Chapter 140
“Yeah, we all worked hard. I’m sure the results will be good.”
Laughing and chatting, the three soon arrived at the greenhouse.
As always, they went inside naturally and sat down together.
While Eila prepared hot tea for them, a cry of surprise came from behind.
“Wow! Piyo looks bigger every time I see him! He’s so cute.”
Turning her head, Eila saw Piyo sitting on the floor—now nearly the size of a person.
His glossy black tail and short, sturdy legs were surrounded by scattered books.
Staring wide-eyed at the sight, Piony asked cautiously,
“Wait… does he read books now?”
Eila shrugged casually.
“He’s always understood human speech, remember?”
“Has he?”
“Yeah. Lord Devens said that if I’m going to keep him with me, I should help him adapt to the human world. So I’ve been teaching him some simple magic.”
“So you gave him these books?”
“Mm. Turns out he likes them more than I thought.”
Hearing this, Felix glanced at the titles of the books Piyo was reading.
[Interpretations of Interdimensional Magic]
[Advanced Applications of Mana]
Felix’s brow twitched. Even the titles alone showed these were far from basic textbooks.
They were advanced theory books, the kind only high-ranking Tower magicians studied.
“For a beginner… isn’t that a bit too advanced?”
“Hm? Really?”
Eila and Piony turned to check the books themselves—just as Piyo suddenly waved his little hands excitedly in the air.
“Piyong! Piyooooong!”
It didn’t take long to realize what he was doing.
Mana surged violently, and a faint golden pattern appeared in the air.
“That’s…!”
Eila’s eyes widened in shock.
The floating magic circle grew brighter and brighter until it burst with blinding light.
A massive wave of power concentrated in one place, distorting their vision dizzyingly.
In that distortion, Piyo’s black scales and tail shrank away. His wings dispersed like smoke.
When the mana flow finally slowed and their vision cleared—
What remained was a small boy with silky black hair that gleamed like obsidian.
Eila and Piony gasped, staring at each other.
“No way. A polymorph.”
“That’s magic even the Tower’s highest sorcerers struggle to cast.”
While they stood frozen, Felix quickly took off his jacket and covered the boy’s bare body.
Scowling, he glared at Piyo—now suddenly a human child.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but you two can look again now.”
Eila and Piony turned back hesitantly.
Still sitting on the floor was a small, young boy, awkwardly wrapped in Felix’s school jacket.
“Th-that boy… is Piyo?”
Eila muttered with a dazed expression.
“I think so. When I first met Lord Devens, he greeted me in human form too.”
“I-I see… but he must be cold with just that. I’ll go find some clothes for him!”
Without waiting for a reply, Piony hurried out of the greenhouse.
Left behind, Eila stood frozen, struggling to process what had just happened.
It felt unreal, like a dream.
Then the black-haired boy staggered to his feet, wobbling toward her with shining eyes, like a toddler taking his first steps.
“P-Piyo?”
Eila called his name in a trembling voice.
At once, a bright smile spread across the boy’s face.
Without hesitation, he wrapped his small arms around her leg and hugged her tightly.
“Eh… Eila.”
The moment she heard him call her name for the first time, a sharp ache pierced her chest.
Her throat tightened, and tears welled unbidden.
Is this how my mother always felt whenever she looked at me?
Of course, Felix didn’t understand her feelings. He grumbled beside her,
“That brat… speaking casually to his guardian already…”
But Eila didn’t seem to hear. She gently stroked the boy’s head, unable to hide the joy of the miracle before her.
A soft smile bloomed on her lips.
Deep within the Imperial Palace, in chambers no one could enter freely—the Empress’s private quarters.
The Empress sat with eyes closed, brows furrowed. Deep lines creased her face, mirroring her mood.
Lately, her temper had been at its worst. Misfortunes kept piling up.
Count Arman has fallen.
The moment the new cosmetics brand appeared, he had to shut down all his remaining shops.
The massive funds he poured into expansion turned into nothing but debt.
In the end, Count Arman filed for bankruptcy. Now even recovering the money invested by House Lotuange was uncertain.
Could this really just be bad luck?
His new product development had failed, and suddenly an even stronger competitor than Flor Cosmetics appeared.
Worse still, the biggest investor and manager of Yuriette was none other than Princess Piony.
Too convenient to be coincidence. As if someone planned it from the start…
Malice glimmered in the Empress’s eyes.
Her mind drifted to the Emperor’s words from not long ago.
“Piony sent word. The dragon has safely finished molting. As you suggested, we must invite Eila to the birthday celebration.”
“I see. That’s a happy occasion.”
“And I hear Eila has applied for early graduation.”
“Really…?”
“Once she graduates, the Tower and others will surely seek her out. We must ensure she joins our side.”
The Empress had nodded without objection at the time. She too intended to sway Eila at the banquet.
But the Emperor’s next words had grated on her.
“So I was thinking… what if we suggest Eila work under Piony? She hasn’t built a power base of her own, despite being part of the imperial family.”
“Ah…”
“They’re close friends, so emotional appeal might persuade her easily.”
“Well… Darian is also very keen on her…”
“Haha, but even Darian hasn’t managed to win her yet. We’ll see. In the end, it depends on her own will.”
Remembering that moment, the Empress ground her teeth.
Nothing was worse than forcing a smile before the Emperor, agreeing with nonsense she despised.
Why is everything going wrong?
Piony’s budget was no larger than any other royal’s.
Yet with that small amount, she had pulled off a massive business success.
Even the Empress couldn’t deny that Piony’s prestige was rising.
Everything was diverging from the script she had drawn.
And one thing troubled her most of all:
She seems to be growing healthier by the day.
By now, Piony should have been weakening. But instead, her complexion only improved.
Could Rona have betrayed me?
But she shook her head. As long as family remained her weakness, Rona couldn’t disobey her.
Then perhaps… there is someone else, hidden, supporting Piony from the shadows.
Her hands clenched the armrest hard enough to crack it.
At that moment, the chamber door opened softly.
A maid entered quietly, lowering her voice.
“Your Majesty, a letter has arrived.”
The Empress pressed her weary eyes and muttered,
“Bring it here.”
When she checked the sender, her frown deepened.
Rosia again?
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😊