Chapter 46: The first time is gone!

“I’m afraid Mr. Flo wouldn’t agree, would he?” the fox-eared princess asked with a playful smile.

“Agree? He doesn’t get a say! I’m the boss!”

Who was Flo? A nobody compared to the glorious Lord Blazewing!

The princess covered her mouth, chuckling at the haughty red bird on the windowsill. This Cloudbird was quite the character~ She wondered how Flo would react to Blazewing’s attitude—probably hang her up and give her a beating. The princess thought it highly likely.

“So, what’s with the contract mark I saw while bandaging you? That kind of contract isn’t exactly fair, is it?” Though, she didn’t add that it was the most generous for the contracted.

Blazewing froze.

“Alright, enough teasing. I’ve got important business, little one. Help me out~”

“Once it’s done, I’ll promise you fifty gold coins~”

Blazewing nearly leapt with excitement. What a deal!

Unbeknownst to the naive bird, the earlier fifty coins were nearly the princess’s entire fortune. This promised fifty? Just a pipe dream.

Insiders later revealed Blazewing’s rant: “Fifty coins, my beak! No wonder they’re engaged—they’re cut from the same cloth! No need to break it off; they’re both crooks!”

But that’s a story for later.

“Hey, Pink Chick, where are you dragging me? Undo this thing on my leg! I’m reporting you for kidnapping an innocent boy!”

Flo grumbled as Ifrora pulled him along, unable to break free from her deceptively delicate but iron-strong grip.

Her hand was surprisingly soft, though, and felt oddly nice, making Flo momentarily dizzy.

No! She’s Pink Chick, his arch-nemesis! How could he think that?

Stay calm, Flo! Remember the peach blossoms she stole, the almost-girlfriends she snatched!

Clueless Flo, blind to the nuances, blamed it all on Ifrora.

What, was she jealous? Or did she… like him?

Please, they were rivals! Besides, Ifrora’s tastes leaned toward green-eyed girls, not him. Over the years, countless noble suitors, including the empire’s third prince, had confessed to her, only to be flatly rejected.

Yet, Flo’s close female friends? Ifrora turned them into her loyal “puppies.”

Didn’t that prove the truth?

“We’re sharing a dinner, of course~ Didn’t I say? Or is Pointy-Ears’ memory failing?” Ifrora teased with a wicked grin, tormenting the forty-year (two-lifetime) bachelor.

So devious!

But she dodged certain topics, subtly steering the conversation.

“Dinner in the afternoon? And who wants to eat with you?”

“Such a forgetful Pointy-Ears. Need I remind you? Fifteen gold coins~”

Flo scoffed.

“Hmph, bend my pride for a pittance?”

[Third-Floor Scenic Restaurant]

Stained-glass windows refracted the setting sun, and Ifrora picked a window seat, crystal chandeliers casting speckled light above.

Ahem, well, Flo wouldn’t bend for a pittance, but fifteen gold coins? Nobody says no to money, and tonight’s meal was covered.

Flo eyed the menu’s phoenix-flame patterns, noticing every dish was a pun—“Phoenix on Wutong” was caramel pudding with maple syrup, “Nirvana Reborn” was black pepper steak with dragon-blood sauce.

“Try it. I had the kitchen prepare something special.” Ifrora sliced her steak, juices pooling in crimson ripples. She leaned forward, lifting a piece with her silver fork. “Ahh~”

Flo instinctively opened his mouth, only realizing the trick as he chewed. She propped her chin, watching his flushed face, twirling her hair. “Pointy-Ears blushing is cuter than when you were chased by Crimson Abyss Confessors.”

“You…”

Before Flo could retort, three shadows flitted past the window. His peripheral vision caught the Blake family crest’s glint. As he moved to warn her, Ifrora hurled her wineglass into the void. Glass shattered, revealing three black-robed assassins, their poisoned daggers glowing blue.

“So this was your plan?”

“Guess~”

“Finally here. Kept me waiting.” Ifrora raised her hand, phoenix flames forming chains that bound the nearest assassin like a dumpling. Flo kicked another down, but the third’s dagger was deflected by an invisible barrier.

“Rich people and their magic toys,” Flo cursed, drawing his weapon.

The mastermind stepped out, holding a blue-tinted dagger, his grin unstoppable.

“Why won’t you cooperate, Miss Ifrora?”

“You’re too obsessed, Young Master Blake.”

Ifrora clearly had history with this shady man, her disgust plain.

“The more you reject me, the more I want you. The more you scorn me, the more I want to destroy you!”

Blake’s face twisted, descending into madness.

“Why won’t you accept my love? I adore you! My men surround this place—you can’t escape, Miss Ifrora, or the filthy bug behind you!”

Hey, why drag Flo into this? And that’s a nasty insult!

Flo was pissed!

“Be good, and I might spare you. What do you say, Miss Ifrora?”

The silent girl finally spoke.

“Know why I reject you? You’re utter scum.”

“Not good enough, Miss Ifrora!”

She sauntered toward Flo with catlike grace, then, catching him off-guard, tiptoed to close the height gap and pressed her soft lips to his.

The electric sensation stunned Flo. Realizing what happened, he stumbled back, his blush spreading to his ears.

“Is that enough?”

Blake was speechless with rage, his teeth grinding audibly.

“P-Pink Chick, what the hell!”

Flo was incoherent, his brain shutting down.

“Just play along~ Otherwise, Young Master Blake won’t give up~”

“But you didn’t have to…!”

Flo tried to continue, but Ifrora’s finger pressed against his lips, silencing him.

But… that was his first kiss! Given to his rival!

Sure, Ifrora was breathtaking—few on the continent rivaled her beauty—but it felt so wrong.

Normally, his mind would be racing, but now? Ifrora had forcibly powered it off, leaving him an idiot.

Blake’s fury erupted. His knuckles whitened around the dagger, its blue blade reflecting his warped face. “You… you…”

Ifrora acted unfazed, leisurely lowering her tiptoes, flashing Blake a provocative smile. “Still not enough?”

“Enough!” Blake slashed, the poisoned dagger whistling toward Ifrora’s heart. Flo instinctively pulled her aside, the blade grazing her skirt and cracking the stained-glass window.

“Pointy-Ears, you…” Ifrora stumbled, looking up into his dark-red eyes, filled not with his usual sarcasm but raw concern.

“Shut up!” Flo growled, drawing his blade and disarming a sneaking assassin with precision.

“Pick a safer place for your theatrics!”

Ifrora’s golden flames surged, coiling around Blake’s wrist like a living thing.

He screamed, dropping the dagger, a charred phoenix mark searing his wrist.

“Safe? This is my turf.”

She laughed, her flames exploding, blasting all three assassins away.

“But you, Pointy-Ears, blushing hotter than my phoenix flames~”

Flo’s face burned again, his slashes at the assassins tinged with frustration. “That’s because you pissed me off!”

“Oh~” Ifrora’s smile was loaded.

Flo knew this farce had to end. He shouted something absurd.

“Behold my Blue Silver Grass Binding!”

He unleashed plant magic, summoning green vines to bind Blake.

Now, Flo’s sharp mind reclaimed control.

“What do we do with him? Hand him to the territory court, or deal with him here?”

“Oh, deal with him here? That’d ruin my chance to move against the Blake family~”

“Pointy-Ears, I’ll leave it to you~”

“My fifteen coins?”

“Still on about those coins? Fine, for your good behavior, I won’t deduct them. I’ll notify the guild—you can claim them.”

System: * Today’s date and time is 10:22 AM IST on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.