy Fire] instantly rose around Afla, warming her naked, wet body. She had never really taken Afla’s matter to heart. If Afla herself hadn’t proactively requested punishment, none of this would be happening.

Regardless, the first thing was to dissipate the guilt in Afla’s heart.

Thinking this, Fia took a whip from her storage magic. Holding both ends of the whip, she forcefully pulled them apart, producing a crisp cracking sound.

She feigned indifference and said.

“I’ll give you half an hour to get familiar with your body. The punishment will begin after that. Although you’ve just gained sensation and your body can’t withstand pain, I won’t show mercy. Don’t you dare cry and beg for mercy in front of your princess because you’re afraid of the pain.”

“You just wait.”

The moment Fia finished speaking, Ruth’s vicious curse entered her ear. Not only that, Ruth forcefully poked Fia’s back from an angle Afla couldn’t see. Fia’s words on the surface were directed at Afla, but in reality, they were mocking Ruth, who had been disciplined by her before.

Still no answer. Afla just stood there dumbly, silent.

◇

Half an hour later.

Lucitine was walking down the corridor of the Twilight Palace.

When strolling through the Twilight Palace in the past, Lucitine always felt fresh about everything around her. But now, Lucitine had no energy to care. She just kept her head down, walking forward in a daze, gently touching her lips with her finger, lost in thought.

Fia’s kisses with Anastasia and Nola lingered in her mind, not dissipating for a long time.

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Even though she had never experienced that feeling herself, merely being an observer, she could feel the satisfaction and happiness emanating from Anastasia and Nola at that moment. This happiness of having her heart filled made her happy too. But after everyone dispersed, all that remained in her heart was emptiness, as if a piece had been gouged out, hollow with nowhere to place.

She felt like a woman who had lost in love, only able to watch the person she liked being intimate with others, even happier than when she was with her. She wanted to go to Fia, to ask her to let her experience that feeling too. But she understood that kind of satisfying emotion could only be experienced when feelings were mutual. Right now, she wasn’t even a lover. Even if Fia agreed for the sake of her being the Queen of Death, she wouldn’t feel the same joy.

The distance between her and Fia was too great.

She realized this fact.

Of course, Lucitine hadn’t given up. Now, as she walked towards the magic testing ground, it was precisely to enhance her relationship with Fia, to make Fia look at her more, pay attention to her. She believed that as long as she persisted enough, she would one day gain Fia’s favor. Now, whenever she thought of the kissing scene from earlier, she couldn’t help but blush and sweat. Sometimes she even unconsciously made the preparatory movements for a kiss, as if practicing for that future day.

If only she could tightly embrace Fia’s petite, soft body, bury her nose in Fia’s black hair and sniff, admire Fia’s shy, incredibly alluring expression…

Just imagining it made Lucitine feel her emotions surge wildly.

She arrived at a huge double door. Lucitine knew Fia was inside the magic testing ground behind this door. When Nola had come to notify Anastasia earlier, she was right beside Anastasia—asking her for advice on how to please the person she liked.

First, let’s see how Afla’s punishment is going.

Lucitine pushed open the door, just in time to hear a crisp “crack.” Immediately after, a scene that made her pupils tremble appeared before her eyes.

There was Afla, pinned down by Fia against a fallen stone pillar. Not only was the former completely naked, but she was also gritting her teeth and crying. However, Lucitine could tell that the expression on Afla’s face wasn’t simply pain, but also a flushed red that seemed like happiness and emotion. If it were just that, it might be tolerable. But worse, Anastasia was standing behind Afla, the whip in her hand cracking through the air and striking Afla’s raised bottom with a series of pops.

This…

Am i seeing things?

Lucitine rubbed her eyes, only to find that everyone, including Afla and Ruth, were all staring at her. Their expressions varied, but were all quite spectacular—some pleading, some panicked, but mostly horrified.

“Queen—”

“Y… you all continue! Sorry for the intrusion!”

The young queen couldn’t understand this chaotic situation. As if she had stumbled upon a passionate couple exchanging affection in bed, she carefully closed the door behind her and then fled as fast as she could.

Translator Note

XDDDDDDD gimme back my tears hmph :<