FIDA 10

Chapter 10

“Kid, open your mouth. If you keep it shut, you’ll spill this expensive stuff everywhere.”

At Michael’s words, Jaina startled and opened her mouth to swallow the potion. Knowing the value of the potion, she couldn’t stand the thought of it being wasted—even if it wasn’t hers.

“Ah…”

And the moment she finished drinking it, a change began.

Michael’s face lit up with a sparkling smile.

“You should’ve just drunk it obediently from the start. Still, I get that you wanted to throw a bit of a tantrum.”

He stroked her hair, as if playing the part of a kind older brother, but Jaina didn’t notice.

It felt like a sports drink bursting inside her body. As the cool and refreshing energy spread through her, all the thoughts that had filled her mind blew away like smoke.

“Wow…”

Clearing her now-normal voice after drinking the healing potion, she realized the cold symptoms had completely vanished.

Then, catching her breath, she heard Michael muttering softly, her sensitive ears picking it up.

“So the one said to be blessed with magical power… divine energy works the same on them as on humans. Unlike wraiths that are filled only with mana. But… it’s less efficient than with a human…”

So much for “not an experiment.” Michael never did anything that would put him at a loss.

With a deeply intrigued gaze fixed on her, Michael suddenly remembered himself and smiled at Jaina.

“Well, your cold’s gone. Now go see Madam.”

He smiled and nudged her along.

Seeing that Michael had even used an expensive healing potion on Jaina, Madam beamed brighter than before, pouring out compliments—calling her adorable, dignified, and the like.

“How old are you, young lady? Eight? Nine?”
“Ten.”

Michael’s brow furrowed at once, and he leaned down to whisper so only Jaina could hear.

“Come to think of it, you eat plenty, so why are you so small? Don’t tell me you like being tiny and made yourself that way?”
“No, I just turned out this way. I was smaller than other dragons to begin with.”
“Why?”
“If I knew that, wouldn’t I have grown taller?”

Even in her previous life she had been shorter than her peers. At this point, it felt like fate. But Michael only scowled harder at her answer.

“What part of you is actually normal?”

Arms crossed, his stance screamed irritation, obvious to anyone who saw.

Jaina couldn’t understand why her small stature should annoy him so much.

Turning sharply to Madam, Michael said,
“So, the custom clothes take a while? Then just give us everything you’ve got ready.”
“Pardon?”

It was already uncomfortable enough receiving things without having done anything to earn them, and now she was to take both the custom-made clothes and the ready-made ones?

“Anything that’ll fit her—hand it over.”

And there were so many kinds of ready-made clothes!

Jaina glanced down at what she was wearing.

A muted plum shade, decorated lavishly with frills and lace.

Even with little knowledge of clothing, she could tell—it was expensive.

“Passable.”

But Michael dismissed the splendid outfit with that one word.

The tailor who had made it was standing right there, yet that was all the praise she gave? Too much, Jaina thought, staring at him. Then she noticed something.

Why are the tips of his ears red?

Not realizing he had been complimenting her and was embarrassed, Jaina stepped closer, intending to ask.

“Um…”

But Michael didn’t give her the chance.

“Catch!”

Instinctively, Jaina caught the pouch tossed her way and opened it.

“Sorting clothes is a pain.”
“Then I’ll return them later—”
“Forget it, I don’t need it. Do you think I only have one subspace pouch?”
“Did you just say… subspace pouch?”

Yes—Michael had stuffed all those clothes into a “subspace pouch,” a rare and expensive magical item, and handed it to her.

It’s nice to have new clothes, but…

Now she wouldn’t have to worry about wet clothes, nor lug around heavy loads. But still, this wasn’t what she had wanted.

I only wanted little luxuries… not reckless extravagance.

Yet refusing would only bring back the same reply as before:

—Do you think I’d settle for just a few outfits? That would be beneath my dignity.

Maybe it wasn’t much money for him.

But for Jaina, it weighed heavily—being on the receiving end like this.

