Chapter 25: A kiss that plays hard to get
“I don’t know what you mean. Lady Isabelle simply offered you a shield against your family. Give up any hope of her liking you.”
“As for the dress—I’ll fetch a new one. Stop overthinking. Focus on healing.”
Renia tossed the shredded fabric, gave Philly a cold sweep, eyes lingering on her chest.
She straightened her own, then left for a replacement.
Philly blinked.
Give up?
What did she do?
And Renia’s reaction…
Ice beauty—speaking so much?
Headshake. Incomprehensible.
…
Isabelle’s lounge.
Door pushed—Empress Frandor lounged in her seat.
“Frandor?”
Resentful glare. Frandor stretched. Gown slipped—smooth shoulder bared.
“Waited forever, Ver. Philly’s figure—better than mine?” Fingertip teased gown back.
Cat and mouse.
“No match.”
“You really looked?”
“…Glanced.”
Resentment deepened. Frandor stared till Isabelle averted guiltily.
“Here—your favorite puffs.”
Isabelle took, sat aside. Small bite.
“Speak.”
“Flower Festival in two days. Nobles want the other saintess at the Blossom Rite. Thoughts?”
Festival tradition: homes flower-decked. Capital sea of blooms.
Rites many—Blossom Rite one.
Goddess origin—Oracle saintess hosts. Usually Isabelle. New saintess—many want her.
Debut chance.
Isabelle reluctant.
Nora there—Celis appears, identity exposed.
“No go?”
“Impacts you. Two saintesses—if she skips, rumors you suppress her.”
Faction fights, conspiracies—public loves. Skip—Isabelle’s rep sours.
Silence. Conceded.
“Fine. She goes. But first—Duke Nora escorts the Blossom Bouquet.”
Bouquet: rite finale. Saintess’s goddess gift. Vital.
Saintess request—Frandor no refusal.
“Of course.”
“Else?”
Before—coldness earned glare. Now different.
“Don’t move—cream on lip.”
Frandor neared. Finger poised—then kissed corner.
Parted. Tongue licked lips.
“Sweet.”
“Yes?”
Isabelle seized wrist. Surprised eyes—pinned to desk. Bent, claimed lips.
“Mmph?!”
Frandor’s pupils widened. Tapped shoulder—release? Isabelle ignored. Enjoyed, then parted.
Two breaths. Frandor flushed.
“Y-you defile the queen!”
“Punishment for tainting a saintess, Your Majesty.”
“You—”
Speechless. Frandor covered mouth, retreated fast. Fled.
Boldness—act?
Isabelle touched lips. Recalled softness. Chuckled.
…
Golden Dungeon, Floor 8.
LV5 gold-gnaw rat twitched nose. Gold nugget ahead.
Excited dash. Swallowed—another nugget.
Upright—nuggets trailed path. End: odd black cloth, hiding something.
Ha?
Trap?
Think it dumb beast?
Squeak scorn. Turned—belly pain. Limbs failed.
Poison!
First nugget!
Despicable!
Collapsed—five figures emerged from dark.
“Too cautious—nearly escaped.”
“Trap too obvious.”
“Improve next.”
Talk—rat gnashed teeth.
Grandma’s! Sneaky trap—not pros!
Fight!
Ability primed—sensed far superior magic.
…Wait—all LV14?
Courage vanished. Flopped. Cursed silently.
Squeak!
5 LV14s trap 1 LV5?
Humans—despicable!
Squeak!
Poison claimed. Leanna beheaded. Turned to deeper stairs.
“Floor 8 end. Two left—dungeon cleared.”
Aaliyah: “Too fast. Thought month impossible.”
“Mainly our change.”
Leanna eyed team.
Days in—yet auras transformed. Monster hunting skyrocketed.
Qualitative leap.
Team—truly evolved.
“But we’ll miss Flower Festival.”
Melin sudden.
Festival?
“Custom: flowers to cared ones. Who gets yours?”
Thoughts sparked. Eyes flickered.