I can’t repay him now, but someday, I will.

Resolved deeply within, she began wondering what she could give back, at least as a token of gratitude.

But Michael was wealth itself. What could she offer someone like him?

Not having money really is sad. I can’t even buy a gift for someone else.

She had left the dragon village with nothing but a few sets of clothes. She had nothing to offer him now.

And he likely already had everything he needed.

Let’s change my way of thinking.

Instead, she thought of what she would want to receive.

What I wanted most… was a bouquet of flowers.

Flowers were, to her, the peak of luxury—beautiful, yet useless.

Her father in her past life had never bought her even the essentials, let alone flowers. Not even at graduation, where she went empty-handed.

She had never had a boyfriend or girlfriend either, so there had never been a chance to receive a bouquet.

I wanted, just once, to hold an armful of flowers.

Some people saw them as a nuisance. But Jaina had never even had the chance to think that way.

Hesitant, she rose to her feet.

The Magic Tower’s garden flowers were mostly flowering trees—not ideal for bouquets. Michael must have seen them often anyway.

Ah, come to think of it…

She remembered a place from the novel.

Just as there was a hidden passage to the outside without passing the gatekeeper, there was also a secret garden, accessible only by hidden means.

The white garden—where the villain Diarmid would often retreat to his thoughts.

But he’s supposed to be away on a trip today…

If she slipped in and took a few flowers, it wouldn’t be a problem.

She turned the doorknob, whistling softly, imagining the garden.

And what unfolded before her was a white world—

“Wow…”

At first, she thought it was snow.

But it was a sea of white blossoms, dazzlingly bright, covering the garden.

Lesanne flowers filled her vision, blooming at their peak, smiling toward her.

Petals drifted in the air, floating gently.

It was like stepping into a snowy world, unreal in its beauty.

The sweet fragrance of the Lesanne flowers made her dizzy.

The most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen.

A world flowing with white waves—
and herself, standing within it.

Was there ever a time in my life this peaceful?

As she picked flowers and bundled them into a bouquet, Jaina whistled low.

Perhaps Michael, too, had never once received a bouquet.

The more she touched the flowers, the more excited she became.

It was her first time making a bouquet, her first time preparing a gift for someone.

Her small, clumsy hands moved slowly, especially with her desire to make it pretty.

But as time passed, the bouquet took on a decent shape.

It’s my work, but… it turned out quite pretty, didn’t it?

Pure white petals layering one after another around the center—delicate, faint, but with a beauty all the more poignant for it.

Just as Jaina was absorbed in her handiwork—

“A rat in my garden? How amusing.”

Startled, she whipped around at the sudden presence.

What…?

Icy blue eyes, lifeless and cold, glared at her with contempt. The heavy pressure made her clench her jaw.

“What are you doing here?”

She couldn’t comprehend it.

Why was her father standing before her?

She had come here because the Tower Master was said to be away on business.

“You came because you wanted something from me, didn’t you?”

Diarmid looked down at her, the intruder in his garden, eyes sharp.

“I thought I made it clear from the start—you are not my daughter.”

Shaa—

The wind rose, scattering white petals.

But now, the Lesanne flowers that had seemed so beautiful moments ago looked like a storm of snow, cold and cruel.

“You think to use me through her? Do you take me for a fool?”

Jaina turned his words over in her mind, struggling to grasp them.

The dragons… want to use me as bait to move Diarmid?

But that wasn’t true. She had never been told anything of the sort.

Even if they had hinted, she would never have lifted a finger for the dragons, after all the abuse she had endured from them.

Even young Taylor had sneered, asking if she really thought she could get along with her father.

“That’s…”

But before she could answer, Diarmid cut her off.

“Using a child to fulfill your desires—humans and dragons are no different.”

It was absurd. Jaina shook her head.

“You’re mistaken. The dragons and I—”
“Mistaken?”

Diarmid’s mocking smile silenced her.

If only she had some proof, something to show. But she had nothing in her hands that could dispel such a deep misunderstanding.